Top of the Form

A Scotland vs Denmark special from Boroughmuir Secondary School in Scotland in May 1951.

Top of the Form, the inter-school quiz show, began on 1 May 1948. The first two teams were Sloane School and Davenant Foundation School - London boys’ schools - with questions put by Wynford Vaughan Thomas. The following year it took on its familiar shape, touring the country and broadcasting from the schools it visited, pitching girls against boys.This necessitated two question masters, so Vaughan Thomas gave way to Lionel Gamlin and Robert MacDermott.

The first two schools to take part in this new format were Church High School for Girls, Newcastle upon Tyne and Taunton’s School for Boys from Southampton. The quiz became a BBC institution – crossing over to television – with its theme tune Marching Strings instantly recognisable to many people.

Top of the Form showcased children’s general knowledge, but the producers knew the stress they were under. Contestants were aided without their knowledge, as a questionnaire they completed was used to select some of the questions they were asked. The friendly rivalry of the show was emphasised each week, as the teams gave each other three cheers.

Top of the Form was frequently parodied, by Morecambe and Wise, among others. Top of the Form quiz books were popular stocking fillers. But the show was an expensive quiz to produce, requiring two separate outside broadcast units. This - coupled with changes in the landscape of education - led to its end. The Top of the Form Trophy was awarded for the last time in December 1986.