About Taskmaster Education | Taskmaster Education

Taskmaster Education in action at our first live event

Everyone has the chance to play their part, feel involved

Taskmaster is Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning smash hit comedy entertainment show where the almighty Taskmaster (Greg Davies), with the help of his loyal assistant (Alex Horne, also the show’s creator), sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of ludicrous tasks.

Taskmaster Education takes elements of the show and uses them to inspire, engage and teach children and young people. Tasks can be adapted to meet a near infinite range of teacher objectives, whether curriculum-based or more focused on social and emotional development.

Important life skills

By engaging with Taskmaster’s approach to learning, children develop important life skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication, lateral thinking and resilience, while pupil wellbeing is supported and developed by making school more fun. Working as a team improves a child’s sense of belonging, and the varied nature of tasks means that it’s not always the same (sporty or academic) children who do well. Everyone has the chance to play their part, feel involved, and succeed.

Meet the Team

Alex with some of the Taskmaster Education team

Alex Horne: Really needs no introduction, but if we had to give one: Taskmaster’s Assistant, the show’s creator, frontman of the Horne Section, and the face of Taskmaster Club.

Favourite Task: “Impress this mayor” Series 2

Favourite Taskmaster Contestant: Not really allowed one, but he does enjoy it when his mates are on.

James Blake-Lobb: The Taskmaster Teacher who has used the show’s format and tasks with the children at his primary school for almost as long as the show’s been going. When not in the classroom, James spends most of his time thinking about Taskmaster and Taskmaster Education and devising more ways to spread the joy.

Favourite Task: “Send the Taskmaster an anonymous cheeky text every day for the next 5 months.” Series 5

Favourite Taskmaster Contestant: Mike Wozniak

Dr Ali Struthers: Lecturer by day, Taskmaster Education team member also by day, but usually on different days. Ali started on the Taskmaster journey through creating and growing School Tasking, which is basically larking about and spreading joy and nonsense using the format of the show with children from schools in less-advantaged areas. And now she spends a lot of time officially larking around doing Taskmaster Education AND School Tasking. It’s jolly good fun.

Favourite Task: “Use the cement mixer for something other than mixing cement. Best use of a cement mixer other than mixing cement wins.” Series 13

Favourite Taskmaster Contestant: Mel Giedroyc

Alex with some of the Taskmaster Education team

Dr Phil Jemmett: Phil is our unofficial science and engineering consultant who brings boundless energy and enthusiasm to our live events. You will see him popping up from time to time when we have shows and he is often the one who ensures that the audience are feeling maximum levels of excitement. He’s the Taskmaster Education hype man, if you will.

Favourite Task: “Make the most exotic sandwich. You have 10 minutes to plan your exotic sandwich, then 10 minutes to construct it.” Followed by, “Eat your exotic sandwich, fastest wins.” Seies 4

Favourite Taskmaster Contestant: James Acaster

Jo Sinton-Hewitt: Creator of lunchbox tasks with an extraordinary eye for detail who designs and constructs Taskmaster-themed creations aplenty. Jo assists Ali in the organisation of all things School Tasking and will often be found with a clipboard ticking off a to-do list.

Favourite Task: “Get as close as you can to Alex without him noticing you. Alex will duck down the wall for 10 seconds, then pop up for 10 seconds, then duck down for 10 seconds and so on until he notices you. The task starts when Alex first ducks down behind the wall, in one minute from now.” Series 8.

Favourite Taskmaster Contestant: Rose Matafeo

They’re loving Taskmaster Club and I’m really enjoying it too. The hour goes by so quickly and it’s great to see them grow in confidence.

Taskmaster Club Teacher

It’s the taking part that counts, because there are some things that are physical which might appeal to the more athletic children, some things are more creative, but in the end it’s all about using their brains in a different way.

Little Alex Horne

It’s amazing how much the children have changed in just two weeks! Gone were the hesitations and deliberations - they just threw themselves into it this week!

Primary Teacher

Kids have amazing imaginations and brains, and it’s good to harness them in a way that’s not usually done in schools

Little Alex Horne

Taskmaster challenges have lots of benefits: fun, distraction, teamwork, excitement, a little bit of safe competition, building relationships, self-esteem, encouraging ‘flow’, and just giving a break.

Psychiatric Hospital Educator

Our partnerships

Kids Invent Stuff

Taskmaster Education has teamed up with the brilliant YouTube Channel, Kids Invent Stuff, (with the support of the Intellectual Property Office) to challenge children to think outside the box and create wacky inventions that are then brought to life by the Kids Invent Stuff team.

AQUILA

Every month readers of AQUILA Magazine get to play along with tasks and activities set by Taskmaster Education. Once the tasks are completed, attempts are sent to aquila@taskmastereducation.com and points are awarded for the best 5 entries. AQUILA is a magazine for curious children aged 8 to 14. It’s a place where intelligent, thought-provoking articles, original fiction, mind boggling puzzles and creative activities combine to keep inquisitive minds busy.