Primary Schools Quiz

Arrangements for 2019-2020

Arrangements are beginning to take place for the 2019-2020 Primary Schools Quiz.  Following on from the successful introduction of a Scottish Final we intend to continue with this event and this will have a knock-on effect on the timing of earlier rounds. The dates being considered for a Scottish Final are Saturday 16^th or 23^rd May 2020, so other “latest” dates will need to work backwards from then.  Consequently, the time scales will need to be slightly earlier than last year’s, with Club Heats taking place any time between now and the end of March 2020.  From the information I have from last year’s quiz, this actually happened with every Club Heat (at least, the ones that I was told about!) taking place between October 2018 and March 2019. The timing of Area heats will very much be dependent on local arrangements for school Spring holidays and Club Heats. The D1020 District Final is proposed for Saturday 25^th April or 2^nd May 2020.  In previous years, the District Final has been at Carluke Lifestyles Centre and I would hope to use that venue again for this event.  

As in previous years, I will supply sets of questions (and answers) for each round. If any Club hasn’t taken part before and would now like to do so, but aren’t sure about how much work is involved, then “help is available” and most of the work has already been done for you.  The questions will be available in both Word and PowerPoint format so you can print questions, display them for all to see, or both.  If anyone would like one, I can also supply a check list for organising a local heat, along with examples of certificates and other paperwork you might like to use.

Club Heats: Individual Clubs should organise these in conjunction with their local primary schools at a date and time which suits everyone, any time between now and the end of March 2020.  If any Club wants to make up their own questions, please do so (and send me a copy too, please).  Questions for Clubs will be ready soon.  If large schools want to enter more than one team, I’m more than happy with that; if 2 smaller schools need to combine to make up a team, then I’m equally happy.  The quiz is aimed at P7 pupils, but if schools want to use P6 (or even P5) pupils to make up numbers, then go for it.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s all about participation and, at Club level, the more the merrier – as long as the organising Club feels it can cope with any additional teams.

Area Heats: These will probably be sometime around mid to late March to mid-April. We need to find a volunteer in each of the 6 Areas to organise these, in conjunction with their respective AGs.  This would probably be most easily done at the Area meetings planned for the week beginning 18^th November.  As with the Club Round, I will supply a set of questions, samples of certificates, etc. for organisers to use.

District Final: This is proposed to be at the Lifestyles centre in Carluke on Saturday 25^th April or 2^nd May 2020.  Two teams from each Area Final will be invited to attend, so we can have another lively day involving 12 teams; 48 youngsters with matching numbers of parents and other supporters too and a great chance to showcase Rotary and what we do.

Scottish Final: Already proposed for Saturday 16^th or 23^rd May 2020 at Wallace High School in Stirling.  Last year’s format of 3 teams participating from each of the 3 Scottish Districts appeared to work well and although this has to be confirmed with the other Districts, I would anticipate this to be the likely format.

So, there you have the basic details as they are so far.  Hopefully, there is enough there for Clubs to start the process of organising their own round, which at this stage generally means not a lot more to do than finding a venue available on a date and time to suit your Club and your local Primary schools and then encouraging as many of them as possible to join in.