Sixth-form students from College houses compete in their own University Challenge

Current Head of School student Theo Alexis (Upper Sixth) proposed the idea, which was soon seized on by staff and is currently being overseen by Sixth Form assistant head Nick Russell.

Mr Russell praised the success of the tournament and said that the idea was approved following the student-led pitch suggesting that it might help boost the profile of exceptional students at the school.

He said: "The proposal came from Theo Alexis (U6) who is the current head of school. He thought it would be a fun way of raising the profile of capable and knowledgeable students. He was right."

On the BBC's long-running hit show University Challenge, teams from national universities and Oxbridge colleges compete to answer fiendish academic questions for a place in the Grand Final.

Mr Russell said that students in the Epsom College edition were selected from each of the 13 house groups which students are allocated to on starting at the school.

"The Heads of Houses would organise the teams from volunteers within the houses. In most cases the teams have been made up of students in the Upper Sixth, though some sparky Lower Sixth (students) have also been selected," he added.

The competition has proved highly popular at the school, and is currently ongoing, with the grand final scheduled for Friday, February 8 at 6.30pm.

Regarding the future of the competition, Russell said that the College would also be "exploring the possibility of Junior competition in the summer."