As a KS2 teacher, I started using Taskmaster with my class back in 2017. Initially we used the format to encourage teamwork and positive communication during Anti-Bullying Week, but we quickly found that the benefits to my pupils went way beyond anything we had originally imagined. First and foremost, it is fun, a lot of fun. Even my most reluctant pupils jump at the chance to get involved with a little bit of Taskmaster action. And through play the children learn!

Not a fan of Taskmaster? It’s a TV show format which sets challenges to five comedians which are judged by (yes you guessed it) the Taskmaster. The one with the most points win but there’s also glory at stake.

How does it work in school? We set tasks for teams of children to complete and the Taskmaster (teacher) scores their efforts. Tasks vary from involving lateral thinking, physical challenge and creativity, to being incredibly silly and daft. Due to the varied nature of the tasks, Taskmaster in school is naturally inclusive. It’s never the same groups who shine from one task to the next and everyone gets the chance to win and feel success and pride. But overall, students learn a great range of skills through their time working together and here’s some ways how:

Reasoning

What the teams do is important, but why they do it is equally so. Task attempts may not always go as planned, but teams are rewarded for presenting and explaining their attempts as well. What’s the best thing with wheels? An aeroplane? An ambulance? A wheelchair? All good answers, but the teams will have to give the best reasons, to win the big points. In other tasks, teams are often required to make sense of open-ended instructions or unclear scenarios, sharpening their logical thinking.

Creativity

Taskmaster thrives on imaginative solutions, making it an ideal way to foster creativity in your pupils. Arts-based tasks (music, drama, dance, art and writing) will explicitly require creativity, but taking a creative approach to any of the tasks can reap huge rewards in terms of point scoring. Ingenuity, originality and belief in your idea can all gain points.

Problem Solving

Taskmaster-style activities present unique and often absurd problems that require ingenuity to solve. Team tasks often need you to think outside of the box and work with your partners to achieve results. Making this fun, and not explicitly a school subject, can take the pressure off and we see excellent results with schools bringing classes closer together and finding ways to communicate and manage disagreements. Problem solving tasks also teach persistence and adaptability, skills needed in STEM subjects and beyond.

Perseverance

Perseverance is one of the most valuable traits children can develop, as success often requires effort and resilience. Taskmaster’s light-hearted environment makes persistence enjoyable, even when initial attempts fail. Students will likely experience setbacks as they attempt to achieve the task. However, the fun nature of the activity encourages them to keep trying, fostering a growth mindset and an understanding that failure is part of the learning process.

Teamwork

The main, obvious difference between using Taskmaster with young people as opposed to the show is that all of the tasks are team tasks. Taskmaster sessions involve listening, collaborating, and working toward a shared goal, promoting cooperation and interpersonal skills.

Oracy

Many tasks involve teams presenting their ideas back to the Taskmaster. These enhance participants’ vocabulary; teach clarity of speech; and build confidence in public speaking. It’s an excellent way to prepare students for oral presentations and collaborative discussions.

Resilience

You don’t always get to win and this is important to learn. Students have many chances to bounce back and the range of tasks mean there’s swiftly something else to focus on and an opportunity for everyone to match their top skill whether it be physicality, logic or lateral thinking. The low-stakes and humorous format helps children view mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than failures.

Taskmaster-inspired activities are an exciting and effective way to teach vital skills in the classroom. From fostering reasoning and creativity to building resilience and teamwork, the tasks make learning engaging and memorable. As educators, we take inspiration from Taskmaster to create a dynamic, inclusive environment where students grow into confident, collaborative, and critical thinkers. Why not bring a little Taskmaster magic into your school and watch your students thrive?

Dr Ali Struthers and James Blake-Lobb will be in the Arena at Bett 2025, talking about how Taskmaster Education Club is honing key skills, such as teamwork, lateral thinking, resilience, creativity, communication, and reasoning. Register for your ticket here .