Next week’s Etgar Challenge for Jewish primary schoolchildren will be the biggest yet with participation crossing the thousand barrier for the first time.

A record 1,100 year-five pupils from 30 schools in Britain — along with one in Israel — will be eager to prove their mastery of the Etgar Jewish knowledge handbook as they compete for the coveted trophy.

The event has grown every year since it was launched in 2012 as a way to encourage a love of Jewish learning in children.

“Some of the questions are very tricky and yet the results continue to delight us,” said Adam Taub, co-founder of the charity.  “The winning teams often score well over 90 per cent.”

In addition to the general knowledge quiz, students are tested on their creative talents. In previous years, teams have been asked to write raps, design posters and create comic strips, all based on the material in the Etgar Handbook. 

Some schools have been running practice competitions to prepare for the big day, some pitting students against parents.

“The Etgar Challenge is a celebration of many months of learning in the classroom and validates the children’s hard work,” said a teacher from Immanuel College Preparatory School. 

Yoni Gilbert, a year-five student at North West London Jewish Day School, was brimming with anticipation for next week: “I am so excited to finally go to the Etgar Challenge as we have been learning for it all year,” he said. “My older brother and sister have both told me how great it is.”