Intellectual Property Office (IPO) partners with Taskmaster Education to offer new skills building opportunity for secondary schools.

The main developments are:

• the Intellectual Property Office has partnered with Taskmaster Education to launch a new creative skills opportunity for UK secondary school students aged 11 to 16
• ‘Taskmaster Club 100’ applications open on 10 June 2025 and close on 15 August 2025. Successful schools will be notified by 1 September 2025
• selected schools will gain free access to Taskmaster Club resources and have the unique chance to win a virtual lesson with Alex Horne and more

The IPO has partnered with Taskmaster Education to launch ‘Taskmaster Club 100’. This innovative new initiative focuses on building essential skills in the next generation of innovators through fun classroom activities. It aims to make creative learning opportunities accessible to students aged 11 to 16 across the UK from every background, and in diverse educational settings.

Up to 100 selected schools will receive exclusive access to the ‘Taskmaster Club Bathtub’ series of fun, interactive task-focused lesson plans. These ready-to-implement activities help develop key skills like reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, perseverance, oracy and resilience, delivering multiple educational outcomes.

The series includes valuable intellectual property (IP) competencies in teaching notes, empowering educators to enhance activities with concepts of creative ownership, value and protection. These help students develop vital skills in understanding and respecting intellectual property rights in today’s increasingly digital and interconnected world.

To join Taskmaster Club 100, schools simply need to complete a short application form online to register their interest – or in the words of Alex Horne: “click the link and fill in a thing.”

Applications open 10 June 2025, and the successful schools will be notified by 1 September 2025.

The IPO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adam Williams said:

An understanding of IP and a respect for others’ IP rights is a vital life skill – inside and outside of the classroom. In today’s connected environment, young people increasingly create and use IP, accessing and developing digital content independently and regularly. The Taskmaster format uniquely encourages creative thinking, perseverance and teamwork – helping to develop the ideas that will shape tomorrow.

Our partnership with Taskmaster Education will help support schools to nurture the development of these crucial skills in UK schools in a fun and exciting way. Together, we look forward to enabling and accelerating access to innovation learning opportunities and inspiring the next generation of creators and innovators.

The initiative includes:

• free access to the versatile ‘Taskmaster Club Bathtub’ series
• minimal preparation requirements for busy teachers
• a creative invention competition (concluding in December 2025)

The initiative is designed to be flexible, with schools able to implement activities in various ways. Previously, schools have implemented Taskmaster activities for inter-house competitions, transition events, personal development lessons, and off-timetable resilience building. This versatility ensures the programme benefits all students.

Feedback from schools already using Taskmaster materials, including the Bathtub series has been overwhelmingly positive.

Katie Walker, Dean Trust Ardwick, Greater Manchester, said:

Taskmaster club has been a great addition to our extra-curricular. In secondary school children start to become more socially conscious which can stop them from thriving and building key skills. Taskmaster combats this.

Alex McKinnon, St Martin’s School, Shropshire, said:

Guaranteed silliness that made me view my pupils’ creative skills with new eyes.

Another secondary teacher added:

We used the Taskmaster package as a drop-down day for Year 11. It was a really beneficial and fun day for them. Students were able to see how thinking outside the box and working as a team helps them to solve problems. A really good day to help them start to think about the upcoming exams.

Comedian and Taskmaster creator Alex Horne commented:

Taskmaster Club has already proven to be an immense hit in classrooms across the country. This partnership with the IPO allows us to help even more young people develop problem-solving and communication skills while having fun. I can’t wait to see what these students invent!

Dr Ali Struthers and James Blake-Lobb, Co-Founders of Taskmaster Education added:

We’ve loved seeing Taskmaster Club being used at secondary level to improve key skills and outcomes. The programme’s success comes from its naturally inclusive approach – different tasks allow different students to shine, ensuring everyone has opportunities to experience success and build confidence. We’re excited to partner with the IPO on Taskmaster Club 100 to continue developing young people’s curiosity and creativity across more UK schools.

Teachers interested in can visit Taskmaster Education’s website for more information.

The application deadline is 15 August 2025.

Additional Information:

• complete the digital application form to register your interest
• selected schools will also gain exclusive early access to new IPO x Taskmaster Education resources
• selected schools will also have the opportunity to win a virtual lesson with Alex Horne and a year’s subscription to Taskmaster Club by submitting students’ creative inventions to Taskmaster’s ‘Club 100’ national competition, closing in December 2025
• Taskmaster Education adapts the format of Channel 4’s Taskmaster to create fun and educational experiences for children and young people. In the show, the Taskmaster and his assistant Little Alex Horne challenge comedians with creative tasks. Taskmaster Education uses similar activities to develop important skills in children. These skills include problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. Taskmaster Education provides a flexible and engaging way to inspire learning in classrooms and beyond
• schools can set up their own Taskmaster Club for pupils. This allows children to try more tasks while developing important life skills. These skills include teamwork, creativity, and reasoning. The Club series that includes the Kids Invent Stuff task is called ‘Bathtub’. To find out more, visit the Taskmaster Education website
• the IPO has also developed a range of tools, guidance and teaching resources IP in Education for primary, secondary, further and higher education, researchers and university management
• alternative application methods are available by emailing CrackingIdeas@ipo.gov.uk

source: GOV