MUNCHING away on brain food and strict revision timetables are the tactics being employed by one high school in their bid to be crowned MasterMind in Harrow 2016.

This year schools across the borough will compete in a tough quiz-off at Harrow School on February 25 to win the prize of being the brainiest team in Harrow.

Hosted by Mind in Harrow and sponsored by the Harrow Times, this is the third annual MasterMind in Harrow competition and requires each team to raise money for the mental health charity as their entrance fee.

This week, the Harrow Times takes a look at how the two teams from Hatch End High School, in Headstone Lane, are preparing for the challenge.

Coordinating teacher Dominic Wilson said: “Hatch End High School is truly inclusive comprehensive school, with a commitment to excellence in all we do.

“Enrichment is vital to the lives of our students and the MasterMind in Harrow challenge is the perfect opportunity to showcase the talent of our students.

“As a school with a ‘we care’ ethos, we also take seriously our commitment to raising money for worthy causes, and we are excited about taking part in creative and enjoyable fundraising activities to support the Mind in Harrow charity, who do excellent work supporting mental health issues in our borough.

“Students are already preparing their brains and are excited to compete for the MasterMind in Harrow title.”

Team Amazing have begun their rigorous training programme by reading the Independent and the Guardian to keep up to date with national and international news along with topping up their diets with brain food.

The Team Captain said: “Team amazing have prepared so much for the chance to compete at mastermind 2016.

“In group discussions we have set out individual research tasks to play to our strengths and weaknesses to make sure we are all working together and understand what we are researching, as well as trading our devices in for knowledge found in books.

“We have been training our brains physically by including nuts and fish in our diet to help our brain process better as well as earlier nights.

“We have also been using various internet links such as Birkbeck University to help us gain understanding of topics and learn from our experience. We aim to achieve the best of our abilities and have fun.”

Meanwhile in Team Brilliant, the group are taking part in bonding activities and revising general knowledge under a strict schedule.

Their Team Captain said: “My team have accomplished the impossible. We have studied every single day under my supervision as captain by pushing ourselves to the limit and have been revising certain topics to broaden our horizon of knowledge.

“We have improved morale between us. We work as a team, not by ourselves.

“We have been visiting certain web addresses in order to gain more intellect. We have been studying poetry and various other sources for more knowledge.

“We are prepped and ready for the competition. We don't mind if we win or lose because even taking part is the first step together in the right direction.”