The UK Rock Challenge was the British arm of the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge. The Rock Challenge was an anti-drug and crime-prevention event that took the form of a friendly performing arts competition for schools and colleges. Originating in Australia in the 1980s, it reached the United Kingdom after inspector Mark Pontin of Hampshire saw it in 1995 and was so impressed that he persuaded Hampshire's constabulary to form a joint venture with Tony Barron, chairman of the Hampshire Education Committee and Peter Coles, UK Rock Challenge's chief executive. Together, they introduced it in Hampshire and found joint funding to support it. The first UK event took place in Portsmouth Guildhall in Portsmouth in 1996 and involved 11 schools and around 750 young people. Rock Challenge then expanded into many additional areas across the UK. In 2016, there were 49 days of events. The event stopped abruptly in 2019.

The event

The premise of the Rock Challenge is that each school puts together an 8-minute dance and drama production on a theme of their choice set to a soundtrack of commercially available music. Over the course of months/weeks schools create their production and finally bring it to an event day held at a professional venue where they spend the day rehearsing and preparing for an evening show where parents, peers, community members, and invited guests attend. During the evening, a panel of judges give verbal feedback on each performance and also score each piece based on strict criteria. Performances are judged on: Performance Judge Marks: Production Judge Marks: Drama and Design Judge Marks: Each judge also gives the performance a mark for 'Overall Impact' out of 5. At the end of the evening, a prize ceremony is held where a number of awards are presented along with the announcement of the top-scoring schools.

The Rock Challenge message

The core message of the Be Your Best Rock Challenge is to show young people how they can achieve a 'natural high' on life rather than with the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco - the concept is that through participation in the event at a professional venue with a professional production and technical crew, the students are helped in the belief that they can achieve a high on life rather than relying on substances. This is emphasised during the event where everyone is warned that if anyone is caught smoking, taking drugs or drinking alcohol the individual/s concerned will be asked to leave and their team will be deducted two overall ranking places (making it impossible for them to win or go further in the competition). Participation in the Rock Challenge has shown to have many positive effects on participants, schools, and communities, including:

Concept, history and Australian origins

Rock Challenge has been running in the UK since 1996 (see above) and has been running as the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge in Australia since 1980 (see History in Rock Eisteddfod Challenge page) and has reached out across the world to New Zealand (Stage Challenge), Japan (Rock Challenge Japan), Germany, South Africa (ARA Be Your Best Rock Challenge) and UAE (set up by the British Be Your Best Rock Challenge). Rock Challenge also had a short and small stay in the US, but there has been no known activity since the confirmation of two events for 2004. Just like in the UK, since its inception in Australia the events have grown in popularity, so much that the National Finals are shown on the Nine Network over a period of weeks on a Saturday Morning (after being previously recorded live). This television coverage has been happening since the early 1990s, but since the UK launch in 1996 it still does not have any major media coverage there. The most famous participant of Rock Challenge in the UK was the actress Emma Watson from the Harry Potter franchise. She participated twice, once in 2006 and once as the Rock Challenge leader in 2007 with her school in Oxford.

Competition format

Rock Challenge is split into 2 age brackets: J Rock J Rock started in the UK in 2005 for participants aged 7–11. Many J Rock events are not full competitions based on the desires of the local schools and sponsors. Rock Challenge Rock Challenge is for participants aged 11–18. As of 2004, Rock Challenge has been split into 2 competition divisions; the Open and the Premier divisions: In the 'Open' Division: In the 'Premier' Division: From 2007, National Awards have also been awarded, judged nationally by a panel of judges new and independent from those at the live events, announcing each division's top schools for each criterion. Scottish Grand Final As of 2012, schools participating in Scottish events will compete at heats for a place in the Scottish Grand Final held in Dundee. Should a school win the Scottish Grand Final two years in succession they will be given the option of competing in the Northern Region Premier Division for the following year. Should a school win the Scottish Grand Final three years in succession they will be automatically moved into the Northern Region Premier Grand Final for the following year. National Grand Final In 2009 the UK's first National Grand Final was held at the Sheffield Arena. This consisted of the top 5 schools from each Premier Final along with the top scoring first place from the Open finals (one from the North and one from the South) giving twelve schools: Sandown High School from Sandown, Isle of Wight won this event with their performance 'Cursed' after winning their Open Grand Final. In 2012 the second UK Rock Challenge National Grand Final was held at the Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes: Kings Langley School, Hertfordshire won this event with their performance entitled 'Swift as a shadow short as any dream.'.

Events and venues

Since 1996, the Tour has been to many venues around the country and as Rock Challenge has become larger, so have the venues. Even just in the first year it grew from one night and one event to 8 venues and 11 nights. With the planned National Grand Final, it would bring the biggest ever venue ever used by the Rock Challenge team in the UK, The Sheffield Arena with a capacity up to 12,500 seated (downgraded to 4000 seats for Final). As of 2012 the events will have taken place in the following towns/cities across the UK: • Aberdeen • Arbroath • Basingstoke • Belfast • Bournemouth • Bradford • Brighton • Carlisle • Crawley • Croydon • Derby • Dundee • Eastbourne • Grantham • Grimsby • Hackney • Hemel Hempstead • Hull • Inverness • Leeds • Lincoln • London (central) • Manchester • Margate • Milton Keynes • North Finchley • Portsmouth • Reading • Rotherham • Sheffield • Skegness • Southampton • St Albans • Stevenage • York

Results

Since its inception in 1996, many UK Rock Challenge events have taken place up and down the nation; below is a full chronological list of results (announced places) from the first event to the present day:

1996

1996 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Awards:

1997

1997 Be Your Best Croydon Rock Challenge Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Surrey Wednesday, 26 February Awards: ''' 1997 Get Real Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One ''' Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday, 4 March Awards: 1997 Get Real Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Thursday, 5 March Awards: ** 1997 Get Real 2CR FM Be Your Best Bournemouth Rock Challenge ** Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Friday, 7 March Awards: ** 1997 Get Real 2-Ten FM Be Your Best Basingstoke Rock Challenge ** The Anvil Theatre, Basingstoke, Hampshire Wednesday, 12 March Awards: ** 1997 Get Real Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Friday, 14 March Awards: ** 1997 Lifestyle Be Your Best Hull Rock Challenge ** Hull New Theatre, Hull Wednesday, 19 March Awards: ** 1997 Be Your Best Fox FM Oxford Rock Challenge ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Friday, 11 April Awards: ** 1997 Be Your Best The Pulse Bradford Rock Challenge ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Monday, 14 April Awards: ** 1997 Be Your Best The Pulse Rock Challenge Northern Grand Final ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Tuesday, 15 April Awards: ** 1997 Be Your Best Get Real Rock Challenge Southern Grand Final ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Thursday, 17 April Awards:

1998

** 1998 Get Real 2-Ten FM Be Your Best Basingstoke Rock Challenge ** The Anvil, Basingstoke, Hampshire Tuesday, 2 March Awards: ** 1998 Get Real Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Thursday, 5 March Awards: ** 1998 Get Real 2CR FM Be Your Best Bournemouth Rock Challenge ** Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Friday, 6 March Awards: ** 1998 Get Real Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Monday, 9 March Awards: ** 1998 Get Real Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday, 10 March Awards: ** 1998 Lifestyle Be Your Best Hull Rock Challenge ** Hull New Theatre, Hull Tuesday, 17 March Awards: ** 1998 Be Your Best The Pulse Leeds Rock Challenge ** Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds, West Yorkshire Friday, 20 March Awards: ** 1998 Lifestyle Be Your Best Grimsby Rock Challenge ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Tuesday, 24 March Awards: ** 1998 Be Your Best Fox FM Oxford Rock Challenge ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Thursday, 26 March Awards: ** 1998 Be Your Best Brighton Rock Challenge ** The Dome, Brighton Friday, 27 March Awards: ** 1998 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Southern Grand Final ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday, 31 March Awards: ** 1998 Lifestyle Be Your Best Grimsby Rock Challenge ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Tuesday, 24 March Awards:

1999

1999 Get Real Be Your Best Power FM Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Monday 1 February 1st Place Cowes High School, Cowes, Isle of Wight 2nd Place Park Community School, Leigh Park, Hampshire 3rd Place Staunton Park Community School, Havant, Hampshire 1999 Get Real Be Your Best Power FM Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday 2 February 1st Place King Richard Secondary School Team Two, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Smash the Camera 2nd Place South Downs College, Waterlooville, Hampshire 3rd Place Mayville High School, Southsea, Hampshire 1999 Get Real Be Your Best 2CRFM Bournemouth Rock Challenge Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Wednesday 3 February 1st Place Corfe Hills School, Poole, Dorset 2nd Place Blandford School, Blandford Forum, Dorset 3rd Place The Purbeck School, Wareham, Dorset 1999 Be Your Best London Rock Challenge Drury Lane Theatre, London Sunday 7 February 1st Place Peers Technology College, Oxford, Oxfordshire - The Lost Ones Joint 2nd Place The Misbourne School, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire Joint 2nd Place Crickhowell High School, Crickhowell, Powys 1999 Be Your Best Reading Rock Challenge The Hexagon, Reading, Berkshire Monday 8 February 1st Place The Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire 2nd Place Frogmore Community College, Yateley, Hampshire 3rd Place Fort Hill Community College Team Two, Basingstoke, Hampshire 1999 Be Your Best Fox FM Oxford Rock Challenge Day One The Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Tuesday 9 February 1st Place The Misbourne School, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire - UHF 2nd Place Peers Technology College, Oxford, Oxfordshire 3rd Place Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 1999 Be Your Best Fox FM Oxford Rock Challenge Day Two The Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Wednesday 10 February 1st Place Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire 2nd Place Headington School, Oxford, Oxfordshire 3rd Place Lord Williams's School, Thame, Oxfordshire 1999 Get Real Be Your Best Power FM Southampton Rock Challenge Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Thursday 25 February 1st Place Osborne Middle School, East Cowes, Isle of Wight 2nd Place Wildern School Seniors, Hedge End, Hampshire 3rd Place Cantell Secondary School, Southampton, Hampshire - It's Just an Illusion 1999 Lifestyle Viking FM Be Your Best Hull Rock Challenge Hull City Hall, Hull Monday 1 March 1st Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire 2nd Place Cottingham High School, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Place South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire 1999 Lifestyle Viking FM Be Your Best Grimsby Rock Challenge Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Wednesday 3 March 1st Place Healing Comprehensive School, Healing, North East Lincolnshire 2nd Place Woldgate School, Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Place The Lindsey School, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire 1999 On the Beat Galaxy 102 Be Your Best Manchester Rock Challenge Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Tuesday 16 March 1st Place Astley St Mary's School, Astley, Manchester 2nd Place George Tomlinson School, Kearsley, Bolton 3rd Place Stainburn School, Workington, Cumbria 1999 Be Your Best Downtown Radio Belfast Rock Challenge Waterfront Hall, Belfast Thursday 18 March 1st Place Ashfield Girls' High School Belfast 2nd Place Our Lady of Mercy School, Belfast 3rd Place St Joseph's School, Belfast 1999 Be Your Best The Pulse Bradford Rock Challenge St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Monday 22 March 1st Place City of Leeds School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 2nd Place Thornton Grammar School, Bradford, West Yorkshire 3rd Place Ralph Thoresby High School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 1999 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Northern Grand Final Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Thursday 24 March 1st Place South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire 2nd Place Woldgate School, Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire 1999 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Southern Grand Final Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Saturday 26 March 1st Place Cantell Secondary School, Southampton, Hampshire - It's Just An Illusion 2nd Place King Richard School, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Smash the Camera 3rd Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast

2000

** 2000 Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Monday 28 February 1st Place Cowes High School, Cowes, Isle of Wight 2nd Place King Richard School, Portsmouth, Hampshire 3rd Place Crookhorn Community School, Waterlooville, Hampshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday 29 February 1st Place King Richard School, Portsmouth, Hampshire 2nd Place City of Portsmouth Girls' School, Portsmouth, Hampshire 3rd Place Mayville High School, Southsea, Hampshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Thursday 2 March 1st Place Brune Park Community School, Gosport, Hampshire 2nd Place Frogmore Community School, Yateley, Hampshire 3rd Place Wildern School Juniors, Hedge End, Hampshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Eastbourne Rock Challenge ** Eastbourne Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, East Sussex Wednesday 8 March 1st Place Ratton School, Eastbourne, East Sussex 2nd Place Tideway School, Newhaven, East Sussex 3rd Place Lindfield School, Eastbourne, East Sussex ** 2000 Be Your Best Bournemouth Rock Challenge ** Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Friday 10 March 1st Place Lytchett Minster School, Poole, Dorset 2nd Place Highcliffe School Team One, Christchurch, Dorset 3rd Place Oakmead College of Technology, Bournemouth, Dorset ** 2000 Be Your Best Oxford Rock Challenge ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Monday 13 March 1st Place Peers Technology College, Oxford, Oxfordshire 2nd Place Lord William's School, Thame, Oxfordshire 3rd Place Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Basingstoke Rock Challenge ** The Anvil, Basingstoke, Hampshire Thursday 16 March 1st Place Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire - Hooray for Hollywood 2nd Place Misbourne School, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire 3rd Place St Sampson's School, St Sampson's, Guernsey ** 2000 Lifestyle Be Your Best Hull Rock Challenge ** Hull New Theatre, Hull Monday 20 March 1st Place Hornsea School, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire 2nd Place Cottingham High School, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Place South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire ** 2000 Lifestyle Be Your Best Grimsby Rock Challenge ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Wednesday 22 March 1st Place Hereford School, Westward Ho, North East Lincolnshire 2nd Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Place Matthew Humberstone School, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Croydon Rock Challenge ** Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Surrey Monday 27 March 1st Place Crickhowell High School, Crickhowell, Powys - Actions Speak Louder 2nd Place Brynmawr School, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale 3rd Place The Misbourne School, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day One ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Wednesday 29 March 1st Place Ralph Thoresby High School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 2nd Place John Smeaton High School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd Place St Michael's College, Leeds, West Yorkshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day Two ** St George's Theatre, Bradford, West Yorkshire Thursday 30 March 1st Place City of Leeds School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 2nd Place Thornton Grammar School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 3rd Place Stainburn School, Workington, Cumbria ** 2000 Be Your Best Belfast Rock Challenge ** Waterfront Hall, Belfast Thursday 13 April 1st Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast 2nd Place Our Lady of Mercy High School, Belfast 3rd Place Newbridge Integrated College, Banbridge, County Down ** 2000 Be Your Best Milton Keynes Rock Challenge ** Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Wednesday 3 May 1st Place Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 2nd Place Aylesbury High School, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire 3rd Place Lord William's School, Thame, Oxfordshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Northern Grand Final ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire 1st Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast 2nd Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire 3rd Place Ralph Thoresby High School, Leeds, West Yorkshire ** 2000 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Southern Grand Final ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire 1st Place Crickhowell High School, Crickhowell, Powys - Actions Speak Louder 2nd Place Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 3rd Place Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire - Hooray for Hollywood

2001

** 2001 Be Your Best Bournemouth Rock Challenge ** Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Monday 26 February 1st Place Corfe Hills School, Poole, Dorset - It's a Media World 2nd Place Oakmead College of Technology, Bournemouth, Dorset - Mission Impossible 3 3rd Place The Blandford School, Blandford Forum, Dorset - Mystical Fantasy ** 2001 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day One ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Thursday 1 March 1st Place Cowes High School, Cowes, Isle of Wight - From Rags to Riches 2nd Place The Hamble School, Hamble, Hampshire - Disorder and Dance 3rd Place St Anne's Convent School, Southampton, Hampshire - Television Overload ** 2001 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day Two ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Friday 2 March 1st Place Court Moor School, Fleet, Hampshire - A Better Way - Look To The Future 2nd Place Lycee 1er Francois, Le Havre, France - Angel? 3rd Place Wildern School Juniors, Hedge End, Hampshire - Popcorn ** 2001 Be Your Best Oxford Rock Challenge Day One ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Wednesday 7 March 1st Place Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - Take the Bull by the Horns 2nd Place Lord Grey School, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - Out of the Light 3rd Place Crickhowell High School, Crickhowell, Powys - Carpe Diem - Seize the Moment ** 2001 Be Your Best Oxford Rock Challenge Day Two ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Thursday 8 March 1st Place Lord William's School and Chinnor Autistic Unit, Thame, Oxfordshire - The Power of Compulsion 2nd Place Abingdon College, Abingdon, Oxfordshire - Rehabilitation 3rd Place Cooper School, Bicester, Oxfordshire - Time Warp ** 2001 Be Your Best Hemel Hempstead Rock Challenge ** Dacorum Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire Wednesday 14 March 1st Place The Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire - Dancing with the Missing 2nd Place John F Kennedy Catholic School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire - Take the Power Back 3rd Place Longdean School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire - Brave New World ** 2001 Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Monday 19 March 1st Place St Luke's School, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Street Life 2nd Place Priory School, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Communication Through The Ages 3rd Place King Richard School Team One, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Are You Scared Yet? ** 2001 Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday 20 March 1st Place King Richard School Team Two, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Girlz In The Hood 2nd Place Mayville High School, Southsea, Hampshire - Nightmare! 3rd Place Osborne Middle School, East Cowes, Isle of Wight - Are You Sitting Comfortably? ** 2001 Lifestyle Be Your Best Grimsby Rock Challenge ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Wednesday 28 March 1st Place Matthew Humberstone School, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire - Elementary Balance 2nd Place Healing Comprehensive School, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire - Awakening 3rd Place South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire - Conquer Your Dark Side ** 2001 Lifestyle Be Your Best Bridlington Rock Challenge ** The Spa, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire Friday 30 March 1st Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire - A Native American Legend 2nd Place Hornsea School, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire - Best of British 3rd Place Merlyn Rees High School, Leeds, West Yorkshire - A Higher Level ** 2001 Be Your Best Belfast Rock Challenge ** Waterfront Hall, Belfast Wednesday 4 April 1st Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast - The Sky's the Limit 2nd Place Larkin Community College, Dublin - Garden of Life 3rd Place Belfast Model School, Belfast - Walk of Life ** 2001 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day One ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Tuesday 24 April 1st Place John Smeaton Community High School, Leeds, West Yorkshire - Parental Guidance 2nd Place Copperfields College, Leeds, West Yorkshire - Descent 3rd Place Earlsheaton Community High School, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire - The Disappeared ** 2001 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day Two ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Wednesday 25 April 1st Place City of Leeds School, Leeds, West Yorkshire - Alpha-Omega 2nd Place Thornton Grammar School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - The Celebration of Creation 3rd Place Hanson School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - Nightmare ** 2001 Be Your Best Carlisle Rock Challenge ** The Sands Centre, Carlisle, Cumbria Friday 4 May 1st Place Stainburn School, Workington, Cumbria - High Kicking 2nd Place Peterhead Academy, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - U.S.A. OK/No Way! 3rd Place Whitehaven School, Whitehaven, Cumbria - Silva ** 2001 Be Your Best Croydon Rock Challenge ** Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Surrey Wednesday 9 May 1st Place Davison High School, Worthing, West Sussex - Outraged 2nd Place Brynmawr School, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale - War 3rd Place St Thomas More School, West Grinstead, West Sussex - Life in London ** 2001 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Southern Region Grand Final ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Monday 21 May 1st Place King Richard School Team Two, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Girlz In The Hood 2nd Place The Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire - Dancing with the Missing 3rd Place Davison High School, Worthing, West Sussex - Outraged ** 2001 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Northern Region Grand Final ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Saturday 26 May 1st Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast - The Sky's the Limit 2nd Place Thornton Grammar School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - The Celebration of Creation 3rd Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire - A Native American Legend

2002

** 2002 Be Your Best Aberdeen Rock Challenge ** Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Wednesday 13 February 1st Place Peterhead Academy, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - When The Boat Comes In 2nd Place Westhill Academy, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire - Tribes 3rd Place Mackie Academy, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire - The Good, The Bad and the Sixties! ** 2002 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day One ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Wednesday 27 February 1st Place Cowes High School, Cowes, Isle of Wight - Elemental 2nd Place Staunton Park Community School, Havant, Hampshire - Newsflash – Teenagers out of Control! 3rd Place Solent Middle School, Cowes, Isle of Wight - Exhibiting the Future ** 2002 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day Two ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Thursday 28 February 1st Place Ryde High School, Ryde, Isle of Wight - Caped Fear 2nd Place Highcliffe School Team Two, Christchurch, Dorset - Love and Rejection 3rd Place Lycee Francois Premier, Le Havre, France - Nobody’s Perfect ** 2002 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day Three ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Friday 1 March 1st Place Regents Park Juniors, Southampton, Hampshire - Around the World in 8 Minutes 2nd Place Wildern School Seniors, Hedge End, Hampshire - Rodeo Rock 3rd Place St Sampson's Secondary School, St Sampson's, Guernsey - Sweets Ain’t What They Seem To Be! ** 2002 Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day One ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Tuesday 5 March 1st Place Crickhowell High School, Crickhowell, Powys - The Shape of Things To Come 2nd Place Park Community School, Leigh Park, Hampshire - P.O.P (Product or People) 3rd Place King Richard School Team One, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Corrida de Toros ** 2002 Be Your Best Portsmouth Rock Challenge Day Two ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Wednesday 6 March 1st Place City of Portsmouth Girls’ School, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Cry Freedom 2nd Place Frogmore Community College Team A, Yateley, Hampshire - Faces of Conflict 3rd Place Mayville High School, Southsea, Hampshire - A Changing World ** 2002 Be Your Best Oxford Rock Challenge Day One ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Thursday 7 March 1st Place Cheney School, Oxford, Oxfordshire - Dreams or Nightmares 2nd Place Headington School, Oxford, Oxfordshire - Human Cloning 3rd Place Cranbourne School - The Rhythm Has My Soul ** 2002 Be Your Best Oxford Rock Challenge Day Two ** Apollo Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire Friday 8 March 1st Place Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire - The Outsider 2nd Place Abingdon and Witney College, Abingdon, Oxfordshire - Rouge 3rd Place Brynmawr School, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale - ”The Drugs Don’t Work” ** 2002 Be Your Best Bournemouth Rock Challenge ** Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Monday 11 March 1st Place Highcliffe Lower School, Christchurch, Dorset - Mind Games 2nd Place Highcliffe Team A, Christchurch, Dorset - Always Remember 3rd Place Rossmore Community College, Poole, Dorset - Choice of Direction ** 2002 Be Your Best Crawley Rock Challenge ** The Hawth Theatre, Crawley, West Sussex Monday 11 March 1st Place Davison High School, Worthing, West Sussex - Ad Extremum 2nd Place Bognor Regis Community College, Bognor Regis, West Sussex - Hatch, Match and Despatch 3rd Place Filsham Valley School, St Leonard's-on-Sea, East Sussex - What’s Your Talent? ** 2002 Be Your Best Croydon Rock Challenge ** Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Surrey Thursday 14 March 1st Place Frogmore Community College Team B, Yateley, Hampshire - Hand of Hope 2nd Place Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire - Destiny 3rd Place The Misbourne School, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire - O’mnis Saga ** 2002 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day One ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Tuesday 19 March 1st Place Thornton Grammar School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - Antony and Cleopatra 2nd Place Buttershaw High School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - The Same World - But A World Apart 3rd Place Hanson School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - One Vision ** 2002 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day Two ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Wednesday 20 March 1st Place South Leeds Art College, Leeds, West Yorkshire - Dreams 2nd Place Matthew Humberstone School, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire - Don't Stop the Carnival 3rd Place St Joseph's RC College, Bradford, West Yorkshire - Take a Trip ** 2002 Lifestyle Be Your Best Bridlington Rock Challenge ** The Spa, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire Friday 12 April 1st Place Hornsea School, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire - Perseverance Pays 2nd Place Driffield School, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire - The Fire of London 3rd Place South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire - The Chinese Years ** 2002 Lifestyle Be Your Best Grimsby Rock Challenge ** Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Monday 15 April 1st Place Healing Comprehensive, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire - A Higher State of Innocence 2nd Place Hereford Technology School, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire - Celebrate South Africa 3rd Place Matthew Humberstone School, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire - Don't Stop the Carnival ** 2002 Lifestyle Be Your Best Hull Rock Challenge ** Hull Ice Arena, Hull Wednesday 17 April 1st Place Archbishop Thurstan School, Hull - Just Be Yourself 2nd Place Andrew Marvell School, Hull - The Time Machine 3rd Place St Mary's College, Hull - A Woman's World ** 2002 Be Your Best Hemel Hempstead Rock Challenge ** Dacorum Theatre, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire Thursday 25 April 1st Place Kings Langley School, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire - Know Your Limits 2nd Place Vandyke Upper School, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire - Through the Eyes of a Child 3rd Place Aylesbury High School, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - Under Pressure ** 2002 Be Your Best Belfast Rock Challenge ** Waterfront Hall, Belfast Monday 29 April 1st Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast - There's Only One You 2nd Place Ballee Community High School, Ballymena, County Antrim - Get Connected 3rd Place Holy Trinity College, Cookstown, County Tyrone - Oblivion Interrupted ** 2002 Be Your Best Carlisle Rock Challenge ** The Sands Centre, Carlisle, Cumbria Friday 3 May 1st Place Stainburn School, Workington, Cumbria - The Power Within 2nd Place Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire - Herstory 3rd Place Cockermouth School, Cockermouth, Cumbria - Looking for a Way Out ** 2002 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Southern Region Grand Final ** Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire Friday 17 May 1st Place Ryde High School, Ryde, Isle of Wight - Caped Fear 2nd Place Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire - The Outsider 3rd Place City of Portsmouth Girls' School, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Cry Freedom ** 2002 Be Your Best Rock Challenge Northern Region Grand Final ** Barbican Centre, York Friday 17 May 1st Place Thornton Grammar School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - Antony and Cleopatra 2nd Place Hornsea School, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire - Perseverance Pays 3rd Place Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast - There's Only One You

2003

** 2003 Be Your Best Aberdeen Rock Challenge ** Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Thursday 13 February 1st Place Torry Academy, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire - Choose Life 2nd Place Peterhead Academy, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - G.M. 3rd Place Oldmachar Academy, Bridge of Don, Aberdeenshire - Sounds Like Teen Spirit ** 2003 Be Your Best Bournemouth Rock Challenge ** Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset Monday 3 March 1st Place Lytchett Minster School, Poole, Dorset - To the Land of Milk and Honey 2nd Place Highcliffe School D.C., Christchurch, Dorset - Yomigaeru 3rd Place Oakmead College of Technology, Bournemouth, Dorset - Into the World of Temptation ** 2003 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day One ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Wednesday 5 March 1st Place Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh, Hampshire - Freedom of Expression 2nd Place Lycee Francois Premier, Le Havre, France - The One Who Stole the Light 3rd Place St Vincent College, Gosport, Hampshire - Adverts Reaction ** 2003 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day Two ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Thursday 6 March 1st Place Hamble School, Hamble, Hampshire - Image 2nd Place Richard Aldworth School, Basingstoke, Hampshire - Overcoming the Barricades 3rd Place Brune Park Community College, Gosport, Hampshire - Unity Through Music ** 2003 Be Your Best Southampton Rock Challenge Day Three ** Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hampshire Friday 7 March 1st Place Cantell School, Southampton, Hampshire - On the Eighth Day 2nd Place Cowes High School, Cowes, Isle of Wight - Re-Volution 3rd Place Regents Park School Juniors, Southampton, Hampshire - The Power of Imagination ** 2003 Be Your Best Crawley Rock Challenge Day One ** The Hawth, Crawley, West Sussex Monday 10 March 1st Place Wavell School, Farnborough, Hampshire - Legacy 2nd Place Davison High School for Girls, Worthing, West Sussex - 8 Percent! 3rd Place Bognor Regis Community College, Bognor Regis, West Sussex - Legends ** 2003 Be Your Best Crawley Rock Challenge Day Two ** The Hawth, Crawley, West Sussex Tuesday 11 March 1st Place Tideway School, Newhaven, East Sussex - Splish Splash 2nd Place Bexhill High School, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex - Unknown Destiny 3rd Place Filsham Valley School, St Leonard's-on-Sea, East Sussex - Where 2 Now? ** 2003 Be Your Best Croydon Rock Challenge ** Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Surrey Thursday 13 March 1st Place Frogmore Community College, Yateley, Hampshire - Life's a Circus 2nd Place Brynmawr School, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale - War With No Winners 3rd Place Crickhowell High School, Crickhowell, Powys - Every Picture Tells a Story ** 2003 Be Your Best Bradford Rock Challenge Day One ** St George's Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire Wednesday 19 March 1st Place South Leeds Arts College, Leeds, West Yorkshire - Elements of Power 2nd Place Buttershaw High School, Bradford, West Yorkshire - Enigma 3rd Place Earlsheaton High School, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire - Street Harmony

2018

The National Final of the 2018 Tour was held in Rotherham on 14 July. First place was awarded to LeAF Studio, Bournemouth, with their theme 'Through Innocent Eyes', a take on the story of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and offered education on the events of the Holocaust through performance. The finale of their 8-minute performance saw scenery close in front of students, revealing harrowing numbers of those killed in concentration camps based on their citizenship, faith or sexual orientation, and the message 'DIFFERENCES SHOULD NOT DIVIDE US'.