A TEAM of brainy Year 6 children from St James’ Church Of England Academy in Bournemouth are competing in a TV quiz.

Top Class is a new daily CBBC show based on University Challenge, but all contestants are 10 and 11-year-olds representing primary schools.

Every school in the UK was invited to enter the competition and the team from St James’s had to win their place on the show. They are one of only 16 to appear, drawn from schools across the country.

The first show is on Monday at 3.55pm, but the St James' team - Ramis, Gabriel, Louis, George and Emily - make their first appearance on Monday, September 19.

If they make it through the heats to the final and win they will be crowned ‘Top Class’ in the final episode.

Team member Gabriel, 11, said: “I'm nervous but excited because it's a great opportunity that not many people have.”

Ramis, also 11, said: “I'm happy to be going on TV, it will be a new experience.”

Hosted by Scottish comedian Susan Calman, Top Class not only tests the pupils but also their teachers, and St James' Beth Dodd also gets challenged by the quiz’s ‘Test the Teacher’ round.

Running the risk of humiliation in front of their pupils the primary school teachers must answer a series of pop-culture questions.

The school's new principal, Jeremy Payne, said: "It's fantastic that the skills of our Year 6 children have been recognised in this way.

"This is going to be a great learning experience for them all and we couldn't be more proud of them as representatives of our community.

"We’re all going to be getting together to watch their performance in the school hall, so I’m sure it will be a nail biting but exciting occasion for the whole community.

"Come on St James’!"