# It's Academic (Australian game show)

It's Academic is an Australian children's game show which is based on the long-running American version of It's Academic, and pits students from different schools against each other in a test of knowledge covering a number of diverse subjects including English, mathematics, science, geography, sport, music and popular culture.

## History

The show originally aired on Network Ten from 1968 and 1969 being hosted by John Bailey and then on the Seven Network from 1970 to 1978. In the years 2001 to 2004, Seven Perth revived the show, where it was broadcast locally, leading to a national relaunch on 17 October 2005. The last version on 7two featured schoolchildren in Grade 6, aged around 11 to 12 years old.
The early incarnation of It's Academic was the basis for a series of sketches from The Late Show in which Santo Cilauro, Rob Sitch and Tom Gleisner, who all claimed to have gone to the same school, competed on the program with incredible but humorous incompetence. Coincidentally, their sometime collaborator actor/comedian Magda Szubanski had actually captained a team as a Year 10 student at Siena College in Melbourne, in 1976.
Hosts in the 1970s included Danny Webb (HSV-7), Trevor Sutton (Television Host) BTQ-7 Andrew Harwood (ATN-7 and HSV-7), Sandy Roberts (ADS-7), Alec McAskill (ADS-7), Jeff Newman (TVW-7) and John Bailey. In recent years, Jeff Newman once again hosted Perth's version of It's Academic while Simon Reeve fronts the national version.

## Format
### Original format

The 1960s–70s version of It's Academic was conducted on a per-state basis, with episodes featuring on-air contestants in teams of three, with an official fourth as a reserve, each from one of three different high schools from that state. Contestants were aged around 15 or 16 years, in Year Ten at High School. Winning teams would progress through to state semifinals and finals. In many years, state champion teams met in a national grand finals. Shows were recorded with large live audiences on Saturdays with school staff representatives supervising the contest.
In early rounds, team captains would 'pick a packet' (a numbered pack of ten questions) from a board of numbered options. Teams could answer these questions with no penalties for incorrect answers, but each round was time-limited, and teams could pass on difficult questions to attempt remaining questions before returning to passed questions. All team members could respond to questions; in cases where two answers were given at the same time, the host would ask the captain to confirm the team's response. A 'beat the buzzer' segment and later a video-clip round completed the contest. In 'beat the buzzer', penalties applied for incorrectly answered questions. In cases of ties, captains would pick tie-breaker packets for their team to answer.
State contestants usually received Sheaffer or Parker pen sets as mementos, with additional prizes (often dictionaries or encyclopedias) awarded to the winning school. In the original series, cash prizes of A$500 ($2,732 to $6,505 in 2022 terms) to each team member were awarded to the state team final winners. National prizes differed but were of a similar financial value. In 1971, the national championship team was flown to Los Angeles and toured Hollywood.
The pilot and first two years of the Australian series were recorded by Network Ten, on Saturdays, at the North Ryde TEN-10 studios in Sydney NSW and also in Victoria. The first two NSW seasons 1968 and 1969 were hosted by John Bailey, and both series finals were won by Marist Brothers, Eastwood. The show moved to the Seven Network in 1970 and was recorded at the ATN 7 Mobbs Lane studios at Epping, New South Wales, with a new host, Andrew Harwood. Marist Brothers Eastwood again made it to the 1970 series final but were defeated on that occasion.
In 1970, an "Its Academic Challenge" series, being an interstate contest involving all of the three teams from each state that competed in that state's championship round, was also recorded. In 1971, a team from Inala State High School in Queensland won the It's Academic Challenge final.

### Revived format

The 2008 version features six new schools every week, with the winning schools to reappear later in the season for semifinals and grand finals. Each individual episode features five teams (green, red, blue, yellow and purple), each made up of six members from each school. There is a new feature called the Clean Sweep; it only occurs when a team answers all questions correctly in the first round. A correct answer following the Clean Sweep will award the team with 20 points.
The question rounds consist of a series of five, aimed at one team only. Players are given five seconds to answer, or longer for a spelling question, and may confer amongst themselves before giving an answer. As in the original series, if two students answer differently at once, the team captain is asked to select one answer.
The Random Spotlight selects a member of the team at random. They are then asked a question about their chosen topic, which can be absolutely anything, ranging from academic subjects such as spelling or history, to more specific topics such as capital cities or outer space, to pop culture–themed topics.
Unlike the question rounds, Beat the Buzzer is open for all teams to answer. Simon Reeve reads out questions to all contestants, who buzz in to answer. This is the most competitive segment of the show, as teams attempt to buzz in before other teams in order to score points (10 per correct question; 10 per incorrect answer). Beat the Buzzer is a speed round lasting for 45 seconds. If the team answers a question after time is up, the team would not gain or lose 10 points regardless if it's right or wrong.
The information segment was introduced in Season 2. It consists of Lizzy Lovette and later Sally Stanton giving a brief report on a particular topic. Teams are asked a 10-point buzz-in question on the topic to make sure they were listening. Initially the team who correctly answered the question also won the right to be the first team to get their question round, but this was later dropped. No points are lost if a team answers the question incorrectly, but they would be locked out in the next question. Should this happen, another question would be asked by Reeve for the remaining teams.
In Watch This Space, contestants are shown a one-minute video clip on a certain subject, about which they are then asked three to five questions. All teams compete on the buzzer for the right to answer the questions: 10 points for a correct answer, 10 points off for a wrong answer. In later seasons, after each question, a screenshot from the video clip is shown to the audience that answers the question.
In Unscramble this Picture Puzzle, a 3-by-3 or a 4-by-4 sliding puzzle is shown on the screens; later, it became a 5-by-5 sliding puzzle. The puzzle can be a person, a place or an object. When a team buzzes in, the puzzle freezes. The first team to identify the puzzle gets 10 points for their team and the puzzle is instantly revealed to the audience. If they get it wrong, no points are deducted; however, they get locked out, allowing the other teams to answer it. If all three teams fail to identify the puzzle (scrambled or not), no points are given out and the answer is revealed.
The team who answers the Unscramble this Picture Puzzle question on the buzzer has the right to choose one of three topics for Fact or Fiction, a new round in 2006, and get five seconds to make that decision. Reeve then reads five statements about the topic for which schools buzz in to answer. These questions are simply true-or-false questions.

### Scoring

* Each team begins with 100 points. (When the show first returned in 2005, it was impossible to lose points at any time during the show; this made these 100 points rather useless.)
* In the individual team question rounds, 10 points are awarded for a correct answer; no points are deducted for a wrong answer.
* If a contestant correctly answers his or her Random Spotlight question, 20 points are awarded instead of 10; once again, no points are deducted for a wrong answer.
* In any buzzer rounds, 10 points are awarded for a correct answer, and 10 points are deducted for a wrong answer. When the show was introduced in 2005, no penalties were given for incorrect answers.
The school with the most aggregate points at the end of the week is the winner, progressing to the semifinals and then the grand final. The winning school on any one day does not compete for more points or prizes, and should there be a tie it need not be broken. However, should there be a tie after the week, a tie-breaker would be given out for the Friday's teams. The team that gives the correct answer gets 10 points for their team and goes through to the next round. An incorrect answer would lose them 10 points, and the opposing team goes through instead.

## Episodes

The following is an incomplete list of episodes broadcast, participating schools and winning schools from the show. At the end of each season, winning schools from prior episodes are invited back to play in the finals.

### Season 1 (2005–06)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 17–21 October 2005 | Sadleir 1990 | Our Lady Queen of Peace 1010 | St. Michael's 840 |
| Heat 2 24–28 October 2005 | Holy Spirit 1630 | Birchgrove 1530 | Seven Hills 1190 |
| Heat 3 31 October–4 November 2005 | | | |
| Heat 4 7–11 November 2005 | Denistone East 1520 | Bert Oldfield Public 1470 | Telopea 1260 |
| Heat 5 14–18 November 2005 | Carlingford unknown | St. Therese Primary unknown | Epping North unknown |
| Heat 6 21–25 November 2005 | St. Ambrose 1500 | Dundas 1460 | Maronite College of the Holy Family 1440 |
| Heat 7 28 November–2 December 2005 | | | |
| Heat 8 5–9 December 2005 | | | |
| Heat 9 12–16 December 2005 | | | |
| Semi-Final 1 19–23 December 2005 | Castle Hill 1st Place | St. Gerard's unknown | St. Mark's unknown |
| Semi-Final 2 26–30 December 2005 | Denistone East 1600 | St. Ambrose 1520 | Carlingford 1410 |
| Semi-Final 3 2–6 January 2006 | Sadleir 1760 | Balmain 1190 | OLH 980 |
| Grand Final 9–13 January 2006 | Castle Hill 1870 | Sadleir 1210 | Denistone East 890 |

### Season 2 (2006)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 27–31 March | Matthew Pearce 1480 | St. Madeleine's 1410 | Castle Cove 1160 |
| Heat 2 3–7 April | Chatswood Public School 1460 | MLC Burwood 1450 | North Ryde 1360 |
| Heat 3 10–14 April | Quakers Hill East 1450 | Bexley North 1440 | St. Mary's 1220 |
| Heat 4 17–21 April | Artarmon Public 1570 | Rouse Hill 1340 | Ramsgate Public 1180 |
| Heat 5 24–28 April | Colyton 1510 | St. Michael's Lane Cove 1440 | Loreta Kirribilli 1370 |
| Heat 6 1–5 May | Putney 1490 | Blacktown South 1440 | Gordon West 1400 |
| Heat 7 8–12 May | Knox Grammar 1490 | Forestville 1390 | International 1350 |
| Heat 8 15–19 May | Dural Public 1630 | Westmead 1370 | St. Martha's 1340 |
| Heat 9 22–26 May | Mount Colah 1460 | St. Patrick's 1390 | Sacred Heart 1290 |
| Semi-Final 1 29 May–2 June | Matthew Pearce 1600 | Artarmon Public 1520 | Chatswood Public School 1300 |
| Semi-Final 2 5–9 June | Knox Grammar 1630 | Colyton Public 1550 | Putney Public 1340 |
| Semi-Final 3 12–16 June | Dural Public 1520 | Quakers Hill East 1400 | Mount Colah 1300 |
| Grand Final 19–23 June | Knox Grammar 1st place | Dural Public 2nd place | Matthew Pearce Public 3rd place |

### Season 3 (2006)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 14–18 August | Truscott Street 1390 | St. Patrick's 1350 | Santa Sabina 1300 |
| Heat 2 21–25 August | | | |
| Heat 3 28 August–1 September | | | |
| Heat 4 4–8 September | Redfield 1330 | Lynwood Park 1300 | Taren Point 1180 |
| Heat 5 11–15 September | *Patrician 1440 | Kings Langley 1440 | Arden 1330 |
| Heat 6 18–22 September | | | |
| Heat 7 25–29 September | St. Therese 1330 | Masada 1320 | St. Peter's 1220 |
| Heat 8 2–6 October | | | |
| Heat 9 9–13 October | | | |
| Semi-Final 1 16–20 October | | | |
| Semi-Final 2 23–27 October | | | |
| Semi-Final 3 30 October–3 November | | | |
| Grand Final 6–10 November | Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield unknown | Good Shepherd | Kellyville Public unknown |

### Season 4 (2007)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 26 February–2 March | St. Euphemia 1400 | Mowbray Public 1310 | Coogee Boys 1280 |
| Heat 2 5–9 March | Pennant Hills 1680 | Holsworthy 1260 | Caves Beach 1240 |
| Heat 3 12–16 March | Star of The Sea 1420 | Castle Hill 1380 | Pacific Hills 1310 |
| Heat 4 19–23 March | Winston Hills 1280 | Sadleir 1270 | Sule College 1250 |
| Heat 5 26–30 March | Blakehurst 1370 | Beresford Road 1360 | Warrawee 1340 |
| Heat 6 2–6 April | Waverley College 1510 | Northern Beaches 1280 | OLR ST Mary 1270 |
| Heat 7 9–13 April | St. Gertrude's 1380 | Oxford Falls Grammar 1350 | Meriden Junior 1300 |
| Heat 8 16–20 April | Sacred Heart Mosman 1290 | Parramatta 1280 | Athelstane 1070 |
| Heat 9 23–27 April | Cranbrook School 1470 | Roseville College 1430 | St. Aloysius Cronulla 1200 |
| Semi-Final 1 30 April–4 May | St. Euphemia College School 1300 | Winston Hills 1280 | Cranbrook 1250 |
| Semi-Final 2 7–11 May | Pennant Hills 1410 | Waverley College 1290 | St. Gertrude's 1240 |
| Semi-Final 3 14–18 May | Our Lady Star of the Sea 1400 | Blakehurst 1260 | Sacred Heart Mosman 1200 |
| Grand Final 21–25 May | Pennant Hills Public School 1430 | Our Lady Star of the Sea 1420 | St. Euphemia College School 1180 |

### Season 5 (2007)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 17–21 September | Narellan Public 1410 | Bethel Christian Academy 1220 | Holy Family nelson Irvine contestant Primary 1210 |
| Heat 2 24–28 September | St. Spyridon College 1520 | St. Mels Primary 1310 | St. Marys 1280 |
| Heat 3 1–5 October | Al Zahra 1350 | Camden South 1240 | Maitland Public 1190 |
| Heat 4 8–12 October | Alexandria Park 1380 | O.L.M.C 1340 | Covenant 1280 |
| Heat 5 15–19 October | SCECGS Redlands 1440 | Ryde East 1330 | Barnier Public 1270 |
| Heat 6 22–26 October | West Pennant Hills 1450 | Ellison Public 1240 | Al Noori 1210 |
| Heat 7 29 October–2 November | Kensington 1490 | Berowra 1400 | Eastwood 1360 |
| Heat 8 5–9 November | Marsden Road 1430 | St Pauls Apostle 1370 | St. Pius X 1360 |
| Heat 9 12–16 November | Strathfield South 1430 | Widemere 1300 | St. Kevins 1280 |
| Semi-Final 1 19–23 November | West Pennant Hills unknown | | |
| Semi-Final 2 26–30 November | Alexandria Park 1480 | St. Spyridon 1330 | Narellan Public 1190 |
| Semi-Final 3 3–7 December | Strathfield South 1430 | Kensington 1270 | Marsden Road 1230 |
| Grand Final 10–14 December | Strathfield South 1480 | West Pennant Hills 1390 | Alexandria Park 1200 |

### Season 6 (2008)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 3–7 March | Rockdale* 1330 | St. Marks 1320 | Riverview 1250 |
| Heat 2 10–14 March | St. Joseph's 1270 | Mascot Public 1150 | Ruse Public 1150 |
| Heat 3 17–21 March | Wattle Grove 1210 | Cambletown East 1070 | Crown Street 1050 |
| Heat 4 24–28 March | Jannali Public 1270 | Leura Public 1210 | Parklea Public 1180 |
| Heat 5 31 March–4 April | Hazelbrook Public 1280 | Winston Heights 1270 | Clemton Park 1230 |
| Heat 6 7–11 April | Sutherland Shire 1360 | Narrabeen Lakes 1290 | Glenmore Road 1190 |
| Heat 7 14–18 April | Narellan Vale 1340 | Bilgola Plateau 1250 | Penrith Christian 1140 |
| Heat 8 21–25 April | Burnside 1290 | William Stimson 1280 | AIA 1130 |
| Heat 9 28 April–2 May | St. Luke's Grammar 1290 | Beaumont Hills 1230 | Maitland Christian 4080 |
| Semi-Final 1 5–9 May | St. Luke's Grammar unknown | | |
| Semi-Final 2 12–16 May | Jannali Public 1280 | Burnside Public 1160 | Narellan Vale Public 1140 |
| Semi-Final 3 19–23 May | Hazelbrook Public 1390 | Sutherland Shire 1360 | St. Joseph's 1330 |
| Grand Final 26–30 May | Hazelbrook Public 1330 | St. Luke's Grammar 1280 | Jannali Public 1220 |

### Season 7 (2008)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 7–11 July | Woollahra 1540 | Avalon 1350 | Bexley North 1260 |
| Heat 2 14–18 July | St. Joseph's 1340 | Soldiers Point 1230 | St. Felix 1220 |
| Heat 3 21–25 July | St. Andrews 1350 | Mater Dai 1340 | Shelly Public 1260 |
| Heat 4 28 July–1 August | Hunter Christian 1420 | Narrabeen North 1210 | Liverpool Public 1330 |
| Heat 5 4–8 August | Mona Vale 1420 | CCAS 1340 | Bonnet Bay 1230 |
| Heat 6 11–15 August | Wentworth Falls 1360 | Loreto Kirribilli 1340 | William Clarke 1240 |
| Heat 7 18–22 August | Wilkins Public 1540 | Oakhill Drive 1370 | John Warby 970 |
| Heat 8 25–29 August | Blaxland East 1280 | Double Bay 1180 | Maria Regina 1170 |
| Heat 9 1–5 September | St. Mary St. Mina 1440 | Maronite College of the Holy Family 1230 | TWPS 1140 |
| Semi-Final 1 8–12 September | St. Mary St. Mina 1410 | Blaxland 1400 | Mona Vale 1380 |
| Semi-Final 2 15–19 September | Woollahra 1460 | St. Joseph's 1420 | Hunter Christian 1320 |
| Semi-Final 3 22–26 September | | | |
| Grand Final 29 September–3 October | | Woollahra | |

### Season 8 (2009)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 30 March–3 April | Yagoona Public 1400 | Prouille 1360 | Panania Public 1190 |
| Heat 2 6–10 April | Georges Hall 1490 | Blaxcell Street 1460 | Ermington West 1140 |
| Heat 3 13–17 April | OLOR 1420 | Cecil Hills 1180 | St. Francis 1030 |
| Heat 4 20–24 April | Scots College 1440 | Macquarie Fields 1360 | Norwest 1180 |
| Heat 5 27 April–1 May | Pymble Ladies College 1450 | Quakers Hill 1420 | Busby West 1030 |
| Heat 6 4–8 May | Cammaray 1500 | Northcross 1320 | Cobbity 1130 |
| Heat 7 11–15 May | | | |
| Heat 8 18–22 May | | | |
| Heat 9 25–29 May | | | |
| Semi-Final 1 1–5 June | Pymble Ladies College unknown | Darcy Road unknown | Our Lady of the Rosary unknown |
| Semi-Final 2 8–12 June | | | |
| Semi-Final 3 15–19 June | | | |
| Grand Final 22–26 June | Pymble Ladies College 1390 | Georges Hall Public 1350 | Ironbark Ridge Public 1220 |

### Season 9 (2009)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 14–18 September | Oatley West Public 1470 | Gwynneville Public 1280 | Blaxland Public 1190 |
| Heat 2 21–25 September | Normanhurst Public 1390 | Rosehill Public 1350 | Bald Face Public 1240 |
| Heat 3 28 September–2 October | Malek Fahd Islamic 1480 | Birrong Public 1240 | Unity Grammar 1100 |
| Heat 4 5–9 October | Caddies Creek Public 1320 | Glenwood Public 1260 | Windsor Public 1170 |
| Heat 5 12–16 October | Manly West Public 1410 | St. Francis of Assisi 1320 | Revesby Public 1170 |
| Heat 6 19–23 October | Penrith Anglican College 1310 | Turramurra North Public 1300 | Hannans Road Public 1020 |
| Heat 7 26–30 October | Toongabbie Public 1480 | Neutral Bay Public 1440 | Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public 1150 |
| Heat 8 2–6 November | Connells Point Public 1450 | Tyndale Christian 1290 | Briar Road Public 1070 |
| Heat 9 9–13 November | Loftus Public 1230 | Killara Public 1200 | Oakville Public 1150 |
| Semi-Final 1 16–20 November | Malek Fahd Islamic 1410 | Caddies Creek Public 1320 | Manly West Public 1270 |
| Semi-Final 2 23–27 November | Toongabbie Public 1360 | Normanhurst Public 1270 | Loftus Public 1140 |
| Semi-Final 3 30 November–4 December | Connells Point Public 1420 | Oatley West Public 1370 | Penrith Anglican College 1240 |
| Grand Final 7–11 December | Connells Point Public 1350 | Malek Fahd Islamic 1260 | Toongabbie Public 1250 |

### Season 10 (Summer Series) (2009)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 14 December | Oatley West Public 250 | Gwynneville Public 230 | Blaxland Public 210 |
| Heat 2 15 December | Bald Face Public 260 | Rosehill Public 250 | Normanhurst Public 240 |
| Heat 3 16 December | Birrong Public 290 | Malek Fahd Islamic School 230 | Unity Grammar 190 |
| Heat 4 17 December | Glenwood Public 330 | Windsor Public 210 | Caddies Creek Public 180 |
| Heat 5 18 December | St. Francis of Assisi 290 | Manly West Public 270 | Revesby Public 180 |
| Heat 6 21 December | Penrith Anglican College unknown | | |
| Heat 7 22 December | Toongabbie Public 290 | Neutral Bay Public 260 | Matraville Soldiers' Settlement Public 230 |
| Heat 8 23 December | Briar Road Public 280 | Connells Point Public 270 | Tyndale Christian 190 |
| Heat 9 24 December | Killara Public 230 | Loftus Public 220 | Oakville Public 210 |
| Semi-Final 1 27 December | Glenwood Public 240 | Toongabbie Public 220 | Penrith Anglican College 220 |
| Semi-Final 2 28 December | Gwynneville Public 230 | Briar Road Public 210 | St. Francis of Assisi 210 |
| Semi-Final 3 29 December | Bald Face Public 310 | Birrong Public 260 | Killara Public 260 |
| Grand Final 30–31 December | Gwynneville Public 440 | Bald Face Public 430 | Glenwood Public 360 |

### Season 11 (2010)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 5–9 April | Lane Cove Public 1420 | Berala Public 1250 | Bangor Public 1170 |
| Heat 2 12–16 April | All Saints Grammar 1290 | Balgowlah Heights Public 1170 | Willoughby Public 1170 |
| Heat 3 19–23 April | North Rocks Public 1380 | Greenwich Public 1300 | Newtown North Public 1230 |
| Heat 4 26–30 April | Burwood Public* 1300 | Carlton Public 1300 | Baulkham Hills North Public 1260 |
| Heat 5 3–7 May | Mosman Church of England Prep 1510 | Lindfield East Public 1280 | Botany Public 1040 |
| Heat 6 10–14 May | Gymea Bay Public 1280 | Five Dock Public 1210 | Green Valley Public 1070 |
| Heat 7 17–21 May | Erskineville Public 1280 | Harrington Park Public 1190 | St. Joachim's Primary 1120 |
| Heat 8 24–28 May | Tharawal Public 1240 | Burraneer Bay Public 1220 | Forest Lodge Public 1130 |
| Heat 9 31 May–4 June | Bankstown Public Alex Mac 1430 | Kent Road Public 1270 | Kirrawee Public 1220 |
| Semi-Final 1 7–11 June | North Rocks Public 1470 | Mosman Church of England Prep 1350 | All Saints Grammar 1200 |
| Semi-Final 2 14–18 June | Erskineville Public 1340 | Lane Cove Public 1300 | Burwood Public 1290 |
| Semi-Final 3 21–25 June | Gymea Bay Public 1400 | Bankstown Public 1360 | Tharawal Public 1140 |
| Grand Final 28 June–2 July | North Rocks Public 1320 | Erskineville Public 1270 | Gymea Bay Public 1270 |

### Season 12 (2010)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 5–9 July | Hornsby Heights Public 1510 | Prairievale Public 1450 | St. Bernadette's Primary 1190 |
| Heat 2 12–16 July | St. Andrew's Primary 1280 | Belmore North Public 1260 | Sydney Adventist College 1240 |
| Heat 3 19–23 July | Harrington Street Public 1380 | Mortlake Public 1370 | Liverpool Public 1280 |
| Heat 4 26–30 July | St. Patrick's Primary Sutherland 1510 | Glenfield Public 1400 | Terrey Hills Public 1180 |
| Heat 5 2–6 August | Casula Public 1430 | St. Monica's Primary 1290 | Wentworthville Public 1210 |
| Heat 6 9–13 August | Calare Public 1390 | Galilee Primary 1360 | Mary Immaculate Primary 1260 |
| Heat 7 16–20 August | Berowra Public 1600 | St. Aloysius Primary 1310 | Turramurra Public 1280 |
| Heat 8 23–27 August | Earlwood Public 1430 | South Coogee Public 1310 | Iqra Grammar 1120 |
| Heat 9 30 August–3 September | Hurstville Public 1420 | Murray Farm Public 1390 | Lansvale Public 1350 |
| Semi-Final 1 6–10 September | Calare Public 1420 | St. Andrew's Primary 1320 | Hornsby Heights Public 1200 |
| Semi-Final 2 13–17 September | Casula Public 1480 | Harrington Street Public 1370 | Berowra Public 1340 |
| Semi-Final 3 20–24 September | Hurstville Public 1500 | Earlwood Public 1370 | St. Patrick's Primary Sutherland 1300 |
| Grand Final 27 September–1 October | Casula Public 1460 | Hurstville Public 1340 | Calare Public 1210 |

### Season 13 (2011)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 4–8 April | St. Agatha's Primary 1380 | Merrylands East 1200 | Sacred Heart 1070 |
| Heat 2 11–15 April | Cessnock West Public 1290 | Epping Public 1260 | Killarney Hights 1220 |
| Heat 3 18–22 April | Hurstville South Public 1420 | Macquarie 1230 | King Park 1180 |
| Heat 4 25–29 April | Beverly Hills North Public 1280 | Riverstone 1180 | Yowie Bay 1160 |
| Heat 5 2–6 May | St. Johns Park Public 1380 | Regentville 1240 | St. Paul of the Cross Primary 1200 |
| Heat 6 9–13 May | Crestwood Public 1460 | Woolooware Public 1250 | Hunters Hill Public 1170 |
| Heat 7 16–20 May | West Ryde Public 1430 | St. Bernard's Primary 1240 | Bonnyrigg Heights Public 1100 |
| Heat 8 23–27 May | St. Charbel's College 1240 | Sylvania Heights Public 1110 | Leppington Public 1110 |
| Heat 9 30 May–3 June | St. Finbar's Primary 1360 | York Public 1330 | Mar Narsai Assyrian College 1070 |
| Semi-Final 1 6–10 June | Crestwood Public 1310 | Cessnock West Public 1240 | St. Agatha's Primary 1130 |
| Semi-Final 2 13–17 June | St. Johns Park Public 1310 | Hurstville South Public 1300 | St. Charbel's College 1260 |
| Semi-Final 3 20–24 June | West Ryde Public 1330 | Beverly Hills North Public 1260 | St. Finbar's Primary 1240 |
| Grand Final 27 June–1 July | Crestwood Public 1440 | St. Johns Park Public 1390 | West Ryde Public 1170 |

### Season 14 (2011)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 3–7 October | St. Patrick's College 1460 | St. Mel's Primary 1440 | Eastwood Public 1170 |
| Heat 2 10–14 October | Haberfield Public 1390 | Croydon Public 1380 | Hebersham Public 1240 |
| Heat 3 17–21 October | Bellevue Hill Public 1530 | Newbridge Heights 1420 | Annandale North Public 1270 |
| Heat 4 24–28 October | Pymble Public* 1350 | Claremont Meadows 1350 | Bronte Public 1310 |
| Heat 5 31 October–4 November | St. Michael's Primary 1390 | Brighton Le Sands Public 1310 | Glendenning Public 1190 |
| Heat 6 7–11 November | Kingsgrove Public 1520 | Caringbah North Public 1510 | Hassal Grove Public 1350 |
| Heat 7 14–18 November | Leumeah Public 1480 | St. Andrews Public 1290 | Crawford Public 1230 |
| Heat 8 21–25 November | Sutherland Public 1530 | Our Lady Help of Christians 1320 | Coogee Public 1210 |
| Heat 9 28 November–2 December | Stanmore Public 1370 | Balgowlah North Public 1320 | Carlton South Public 1230 |
| Semi-Final 1 5–9 December | St. Michael's Primary 1460 | Sutherland Public 1410 | St. Patrick's College 1370 |
| Semi-Final 2 12–16 December | Leumeah Public 1450 | Bellevue Hill Public 1410 | Stanmore Public 1190 |
| Semi-Final 3 19–23 December | Kingsgrove Public 1380 | Haberfield Public 1300 | Pymble Public 1290 |
| Grand Final 26–30 December | Leumeah Public 1530 | St. Michael's Primary 1330 | Kingsgrove Public 1260 |

### Season 15 (2012)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 1–5 October | Northmead Public 1300 | St. Francis of Assisi Primary 1240 | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary 1210 |
| Heat 2 8–12 October | Peakhurst Public 1410 | Ashbury Public 1280 | Warragamba Public 1130 |
| Heat 3 15–19 October | Minchinbury Public 1240 | St. Anthony's Primary 1230 | Ilawong Public 1210 |
| Heat 4 22–26 October | Chisholm Catholic Primary 1230 | Eastern Creek Public 1200 | Gordon East Public 1130 |
| Heat 5 29 October–2 November | Samuel Gilbert Public 1510 | Windsor Park Public 1140 | Yarrawarrah Public 990 |
| Heat 6 5–9 November | Newington College 1380 | Cronulla South Public 1350 | Como West Public 1140 |
| Heat 7 12–16 November | Wideview Public 1310 | Lugarno Public 1200 | Our Lady Queen of Peace 1170 |
| Heat 8 19–23 November | Marayong South Public 1370 | Hornsby South Public 1250 | Curl Curl North Public 1190 |
| Heat 9 26–30 November | Hornsby North Public 1290 | Rydalemere East Public 1230 | William Carey Christian 1180 |
| Semi-Final 1 3–7 December | Hornsby North Public 1400 | Marayong South Public 1380 | Samuel Gilbert Public 1020 |
| Semi-Final 2 10–14 December | Wideview Public 1320 | Peakhurst Public 1240 | Minchinbury Public 1190 |
| Semi-Final 3 17–21 December | Newington College 1370 | Northmead Public 1320 | Chisholm Catholic Primary 1100 |
| Grand Final 24–28 December | Hornsby North Public 1470 | Newington College 1400 | Wideview Public 1060 |

### Season 16 (2013)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 4–8 February | Chester Hill Public 1430 | Bargo Public 1230 | Hillsborough Public 1170 |
| Heat 2 11–15 February | Penshurst West Public 1390 | Padstow Park Public 1290 | Kurrajong Public 1200 |
| Heat 3 18–22 February | Clairgate Public 1300 | St. Christopher's Primary 1260 | Henry Fulton Public 1190 |
| Heat 4 25 February–1 March | Mosman Public 1540 | Cabramatta Public 1330 | Camden Public 1080 |
| Heat 5 4–8 March | Peakhurst West Public 1340 | Nouméa Public 1190 | Kenthurst Public 1170 |
| Heat 6 11–15 March | Campbelltown Public 1230 | St. Thomas Catholic Primary 1200 | Austral Public 1110 |
| Heat 7 18–22 March | St. Mary's Primary 1350 | Dalmeny Public 1320 | Rutherford Public 1240 |
| Heat 8 25–29 March | Thornton Public 1360 | St. Brendan's Catholic Primary 1200 | St. Joseph's Primary 1080 |
| Heat 9 1–5 April | Fairfield West Public 1460 | Broughton Anglican College 1250 | St. Jerome's Primary 1210 |
| Semi-Final 1 8–12 April | Mosman Public 1290 | Thornton Public 1230 | Clairgate Public 1150 |
| Semi-Final 2 15–19 April | Peakhurst West Public 1430 | St. Mary's Primary 1390 | Chester Hill Public 1130 |
| Semi-Final 3 22–26 April | Penshurst West Public 1310 | Fairfield West Public 1250 | Campbelltown Public 1240 |
| Grand Final 29 April–3 May | Penshurst West Public 1350 | Peakhurst West Public 1330 | Mosman Public 1230 |

### Season 17 (2013–14)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 21–25 October 2013 | St. Ignatius College 1320 | Christ the King North Rocks 1300 | Homebush West Public 1250 |
| Heat 2 28 October–1 November 2013 | Beacon Hill Public 1390 | Peakhurst South Public 1310 | Canterbury South Public 1200 |
| Heat 3 4–8 November 2013 | Immaculate Heart of Mary Sefton 1330 | Holy Spirit Primary 1190 | Cambridge Gardens Public 1070 |
| Heat 4 11–15 November 2013 | Drummoyne Public 1280 | Miranda Public 1260 | Lurnea Public 1160 |
| Heat 5 18–22 November 2013 | Christian Brothers Lewisham 1430 | Harbord Public 1350 | Cabramatta West Public 1270 |
| Heat 6 25–29 November 2013 | Cherrybrook Public 1390 | Newport Public 1250 | Edensor Park Public 1090 |
| Heat 7 2–6 December 2013 | Guildford West Public 1340 | Miranda North Public 1230 | Springwood Public 990 |
| Heat 8 9–13 December 2013 | Lidcombe Public 1320 | Ingleburn Public 1180 | Mount Annan Public 1130 |
| Heat 9 16–20 December 2013 | Glenhaven Public 1440 | Thomas Hassall College 1280 | St. Patrick’s Guildford 1110 |
| Semi-Final 1 23–27 December 2013 | Glenhaven Public* 1190 | St. Ignatius College 1190 | Guildford West Public 1180 |
| Semi-Final 2 30 December 2013 – 3 January 2014 | Drummoyne Public 1410 | Cherrybrook Public 1260 | Christian Brothers Lewisham 1230 |
| Semi-Final 3 6–10 January 2014 | Beacon Hill Public 1440 | Lidcombe Public 1270 | Immaculate Heart of Mary Sefton 1260 |
| Grand Final 13–17 January 2014 | Glenhaven Public 1230 | Beacon Hill Public 1160 | Drummoyne Public 1110 |

### Season 18 (2014)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 28 April–2 May | Mount Druitt Public 1300 | Prestons Public 1270 | Barnsley Public 1130 |
| Heat 2 5–9 May | Greystanes Public 1560 | Annandale Public 1210 | Glenmore Park Public 1180 |
| Heat 3 12–16 May | Lindfield Public 1430 | Sackville Street Public 1290 | Rosemeadow Public 1150 |
| Heat 4 19–23 May | Smithfield Public 1430 | Emanuel School 1390 | Penrith South Public 1280 |
| Heat 5 26–30 May | Holy Family Primary 1260 | Fairvale Public 1220 | Plumpton Public 1220 |
| Heat 6 2–6 June | Lucas Heights Community 1230 | Banksmeadow Public 1160 | Lethbridge Park Public 1140 |
| Heat 7 9–13 June | Dubbo Public 1250 | Dapto Public 1220 | Tighes Hill Public 1160 |
| Heat 8 16–20 June | New Lambton Public 1470 | Robert Townson Public 1220 | St. Mary's Primary 1100 |
| Heat 9 23–27 June | Beecroft Public 1560 | St. Joseph's Primary 1260 | Werrington County Public 1210 |
| Semi-Final 1 30 June–4 July | Beecroft Public 1450 | Smithfield Public 1320 | Lucas Heights Community 1130 |
| Semi-Final 2 7–11 July | Greystanes Public 1550 | Holy Family Primary 1100 | Mount Druitt Public 1080 |
| Semi-Final 3 14–18 July | New Lambton Public 1490 | Lindfield Public 1280 | Dubbo Public 1220 |
| Grand Final 21–25 July | Greystanes Public 1510 | Beecroft Public 1380 | New Lambton Public 1350 |

### Season 19 (2014–15)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 10–14 November 2014 | St. Angela's 1250 | Sacred Heart 1240 | St. FX Ashbury 1200 |
| Heat 2 17–21 November 2014 | Abbotsleigh 1430 | Ramsgate 1300 | All Hallows 1120 |
| Heat 3 24–28 November 2014 | Vardy's Road 1240 | Malabar 1150 | Ferncourt 1090 |
| Heat 4 1–5 December 2014 | St. Therese's 1250 | Roselea 1200 | Heckenberg 1190 |
| Heat 5 8–12 December 2014 | Trinity Grammar 1500 | Currans Hill 1240 | St. Brendan's 1200 |
| Heat 6 15–19 December 2014 | Forestville 1390 | St. Patrick's 1220 | Warwick Farm 1150 |
| Heat 7 22–26 December 2014 | Parramatta West Public 1260 | Eastwood Heights Public 1190 | Georges River Grammar 1090 |
| Heat 8 29 December 2014 – 2 January 2015 | OLGC Forestville 1270 | Richmond (Captained by Sierra Sparks) 1180 | Holy Saviour 990 |
| Heat 9 5–9 January 2015 | Allambie Heights 1370 | Hills Grammar 1310 | St. Michael's 1090 |
| Semi-Final 1 12–16 January 2015 | Trinity Grammar 1430 | Parramatta West Public 1310 | St. Therese's 1120 |
| Semi-Final 2 19–23 January 2015 | Abbotsleigh 1410 | St. Angela's 1300 | OLGC Forestville 1200 |
| Semi-Final 3 26–30 January 2015 | Forestville 1370 | Allambie Heights 1250 | Vardy's Road 1220 |
| Grand Final 2–6 February 2015 | Trinity Grammar 1420 | Abbotsleigh 1320 | Forestville 1210 |

### Season 20 (2015–16)

| Episode | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
| Heat 1 19–23 October 2015 | St. Luke's Primary 1510 | Mimosa Public 1250 | Bennett Road Public 1070 |
| Heat 2 26–30 October 2015 | Hinchinbrook Public 1420 | Sacred Heart Catholic Primary 1220 | Hilltop Road Public 1160 |
| Heat 3 2–6 November 2015 | St. Charles Primary 1390 | St. Matthew's Catholic Primary 1290 | St. Patrick's Primary 1130 |
| Heat 4 9–13 November 2015 | Sutherland Shire Christian 1450 | William Stimson Public School 1270 | Henry Fulton Public 1090 |
| Heat 5 16–20 November 2015 | Lynwood Park Public 1500 | Santa Sabina College Strathfield 1410 | Alfords Point Public 1090 |
| Heat 6 23–27 November 2015 | Waitara Public 1520 | Seaforth Public 1240 | Harcourt Public 1200 |
| Heat 7 30 November–4 December 2015 | Maroubra Junction Public 1380 | St. Michael's Catholic Primary 1130 | Werrington Public 1080 |
| Heat 8 7–11 December 2015 | International Grammar School Ultimo 1430 | Dundas Public 1340 | Canley Heights Public 1320 |
| Heat 9 14–18 December 2015 | Pacific Hills Christian 1340 | St. Kevin's Catholic Primary 1280 | Warrawee Public 1200 |
| Semi-Final 1 21–25 December 2015 | Sutherland Shire Christian 1420 | Lynwood Park Public 1300 | St. Charles Primary 1270 |
| Semi-Final 2 28 December 2015 – 8 January 2016 (Split over 2 weeks) | Waitara Public 1570 | St. Luke's Primary 1330 | Hinchinbrook Public 1260 |
| Semi-Final 3 11–15 January 2016 | International Grammar School Ultimo 1430 | Pacific Hills Christian 1430 | Maroubra Junction Public 1280 |
| Grand Final 18–22 January 2016 | Waitara Public 1460 | International Grammar School Ultimo 1330 | Sutherland Shire Christian 1310 |