Farnham Heath End School’s heroic History Bowl team have thanked Herald readers after a successful appeal for donations to help fund their trip to the European Championships.

The team of six Heath End students booked their place in Barcelona by winning the International History Bowl and Bee contest in London in March. They were the only state school to enter the competition, and triumphed over a team from Eton School in the process.

They faced an uphill battle though to raise their near-£6,000 travel expenses – but have smashed their fundraising target thanks in part to the generosity of Herald readers.

In a joint statement, the History Bowl team of Hayden, Hugh, Gethyn, Amelie, Libby, Tom and Josh said: “Dear readers of the Herald, we would like to give a huge thank you for your generosity for raising the money needed to help send us to Barcelona. 

“We are hugely excited to represent our school and the local area in the European Championships.

“We will compete against schools from Europe and Asia over three days in the European Academic Bowl and History Bee and Bowl. There are over 40 schools competing including Eton College. That will be an exciting rematch!

“We will spend the next few months preparing and brushing up our historical knowledge and will give you a full report on our Spanish adventures in June.”

Heath End headteacher Stuart Maginnis said: “This group of students have blown me away with their talent. It also demonstrates that nothing is impossible and that state education can match our independent school partners. 

“I have also been overwhelmed with delight at the generosity of the wider school community and people of Farnham who have donated to support our students going to the finals of this international trip.”

Heath End’s History Bowl team has a busy schedule ahead at the European Championships. The team will arrive in Barcelona on June 9 and compete in six rounds of the International Academic Bowl that same day.

They will have a sightseeing tour on June 10 and compete in the International History Bee in that afternoon. The next day, the team will compete in  five rounds of the International History Bowl, flying back to London Gatwick on the same day.

It comes after Herald readers again showed their incredible generosity in January, helping raise £17,000 in just two weeks for the Energise Ukraine appeal to fund power generators for the war-torn nation.