FOUR boys from Wheatley Park School will be representing Oxfordshire tonight after making it to the finals of a national literature quiz.

The team of Theo Howe, Huw Arnold, Kit Rasmussen and Matt Foster, all in Year Eight, beat competition from 31 teams from Oxfordshire and Berkshire to win their heat of the Kids’ Lit Quiz, where youngsters are tested on their knowledge of children’s literature.

And before today’s final at Oxford Town Hall in St Aldate’s, the youngsters will have a chance to meet comedian Harry Enfield. He will give a talk to calm their nerves before the questions begin.

Headteacher Kate Curtis said: “The whole school community will be behind them in today’s final.

“As individuals and as a team they are very impressive. We are extremely proud.”

There will be 15 regional winners competing in today’s final.

The boys took part in last year’s regional heat but only came fourth, so entered again determined to go one better and make the top three.

But when the marks were counted up at Monday’s heat, also held at the Town Hall, they realised they had won with 95.5 marks out of 100 — the highest final mark of any team in the country during this year’s heats.

And they were only half a point away from the contest’s all-time record of 96.

In 2004, a team from the Cherwell School, Oxford, won the UK final, going on to represent the country in an international contest.

The annual quiz sees teams of four aged between 11 and 13 answering 100 questions across 10 different categories which change each year.

Organiser Jackie Atkinson said: “The competition is an excellent way to celebrate literature and reading.”