Tournament of the Minds

The Tournament of the Minds (TOMs) is a problem solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. TOMs is one of the fastest growing international school programs with the involvement of thousands of participants. It aims to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a competitive environment. Lennox Head Public School students work together in the weeks leading up to the competition developing their public speaking performance skills, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork skills. A collaborative solution to the challenge is developed, props are created, a script written and various other materials are formed. The solution is then presented in an entertaining and performance based way to the judges on competition day. In addition to this, students must demonstrate teamwork and creativity in solving an impromptu problem, the challenge being to ‘think outside the box’.