What joke made this class the funniest in Britain?

Students run towards the camera, wearing medals around their necks, with one boy holding a Beano trophy. Image source, Will Ireland/PinPep
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Judges shortlisted the jokes into a top 10, with the Leyton pupils winning the public vote

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Pupils at an east London primary school have been named "Britain's funniest class" by Beano magazine.

Year 5 pupils in Stratus Class at Riverley Primary School in Leyton, were awarded the title for their joke submission to a UK-wide competition: "What do you call the fanciest punctuation? An a-posh-trophe".

Mike Stirling, director of mischief at Beano said it was a "perfectly crafted joke" that had their team laughing out loud.

The students and their teacher, Maisha Mahfuza, who was also named Britain's funniest teacher, were turned into artwork for The Beano comic by cartoonist Nigel Parkinson.

A Beano style comic drawing of two people laughing and pointing at an apostrophe with a bow tie, top hat and monocle. The joke reads: "What do you call the fanciest punctuation? An a-posh-trophe."Image source, Beano, 2025
Image caption,

The Stratus Class' winning joke

Ms Mahfuza said: "Seeing our class and joke featured in Beano was surreal.

"Learning should always come with a healthy dose of fun."

The Beano competition was supported by children's mental health charity Place2Be.

Judges shortlisted the jokes into a top 10, which were put to a public vote.

Fitzjohn's Primary School in Hampstead was also shortlisted with the joke: "Gnasher tried to open a store. Business was ruff!"

How some Leyton pupils wrote the 'funniest joke in Britain'

Listen to the Year 5 pupils explain the thinking behind their punctuation pun!

11 June 2025

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