Growing up in Wales, the concept of an Eisteddfod was as normal as Christmas or Easter. Essentially a talent competition where the four houses (everyone in the school was randomly assigned to a different house) would compete in things like "English Play", "Solo instrument", "Best band", "Welsh play" and others I forget. Like a sports day for the kids who did shit at sports day.

There'd be a hardcore few who would take it all insanely seriously, but on the whole it'd be someone who had some extra-curricular talent who'd end up winning the heats and representing the "vocal solo performance" or something, but the English play was always a fun opportunity of dressing up as a teacher and taking the piss out of them.

Did anything like this exist in England, Scotland or elsewhere?

Used to take the piss out of it at the time, but looking back was a good thing. I was house captain in my final year and we won. Only category that actually mattered was best band though, and a cover of dEUS's Suds & Soda killed it. Still remember how satisfying it was shouting FRIDAY again and again.