Now in its third year, the Spelling Bee, led by Hannah Lilley, English Director at Co-op Academies Trust, is a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, build confidence, and develop their public speaking skills in a high-pressure but fun environment.

With an excellent standard of spelling on display, competitors tackled some incredibly tricky words, including effervescent, lugubrious, mellifluous, and the audience’s favourite—defenestration. Our students showed determination, resilience, and a love for language, making us extremely proud of their efforts.

Hannah Lilley reflected on the event, saying, “It was fantastic to see everyone involved show such a love for language and have tremendous courage to perform under pressure in front of peers from across the Trust. A huge well done to everyone who took part.”

A massive congratulations to our students for their outstanding performance—we are so proud of you! Thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and to Co-op Academies Trust for providing such a fantastic experience. We can’t wait to compete again next year!