Meet Bee’s 2025 national finalists from state and territory round

The buzz at Kids News HQ has reached fever pitch as the national finalists in the 2025 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee head into the third and final stage of the competition.

Last week’s State and Territory Finals told the tale of clever kids from coast to coast. Students from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT all achieved perfect second round scores, while South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory were hot on their heels posting scores of 29/30 from their best performers. For the first time in the competition’s history, New South Wales placed first across all three competition levels, marking its territory ahead of day one of the National Final on Wednesday.

The second qualifying round of the annual spelling challenge run by classroom news site Kids News saw NSW blow clear past the competition in the Green level (Years 3-4) category, taking out first and second place in the top state and territory results. Top of the rankings in the Bee’s most junior category was St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School’s Neve D, who achieved an unblemished* scorecard in under a minute, clocking out at 0:59.393. Close behind was Meggie L of Riverbank Public School, who snatched the number two spot with 30/30 in 1:16.200. Third place saw Victoria enter the leaderboard thanks to Connor B of Woady Yaloak Primary School – Snake Valley Campus, whose flawless performance came just a second behind, recording a final time of 1:17.228.

Green level defending national champion Echo Feng also made the cut, placing third for the ACT behind Fergus T, Hughes Primary School’s Fergus T and Walter C, Wanniassa Hills Primary School. All three scored 29/30, the three qualifiers separated by less than a minute.

NSW also held off its rivals in the Orange level (Years 5-6), with Maya T of Abbotsleigh Junior School claiming pole position seven seconds ahead of Victoria’s Daniel B. They and third placegetter, NSW student Albie M of Neutral Bay Public School, led the 30/30 charge in the upper primary category, with the three national finalists from each of the two states achieving 30/30 to land the top six positions overall.

NSW continued its golden run in the Red level category (Years 7-8) of the State and Territory Finals rankings. The defending champion, Aditya Paul, is coming in hot for NSW after posting the best performance nationally in round two. The Sydney Grammar School student’s strike rate was speedy: not only was his perfect score was the only 30/30 recorded in his cohort, it took Aditya less than a minute and a half to achieve.

He was also twice as fast as his nearest rival, Victoria’s Marcus Z, who placed second nationally with 29/30 in just under three minutes. Third place went to 2022 national champion and Perth Modern Year 8 student Ozi Egesi, who previously won the Orange level (Years 5-6) category of the competition.

Now in Year 8, Aditya also heads into the hive for the very last time. The young Sydney scholar got word that he’d booked his berth in the National Final on his 14th birthday – perhaps a back-to-back national title will be the Bee’s final gift in its own milestone fifth birthday year.

SEE THE FULL HONOUR ROLL OF NATIONAL FINALISTS BELOW

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL STUDENTS WHO ADVANCED TO STATE AND TERRITORY FINALS

The national finals open 9am AEST on Wednesday 10 September and close at 5pm AEST on Thursday 11 September.
For more information visit spelling-bee.com.au or kidsnewscom.au

KIDS NEWS IS VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING NATIONAL FINALISTS IN EACH CATEGORY, REPRESENTING EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY:

NSW GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Neve D, St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School: 30/30, 0:59.393

2. Meggie L, Riverbank Public School: 30/30, 1:16.200

3. Madison Y, Marist Catholic College North Shore: 30/30, 2:03.556

NSW ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Maya T, Abbotsleigh Junior School: 30/30, 1:41.624

2. Albie M, Neutral Bay Public School: 30/30, 2:04.341

3. Duncan S, St Andrew’s Cathedral School: 30/30, 2:38.961

NSW RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Aditya Paul, Sydney Grammar School: 30/30, 1:20.294

2. Patrick H, SHORE – Sydney Church of England Grammar School: 28/30, 1:36.233

3. Lily S, Sindel-Marshall Homeschool: 28/30, 4:36.533

VIC GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Connor B, Woady Yaloak Primary School: 30/30, 1:17.228

2. Jayden M, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 30/30, 1:35.196

3. Zoey M, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 30/30, 2:29.655

VIC ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Daniel B, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 30/30, 1:49.106

2. Kieran X, Serpell Primary School: 30/30, 2:10.827

3. Aisha M, Good News Lutheran College: 30/30, 2:17.022

VC RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Marcus Z, Melbourne Grammar School – Wadhurst Campus: 29/30, 2:59.097

2. Jessica A, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 28/30, 2:02.006

3. Nic Q, Mentone Grammar School: 28/30, 2:56.548

QLD GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Luca M, All Saints Primary School: 30/30, 1:42.445

2. Kien T, Dutton Park State School: 30/30, 1:57.679

3. Lisa S, Somerville House: 29/30, 1:58.101

QLD ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Lucy G, All Saints Anglican School: 29/30, 2:07.668

2. Tom G, Redeemer Lutheran College: 29/30, 2:07.945

3. Hunter V, Taabinga State School: 29/30, 3:15.013

QLD RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Anna H, Moreton Bay College: 25/30, 2:13.992

2. Jacob F, Glasshouse Christian College: 24/30, 2:07.113

3. Melody W, Redeemer Lutheran College: 24/30, 4:54.973

SA GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Charlotte M, Para Hills West Primary School: 29/30, 1:30.309

2. Alexis H, Blyth Primary School: 29/30, 2:44.512

3. Ella M, Plympton International College: 29/30, 2:53.288

SA ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Elsie C, Torrensville Primary School: 28/30, 1:14.120

2. Chelsea B, Craigburn Primary School: 28/30, 1:39.245

3. Alexander P, Blakes Crossing Christian College: 28/30, 1:47.306

SA RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Melinda W, Pedare Christian College: 25/30, 1:05.473

2. Aidan L, Dara School: 25/30, 1:19.511

3. Mukudzeishe C, St Martin’s Lutheran College: 25/30, 4:04.338

TAS GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Nonie A, Lauderdale Primary School: 29/30, 1:39.402

2. Henry F, Launceston Christian School: 29/30, 1:51.837

3. Audrey H, Howrah Primary School: 29/30, 2:24.487

TAS ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Evie L, Margate Primary School: 28/30, 2:10.999

2. Asta P, Andrews Creek Primary School: 27/30, 1:16.284

3. Chloe S, Miandetta Primary School: 27/30, 1:49.091

TAS RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Daniel O, Marist Regional College: 22/30, 3:18.395

2. Amelie W, Sacred Heart College: 21/30, 4:35.805

3. Charlotte W, Marist Regional College: 21/30, 6:57.079

WA GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Emmanuel W, St Denis School: 30/30, 1:56.909

2. Advik D, Bull Creek Primary School: 30/30, 2:32.318

3. Dinel D, Riverton Primary School: 29/30, 1:18.478

WA ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Nicodemus S, Palmyra Primary School: 29/30, 2:18.057

2. Chayanit V, Leeming Primary School: 29/30, 2:21.133

3. Michael H, Bull Creek Primary School: 29/30, 2:21.863

WA RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Ozi Egesi, Perth Modern School: 29/30, 4:45.581

2. Arthur K, John Curtin College of the Arts: 27/30, 5:05.633

3. Cameron K, Wesley College: 26/30, 1:44.273

NT GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Shawn L, Haileybury Rendall School: 29/30, 2:15.450

2. Elliot M, Haileybury Rendall School: 29/30, 2:43.200

3. Jayden C, Haileybury Rendall School: 28/30, 3:31.832

NT ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Dulcie S, Ross Park Primary School: 28/30, 2:00.350

2. Emily C, Haileybury Rendall School: 27/30, 2:52.286

3. Finn K, Braitling Primary School: 26/30, 2:44.508

NT RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Jayden N, St John’s Catholic College: 22/30, 5:34.840

2. Dylan C, Haileybury Rendall School: 20/30, 3:12.739

3. Georgia C, St John’s Catholic College: 20/30, 3:35.422

ACT GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Fergus T, Hughes Primary School: 29/30, 1:35.513

2. Walter C, Wanniassa Hills Primary School: 29/30, 1:48.027

3. Echo F, Brindabella Christian College: 29/30, 2:09.423

ACT ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. James W, Ainslie School: 30/30, 3:13.185

2. David D, Forrest Primary School: 28/30, 1:11.544

3. Evie M, Hughes Primary School: 28/30, 1:29.612

ACT RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Aarush K, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 25/30, 3:27.048

2. Tegan T, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 23/30, 2:41.592

3. Khloe C, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 21/30, 5:13.353

GOOD LUCK, BRILLIANT BEES!