Spelling Bee state finals start after record 98,783 registered students

The Sunshine State has sent a tropical storm roaring across the country in the opening round of Kids News’ sixth annual Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. In a bumper record field of 98,783 registered students nationwide, Queensland pupils finished the School Round with a historic first: a clean sweep across all three competition levels, Green (Years 3-4), Orange (Years 5-6) and Red (Years 7-8).

Round two has shaped up as a State of Origin battle royale, as NSW kids also came in hot, fending off all other comers to finish a tight second in the three categories.

State and Territory Finals open tomorrow with clean slates set for students to go again.

Jared Wei Hao Ooi from Warrigal Road State School at Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane emerged first in Australia in the School Round, due to the nine-year-old scoring a perfect 30/30 in just 46.617 seconds in Green level – faster than both his fellow Queenslanders, who each claimed a top spot in the older age levels.

“I’m really proud of myself because getting to the state finals is a huge accomplishment,” he said. “When I found out I was jumping up and down and telling my friends I got 30 out of 30.”

Jared said he felt really nervous before taking part in the competition because it was his first time and he was worried he might be asked to spell some really challenging words.

“All the words were actually pretty hard,” he said. “I used my phonemes and syllables to sound out the words and spell them.”

“I like that they give some really interesting words and people can learn about them and improve their vocabulary,” he said.

Unique among the stars of the School Round, Jared said he isn’t a huge reader – he is just naturally good at spelling.

“I do like Dog Man and my favourite kind of books are comics with really detailed pictures and books that include dialogue,” he said.

Also turning up the heat was Anna Ponnor of St Thomas More College in Sunnybank, who scored 30/30 in an impressively swift 53.809 seconds in the Red high school level.

“It honestly just feels a relief that I’ve made it to the finals and I’m ready to take on the next challenge,” she said.

“I was thrilled when I found out. I felt happy that I’d made it so far without making any mistakes.”

She was nervous before taking part in the contest, but felt prepared as she had done a lot of practice in the lead-up using the website her dad created, Spellaroo.

Anna has taken part in Kids News’ national Bee several times before and made it to the national final when she was in Year 4.

She said she especially liked taking part in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee because it’s digital.

“There’s no big stress of doing it on stage in front of everyone like some of the American ones,” she said. “It’s just something to have fun.”

Anna said she spends much of her spare time reading, with adventurous fiction novels and fantasy her preferred genres.

Sharing the name that starts with the first letter the alphabet, Anna To from The Cathedral School in Townsville also scored a perfect 30/30, taking just 72 seconds to rank first in the nation in the Orange level.

“I’m pretty proud and excited to make the finals,” she said. “I didn’t really believe it.”

The 12-year-old had never taken part in the Bee before but thought she would just do it for fun.

“I thought it doesn’t matter if I fail or if I go through, I would just know that I did my best and I can always try again next year,” she said. “I like that the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee is digital so you don’t go anywhere – you can just do it at school.”

Anna is also a keen reader, usually reading one novel a day. She especially loves reading fiction, with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling and Percy Jackson by Richard Russell Riordan Jr. among her favourite series.

South of the border, Oliver Lee from Sydney Grammar Preparatory School was overall the best School Round performer for NSW, scoring a perfect 30/30 in just 49.693 seconds in Green level (Years 3-4), a mere three seconds behind his northern counterpart Jared.

Oliver’s results were no fluke; the 10-year-old St Ives student also made the finals last year and aimed to do it again.

“I’m really happy that I did it,” he said. “But I was quite surprised about being the first (in NSW) in this round.”

Oliver said he felt nervous and “a little bit of pressure” going into the competition.

“I haven’t taken part in other spelling bees before,” he said. “I like the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee because there is some think time between words and I like to be challenged.”

Oliver also reads every day, mostly fantasy or adventure novels.

“My favourite authors are A.F. Steadman, who wrote the Skandar series, and Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant,” he said.

If he wins the national competition and wins the trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, he’d ask him to spell the word “pterodactyl”, which is a type of dinosaur.

In the Orange level, Zaydin M of Holsworthy Public School leads the NSW charge into the second round after he posted a perfect score in 1:23.583, while in the high school competition, Maya T of Abbotsleigh Senior School will be looking to better her outstanding 30/30 in 1:18.398 to book a Red level berth in the Bee’s national final.

But spring has sprung early across the country with all other states and territories also on the boil.

Leading the charge in Victoria is Glorianne Thomas from Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne. The education state’s best performing student in the opening round, Glorianne ranked third nationally in the Red level with a perfect 30/30 score in one minute, 32.131 seconds.

The 13-year-old said she was pleasantly surprised by the result.

“I didn’t expect to get 30/30,” she said. “We also have a school spelling bee competition that we did last week, but this one is a bit harder because we don’t know the words. But it’s also easier in a way, because you type the answers so you’re not on stage.”

Glorianne has been taking part in the Bee since Year 3 and made the finals once before.

She is also a keen reader, reading five or six books a week on average.

“I like books that are Christian and have good moral values,” she said.

Glorianne’s home-room and English teacher Blessy Johnson said it was a great honour to have 96 students from LCCC progress to the State Final.

“This achievement is a wonderful reflection of the consistent spelling practice we undertake each week,” Ms Johnson said.

Also inside the national Top 10 – and the fastest of Victoria’s top three School Round performers – was speedy Liam Khanolkar, who took just 80.7 seconds to get 30/30 and finish top of the state’s Green level results.

When told he would advance, Liam said he was “surprised and … absolutely excited”.

“I was really nervous and thinking, ‘I’m probably not going to make it’,” he said.

Competing with his Banyule Public School classmates, Liam said his “prior knowledge and just trying hard” helped him do well.

Liam has focused on practice ahead of the second round.

“I’m feeling nervous because that’s a big achievement,” he said.

Banyule PS Principal Natalie Shanahan said that strong literacy skills were “fundamental to learning across every area of the curriculum”.

“The (PM’s) Spelling Bee provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate language and learning, but the benefits extend well beyond spelling itself,” she said.

“Students develop perseverance, concentration, confidence. They learn that success often comes from preparation, practice and being willing to make mistakes and try again.”

That ethos reflected the school’s broader philosophy, she said.

“Happy kids learn,” Ms Shanahan said. “When children feel confident, supported and excited about learning, they are much more willing to take on challenges and persevere when things become difficult.”

Teacher and learning coach Jessica Ray runs the PM’s Spelling Bee at the school and said it was the second consecutive year registering Banyule PS students.

“It has been fantastic to see how enthusiastic and engaged the students have been throughout the competition so far,” Ms Ray said. “They have been practising, celebrating their growth from their previous results and, most importantly, supporting and encouraging each other along the way.”

Ms Ray said the Bee helped students “develop a curiosity about words – where they come from, how they are constructed and why they are spelled in particular ways”.

“It also reinforces the importance of spelling as a fundamental literacy skill,” she said.

In the Orange level, Akshara T of Korowa Anglican Girls’ School can take great confidence from her round opening round of 30/30 in 1:37.905 as she heads into the next stage.

The coming week could be Aidan Leibbrandt’s date with destiny, as the South Australian was named the state’s top performer in the national School Round for the second year running. Aidan scored 29/30 in just 73.77 seconds in the Red level of the competition.

Aidan, 12, edged out SA’s first ever winner, reigning Orange level champion Elsie Chittleborough, who has aged into the final Red level tier of the Bee.

Elsie trailed Aidan in the opening round by around six and half seconds but it’s anyone’s game this week.

Now a student at Aberfoyle Park High School, Aidan was also a national finalist last year and was very excited to get another shot at qualifying for the ultimate title.

“I thought I would still do well, but I was thrilled at the fact that I came first in the state, especially after I misspelled one of the words,” he said. “I got the word ‘dearth’ wrong as I had never heard of it before.

“Before taking part, I was quite nervous, but also excited. I practised a little bit before the competition took place.”

Aidan said he liked the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee because he could type the words in instead of spelling them out.

He also reads a lot, with his favourite books including the Hunger Games series, murder mysteries and sci-fi.

If he claims the national title and wins the trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, Aidan said he would ask Mr Albanese to spell the word “lymphangioleiomyomatosis”, which is a rare, progressive lung disease.

In the Green level, Kai L heads into finals after a near-perfect score of 29/30 in just 0:59.977, while Phoenix H of Avenues College’s 29/30 in 3:10.265 in Orange sets her up for success.

The Apple Isle is also taking it up to the mainland, with Tassie kids chasing their first national title.

Daniel Little from Hobart’s Mount Nelson Primary School heads into round two as Tasmania’s highest ranked performer. Competing in the Orange level (Years 5-6), Daniel achieved a score of 29/30 in one minute and 46.747 seconds in the School Round – enough to see him comfortably into the national Top 50 with the 41st highest combined score of accuracy and speed in the tight top end of the field.

“I was shocked and I didn’t believe it for a second,” Daniel said.

The 12-year-old also took part in the contest last year, but hasn’t competed in any other spelling bees.

The only word he got wrong this year was “misshapen”, which means having an unusual, twisted, or wrong shape.

Daniel also enjoys reading, and said Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series was his favourite.

If he claims the national final and wins the trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, Daniel said he would ask Mr Albanese to spell the word “ophthalmoscope”, which is a handheld medical instrument used to look inside the human eye to examine the retina, optic disc and blood vessels.

“It’s a long word and different levels make different sounds,” he said.

In the Green level, Michael H of St Brigid’s Catholic School also posted a near-perfect score of 29/30 in 1:06.641, while in the high school competition, Charlotte E of Leighland Christian School locked in 28/30 in 2:05.725 to make the State Final.

Perth’s Christ Church Grammar School is set for a bee-sy week of spelling, with 29 state finalists advancing. CCGS has a secret weapon in Orange level (Years 5-6) contender Luke N, whose outstanding School Round saw him place 3rd nationally, after posting 30/30 in just 1:23.808. Luke goes into this week’s State and Territory contest as the highest ranked WA student in the School Round across the three categories.

CCGS Centre for Excellence acting co-ordinator Sally MacKinnon said Luke was a keen reader who particularly enjoys James Patterson’s books.

“He believes that reading widely has strengthened his spelling by exposing him to new and challenging vocabulary,” Ms MacKinnon said. “When spelling, Luke visualises each word in his mind. He finds longer words with double letters more challenging, so he writes them down to identify patterns and apply familiar spelling rules.”

In the Top End, Haileybury Rendall School Berrimah blitzed the first round, with its students named as the top performer in the Territory in all three categories.

Aivy P achieved the highest score and best time in Green (Years 3-4), with 29/30 in two minutes and 27.207 seconds.

Samuel M was first in Orange (Years 5-6) with a score of 28/30 in three minutes, 13.707 seconds, while Kaitlyn M was first in Red (Years 7-8), with a score of 27/30 in two minutes and 51.843 seconds.

Aivy, 8, said she was ecstatic* to make the finals as it was her first time taking part in the competition and she felt nervous before taking part. The hardest word she had to spell was “onomatopoeia”, which is a figure of speech in which a word phonetically* imitates, resembles or suggests the sound that it describes.

Teacher Mimi Woolley said the school began taking part in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee three years ago, and has seen incredible growth in student participation and enthusiasm.

“Last year, we saw increasing interest from both our younger and older students, and to now have our students finish as the top three performers is something we are incredibly proud of,” she said.

“At our school, we celebrate academic achievement alongside every other achievement, and we want our students to know that being smart is cool. Seeing our students embrace the challenge, work hard and achieve at this level is a wonderful reflection of the culture we are building.”

In the nation’s capital, the Throsby School’s Emmett H stormed into the national Top 10, placing 8th nationally in the Green level (Years 3-4) to deliver the ACT its best result in a record field.

Emmett’s classroom teacher and the Gifted and Talented liaison* officer Carolyn Quon said she was “always excited” by the PM’s Spelling Bee opportunity for students.

“It brings together so many wonderful aspects of learning — the knowledge and confidence gained through explicit* teaching of spelling and sound patterns, a love of reading and sharing stories, and the pride that comes from challenging yourself and striving to do your very best,” she said. “I am incredibly proud of every student who has the courage to take part and put themselves forward.”

“I’m ‘buzzing’ going into the next round,” Emmett said. “I was surprised I got all the words correct but I guess that means I’m officially better than my auto correct … ‘abuts’ was a word I’d never known before.”

Ms Quon described the young all rounder as “a wonderfully competitive basketball player who enjoys a challenge”.

“He also has a real love of intriguing stories and interesting concepts. The PM Spelling Bee gives students like Emmett the opportunity to bring these qualities together — to think carefully, embrace a challenge and take pride in their learning.”

Throsby School Principal Annamaria Zuffo and Deputy Principal Mitch Bartholomew said they were “immensely proud of Emmett’s incredible achievement in the PM’s Spelling Bee”.

“Placing 8th nationally and leading the ACT is a huge achievement for him and very exciting for the Throsby School community,” Ms Zuffo said.

Reigning Green level back-to-back national champion, Echo Feng of Brindabella Christian College, has aged into the Orange level and will also represent the ACT in round two.

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR NATIONAL SCHOOL ROUND HONOUR ROLL

The State and Territory Finals of the 2026 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee start at 9am AEST on Monday 31 August and end at 5pm AEST on Friday 4 September.

For more information, visit spelling-bee.com.au and kidsnews.com.au

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POLL

Poll to come

GLOSSARY

• phonetic: using special signs to represent the different sounds made by the voice in speech
• ecstatic: extremely happy and very excited
• liaison: communication between people or groups who work with each other: to work effectively with each other
• explicit: a purposeful way of teaching students, where instruction is systematic, direct, engaging, and success oriented

EXTRA READING

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Surprise way kids topple bullying

From misbehaving to mega author

QUICK QUIZ

1. Which state topped the national School Round in all three categories?
2. Which word would NSW’s top School Round student Oliver Lee ask the Prime Minister if he wins the trip to Canberra?
3. How many times has Aidan Leibbrandt been SA’s top performer in the national School Round?
4. What is significant about the student who had the next best result in SA in the Red level?
5. Which word had the Throsby School’s Emmett H never heard before the School Round?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
Audio to come

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Spelling practice
Work with a partner to complete this task. You will create your own version of the PM’s Spelling Bee where you will compete head-to-head.

Choose your partner’s spelling words
From today’s Kids News article, choose 10 words that you think will challenge your opponent.

Test your partner
Take turns to test your partner on the words you selected for them. Start a timer and read the first word aloud for your partner to write down. When they are finished writing the word they should say, “Next.” Read them the next word immediately and repeat, until all 10 words are completed. Stop the timer when the final word is complete.

Find the winner
Correct your partner’s spelling. For each wrong answer add a five second penalty to their time. Quickest time wins!

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Mathematics, Personal and Social Capability

2. Extension
Work with your partner to write a cohesive paragraph that contains as many words from your two spelling lists as you can. Your paragraph must make sense!

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability

VCOP ACTIVITY
Wow word recycle
There are plenty of wow words (ambitious pieces of vocabulary) being used in the article. Some are in the glossary, but there might be extra ones from the article that you think are exceptional as well.

Identify all the words in the article that you think are not common words, and particularly good choices for the writer to have chosen.

Select three words you have highlighted to recycle into your own sentences.

If any of the words you identified are not in the glossary, write up your own glossary for them.

Extension
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any base words with more specific synonyms?

Down-level for a younger audience. Find a sentence in the article that is high level. Now rewrite it for a younger audience so they can understand the words without using the glossary.

2026 SCHOOL ROUND HONOUR ROLL

Celebrating Australia’s top three students in each category in every state and territory of the first round of the 2026 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee

QUEENSLAND

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Jared O, Warrigal Road State School: 30/30, 0:46.617

2. Liam K, King’s Christian College: 30/30, 1:08.598

3. Baxter C, Lota State School: 30/30, 1:25.551

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Anna T, The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James – Townsville: 30/30, 1:12.970

2. Aarya K, St Hilda’s School: 30/30, 2:13.733

3. Billy T, Aspley East State School: 30/30, 2:32.792

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Anna P, St Thomas More College: 30/30, 0:53.809

2. Sebastian B, St Thomas More College: 29/30, 1:28.818

3. John L, Brisbane Grammar School: 29/30, 1:45.366

NEW SOUTH WALES

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Oliver L, Sydney Grammar School – St Ives Preparatory School: 30/30, 0:49.693

2. Hayley Y, SCEGGS Darlinghurst: 30/30, 0:55.928

3. Jake S, St Thomas More Catholic Primary School: 30/30, 1:07.621

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Zaydin M, Holsworthy Public School: 30/30, 1:23.583

2. Hexiao Sean P, Beecroft Public School: 30/30, 1:27.752

3. Gidon P, Moriah College: 30/30, 1:37.107

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Maya T, Abbotsleigh Senior School: 30/30, 1:18.398

2. Juhayfa H, Al-Faisal College – Liverpool: 30/30, 1:43.122

3. Mersiha Chowdhury C, Al Noori Muslim School – Senior Campus: 30/30, 1:51.683

VICTORIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Liam K, Banyule Primary School: 30/30, 1:20.702

2. Phoebe T, Sacred Heart School: 30/30, 1:26.413

3. Nova C, The Knox School: 30/30, 1:31.342

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Akshara T, Korowa Anglican Girls’ School: 30/30, 1:37.905

2. Ethan K, Seabrook Primary School: 30/30, 1:47.370

3. Celine T, Syndal South Primary School: 30/30, 3:05.976

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Glorianne T, Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne: 30/30, 1:32.131

2. Caitlin W, Mentone Grammar School: 30/30, 1:43.303

3. Anna L, Bacchus Marsh Grammar – Maddingley Campus: 30/30, 3:41.271

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Celebrating the state’s top three students in each category of the School Round

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Kai L, Millicent North Primary School: 29/30, 0:59.977

2. Sebastian T, Mawson Lakes School: 29/30, 1:40.875

3. Elon Y, Prince Alfred College: 29/30, 1:45.906

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Phoenix H, Avenues College: 29/30, 3:10.265

2. Yichen W, Rose Park Primary School: 28/30, 0:37.354

3. Sara A, Elizabeth Vale Primary School: 28/30, 0:52.511

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Aidan L, Aberfoyle Park High School: 29/30, 1:13.770

2. Elsie C, Adelaide High School: 29/30, 1:20.289

3. Mia X, Pedare Christian College: 28/30, 1:11.791

TASMANIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Michael H, St Brigid’s Catholic School: 29/30, 1:06.641

2. Oscar B, Blackmans Bay Primary School: 29/30, 1:07.038

3. Tommy P, Mount Nelson Primary School: 29/30, 1:16.923

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Daniel L, Mount Nelson Primary School: 29/30, 1:46.747

2. Kobi S, Glenora District School: 29/30, 5:10.946

3. Darcy M, Boat Harbour Primary School: 28/30, 1:24.104

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Charlotte E, Leighland Christian School: 28/30, 2:05.725

2. Amarii B, Parklands High School: 28/30, 2:59.983

3. Torah R, Launceston Christian School: 28/30, 3:38.666

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Joseph R, Kingsway Christian College: 30/30, 1:11.662

2. Archie M, Richmond Primary School: 30/30, 1:42.396

3. Alice S, Hollywood Primary School: 30/30, 1:55.068

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Luke N, Christ Church Grammar School: 30/30, 1:23.808

2. Liam B, St Paul’s Primary School: 30/30, 2:42.585

3. Dinel Jaiden D, Riverton Primary School: 29/30, 1:08.528

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Nicodemus S, John Curtin College Of The Arts: 29/30, 1:52.158

2. Rhea B, John Curtin College Of The Arts: 29/30, 3:05.373

3. Isabella L, ML Homeschool: 28/30, 1:24.883

NORTHERN TERRITORY

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Aivy P, Haileybury Rendall School: 29/30, 2:27.207

2. Yug S, Haileybury Rendall School: 29/30, 2:38.157

3. Ari H, Larrakeyah Primary School: 28/30, 1:26.562

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. Samuel M, Haileybury Rendall School: 28/30, 3:13.707

2. Samuelmarrow M, Haileybury Rendall School: 27/30, 2:00.749

3. Aidan B, Ross Park Primary School: 27/30, 2:03.666

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Kaitlyn M, Haileybury Rendall School: 27/30, 2:51.843

2. Zayaan H, Haileybury Rendall School: 26/30, 3:13.956

3. Sai S, St Johns Catholic College: 25/30, 3:33.524

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (ACT)

GREEN LEVEL (YEARS 3-4)

1. Emmett H, Throsby School: 30/30, 1:11.820

2. Oliver K, Ainslie School: 30/30, 2:22.176

3. Sebastian B, St Bede’s Primary School: 30/30, 2:41.189

ORANGE LEVEL (YEARS 5-6)

1. James W, Ainslie School: 30/30, 2:29.883

2. Philippa G, Hughes Primary School: 28/30, 2:58.647

3. Sabine K, Canberra Girls Grammar School – Junior School: 27/30, 1:31.656

RED LEVEL (YEARS 7-8)

1. Thomas M, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 29/30, 1:54.502

2. Prisha R, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 29/30, 4:49.498

3. Tegan T, Burgmann Anglican School – Forde Campus: 28/30, 1:47.551