More than 750 schools took part in the UK's first national Spelling Bee championship, competing in 89 local heats and 10 semi finals across the country. The Times Spelling Bee received entries from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands. The top 10 school teams made it through to the Grand Final, held at the West End Odeon, Leicester Square, on June 23, where they went head to head for the winning title.
All of the Grand Final competitors are congratulated on their fantastic achievement in representing their school at this inaugural Times event.
However, there could only be one winner and The Times would like to congratulate St Martin's School from Northwood who have been crowned The Times Spelling Bee Champions 2009! Bishop Wordsworth's School from Wiltshire followed closely in second place and The Welland Park Community College from Leicestershire were placed third.
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Grand Final Results
The results from the Grand Final are:
| School |
Town/County |
Score |
| 1. St Martin's School |
Middlesex |
115 |
| 2. Bishop Wordsworth's School |
Wiltshire |
98 |
| 3. The Welland Park Community College |
Leicestershire |
95 |
| 4. Oundle School |
Cambridgeshire |
89 |
| 5. St Louis Grammar School |
Northern Ireland |
82 |
| 6. Hainault Forest High School |
Essex |
70 |
| 7. Brighton College |
East Sussex |
66 |
| 8. Valley Gardens Middle School |
Tyne & Wear |
65 |
| 9. Bishop Rawstorne CofE Language College |
Lancashire |
57 |
| 10. Fairwater High School |
Gwent |
36 |
If you would like photos from the Grand Final, please e-mail allison.summers@newsint.co.uk.