The Times to launch UK’s first national schools’ Spelling Bee

The Times new national Spelling Bee championship aims to discover the UK’s best young spellers, making spelling fun for pupils of all abilities and helping teachers develop the talents of their children.

The Times is a committed supporter of standards of English and a respected commentator on education matters and the new contest is one of series of nationwide initiatives to help inspire children and support teachers.

The spelling bee represents the latest education initiative from The Times following the successful launch last year of Engaging Minds, a unique free education programme for UK schools that thousands of teachers are already enjoying.

ENTER YOUR SCHOOL FOR THE TIMES SPELLING BEE

The Times Spelling Bee championship

The UK’s first national Spelling Bee championship for schools is open to 11-12 year-olds in all schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Schools are invited to put forward a team of three pupils (plus a reserve) of their most brilliant spellers and join in live spelling contests with other schools up and down the country.

The championship will start in March 2009 when schools go head-to-head in local knockout heats to display their spelling talents. The winning teams will then progress to the Regional Finals which will be staged in May 2009. The climax will be the high-profile Grand Final which will be held in London in June 2009.

ENTER YOUR SCHOOL FOR THE TIMES SPELLING BEE

To help get spellers of all abilities involved and motivated, schools entering the championship will soon have access to new online spelling games and teaching resources linked to the national curriculum to help make spelling fun which The Times is developing.

Schools are being encouraged to hold their own spelling contests in classes to help identify their best team for the competition and there will be step-by-step guidelines detailing how to go about it.

Schools can enter the competition, sign up for the online games and order their free teaching resources here. The deadline for entries is December 19, but schools will have until the end of January to provide their team details.

Online games and activities to make spelling fun for all abilities

The Times, with Collins, Official Dictionary of The Times Spelling Bee, has devised a fantastic spelling website with fun and educational spelling games and puzzles to help spellers of all abilities. The games are available to all schools and those entering the Spelling Bee championship. All schools can register now to get access to the online games and teaching resources when they become available by clicking here – even if they’re not ready yet to enter the Spelling Bee championship.

The online games are free to play and can be used to practice spelling in the classroom and at home, allowing students to track their progress and improve their personal best scores.

There will also be free teaching resources available for both primary and secondary schools with inspiring lesson plans, activities and worksheets linked to the national curriculum to help make spelling fun, and schools can order these now.

The Times Spelling Bee 2009: key dates

September 2008: Championship launch. Schools can sign up to enter the Spelling Bee championship and register to receive teaching resources and access to online classroom games (free of charge).

Mid-October 2008: Launch of online games and teaching resources for schools. Sign up your school today to access the online classroom games.

December 19, 2008: Deadline for entry to the competition. Schools to submit competition entry form by the end of the Winter Term.

January 2009: After Christmas free teaching resource packs are available - order yours today. Schools to submit the names of pupils in their teams (plus reserve) for local knockout heats by end of January.

March 2009: Local inter-schools knockout heats

May 2009: Regional Finals

June 2009: High-profile Grand Final in London

DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL ENTRIES: DECEMBER 19, 2008

“I am delighted that The Times has taken the initiative to launch a national Spelling Bee competition to assist teachers and children with spelling. Good spelling will assist children in their future ambitions and it forms an essential part of the school curriculum. The Times competition looks like it will be a lot of fun for the teams and I wish all the children who take part the best of luck."

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

Times recommends

• Students to rate lecturers online
• Students face big rise in university fees
• Queen’s English Society boss’s poor spelling