Premier's Spelling Bee

The Premier's Spelling Bee was introduced in 2004 as a fun and educational way for primary school students to engage in spelling. The program includes activities to encourage all students to engage with spelling and to promote improved literacy in combination with the English K-6 Syllabus. The competition is open to all government primary, central and community schools in NSW and comprises two divisions – Junior for Years 3&4 and Senior for Years 5&6.

The competition has continued to grow since its inception. In its first year 800 students competed in 20 Regional Finals across NSW. In 2008 over 71,000 students were involved in the Premier’s Spelling Bee at a school level with 2,400 students from 626 schools competing in 32 Regional Finals. Each year the State Final is held at the Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Centre, Sydney, with the final half hour of the Senior Final broadcast live across the state on ABC Local Radio. The competition attracts significant publicity through media and television coverage.

Information and entry forms for the 2009 Premier’s Spelling Bee are now available for download at The Arts Unit website.

Each school may enter two students in each division of the competition (up to four students in total), selected via in-school spelling activities. These students compete in Regional Finals held in the final two weeks of Term 3. Regional Winners proceed to the State Final held in November.