Beverley High School are celebrating after one of their pupils Hannah Wookey won the National Spelling Bee Competition in German.
Year 7 student Hannah won the coveted award at the finals that were held at Anglia Ruskin University beating off competition from a massive 60,000 entries from 63 different schools.
Now in its fourth year the National Spelling Bee Competition is to encourage students to develop strategies for learning new vocabulary in a foreign language.
Hannah speaking about winning the competition said;
“It was a really good experience as I met lots of different people and got the chance to look around Cambridge.”
“I was really shocked when I won but felt proud of what I’d done. It has also made me want to aim to go to Cambridge University in the future.”
The regional finals took place at Hull University in March. Four of students from Beverley High School were tested on a total of 150 words in front of 63 schools from all over Yorkshire and the Humber.
Hannah got through to the National Final which was held on Friday, 4th July where she had 200 words to learn.
Head teacher of Beverley High School Sharon Japp was proud of Hannah’s achievements, she said;
“Beverley High School is very proud of Hannah’s achievement in winning the national final of the German Spelling Bee competition in Cambridge last week.”
“As a Year 7 pupil she has studied German for only one year. We understand that 60,000 students entered the competition from a range of school types.”
“Our Languages department have entered Year 7 girls into the Spelling Bee competition each year since its inception, and we have had great success in the past with girls competing in the national finals.”
“But for a student to be placed first in the country is outstanding and to be celebrated. She invested a great deal of effort in learning new vocabulary, which is to be admired.”
Language teacher Julie Wilson commenting on Hannah’s success said;
“I am so impressed with the amount of time and effort that Hannah put in to learning her 200 words. “
“She was dedicated and took every opportunity to practice with me and our German assistant Sandra Duffe. The whole of Beverley High School feels proud of what she achieved.”
“I hope she continues to love languages and to get better and better at them.”
