Students from all over Leicester took part in the city round of the Times Spelling Bee Championship.

The winning team, English Martyrs Roman Catholic School, in Beaumont Leys, beat other schools including Babington College, in Beaumont Leys, Judgemeadow Community College, in Evington, Leicester High School, in London Road, Leysland High School, in Countesthorpe, Crown Hills Community College, and Countesthorpe College.

Shanneth Henry-Shaw, who coached the Babington team, which was runner-up, said they enjoyed themselves at the event on March 31. The contest entailed a knockout heat which was a live oral spelling contest and comprised of two spelling challenges, a spelling play-off and a challenge where students had to spell the most number of words in two minutes.