Category : Learning
Date : 05.04.2004
Printable version
BBC ONE is
launching a nail-biting new national event – Hard Spell
– a national, televised spelling bee, inspired by the American
documentary Spellbound, that will reach out to schools across the UK
to find Britain's best young speller.
Hard Spell combines an accessible
learning initiative with an engaging TV event that will inspire, educate
and entertain.
The programme will be recorded in the autumn and will
air on BBC ONE late this year.
Viewers will watch the hopes, nerves and excitement
of children across the UK as they spell their way to the top of the
class.
Hard Spell is an event that supports
many of the BBC's learning and literacy initiatives - eg The Learning
Zone and the multi-media spelling site Skillswise - and involvement
from schools in the UK is at the heart of this national event.
Karen Smith, Executive Producer, Hard
Spell, says: "We want Hard Spell to
capture people's imagination and make them want to get involved.
"The actual TV show is just one side of Hard
Spell – it's the schools and the children that are at the
centre of this whole event.
"It's a great chance to combine education and entertainment
using the wealth of resources that the BBC can offer."
Who is the competition open to?
The competition is open to all pupils aged 11 to 14 in all UK schools.
How do schools get involved?
Headteachers at all UK schools will be sent the registry information
in May.
Once schools have registered they will be sent starter
packs to help them organise their own spelling competitions to find
their best young speller.
Children who wish to take part will have the whole
summer to swot up on their spelling using these informative and educational
packs and from September the national spelling event begins.
Each school's best young speller will go through to one of nine regional
heats that take place in October across the country.
The TV cameras will be there to film these committed
children and follow the stories of them and their families through to
the big finale.
The quarter and semi-finals will then be held in London and will culminate
in the nail-biting national final.
When will the programme air?
Hard Spell will be transmitted on BBC ONE late
this year.
Schools Minister Stephen Twigg says: "Anything which helps raise
the awareness of the hard work our pupils put into spelling is a good
thing."
David Butler, Chief Executive, National Confederation
of Parent Teacher Associations, says: "The NCPTA is always interested
in new ways of improving literacy and we think the multi-platform approach
of Hard Spell is a brilliant way of doing just
this."
Hard Spell is BBC TV production for BBC ONE.
Spelling has never been so compelling!
