ENGLISH and maths teachers at Parkside School challenged their pupils during a Spelling Bee and Countdown Challenge.

Several form groups took part, with Ella Blackburn, Briony Jones, Quinn Fisher, Anna Delilah, Lewis Toothill and Erin Embleton, reaching the final.

The challenges were organised by English teacher Joanne Gray and maths teacher Emma Brooksbank.

Joanne said: “The Spelling Bee was an extremely tense affair with words being spelt correctly that the students had previously never even heard of.

“The final got even tenser and concentration was etched on the students’ faces as they tried to avoid an incorrect spelling.

“After an agonising 20 minutes of spelling, we finally had our winner!”

Erin came first with Briony second place and Ella third.

The Countdown Challenge involved a representative from each form at the Cullingworth school.

Again the heats were tense, with Ashwaan Jooman-Whitehead, Connor Illingworth, Alfie Dowden, Libby Mitchell, Archie Wright, Jude Sheeran and Tom Crossland making the final.

The winner was Archie, with Libby second and Alfie third.

Maths teacher Emma said that a special mention for resilience and perseverance should go to Jude and Tom in year 10.