NINE-year-old Layla Clayton from Bungwahl Public School has once again proved that big achievements can come from small beginnings.
From a school of just 34 pupils, the Year 3 student secured a place among NSW’s top young spellers for the second consecutive year, finishing in the top 15 of the junior division at the 2026 Premier’s Spelling Bee state finals.
With around 210,000 students participating statewide across more than 1070 NSW public schools, Miss Clayton’s achievement is certainly something to write home about.
“I was very happy – I thought I’d made it into regionals,” Miss Clayton told NOTA, recalling the moment she discovered she’d actually qualified for the state finals.
While spelling increasingly challenging words across six rounds might leave many competitors tongue-tied, Miss Clayton was remarkably unfazed.
Her secret? Plenty of reading, a good memory and a little imagination.
“I didn’t have any nerves. I was pretty calm and confident,” she said.
“By reading books, you find really hard words.”
When faced with a tricky word, she pictures it in her mind, a technique that has helped her spell her way to the state stage twice.
And while some might prefer to take their time over a difficult word, Miss Clayton particularly enjoys speed spelling, putting her quick recall to the test.
Back at Bungwahl Public School, classmates sent a video wishing her luck, which she watched while waiting in the stands.
Principal Diane Fairly also attended the finals, alongside Miss Clayton’s proud family, mum Bianca, dad Darren and brother Dane.
“On our way home last year we celebrated by going to the Blue Mountains,” Mrs Clayton said.
“This year we’re heading to Wildnets Adventure Park at Minmi.”
For a student from a small country school, Layla’s success is a reminder that when it comes to big ambitions, size needn’t be the defining word.
By Charlene RUSSOM
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