Wicked English

Unendingly fascinating, especially for a non-native speaker without English at time of enrolement at Spotswood  P.S, and, needless to add, serial failure at the regular spelling tests—the annual Big Spell just warming up here again. Upper Primary cohort, although some younger level Four again early inducted this year in a record high number of participants. The photo showing most in their school-uniforms on Easter Saturday and arrived before dawn in many cases. 

Not altogether easy first round: pterodactyl, haberdashery and herpetology sifting sheep from goats this year. (Archaisms and specialist terms not unusual in this competition.) 

Words beginning with the slippery haitch gave worst nightmares, reportedly. Organizers identified the sportsmanship on display as the essence, the "heart and soul" of the competition.
                                                                     S.T. 27 March 2016 p. A 6