£2536.25 was the amazing amount raised for Mencap by Junior pupils at Portsmouth High School in a recent Spellathon. The girls handed over the cheque to Michaela Whitaker, Mencap Community Development Officer for Hampshire, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands in a special assembly earlier today.

All girls took part in the Spellathon, from Reception to Year 6 and even the staff were given spellings too! Girls were sponsored by friends and family, either for every word they spelt correctly or were given a lump sum for taking part.

All the words were selected by Oxford University Press and were appropriate to the particular age groups; including words such as ‘considerate’, ‘independent’ and ‘syndrome.’

Cheryl Fontana, Deputy Head at the Junior Department said; “I’m amazed by the amount raised, we obviously have some very clever girls and some good spellers in our school. It was a great event to raise awareness amongst the pupils, not only of spelling but also of the important work of Mencap.”

During the school assembly Michaela explained more about the work that Mencap does in supporting adults and children with learning disabilities and how the money that the pupils raised will be used.