Three Scotch College junior school students have out-written and out-read their South Australian and Northern Territory counterparts to take out top honours in English and Writing in the 2007 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).

Year 3 student Rosie Robinson was a duel winner in the ICAS competition, taking out both Spelling and Writing, beating 960 and 519 students respectively. Year 6 student Charlotte Blacketer took out the award in Writing, beating 715 fellow participants, while Rhys Kelly, a Year 4 student, competed against 1,806 students in English to win gold.

Charlotte, of Stirling, also has twice won the English award in previous competitions and tied for the top Writing result this year.

Scotch College Principal, Mr Tim Oughton, said he was very impressed with the achievements of the students and Ms McAuliffe.

“For three students to achieve gold in these national tests in English, Writing and Spelling is an outstanding achievement – they should all be very proud of their accomplishment,” Mr Oughton said. 

“It is a real testament to these students to come up against so many students from so many schools and excel at a national level.”

Hundreds of schools across South Australia and the Northern Territory participate in the competition including 447 schools in the English tests, 287 in the Writing tests and 300 in the Spelling tests.

The awards ceremony for the South Australian and Northern Territory ICAS winners will be held in Adelaide on Tuesday, 20 November 2007.