Competing in a spelling bee is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes, the difference between victory and loss is one incorrect vowel and you’re undone, months of training reduced to nought.

At a small theatre hall in Sydney’s west on Friday afternoon, 34 primary school students sit stony-faced on a brightly lit stage, knowing this pressure only too well.

All have made it past about 200,000 students who competed in spelling bees across 1,070 public schools in New South Wales . The finalists earned their place at this year’s state competition after winning online regional finals in August. They represent the top 0.03%. And they’re not here to mess around.

Five are competing for a third time, having progressed to the last stage in the junior competition .…