Muminal scrabbles to top spot—by 1 point

THE gauntlet was thrown down when two neighbouring East London schools fought a battle of words to find a Junior Scrabble champion. But it was two 10-year-olds from Shapla Primary in Whitechapel, Muminul Islam and Naeem Hussain, who won through to the final on June 18. Muminul was declared winner—by a single point

THE gauntlet was thrown down when two neighbouring primary schools in East London fought a battle of words to find a Junior Scrabble champion.

Not only are St Paul's Primary and Shapla Primary both in Whitechapel, they each have the support of an international law firm, brokered by Tower Hamlets Education-Business Partnership.

St Paul's has been paired with Trowers & Hamlins since 2001, while Shapla has been paired with Clifford Chance since 1995. They volunteer to help the children with reading and maths.

Four pupils from each school took part in the Scrabble competition.

But it was two 10-year-olds from Shapla, Muminul Islam and Naeem Hussain, who won through to the final held at Clifford Chance's office in Canary Wharf on June 18.

Muminul was declared winner by a single point after a tense half-hour, with the finalists watched by their reading partners and teachers.

Muminal's reading partner Alexandra Pygall, from Clifford Chance, said: "He does come up with some good words. He beat me every time in practice and is very good on tactics."

Prizes and certificates were presented to all the children who took part.