Today, the UK’s most successful writing competition for children, 500 Words, launched on BBC Breakfast, live from a primary school in Abergavenny.
Once again, the competition has been given the royal seal of approval, with Her Majesty The Queen announcing that it was open in a special poem to Sir Lenny Henry, one of this year’s judges, on BBC Breakfast.
It is also confirmed that this year’s winners will have the chance to meet The Queen, with the grand final taking place at Buckingham Palace in February 2024.
Primary school aged children from across the UK can submit their own original short story from Tuesday 26th September until 8pm on Friday 10th November.
The competition, which is supported by BBC Teach, encourages children of all abilities to dive deep into their imagination and write the story they would love to read in 500 words or less, without fear of spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.
Jon Kay, BBC Breakfast presenter said: “Filming at the Palace with Sir Lenny for BBC Breakfast this week has given us a glimpse of what next year’s 500 Words grand final will be like. The opulent state rooms which usually host royalty, ambassadors and heads of state from all over the world will be taken over by primary school kids from across the UK. It doesn’t matter where you live - or what your spelling and punctuation are like. If you have a brilliant story idea that will amaze, excite and entertain the judges, you can be one of our winners meeting The Queen at Buckingham Palace.”
50 finalists, along with their parents or carers, will be invited to attend the grand final in February 2024 at Buckingham Palace. The event will be shown as part of a special 500 Words programme with The One Show on World Book Day®, Thursday 7th March 2024.
At the event, the bronze, silver and gold winners of both age groups, 5-7 and 8-11, will receive a selection of exciting prizes, including having their stories read by famous faces and a bundle of books to help continue their love of the written word.
The two gold winners will receive not only the height of judge, Sir Lenny Henry, in books, but 500 books for their schools.
Silver winners will get their hands on the height of Her Majesty in books, and bronze winners will receive the average height of a 7 or 11 year old in books.
All of their stories will be illustrated by children’s illustrators – Joelle Avelino, Axel Scheffler, Fiona Lumbers, Sue Cheung, Jamie Smart, and Steven Lenton – framed, and put into a 500 Words winners' book.
Every finalist will receive a £20 National Book Token and their stories will be recorded and published to the BBC Teach website.
Every story will be entered into a random draw, where one lucky winner will receive a ticket to the grand final, and their school will receive a bundle of 500 books and literacy wall art of their choice.
Helen Foulkes, Head of BBC Education said: “We are delighted to be running this year’s 500 Words competition. It goes to the heart of everything we do in BBC Education. Ever since it began, the short story writing competition has always been for EVERY child, no matter what their ability. It is all about creativity with no need to worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar. This year we want children to write the story they would LOVE to read. We can’t wait to read all the incredible entries we know we will receive and support children across the UK with their creative writing.”
For more information and details on how to get involved, please visit: www.bbc.co.uk/teach/500-words