500 Words 2024/25 is open for entries.
BBC’s 500 Words, the UK’s largest children’s writing competition for children aged 5-11 is now open for entries and closes at 9pm on 8 November 2024. There are two age categories: 5-7 year-olds and 8-11 year-olds. All children need to do is write a story they would love to read in 500 words or less. The BBC 500 Words competition was created as a way to encourage young people to develop their writing skills and foster a love for storytelling. Children of all abilities can enter; spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked – it’s all about creativity!
The finalists will be invited to go to a glamorous grand final at Buckingham Palace in February next year, where the bronze, silver and gold in each category will have their stories read out by celebrities. There are also lots of prizes to be won – each winner takes home a bundle of books and the gold winners also win 500 books for their school library. If your school enters a story and has more than 50% of pupils receiving free school meals, you are entitled to a £50 National Book Token and three £10 book tokens for your pupils Not only that, the winning stories will take home an original illustration from Dapo Adeola, Nigel Parkinson, Lydia Monks, Momoko Abe, Rob Biddulph or Yasmeen Ismail.
The winning stories will be judged by an official panel including Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Sir Lenny Henry, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson, Malorie Blackman and joining the panel this year, singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.
Need some inspiration? Find out from the judges what makes a brilliant 500 Words story.
What are you waiting for? Start writing your story today and enter before 9pm on 8 November.
500 Words wouldn’t be a success without the support of thousands of volunteer judges who mark the first round. Registration to sign up as a volunteer judge is open to teachers, teaching assistants, SEND and library staff.