BBC 500 Words: The UK's Biggest Children's Writing Competition Final Approaches

The BBC 500 Words competition has established itself as the UK's largest children's writing competition, inspiring hundreds of thousands of young writers aged 5-11 to unleash their creativity and tell their stories. As the final approaches, excitement is building across schools and homes nationwide.

What is BBC 500 Words?

BBC 500 Words is a creative writing competition that challenges children to write an original story using no more than 500 words. The competition is open to all children aged 5-11 across the UK, with entries judged in two age categories: 5-7 years and 8-11 years.

Since its launch, the competition has received millions of entries, making it one of the most successful literacy initiatives in the UK. The competition is completely free to enter and encourages children to explore any genre—from adventure and fantasy to mystery and science fiction.

The Grand Final

The BBC 500 Words final is a spectacular celebration of young writing talent. Finalists are invited to a special event where they meet celebrity judges, hear their stories read aloud by famous voices, and discover the winners in each category. The event is broadcast on BBC Radio and online, giving young writers a platform to share their creativity with a national audience.

Previous judges have included bestselling authors, actors, and public figures who are passionate about encouraging literacy and creativity in young people. The judging panel looks for originality, creativity, plot, character development, and how well the story engages the reader—all within the 500-word limit.

Why BBC 500 Words Matters

The competition plays a vital role in promoting literacy and creative writing among children. It gives every child, regardless of background, the opportunity to have their voice heard and their story celebrated. Teachers report that the competition motivates reluctant writers and builds confidence in children who might not otherwise see themselves as authors.

Beyond the competition itself, BBC 500 Words provides valuable teaching resources, writing tips, and inspiration for schools and families. The competition demonstrates that everyone has a story to tell and that writing can be fun, accessible, and rewarding.

Building on the Momentum

Whether your child is entering BBC 500 Words or has been inspired by the competition, there are numerous ways to nurture their writing talent throughout the year. Writing clubs, creative writing courses, and journalism workshops provide ongoing opportunities for young writers to develop their skills and connect with other aspiring authors.

Many organizations across the UK offer writing programs specifically designed for children and teenagers. These range from weekly after-school clubs to intensive holiday workshops, covering everything from storytelling basics to advanced creative writing techniques, poetry, scriptwriting, and journalism.

Supporting Young Writers

Parents and educators can support young writers by encouraging regular writing practice, providing diverse reading materials, and celebrating their creative efforts. Writing doesn't always have to be formal—keeping a journal, writing letters, creating comic strips, or even writing game narratives all help develop literacy skills and creative confidence.

The BBC 500 Words competition reminds us that every child has stories to tell and that with encouragement and opportunity, young writers can achieve remarkable things. As the final approaches, we celebrate not just the winners, but every child who picked up a pen or opened a laptop to share their imagination with the world.