or call 020 7404 3400
or call 020 7404 3400
Or call 020 7404 3400
BBC 500 Words is one of the UK’s most well-known children’s writing competitions. It encourages young people to write a story they would love to read, in 500 words or fewer. The competition celebrates imagination and ideas above everything else, and the final brings together the most talented young writers from across the country.
Promote Your School is a longtime partner of BBC 500 Words. Each year, we donate a literacy Wall Art project for the random prize draw. Every child that submits a story automatically enters their school into the draw. And one lucky school wins a bundle of books and a bespoke, literacy Wall Art project, designed by us.
It was a real honour to be invited to attend the final and to witness such an inspiring event.
The competition, supported by BBC Bitesize, received more than 46,500 entries from across the UK. Six exceptional young authors were crowned last week at the Grand Final at Windsor Castle. And their identities were kept secret until the big reveal on a special edition of The One Show.
Her Majesty The Queen welcomed celebrity readers; Jodie Whittaker, Joanna Page, Sara Cox, Bradley and Barney Walsh, Big Zuu and Paterson Joseph to Windsor Castle for the final event.
Paddington sang ‘The Explorer and The Bear’ from Paddington The Musical. While West End star Marisha Wallace gave a powerful performance of ‘A Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman. There was also a special appearance from The Gladiators Steel and Diamond.
Throughout the afternoon, the shortlisted stories were read aloud by a fantastic group of celebrity readers. Listening to the stories, you could easily imagine they had been written by experienced adult authors. The quality of the storytelling, imagination and language was remarkable!
Then, the young writers themselves walked up to the stage and reminded us all just how creative children can be.
Part of the magic of the final was hearing well-known actors, presenters and authors bring the stories to life.
The event featured an impressive line-up of celebrity readers. This included Paterson Joseph, Jodie Whittaker, Sara Cox and Bradley Walsh. Each read one of the shortlisted stories. And their performances added energy and emotion to the stories, bringing them to life for everyone in the room.
One of the most striking moments was the silence while each story was being read. The audience was completely absorbed, which shows just how powerful storytelling can be.
Having worked in education for over 25 years, moments like this always stand out. When we offer children the space and encouragement to share their ideas, the results can be extraordinary.
After the recording of the final, Queen Camilla invited guests to a reception at Windsor Castle.
It was an incredible setting and a very special experience to meet Her Majesty. I also spoke with many of the people involved in the competition. The event also included appearances from much-loved characters such as Paddington Bear, which added to the celebratory atmosphere of the day.
I particularly enjoyed being able to meet the young finalists and hear their stories. And it was very memorable to share the experience with the BBC team and celebrity readers.
The day was a powerful celebration of what young people can achieve through creativity and storytelling.
I am so fortunate to work on projects that encourage children to express their ideas and build confidence in their writing. And, events like the BBC 500 Words Final show just how important those opportunities can be.
It was an inspiring afternoon and a real privilege to attend.
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