or call 020 7404 3400
or call 020 7404 3400
Children are encouraged to write a story that is 500 words… or less!
Children of all abilities can enter; spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked. It’s all about the creativity. Its as simple as that!
There are some brilliant prizes up for grabs! 50 brilliant finalists will be invited to a glittering grand final. It will be supported by none other than Her Majesty The Queen herself.
Every school that enters pupils into the 500 words competition and receives 50% Free School Meals or more is entitled to a £50 National Book Token.
Every 500 words story submitted into the competition will be entered into a random draw. The lucky entrant will receive a ticket to the final, as well as 500 books for their school library and Literacy Wall Art.
Wall Art is a powerful way to transform your school environment. Each Wall Art design is created by our experienced designers and tailored to your school’s goals.
Promote Your School will take care of everything — from design to installation. We’ll create inspiring Wall Art that encourages reading and writing through bold imagery, uplifting words and engaging design.
For BBC 500 Words 2025, we’ll meet the winning school in-person to explore ideas and space. We’ll share examples and discuss how our Literacy Wall Art design will spark a love of reading and writing.
Once the design is agreed, we’ll print it on premium, wipe-clean vinyl built to last for years. Then comes the best part — installation day! Whether in your library or a corridor, hall, stairwell or other communal area, your new Wall Art will inspire pupils and bring learning to life.
Last year, St Nicolas CofE Combined School won their very own Literacy Wall Art as part of the BBC 500 Words Competition. You can read more about their project here.
Download the 500 Words Digital Resources Pack, and find all of the excellent learning resources for ages 5-11. They’re sure to inspire children to write and get started on their winning entry.
There’s more to this competition than just the prizes. In fact, teachers who enter 500 Words see the benefits for children’s literacy learning and love of writing too.
With the downward trend in the number of children writing for pleasure in the UK, 500 Words continues to inspire a love of literacy. Did you know? 84% of teachers who submitted stories on behalf of students in 2024/25, felt their students were more engaged with literacy and writing as a result of taking part in the competition.
Get started now by incorporating 500 Words into your Literacy planning this term. And give your pupils the chance to win amazing prizes and celebrate their creativity. At the same time, you’ll inspire a generation of storytellers and bring the joy of writing alive in every classroom.
Watch out for this year’s Live Lesson, which will be available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 24 September at 11am. Watch last year’s to inspire and get ahead with your planning.
Good luck to all who enter! We cannot wait to read your stories!
*Competition closes 9pm Friday 7 November 2025. For more details and to read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notices go to the 500 Words homepage.
We’ll visit your school to understand your goals, explain our process and provide you with a no-obligation quote.
