🌟 Half Term Story Challenge

Oct 24th

📚 Let Your Imagination Shine: Enter Our Writing Competition! 🚀 500 Words of Wonder: A Creative Writing Adventure Awaits

Half term is the perfect opportunity for children to let their imaginations run wild and get creative with their writing. Following the excitement of watching the BBC 500 Words live lesson in school, many children left bursting with ideas for characters, adventures and magical worlds. If your child would like to watch the lesson again for inspiration, you can find the recording via the BBC 500 Words website.
We are delighted to launch our St Peter’s Writing Competition, running alongside the national BBC 500 Words Competition. Even better, children can submit the same story to both competitions, giving them two fantastic opportunities to share their creativity and celebrate their writing. We have teamed up with Imagined Things independent book shop in Harrogate who have provided winner and runner up prizes and will hopefully be helping with the judging.
The competition is all about imagination, originality and storytelling. The judges are looking for exciting ideas, memorable characters and stories that captivate readers. The best part? Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not judged. It’s the quality of children’s ideas that really matters.
Please take a look at the details below for, guidance and entry information for both competitions.

What is 500 Words?

500 Words is the UK’s largest story-writing competition for children aged 5-11. It is your chance to let your imagination run wild and create an amazing story of 500 words or fewer!

The competition is all about creativity, imagination and original ideas. You can write about anything you like and create characters, adventures and worlds that readers will never forget.

There are two age categories:

  • 5-7 years
  • 8-11 years

Key Dates

  • BBC Competition – Opened September 29, 2026, and closes November 6, 2026, at 9:00 PM.
  • St Peter’s Competition – Opened September 29, 2026, and closes November 6, 2026, at 9:00 PM.

Entering

  • BBC competition- submit online via the 500 Words website (link above)
  • School competition – submit via email to admin@stpeters.ycst.co.uk or hand in your handwritten or printed story to your teacher.

You can enter the same story into both competitions.

The best part? Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not judged. The judges are looking for brilliant ideas, exciting stories and creative writing.

There are some fantastic prizes to be won, including a specially illustrated cover for winning stories, created by professional illustrators.

The competition is judged by well-known authors and celebrities, and the winning stories will be read aloud by celebrities during a special BBC celebration of young writers.

Your Story Checklist

Before you start writing, make sure your story:

✅ Is 500 words or fewer (the title does not count)

✅ Is written by you on your own

✅ Is your own original idea

✅ Is written as a story, not a poem or rap

Remember…

❌ Do not include your name or personal information in your story.

❌ Do not simply retell a real historical event.

❌ Do not use AI to create, write or develop your story.

❌ Do not include bad language, graphic violence or anything unsuitable for children.

What Makes a Great 500 Words Story?

The judges will be looking for:

🌟 Interesting characters

🌟 An exciting plot

🌟 Original and imaginative ideas

🌟 Brilliant use of language

🌟 A story that readers enjoy and remember

Top Tip!

Write the kind of story you would love to read yourself. Make your reader laugh, gasp, wonder, or even shed a tear. Be brave, be creative and most importantly. Have fun and let your imagination shine! ✨📖✍️

Posted In Community, Curriculum, Events, Share Our Shine

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