There are three age categories: Years 1 and 2, year 3 and 4, Years 5 and 6, Years 7 and 8 and Years 9 and 10. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked – it’s all about creativity!

Finalists will be invited to go to a glamorous grand final at Cranage Hall where the bronze (2), silver (2) and gold (2) winners in each category will have their stories read out.

There are also prizes to be won – each winner will take home books and the gold winners also win books for their school library.

Not only that, but the winning stories will also be published in a FFET short story illustrated anthology

How to Enter

The 500 Word Competition is open to all pupils in Years 1 to 10 from Ellesmere Port C of E College, Birches Head Academy and Handforth Grange Primary School. Pupils can submit their entries directly to us using the form below. Pupils can also submit their entries to the school librarian.

Submit your 500 words entry here

The Stories

We want children to have fun writing their stories, be as creative as they can and make us laugh, cry or just be blown away by what we are reading. Children are encouraged to write a story they would love to read themselves.

There are very few rules on FFET 500 Words but a few points to remember:

The theme is Extraordinary

All entries must be connected to the theme.

All the stories must:

  • Be 500 words or less (title is not included in the number)
  • Be written by an individual and not a group
  • Be a child’s own original idea
  • Be prose, not rap or poem

Stories must not:

  • Give any personal details of the child, including their name
  • Recount an historical event (but they can use a real person or historical character as a source of inspiration)
  • Be created, written or developed by AI

Judging Criteria:

All stories will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Characterisation
  • Plot
  • Originality
  • Language
  • Enjoyment

Ideas to start you writing

Think about…

You as a writer

  • What is your culture and background? How will you bring your own voice into your poem or story?
  • Who are the main characters and what are they doing in the story?
  • Because we don’t have long to get involved in your story – how do you make the reader interested in the characters or their situations?
  • Make sure you’ve got a great middle and ending as well as a great start to your story!
  • Does the story end with a twist, or a shock, or does it leave the reader wondering what happens next?

Key Dates:

Competition Launch: 27th January 2025

Deadline for Entries: 13th February 2025

Finals: 26th March 2025