Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
About 500 Words in exactly 500 Words
Seven years ago, Chris Evans had a dream: to get children excited about reading and writing. All children, no matter what their ability. 500 Words is now one of the most successful story-writing competitions for kids in the world. Nearly half a million pupils have written a story for us; that’s over 277 MILLION words!
It’s very simple. Entrants write an original story on any subject or theme in 500 Words or fewer and submit it online. If they win, their story will be read live on the radio by a superstar celebrity…like Julie Walters, Tom Hiddleston, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Jeremy Irons, or Sherlock himself – Benedict Cumberbatch. Each year, 10 million Radio 2 listeners hear, read and love these stories.
In 2016 123,436 children entered the competition and at the finale, on 27th May, we revealed the 6 winning stories from the 5-9 and 10-13 age categories. In the year of Shakespeare's 400th anniversary, we held our final live from the home of British story-telling, Shakespeare's Globe.
This year we had a magnificent extravaganza celebrating our fantastic 6 winners with a starry list of celebs including Julie Walters, Tom Hiddleston and Andy Serkis; reading the winners’ stories at Shakespeare's Globe. Also there were enchanting performances from global superstars One Republic, 90s comeback kids All Saints, and the amazing Foxes.
As well as rubbing shoulders with the world’s biggest celebrities and massive pop-stars our Bronze winners won their own height in books and the Silver winners the Duchess’ height in books. AND our Gold winners not only won Chris Evans’ height in books AND 500 books for their school, but they were also surprised with a special illustration of their story by children’s laureate Chris Riddell after the show!
Plus, 500 Words were delighted to welcome back real-life royalty to the competition: Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, who returned in 2016 to support the competition as our Honorary Judge! At the finale at the Globe she presented the Gold winners with their medals and prizes. The HRH Duchess Of Cornwall was also part of the judging process where she read and debated the top 50 stories of the competition with our amazing author panel: Malorie Blackman, Charlie Higson, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Francesca Simon.
Thank you to all the children who entered the competition and to our brilliant judges across the country that helped to mark all the stories. In the words of the HRH Duchess Of Cornwall “What wonderful stories will be told?”– keep your ears and eyes peeled for details on how to enter to 500 Words 2017!
The 2017 competition is now open for entries! Submit your story here to be in a with a chance to join Chris at the 500 Words Final from the Tower of London.