Every year, our pupils amaze us with their creativity—and 2025 promises to be no different! The OAK Multi-Academy Trust’s much-loved 500 Word Competition is back, celebrating storytelling across our schools.
The initiative brings together Year 2 and Year 6 pupils from across the trust, encouraging them to craft original stories of up to 500 words on any theme they choose. After the SATs exams, schools run their own judging rounds, with headteachers nominating standout entries to go forward to the cross-trust final.
Those selected are celebrated in a beautifully illustrated, professionally designed book—copies of which are shared with each school and given to the winning pupils. The competition culminates in a celebration event at College Court Conference Centre, which this year will take place on Thursday 3rd July 2025.
At the event, pupils, staff and families gather to enjoy readings of the winning entries and see the overall winners receive their prizes—including trophies, book vouchers, and a copy of the published anthology.
This marks the fourth year of the competition, and the standard continues to rise. Previous editions have featured dragons, magical forests, zombie apocalypses and journeys through space, all imagined and written by children across our trust.
We can’t wait to see what this year’s young authors create!
Last year’s book can be viewed here.