BBC 500 Competition

[SomeSuchThing]

Is anybody else waiting to hear whether their child's story is on the shortlist of 50 for the BBC 500 Words competition? Those on the long list are supposed to hear today/tomorrow, but it looks from Twitter that at least one child found out last week... My son is quite excited about it (his school have been hyping it up), just wondered if anyone else had heard? :)

[Schoolsschsxho]

Yes!have you heard yet?

[SomeSuchThing]

No, nothing at all today, and can't see any posts elsewhere about it apart from that one on Twitter. Kind of expecting a mass rejection email tomorrow but you never know!

[Schoolsschsxho]

I think the one on twitter is a different competition. Was it the black lives matter 500 words competition?

[SomeSuchThing]

Don't think so it's by Notting Hill Prep, says: "Huge congratulations to Olive (Year 6), whose writing has been selected for the BBC 500 Words final! Her story ‘Cellmate’ is one of only fifty stories to be selected from a pool of hundreds of thousands: an incredible achievement!"

[Pidgythe2nd]

We’re waiting too!!
Starting to think it’s unlikely as the day goes on, especially if they already notified people last week. 😭
But no rejection email just yet!

[SomeSuchThing]

Seems a bit odd if they did tell people last week when they were quite specific about the dates they'd notify people on. Also expecting an email later today, but willing the phone to ring in the meantime!

[Pidgythe2nd]

I entered/uploaded the entries for my children (because their school wasn’t interested when I sent them the links to the competition and resources 😬 ) so I’m hoping they just told the school entries last week perhaps?!

Did your child enter through school or parent?

In any case, they’ve done amazingly well to get this far!

[SomeSuchThing]

Same with us, too much to coordinate for the school perhaps, so sent my son's in directly. They have done well - about a one in thirty chance just to be longlisted, and a one in a hundred chance after that to get to the final! Fingers crossed for them all x

[Busy77]

We're waiting as well.. where did you see the dates? I saw them a few months ago and then they disappeared.

[SomeSuchThing]

They're on the FAQs section of the website - it says:

The parents/guardians or teachers of the top 50 finalists will be contacted by a member of the production team between Monday 22 January -Tuesday 23 January 2024.
Those who have not been shortlisted will also be notified.

[Schoolsschsxho]

Ok, that's interesting. We also entered rather than the school. So perhaps just the schools have been notified?

[SomeSuchThing]

Hoping so!

[Yuja]

My DD was in the last 5000 and she is still waiting to hear - her school encouraged them but didn't do a mass entry so I entered her myself as she wanted to do it. I am guessing at this late stage that it's probably a rejection for her but not heard either way yet.

[Schoolsschsxho]

All still waiting?

[SomeSuchThing]

Yep!

[Yuja]

Yes, I think finalists would have heard by now so I'm assuming no for DD. So proud of her for getting so far though

[Pidgythe2nd]

Still nothing here.
Not getting hopes up now.

[Schoolsschsxho]

Eugh still waiting!!

[Pidgythe2nd]

Still nothing here!
Both my children got through to the next round in different age categories, and haven’t heard for either.

[Schoolsschsxho]

This is so frustrating. I'm not good at waiting! Haha! I might have to call them tomorrow!
But we won't hear now, I guess the offices are shut.

[Yuja]

Weird to have not even has the rejection yet. You'd think if they had chosen the finalists it would be a quick job to email the rest to say no ...

[SomeSuchThing]

Just got the rejection email... Well done everyone for getting this far.

[Busy77]

We got the rejection too - hope one of us gets through and then you can tell us all about it!

[Pidgythe2nd]

We got the rejection emails too!
Our children should be super proud they even got this far though.

[Schoolsschsxho]

Rejected!! :(
Oh well, thanks for the company whilst we waited!
They all still wrote fantastic stories to get through to this round xxx