The grand final of the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) 500 Word Competition was held on 26th March 2025 at Cranage Estate, celebrating the incredible creativity and imagination of young writers from Ellesmere Port C of E College, Birches Head Academy, and Handforth Grange Primary School.
This exciting event highlighted the winning stories from students spanning a range of age categories, all exploring the theme of "Extraordinary."
The competition challenged students in Years 1 to 10 to craft original stories, each no more than 500 words. The event brought together an impressive display of talent, with the finalists enjoying a special afternoon at Cranage Devere where their captivating stories were read aloud.
Winners were announced in five categories – Years 1 and 2, Years 3 and 4, Years 5 and 6, Years 7 and 8, and Years 9 and 10. The atmosphere was electric as the bronze, silver, and gold winners were revealed, each recognised for their exceptional creativity, originality, and narrative skills.
As a special honour, the winning stories will be published in the upcoming FFET short story illustrated anthology, offering the young authors the chance to see their work in print for the first time. The overall Winner of the competition was Hasala in Year 8 from the Ellesmere Port C of E College with the story “From Lost to Loved”. Hasala’s story was brought to life through a short animated film which can be viewed below.
Held at the picturesque Cranage Estate, the grand final provided the perfect backdrop for this inspiring event. Finalists had the opportunity to share their extraordinary stories with an audience, demonstrating the creativity and talent from students from across FFET.
The FFET 500 Word Competition went beyond the idea of winning - it was a celebration of young writers discovering their creative voices, perfecting their storytelling skills, and expressing themselves. After the success of this year’s competition, preparations are already underway for next year’s event, with even more chances for young writers to shine.
Katie Dixon, Director of Education for FFET, commented: “A huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists, and a huge thank you to the teachers, librarians, and parents who supported the students throughout the competition. We are excited to see the next generation of extraordinary young storytellers in the future!”
