Writing for a competition provides both an audience and a sense of purpose, both of which can help to improve engagement and writing outcomes. From picture books to opinion pieces, there are competitions to cover all genres and ages. Explore the different options available to inspire your young writers.

• The BBC Young Reporter Competition invites young people aged 11-15 and 16-18 to submit the outline for a story idea that they would like to share with a wider audience. The story idea should be an original and true story on the theme of Me and My World and can be submitted as a written entry, a video or an audio clip. Winning stories will then be produced with the help of BBC journalists and producers for broadcast on TV, radio, online or on social media.
  • Deadline for entries is 24th March.
• The BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University invites young people aged 14-18 to submit an original short story on any topic of their choice. Entries should be no longer than 1000 words and there are supporting teaching resources available.
  • Deadline for entries is 25th March.
• The Royal Mint Museum Writing Competition invites young writers aged 8-11 to submit a story of no more than 500 words on the theme of Coins and the Sea. The winning story will be illustrated by professional artist David Lawrence and will win £5000 of books for the author’s school or local library. Teaching resources and an inspiration section are available.
  • Deadline for entries is 29th March.
• Young Writers runs themed writing competitions for primary and secondary pupils all through the academic year. The new story writing competitions for the second half of this Spring Term have now been released and all come with supporting teaching resources.
  • Deadline for entries is 29th March.
• The Guardian’s Young Country Diary spring series opens on 1st March. Young people aged 8-14 are invited to submit an article about a recent encounter with nature and the six winning articles will be published in the Guardian newspaper and online.
  • Deadline for entries is 1st April.
• The ReadingZone Picture Book Competition is run in partnership with World Book Day. Young people aged 4-18 are invited to create a picture book no longer than 24 pages on a topic or theme of their choice. Entries for the three age categories (4-7, 7-11 and 11-18) can be submitted by individuals, groups or whole classes.
  • Deadline for entries 19th April.
• The Day’s Global Young Journalist Award offers a platform for young reporters aged 7-18 to share their story. There are six different formats to choose from – a written article, photography, illustration, video, audio or graphic design – and 10 subject categories. Entry guidance and free resource packs are available.
  • Deadline for entries is 26th April.
• The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition invites young writers aged 8-18 to submit a short story, a poem or a set of song lyrics inspired by the line ‘I think you have presence, something special about you. Something different.’ The line comes from Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainayagam, winner of last year’s Branford Boase Award.
  • Deadline for entries is the 31st May.
• The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is open for entries from aspiring poets aged 11-17. Poems must be written in English and should be a maximum of 40 lines long. However, the theme and style of the poem are open. There is a teacher submission portal for school entries.
  • Deadline for entries is 31st July.