Over the autumn term, our Learning and Experience team is collaborating with three schools from our network: Cayley Primary School and Bonner Primary School in Tower Hamlets, and School 360 in Newham, each bringing a different perspective on creative writing in the classroom.

Through a combination of in-depth interviews, creative workshops, and playground activities, we’re capturing honest reflections about what motivates children to write, and what gets in the way. One teacher shared, “Our curriculum can feel stagnant. Being more creative with our lessons would allow us to deliver the type of learning we want for our students.”

These conversations are already revealing rich insights. Teachers need more support and time to manage entries; parents want to feel more confident helping their children write; and children want to feel like their stories matter - even if they don’t think of themselves as writers (yet).

Together with the BBC 500 Words team, we’ll use these findings to prototype new ideas, test simple improvements to the entry process, and shape messaging that feels more relevant and inclusive.

By combining the iOi’s expertise in imagination-led learning with BBC Education’s national platform, this partnership aims to remove barriers, spark confidence, and ultimately, help thousands more children discover the joy of storytelling.