More than 400 GCSE students have entered the Cotswold Challenge before it closed this week.
The competition, which asks people between the ages of 16 and 19 to submit creative ideas, was originally only for students in the Cotswold area but was then opened up to include Swindon.
Because of this, children from Lydiard Park Academy, Ridgeway School and New College have all entered to try and win some cash.
In total 427 entries were received. The creative writing category had 95 entries, art and design received more than 200 and the enterprise and innovation category received more than 60.
Judges are expected to go through submissions next week and announce winners by the end of the month.
First prize in each category is £500, then £300 for second place with £100 for third.
Media consultant Fiona Scott said: "I can't believe how many young people grasped the opportunity.
"The standard was astonishingly high in the creative writing category."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here