Call of the wild

Claremont’s budding photographers, young and old, get snapping 

Back in March 2026, the Eco Team launched their very own answer to the ever-popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition with a photo competition of their own, on the theme of ‘Nature in the Eye of the Beholder’.  

They received almost fifty student entries and around half that from staff. Photos ranged from sunsets and glaciers to cheetahs and bears. They were all displayed in The Street throughout April with a specially created QR code for sixth-form students and staff to vote. 

‘This has been an incredibly successful competition, which we are very proud of and we’re hoping to make it an annual event,’ says Ms Cairns. 

The winning student entries were as follows: first place, Arnav Patel 7.8; second, Shayna Varsani 10.6; and third, Kiya Patel 8.2 . This put Emerald College in first place, Sapphire in second, Scarlet in third and Gold in fourth. And the staff winners included Mr Goddard, Mr Makanji, Mr Sewell and Ms Hyde-Boughey. 

‘It seems that sixth-formers, who were the main voters, opted for homegrown pictures as opposed to more exotic looking ones,’ explains Ms Cairns. ‘We look forward to receiving more entries next year!’