Tia wins national photography competition!

We are delighted to announce that Tia S., a Year 13 Photography A Level student and boarder at Mary Ward House, has won a national photographic competition. The prestigious ‘Khadija Saye Photography Award’ is run by the Boarding Schools’ Association and Tia S. scooped up the 2020 prize. The award was presented at the BSA Annual Heads’ Conference in September.

The ‘Khadija Saye Photography Award’ is a tribute to the outstanding photographer and former boarder at Rugby School. Khadija Saye sadly lost her life along with her mother, Mary Mendy, in the Grenfell Tower disaster in London. Khadija was a boarder at Rugby School, where she was a recipient of an Arnold Foundation bursary. This life changing opportunity helped her develop her passion for art. She was an internationally respected photographer and was exhibiting her work entitled ‘Dwelling: in this space we breathe’ at the 57th Venice Biennale at the time of her death. We are very proud that Tia has won such a tribute, an award that encompasses the pursuit of excellence, inventiveness, and commemoration. 

Tia commented: “I am so honoured and pleased to have won such an award, particularly in light of what it stands for, in terms of Khadija’s life and creativity. It also helps highlight the joy and sense of community developed in boarding school life.”

Ms Conroy, Head of Art at St Mary's, said: “We encourage students at St Marys to explore their own photographic styles and ingenuity. Tia was investigating the concept of using orbuculums in her photographic work, which led to some unique and exploratory outcomes. As a department we are so proud of her achievements and creativity.”

BSA judges commented that Tia’s work “displayed an excellent level of creative” and that she was “clearly a talented student”.