Hartlepool pupils urged to get snap happy in school photography competition

Hartlepool youngsters are being encouraged to make the most of their summer holidays by entering a competition asking them to show pride in their town.
From left, Lesley Welsh (from Manor Academy) and Linda Ward (from English Martyrs School) send out one of the first photo competition postcards to their Year 7 and 8.From left, Lesley Welsh (from Manor Academy) and Linda Ward (from English Martyrs School) send out one of the first photo competition postcards to their Year 7 and 8.
From left, Lesley Welsh (from Manor Academy) and Linda Ward (from English Martyrs School) send out one of the first photo competition postcards to their Year 7 and 8.

Five secondary schools in the area have teamed up with Hartlepool Borough Council to send out over 1,000 postcards to students starting Years 7 and Year 8 in September, inviting them to take photos around Hartlepool and submit them to be judged by a panel of experts.

Pupils set to start the year groups at Manor College of Technology, English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, St Hilds Church of England School, High Tunstall College of Science, and Dyke House Sports and Technology College, received the postcards last week.

An entry into the postcard competition by pupil Abigail Mcloughlin.An entry into the postcard competition by pupil Abigail Mcloughlin.
An entry into the postcard competition by pupil Abigail Mcloughlin.
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Already entries have been flooding in for the chance to win the prize of learning how to take professional photographs in a day-long workshop with Mail photographer Frank Reid.

Lesley Welsh, assistant headteacher at Manor College of Technology, said: “All of the kids going into Years 7 and 8 have been sent a postcard from the local authority to encourage them to make the most of the summer.

“The postcards were sent out on Friday and Saturday last week asking them to enter the Hartlepool photo competition called Make the Most of your Summer to the five secondary schools in Hartlepool.

“The idea is to try and get them to raise their aspirations and make sure young people are making the most of their time at secondary school.”

An entry by pupil Reece Egglestone.An entry by pupil Reece Egglestone.
An entry by pupil Reece Egglestone.
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She added: “We hope by taking part it will help encourage pupils’ motivation and raise their aspirations.

“We are looking for photos which show what represents pride in Hartlepool to them.

“They could take a nice shot of summer on the Headland or even someone putting rubbish in the bin, if they feel that shows pride in their community.”

Entries will be judged by Mail photographer Frank Reid along with a panel of judges who will select a winner from each school.

An entry into the postcard competition by pupil Abigail Mcloughlin.An entry into the postcard competition by pupil Abigail Mcloughlin.
An entry into the postcard competition by pupil Abigail Mcloughlin.
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The winners will then be taken in a minibus with photographer Mr Reid around Hartlepool for a day to take part in a photography workshop.

The project hopes to see as many entries as possible through email and Twitter, but pupils are also able to submit them once they return to school before the deadline, which is the second week in September.

Pupils who have received their postcard can email their photo entries to [email protected] or via Twitter @HplAspirations.