Terrific Thomas, 12, wins Christmas art and physics competition with stunning lightning photo

By Jill Dando News

Thomas, in Year 8, at Worle Community School Academy, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, won a £10 Amazon voucher for submitting a photo of a big storm in the skies that he took from his back garden.

He beat off dozens of entries in the Christmas art and physics competition launched by the Science Department.

Students across the whole school were challenged to produce a photo or artwork that captured a startling act of physics in the world this year.

Hollie Main, Kia White, and Abigail Doolan in Year 7, and Josh Keyes, in Year 10, finished runners-up. Hollie entered a fantastic photo of the Grand Pier, capturing the reflections of light on the sea. Kia’s photo was of a red lamp keeping an otter warm, while Abigail took a photo of a tree. Josh took a photo of a sunset on the sea.

Other entries received included a sunset, candles and even archery.

Thomas said: “This storm heated the air briefly to around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, much hotter than the surface of the sun, causing the air to explode outward.”

Students across all Year groups have been working extremely hard throughout the lockdown, even when at home via the academy’s excellent online learning programme.

The ambitious academy is part of The Priory Learning Trust.

Principal Jacqui Scott said: “We have seen some simply superb photos and descriptions throughout this competition – a massive well done to Thomas and Hollie for beating such tough competition.”