Dates: 7 November – 4 December 2025
Location: Northwest Gallery, AUB Campus
TheGallery is delighted to be hosting Ringwood School, Interschool Photographic Competition Exhibition 2025: Layers, a collaborative project and exhibition with AUB's Schools and Colleges team, part of the University's Brand, Marketing and Future Students department.
Each year, Ringwood School in Hampshire hosts the annual interschool photography competition, now in its 12th year. The event has grown significantly since its beginnings and is proudly supported by Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), and the Rotary Club of Ringwood.
Originally launched by the Rotary Club of Ringwood and Ringwood School, the competition began as a way to create a charity calendar featuring photographs of the New Forest. It quickly evolved into a creative challenge for students, and soon other schools across the region joined in. Today, it's a thriving annual event showcasing the talents of young photographers, as well as parents and teachers.
For 2025, the theme Layers inspired an incredible response, with nearly 900 entries submitted by students from Years 1–13, alongside an adult category for parents and teachers. A total of 25 schools from Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire took part, making this one of the largest and most vibrant editions yet.
Competition organiser and Head of Art at Ringwood School, Stuart Fielder reflects, “The competition started 12 years ago when the Ringwood Rotary Club asked us to produce a charity calendar with photographs from the New Forest. This turned into a competition for our students, and from there it just grew.
"Over the years, more schools asked to take part, and it has continued to expand year after year. We no longer produce a calendar, and the subject matter is now wide open – which makes the creativity even more exciting.”
The winners from each category were announced during the exhibition launch in March at Ringwood School, and TheGallery is thrilled to be hosting this exhibition and the extraordinary talent and creativity of all the participants through this touring exhibition.
Meet the curator
Frances Addison
Frances is a third-year BA (Hons) Events Management student at AUB, passionate about creating immersive and meaningful...
Partnerships and collaborations at AUB
Alongside AUB, this exhibition is sponsored by the following:
- Rotary Club of Ringwood
- Royal Photographic Society Digital Imaging Group
- Ringwood Camera Club
- Ringwood Carnival
If your school or college would like to collaborate with AUB, our Schools Team is here to support you.
We can help arrange informative presentations on creative courses and career pathways, visits to our campus to experience our studios, galleries, and performances, and participation in careers fairs and creative workshops.
All our activities are completely free and can be tailored to suit your students’ year groups and areas of interest. Get in touch to discover how we can inspire your students and bring creative opportunities into your school.
Related news
25 local schools recognised for photography skills in annual competition
Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has co-sponsored the 12th annual inter-school photography competition hosted by Ringwood School...
"Layers" – formal opening and private view
We invite you to join us for the formal opening and private view of "Layers". This is an open event and all are welcome – no RSVP required.
