A PHOTOGRAPHY exhibition was held at a school to showcase work by students linking sports with art.

Laura Gineitaite, a pupil at Rushcroft Sports College in Rushcroft Road, Chingford, was one of several pupils who has developed skills in photography during an after-school club.

Her photos of school’s national league basketball team in action, which form part of her GCSE work, went on display at the school on Wednesday last week.

Assistant headteacher Sean Reid explained: “We have been trying to link sports and art together and raise attention levels in art with the introduction of photography. From that we have young photographers taking photos of events.

“It is also a starting point for 2012 to get sporting photographers across the borough.

"As part of Waltham Forest 2012 education I am looking at how to introduce sport in into other areas, so it is a good start.”

One of the stars of the exhibition was 16-year-old Simeon Esprit who is on England’s Under 16 basketball team, with whom he will be competing in matches in Portugal this summer.

Mr Reid added: “The photos show his progression from a Year 7 student taking part in breakfast club basketball, onto the school team, borough team, league and then national.”

Teachers were particularly impressed with Laura’s achievements because when she joined Year 8 at the school from Lithuania she did not speak any English but has overcome her language difficulties.