NINE King’s School Worcester pupils travelled to London's Olympic Park for the English Schools’ Swimming Association National Secondary Team Championships.

The under 13s boys and under 15s girls qualified in the country's top 30 from over 220 schools that took part in the qualifying rounds.

The girls' team of Alexandra Barry, Josie Armstrong, Bella Woodcock and Hannah Woodcock finished 11th in the medley relay, missing their final by just one place.

Sam Hawes, Michael Agoston, Adam Rutter and Henry Halford got 12th for the boys and were half-a-second off the final.

The girls had qualified first in the freestyle and medley relays in Worcestershire and the West Midlands with the boys first in the county and second in the region behind Warwick School in both.

The King's pupils were faster in the 50-metre pool than in the qualifying round at Malvern College.

In the freestyle, the boys, with Charlie Dixon replacing Agoston, achieved 22nd place while the girls were 20th.

School swimming teacher Lizzie Monkhouse said: "I was delighted with all of the swimmers’ performances on the day and to come 11th and 12th in the country behind specialist swimming schools and colleges is simply amazing.

"We look forward to building on this success next year and chasing those final places."