ELITE badminton player and Sixth Form student Lucy Dodd is celebrating a double triumph today — stellar A Level results and selection for the England squad at this year’s World Junior Championships in India.

Lucy, from Ponteland, achieved A* A A in biology, economics and maths after juggling her studies at Dame Allan’s Schools with an intensive training and competition schedule. This season, she has been crowned U19 Women’s Doubles National Champion and represented England at the European Junior Championships in Ibiza.

She also secured silver and bronze at the Spanish U19 International, reached the quarter-finals of the U19 Alpes International and claimed multiple Northumberland junior and senior county titles this season.

Her selection for the England squad, going to the world junior championships in India this October is the culmination of years of dedication, which recently included training alongside senior national players at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes.

“This means everything to me — it’s what I’ve been training for all year and will be one of the last tournaments I compete in as a junior,” said Lucy, who was an Athlete Mentor at Dame Allan’s, supporting younger athletes at the Newcastle school.

“Balancing training, competitions and A Levels hasn’t been easy, but the support I’ve had from my family, Dame Allan’s staff, Sport Newcastle and my sponsors has made all the difference.”

Lucy now plans to take her sporting career to the next level while studying Economics at the University of Nottingham, where she will continue to train in partnership with Badminton England.

Will Scott, Principal at Dame Allan’s Schools, said: “Lucy’s exceptional A Level results, alongside her remarkable achievements on the badminton court, are the product of extraordinary talent, dedication and resilience. She is a shining example of how determination and balance can lead to excellence in both academics and sport, and her success will inspire many others to aim high.”