Bredon School hockey star Hannah Rosslee has won a prestigious place at Worcestershire’s Junior Academy Centre.

Her promotion from the Hereford and Worcester Junior Development Centre to the JAC follows the discovery of her talents in the goalmouth by Bredon’s Head of Girls’ Sport, Sarah Lea.

“Hannah stepped in as our goalkeeper last November when the normal goalie was ill and it was immediately obvious that she was a natural!” said Miss Lea. “Since then we have nurtured her talent and she has become our regular first-team goalkeeper both for the girls’ team and for the mixed squad.”

Mr John Hewitt, Headmaster of the independent school near Tewkesbury, said: “Hannah deserves every congratulation on her success in reaching the next level of England’s junior hockey system – she’s one of a number of current Bredon students who have county honours. She’s a popular student here and shows dedication to working on her hockey skills alongside the other aspects of school life.”

Goalkeepers in the Junior Academy Centre meet fortnightly in Malvern for training and have the opportunity to get involved in a number of tournaments.

Hannah, who is in Year 10, first played in defence when she arrived at Bredon from her previous school in September 2010, before seizing the opportunity to try the specialist goalkeeper’s role.

“After I’d played there, my teacher, Miss Lea, wanted to keep me in goal because she said I was really good at it: she was really helpful in getting me in the right direction as far as my hockey was concerned and it’s built up my confidence,” she said.

“I did a trial at Stourport. There were six goalkeepers, including me. I tried my best and I am glad they picked me. You have to know where to put your foot, but the thing I’m working on now is my diving.”

Hannah, a full boarder at Bredon enjoys taking part in other sports at Bredon too, including netball, athletics, rounders, cricket and cross-country.