A student from Truro was crowned a national swimming champion after representing the South West at the Independent Schools Association's National Swimming Championship 2016.

Polwhele House pupil, Vivienne Carveth, was crowned the ISA's National Champion for the 50m girls' breaststroke, while another student, Olivia Penna, also competed at the event which was held at the London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The national swimming competition was the culmination of seven area galas, which saw the finalist in each area race qualify for the ISA national finals. Vivienne, of year eight, and Olivia, of year six, were two of the few students from the south west to compete in the national championship.

In addition to her success in the breaststroke, Vivienne took home a number of other awards, winning bronze in the 50m girls' butterfly, team silver in medley relay and team bronze in the freestyle relay.

Vivienne began swimming during her weekly swimming lessons at Polwhele House and has been a member of Truro City swimming club in recent years. She said she was "very pleased" to have won and is looking forward to taking part in more regional and national competitions over the coming years.

The race gave the talented young swimmers from Polwhele House an invaluable chance to swim at the Olympic Pool, where there were almost 2,000 spectators in the stands.

Alex McCullough, headmaster at Polwhele House, said: "Vivienne came away with the medals, but in true Polwhele House spirit both girls contributed to the success of the day in and out of the pool, and brought great credit upon the school and the region - we are incredibly proud.

"At Polwhele House we fully appreciate the greater benefits derived from sport, such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and camaraderie. All children participate in PE, games sessions and swimming lessons with many other sporting activities on offer after school, and we ensure that all of our prep school pupils are given regular opportunities to represent our school at sport."