An "initially shy" teenager who has embraced challenges set by his tutors has been awarded for his achievements.

 Jamie Friend, who has been a keen badminton player since he was seven, has been named Sports Learner of the Year at Barking and Dagenham College where he enrolled two years ago.

The 18-year-old from Dagenham has been doing a BTEC course in sport where staff encouraged his passion for the game and helped him train, which led to compete in regional and national tournaments alongside his studies. 

“Jamie was initially shy and introverted,” college sports lecturer Lucas Michael said. “But he has embraced challenges presented by tutors and excelled as a student ambassador and mentor, achieving distinctions in all his assignments.”

Jamie is hoping to net a triple distinction grade when he gets his results in August and has already got a place at the University of Suffolk next year in sports performance analysis.