FORMER Tavistock student Lauren Steadman has waltzed her way into the semi-final of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, fighting for her place against the likes of celebrities Kate Silverton, Danny John Jules and Graeme Swann.

Last Saturday, Lauren and her partner AJ Pritchard scored an impressive 35 out of a maximum 40 points but she has struggled to keep up with the high standards of this year’s Strictly hopefuls. However she has escaped the dance-off for the entire series so far, securing a place in the semi-finals tonight (Saturday).

The Paralympic silver medallist attended Kelly College (now Mount Kelly) from 2007 to 2011.

Headmaster at Mount Kelly Mark Semmence said: ‘Mount Kelly is absolutely delighted that our former pupil Lauren Steadman has done so well and come so far in Strictly Come Dancing. Lauren has come back to visit us here in Tavistock on a number of occasions and we are used to following her successes as a paratriathlete, both in the Rio 2016 Paralympics and more recently in Australia where she became ITU World Champion. Everyone at Mount Kelly has been avidly supporting and following her progress on Strictly over the last three months and we are all rooting for her in the upcoming semi-finals this weekend.’

Becky Callard, head of guidance and sixth form and who was Lauren’s housemistress when she was a pupil, has been in touch with Lauren every week since the show started. She said: ‘It was not just her abilities in the swimming pool and the fact that she was a Paralympian at the age of 15 that made Lauren an outstanding pupil during her time at Mount Kelly. She was one of the most hard working, determined and organised pupils with whom I have had the pleasure to work. She always strives to be the best that she can in all that she does and Strictly has provided her with her latest challenge. ‘

Lauren will be competing for the glitterball alongside journalist and TV presenter Stacey Dooley, YouTuber Joe Sugg and former pop stars Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer.