Fencing hopeful Corinna Lawrence will be one of the hot favourites for glory when she competes for England.

The 16-year-old from Plymouth is currently the top of the British rankings in her age group for the epée and finished eighth out of 80 in the world cadet championships in South Korea earlier this year.

The Devon schoolgirl has been fencing since she was seven-years-old and followed her two older sisters into the sport. All three siblings now fence internationally for Great Britain at under-17, under-20 and senior level.

Lawrence said:

"We've been kind of at the same standard for the last couple of years but when I was very little I used to look up to them and say I want to be like that.

"Now I've grown up it's good fun because we can help each other in different ways."

Though the teenager is an experienced competitor, the UK School Games will offer quite a different challenge.

Over 1200 children will compete in the Glasgow Games from 7th to 10th September, which will feature, athletics, fencing, gymnastics, table tennis and swimming. Disability events in athletics and swimming will also be included.

The UK School Games are for the best youngsters of school age who have been selected to compete by their sport's governing body. The Games have been designed to replicate a major multi-sport competition and will have an opening and closing ceremony, athlete villages and BBC television coverage.

Lawrence said:

"I'm really excited actually. I don't really meet many other sports people apart from fencers because my life basically revolves around fencing so that will be good.

"Also fencing is rarely on TV so it's quite good that it's going to be publicised."

The Plymouth High School student isn't overawed by the pressure on her to win.

"It depends on the day really, who's fencing best, but it would be nice," she said.

The fencers will compete in both individual and team competitions in Glasgow, and Lawrence says judging from experience England have what it takes to win against Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"In January we were in India doing the junior Commonwealth Games and we did a team event then and we won," she said.

"We fenced really well and there was a really good atmosphere and team spirit."

Lawrence trains three times a week after school, but in September she is planning to add two early morning sessions to her programme, which she will have to fit around her A level studies.

The teenager says her education is very is important to her and knows she has the dedication to do well with the both the pen and the sword, so she has planned things accordingly.

"I'm aiming for the 2012 Olympics because it's after my studies," she said.

But way before that there's the challenge of the UK School Games, which will hopefully provide a taste of what lies ahead on a bigger stage somewhere down the road.