Studying for January exams is hard enough for most teenagers, especially if you are also training for the National Youth Championships like swimmer Chloe Bean.

The 17-year-old from Epsom is one of Britain’s rising stars in the pool and is already getting in shape for next July’s competition where she reached the semi-finals earlier this year, and which will be her last before moving out of the junior category.

But to say the Rosebery School student has split priorities would be an understatement – with her upcoming exams crucial with a trip to university just half a school year away.

Commitment to the cause comes with the territory for any budding Olympian and Bean balances her studies with hours of training a week – something she is more than happy to do after spending her summer glued to the television during London 2012.

And with the 2014 Commonwealth Games on the horizon Bean knows a strong 2013 in the pool as well as in the exam hall would be a perfect step in her development.

“It’s a crucial time for me, in terms of my career and my education,” said Bean, who benefits from being a member of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme.

“I’m improving the training gradually as I go and so hopefully by the middle of next year I’ll be in good stead for the nationals.

“It’s the last one before I move out of the age group so I suppose there is a bit of an added importance to them this time around because I want to go out with a bang.

“At my age it’s all about making little steps forward rather than making unrealistic goals and trying to do too much at once.

“I have age on my side and I find setting smaller targets for myself is the way forward.

“Studying does make it interesting. I think I spend a lot more of my free periods studying than socialising but I’m used to that because it’s something I’ve always had to mix with my education.

“As the exams come closer I imagine the training might get a bit harder but for now it’s manageable and that’s all that matters.”

A strong work ethic will set Bean in good stead when she choices her place of study – with Bath University the preferred destination for the Rio 2016 hopeful.

And with Bath a former training destination for London 2012 breaststroke swimmers Andrew Willis, Stacey Tadd and silver medallist Michael Jamieson, she admits she is under no illusions about how important her studies are in the next six months.

“That is the most logical place for me to study,” she added.

“It’s the place to go if you do breaststroke I guess, you just need to look at the people who have been before – so obviously I know how important my studies are and I need to take that into account this year.”

Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 346 of Britain’s most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Since 2008, the programme has supported 1,000 athletes. Follow future stars at facebook.com/lloydstsblocalheroes