School players can move one step closer to tasting national glory – and possibly representing England – when the Area Finals of the Butterfly Schools Team Championships take place.

The first of the Area Finals is in London on January 24, co-inciding with the London Schools Jack Petchey Finals, with the rest of the Area Finals over the weekend of February 3-4.

Winners from these competitions progress to the national semi-finals, which take place in Grantham on March 9 or Bristol on March 16. The top two teams from each semi go to the final on April 28 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton.

It is hoped that England can send two teams to the ISF World Schools Championships in Bahrain in October. Squad places are open for players born in the 2006-2008 bracket.

Good performances in the Team Championships, along with those in the Individual Championships (which has its final on April 27), will be used for the selection of these teams.

County Secretaries may also nominate players if they meet the criteria of having played in a schools qualifying competition. Selection will be made after the finals weekend in April.