Shakes-Drayton came to prominence at the English Schools Championships where she set a UK junior record time in the 400 m hurdles. She made her first major international appearance at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics where she finished eighth, achieving a new personal best of 57.52 seconds. She took the silver medal at the 2007 European Athletics Junior Championships with a time of 56.46 s, a national junior record in the event.