CHIPPING Sodbury’s new drama teacher has revealed her delight after accepting ‘a brilliant opportunity’ to teach at the school.

Ms Gemma Donnelly became Sodbury’s first specific drama teacher since 2012 when she started last month.

She moved to the school after moving from Herefordshire and is already pleased with how well students have taken on the subject in lessons.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity and I am glad that they are recognising that this could help create a better environment around the school,” Ms Donnelly said.

“When I was being interviewed for the job I said that I thought that there was a lot more to drama, I said that I think it teaches you how to be a human being.

“Lots of people say ‘but my kids don’t want to be performers’ but it is more than that.

“I am really interested in the students and their mental health and I think that this subject can give people an opportunity to explore that.”

Ms Donnelly spoke about the way that some students have had to be ‘channelled’ in the right direction, but she has been taken back by the attitudes of the pupils.

“Some students have had to be re-educated shall we say, but they have been an absolute delight to teach,” she continued.

“The response from teachers has also been great because they recognise that the department is now headed in the right direction.

“It can help students to develop a number of skills that are invaluable in life, this includes: Time management, confidence and their creativity.

“Not everybody is physically or academically inclined and drama can offer something else to those people.”

Ms Donnelly has been running a drama club every Friday lunchtime since she started just over a month ago, the group has already gained over 20 members.

“It is really popular and very nice to see that people are embracing it,” Ms Donnelly said.

“By hiring me, Sodbury is really bucking the national trend for teachers in this subject and I think it speaks volumes of Ms Turner and the direction in which the school is heading.”