A YOUNG Welsh teacher who was 'utterly opposed' to going into teaching has been named as the nation's Outstanding New Teacher of the Year.

Rachael Keeble, who was nominated by pupil Victoria Frith as 'amazing' teaches at Severnbanks Primary School in Lydney.

"I've been completely overwhelmed," says Rachael, from South Wales, who travelled to London to pick up the award with parents, pupils and the school's headteacher, Pam Howell.

"The last couple of days have been absolutely crazy, what with TV interviews and so on."

The craziness all began when Victoria nominated Rachael for the national award simply saying: "Thank you for being an amazing teacher, you've motivated me to learn, helped me overcome my fears and given me confidence in myself."

Oddly, teaching was the last thing Rachael ever wanted to do. After growing up in the South Wales valleys town of Blackwood (home of the Manic Street Preachers) she studied law at prestigious Durham University.

"I finished the law degree, but by the end of the first term decided I didn't want to do it as a career. There wasn't enough heart in it. But I was absolutely and utterly opposed to going into teaching. Both my mum and dad are teachers and it was the one thing out of everything I really didn't want to do."

It was only after seeking advice from one of her mum's teacher friends and a stint of voluntary work at schools in Bridgend and Gilfach that the die was cast.

"I absolutely love it now," admits Rachael, who lives in Mitcheldean. "I wouldn't do anything else even if you paid me millions of pounds. And there can't be many people so happy in their jobs they can say that."