Rewarding nature of teaching noted by professionals

Teaching is a "rewarding" job that presents the opportunity to "inspire young minds".

This is the view of Claire Edwards, one of two new teachers in Wales interviewed by the Western Mail.

Hundreds of new teachers will be starting their career in the country this term and the paper asked Ms Edwards and Lana Hughes about why they chose their profession.

Aged 25, Ms Hughes decided to drop her career in PR after working on a campaign for an education organisation.

She told the paper: "I became a teacher because I wanted to work in a profession that allowed me to have a positive impact on the education and lives of young people."

Ms Hughes will now be a music teacher at the same Welsh-speaking school she once attended.

Conversely, being a teacher was a long-held ambition for Ms Edwards, who will work in reception and nursery classes from this year.

Last week saw schoolchildren around England and Wales return to the classroom after the summer break.