PUPILS at Lady Hawkins' School in Kington had a shock before their GCSE exams when Brit-award winner Ellie Goulding walked in.

The Herefordshire-born signer-songwriter spoke with year 11 students about how to relieve exam pressure and their next steps after school.

She then made a surprise entrance to a whole school assembly, reminisced about her time at Lady Hawkins’ and how it had been a happy and supportive chapter at the start of her career.

The school's headteacher hoped the visit would inspire the students.

Paul Jennings said: "It was great to welcome such a positive role model who was returning to her roots.

"Ellie reminds us why music and the arts are so important and I hope that her visit will inspire the next generation."

Ellie Goulding has 15 million album sales worldwide and two number one albums under her belt. Her single ‘Love Me Like You Do’ held the record for most streamed song in a week worldwide and was the soundtrack to the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.