EastEnders actress visits fan at SEND school

Jack considers the actress his all-time hero and shared his careers skills with her

Former EastEnders star Pam St Clement has given career advice at school for children special educational needs and disabilities, after a student sent her an invitation.

St Clement, who portrayed Pat Butcher in the long-running soap, spent time at Mabel Prichard School in Littlemore in Oxford on Thursday after one of the students, Jack, wrote to her.

The actress' visit forms part of the school's careers programme, offering encounters with people from different professions.

Deputy head teacher Tor Broadley said it provided "a lively and real way of teaching students about opportunities in adulthood".

Staff and pupils said they were excited to welcome St Clement, who worked as a teacher before becoming an actress, and hear about her "rich career story".

Jack, who considers her his "all-time hero", demonstrated his own careers skills by making her a drink from the school's in-house cafe.

Staff and pupils were excited to welcome Ms St Clement to the school and hear about her "rich career story"

Teacher Laura Hutton said she hoped the visit "continues to share the range of jobs available in adulthood and, as we have plenty of drama in the school already, inspires some of them to maybe continue with their love of performance in adulthood".

Ms Broadley said careers for people with special educational needs "are always challenging and this is a really important aspect of our curriculum".

As this term's focus is on careers in the creative arts, the secondary school students were also visited by CBeebies musician Nick Cope, who runs regular music sessions in Oxfordshire for young children and their families.