PUPILS at a school in Great Witley are managing to juggle French lessons with circus skills sessions since the arrival of a new member of staff.

Melanie Perol, a French teacher at Abberley Hall School, is helping children to learn a range of tricks, acrobatics and entertainments.

She said: “In between my normal French classes I offer to show the pupils my circus skills and these workshops are proving to be just as popular as my language lessons.”

Ms Perol, who qualified as a teacher at a university in Wales and has taught in Ireland and France added: “I have always loved circus acts and went to training sessions at Circomedia in Bristol to learn how to perform back in 2001 and have been practising ever since.”

Abberley Hall School has bought a range of equipment so children now get the chance to learn juggling, plate spinning, diablo and acrobatics, among other activities.

Melanie added: “All the circus skills are fun and the children really enjoy taking part and performing for their fellow pupils.

“It is also good for their co-ordination and balance and lots of the exercises help them to work together as a team.”

The school has around 130 boarders aged between seven and 13 and a pre-pre department catering for 95 pupils aged from two.