A MOTIVATED teenager turned her life around after being excluded from secondary school.

Kathleen Hanbury, 18, was permanently excluded from Katharine Lady Berkeley's School in Wotton-under-Edge at the age of 12 after a spate of bad behaviour.

However, Kathleen later realised that she needed to work hard to reach her goals and has since passed a BTEC diploma in performing arts.

"Since I left KLB I think I have really turned my life around," said Kathleen.

"It isn't until you are older that you realise you need to work hard at school.

"I worked really, really hard and I am so proud of what I have done."

After leaving KLB Kathleen moved to The Whitminster Centre in Gloucester, where she gained a good set of GCSEs.

That meant she could go to the South West Academy of Dramatic Arts in Filton.

"I really love dancing, singing and acting," said Kathleen, who lives in Wotton.

"I want to do performing arts as a career and I am hoping to go to Disney World in Florida in a year or so to get a job there."

During the last few years Kathleen has won countless Gloucestershire young people awards for teamwork, communications and developing skills.

Most of them have been for her work talking to children and parents about drug issues and creating leaflets on the subject.

In the summer Kathleen was also involved in the Under the Edge dance festival in Wotton where she performed with a dance troop.

"My advice to people in school now is to make sure you work hard to get your GCSEs. You might not think you need them but you do.

"The best thing to do is to set yourself goals and work hard to reach them. If you get the chance to be involved in extra courses then take up the offer because they are excellent on your CV."