A NEWPORT primary school teacher has given up her job in the classroom to become a full-time priest.

Sue Pratten taught at Gaer Junior School until July in a career spanning 30 years.

For the last two years, Reverend Pratten has been the assistant curate (NSM) of Caerphilly, carrying out her duties alongside her paid work as a primary school teacher.

But as her desire to work full-time as a priest grew, she decided to give up teaching and has now been appointed assistant curate of Caerphilly (stipendiary).

Reverend Pratten, who currently lives in Newport but will be moving to live in the parish of Caerphilly, said: “I realised that my heart was in ministry and I did not think that I could fulfil God’s call and continue teaching.

“I am really looking forward to my new role and want to embrace it fully and will take all my teaching experience of working with children with me into my ministry.”