She took A levels in English, Politics, Drama and Music, passed the first 3 with "A" grades but failed music. Goulding attended Lady Hawkins' High School in Kington, Herefordshire and, by the age of 15, started writing songs. At age 9, she began playing the clarinet and at age 14 began learning guitar. When she was five years old her parents separated. She has an older brother named Alex and two younger sisters named Isabel and Jordan.
poll and win the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards in the same year.
In 2010, she became the second artist to top the BBC's annual Sound of. After signing to Polydor Records in July 2009, Goulding released her debut extended play, An Introduction to Ellie Goulding later that year. Her career began when she met record producers Starsmith and Frankmusik, and she was later spotted by Jamie Lillywhite, who later became her manager and A&R. Elena Jane Goulding ( / ˈ ɡ oʊ l d ɪ ŋ/ GOHL-ding born 30 December 1986) is an English singer and songwriter.