Writhlington students have had a very successful year of performance, whether taking part in the school musical, the Winter, Spring and Summer Concerts, or A-level and GCSE performances, this year's students have certainly excelled themselves.

Year 13 student, Dixie Newman, has had a particularly busy year auditioning for some of the country's most prestigious performing arts establishments.

Dixie, who played the coveted part of Fantine in Writhlington's production of Les Misérables, has been busy applying to drama schools to study Acting and Musical Theatre.

Dixie said: "It is quite a tough process, I have had exams, final year performances and training outside of school to keep up with. It is really hard to tell how an audition has gone and I have been nervously waiting on the edge of my seat for weeks."

She need not have worried, as Dixie has been accepted to study at prestigious schools, RADA, ALRA and Central and is now facing the tough decision of which one to choose.

Head of Drama, James Moore, said: "We have some exceptionally talented students at Writhlington – we are so fortunate to have outstanding facilities which really gives students the opportunity to work in a professional theatre venue. Dixie's performance in Les Misérables was outstanding and she received incredible feedback. We are very proud that her talents have been recognised and expect great things from her in the future."

For most students, your last year of sixth form is full of the stress and woes of exams and coursework, but what happens when you throw in dance classes and a performance with one of the world's leading dance choreographers?

Year 13 student, Matthew Bell, has had an extraordinary year. After performing with the Matthew Bourne Company in the new adaptation of 'Lord Of The Flies', Matthew continued his training in preparation for dance school auditions.

He said: "I have always had a passion for dance, I began classes when I was three. Neither of my parents dance or do anything theatrical, so I am not really sure where my love for it has stemmed from, but they have been incredibly supportive of my dancing and I couldn't be more grateful."

Matthew, who trains three times a week with companies across the Southwest and Wales, recently auditioned and gained one of only thirty places at the country's leading dance school, the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, beating hundreds of applicants.

Matthew commented: "It was a really tough audition – we had to attend a two-hour intense ballet class, while being observed by a panel of some of the best leading names in the industry. We also took a contemporary class and had a formal interview. Hundreds of people auditioned in London, hundreds more by video application and even more internationally, so I am thrilled to have been offered such a coveted place."

Head of Sixth Form, Steve Cantrell, said: "We are very proud of Matt, his dedication to both his dance and his studies have been incredible. He has always been very quiet and humble about his achievements outside of school, but this is certainly something worth shouting about and we hope that he will come back to perform and help inspire the next generation of performers."