THE West End awaits for some of the stars who took to the stage for the Wilkes Academy End of Year Show.

Students from all years across the school sang, danced and acted their hearts out to a spellbound audience.

Included within the course of the three acts were performances choreographed by students of the academy as well as extracts taken from famous productions like the Book of Mormon and Miss Saigon. A stand out piece for many was 'Tears of warfare' by Leanne Pinder which tells the emotive story of soldiers leaving for war and the life lost in battle.

The academy has more than one well known patron. Choreographer, Arlene Phillips, appeared at the show last Wednesday night as a special guest alongside Stephen Mulhern. Ant & Dec are two big supporters who have even founded The Ant & Dec scholarship at the institution. The academy’s founder, Jonathan Wilkes, also shares a close personal relationship with Robbie Williams who also contributes his support to the students of the school.

Upon arriving at the school, the students are taught its simple motto: “hard work breeds success”. Testament to this philosophy is in the fact that more than 70 per cent of final year students are already set to progress into work upon leaving.

Employers like P&O Cruises, Potters Resorts and Warner’s are a few big names who the academy’s soon to be alumni will find themselves with. Alongside this are the West End credits. Four of the graduating year have made it into West End shows around the world; from We Will Rock You to Thriller.

Swindonian Matt Pidgeon, from Chiseldon who is only 19, has even scored himself a role in Mamma Mia.