Abingdon and Witney College

Jake Halsey-Jones attended the Performing Arts course at Abingdon & Witney College. After completing his course in 2016, Jake progressed on to the Musical Theatre course at the Arts Educational School in London. Since graduating from the Arts Educational Schools in 2018. Jake has gone on to build a career in Performing Arts, with an impressive list of credits, including the role of Riff in West Side Story (Vivo D'arte, 2017), Chino in West Side Story (BBC Proms, 2018), and Dylan in Worlds Apart (Three Pin Productions, 2020). Jake is now a London-based actor appearing in Hamilton's current production as a Swing/cover Alexander Hamilton, and cover John Laurens and Philip Hamilton.

Paddy joined Abingdon & Witney College in 2012 to study Sports Coaching and Fitness at our Witney campus. Over the course, Paddy developed his leadership skills, leading & instructing a variety of groups for different activities, had and the opportunity gain teaching experience in schools. Once he had successfully achieved his Diploma, Paddy joined the military immediately, having applied whilst he was studying. Paddy embarked on 10 weeks of RAF Basic training, followed by a 9-month Physical Training Instructor course (now only a 6-month course). Following his training, Paddy begun work at RAF Brize Norton gym, before moving to the Parachute school to do take his Parachute Jumping Instructor course. After completing his course, Paddy went on to deliver Parachute training to Airborne forces for two years before being selected to represent the RAF as part of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team. In Paddy’s 6 years of service, he has spent 5 months in California parachuting, and has had the opportunity to tour Europe, seeing Spain, France, Belgium, Holland and Austria. In addition to his service, Paddy has spent around 3 weeks skiing with the RAF and done of adventure training activities around the UK.

Ellie Fletcher begun her journey in music and performance at the age of 14, taking a part-time course in Music Production and Technology alongside studying at the Sylvia Young Theatre School. Elleanor progressed on to undertake her National Diploma in Music Technology at Abingdon & Witney College’s Witney campus in 2009. After completing her diploma, Ellie went on to study a degree in Music Production at the Academy of Contemporary Music in 2012. At 19 Ellie began started touring extensively with the band, 'Crystal Fighters'. The band has undertaken 6 world tours, and performed at many festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Reading, Leeds, Big Chill, Park Life, Wilderness, and Secret Garden Party. In addition to her work with her band, Ellie has undertaken a broad range of other work within the music industry; including teaching at Telford Stage School and her Almer mater Sylvia Young Theatre School, performing as a solo artist under the name ‘Eleanor K’, and performed and supported other artists including Vic Mensa and Robbie Williams