The mother of a young West End performer claims Labour’s private school ‘VAT raid’ has stripped her daughter of a bursary-funded place at Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Ten-year-old Keilah Kofi, from Feltham in West London, was awarded a place at the renowned performing arts institution in April and was set to begin on September 9. Her proud mother Sherine Medley, 47, revealed that staff had assured her that Keilah was an ideal candidate for one of the highly sought-after bursary places.
However, following Labour’s introduction of 20pc VAT on private school fees in January, Sylvia Young’s has ceased offering bursary awards, with a notice on their website stating “no assisted bursary awards for school entry in September 2025”.
Dance instructor Sherine, a single mother earning between £12,000 and £15,000 annually, admits that without financial assistance she cannot see how to cover the drama school’s £21,000 yearly fees. She has dipped into Keilah’s savings to cover her first term at the school – totalling £7,276 – and is crowdfunding whilst posting appeals for help on TikTok to raise money for the remainder of her education.
However, she argues her daughter’s situation demonstrates how the VAT policy is affecting gifted working-class youngsters. Keilah has appeared as young Nala in the Lion King, and performed alongside Fleur East as young Tina Turner in the musical.
Sherine said: “I would normally probably be one of those ones who would be saying ‘oh, yeah, you know, the rich people can afford it – they’re sending their kids to private school’. However, it’s only now I’m in this position that I see it’s affecting her as well because it’s kind of this blanket thing, without any thought for kids that don’t come from wealthy backgrounds that are really talented. It really does affect them too. I think that wasn’t thought about at all.”
Keilah landed her first big break at eight years old following open auditions for the Lion King. Sherine said: “She’d never done anything before. We were just sort of recommended to go, because she’s quite a confident little character. She got it out of hundreds of kids, and she played that role in the West End for a year. She then got representation and was straight away put up for another role, which she then went and got as well. That was young Tina.”
Former pupils of Sylvia Young’s include Billie Piper, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Dua Lipa, and Amy Winehouse. At present, fees stand at £7,276 a term for younger students.
Sherine explains she has attempted to protect her daughter from the worry of their financial circumstances, though she acknowledges Keilah is conscious of the situation.
The youngster earned her place at the school following a three-stage audition process, requiring her to submit an audition tape, attend an in-person audition, and complete an educational assessment.
Following Labour’s announcement, mum Sherine discovered on the school’s website that no bursaries would be available for the upcoming year. Sherine said: “She’s very aware that we don’t come from money. She knows that she’s had amazing opportunities because she’s a very talented little girl. I explained it by making it out like it’s Britain’s Got Talent. I said, ‘you know, Keilah, we’re gonna get the Golden Buzzer’.”
She continued: “We’re gonna apply for the school and we’ll get the Golden Buzzer and that’s how mum will pay for the fees. So on that kind of level, she knows there’s no Golden Buzzer anymore and she can pick up from me doing frantic late night emails that things have changed.”
You can view Keilah’s crowd fund at gofundme.com here.
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