Sylvia Young Theatre School
School summary
Few schools in the country build the academic timetable around a performing arts vocation quite like the Sylvia Young Theatre School. A small independent in Westminster of around 205 pupils, it combines a full academic curriculum with intensive training in drama, dance and music. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education quality and pupils' personal development, and judged it compliant with regulatory standards. With a single entry point at 11, it suits children who already have a clear creative drive and the resilience to balance academic study with demanding vocational work.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 28 February 2023
Teaching & academics
Teaching runs to GCSE across a recognisable academic core of English Language and Literature, Mathematics and the three separate sciences, alongside History and Spanish. Creative and media subjects feature strongly, with Drama & Theatre Studies, Music, Art & Design and Media/Film/TV Studies among the popular choices. The ISI's excellent rating for education quality is notable given how much of the school week is also devoted to performance training. A high proportion of pupils, close to a quarter, receive SEN support, which points to a setting attentive to individual learning needs.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headteacher · Mrs Anne-Marie Kennedy
Beyond the classroom
Here the line between curriculum and extracurricular is unusually blurred, as performance training in acting, singing and dance sits at the heart of school life rather than after it. This vocational focus is what defines the school and shapes its excellent personal development rating.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 23.88%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £21,828
Financial assistance for new students is on hold for the time being
Schools nearby
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King's InterHigh Online School
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Kensington Park School
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A specialist home for young performers who want serious stage training without giving up a rounded GCSE education. Day fees reach £21,828 a year, and prospective families should note that financial assistance for new pupils is currently paused.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Sylvia Young Theatre School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.