LAMDA exams and UCAS point

Dear Parents,

This letter is for parents who might wish to know a little more about the weekly Lamda Classes which are held in the school.

LAMDA stands for The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, which was founded in 1861, and which is now one of the most recognized schools of its kind.

Lamda is dedicated to improving standards of communication and encouraging students to realize their full creative potential. The benefits of the Lamda course are immense. Lamda students learn to converse with clarity and confidence. They have excellent observation and listening skills, and they also learn to work and communicate with others. They appreciate the necessity of an expressive and well-modulated voice. Being able to communicate is a very important life skill. The Spoken Word has Power. The right words at the right time can move minds and make a huge influence. Students learn to think on their feet and to respond quickly to various stimuli. Lamda helps to develop a child’s imaginative thinking which helps with school subjects such as creative writing, essay writing, speech writing and art projects.

Drama lessons focus upon movement, relaxation, listening skills, observation skills and improvisation. Students are encouraged to converse and communicate with confidence and assurance. This involves using the imagination for role play exercises, storytelling, mime and acting.

Specifically designed drama games teach the children to be self-confident, articulate, and audible. These activities really stimulate the children, and they quickly learn to react and respond with confidence in a totally new way! Hearing the children laughing and enjoying themselves is a feature of LAMDA lessons.

Drama Development Coast offers a fun way of learning to communicate. Lamda is great FUN.

Each year there is an opportunity for students to take a Lamda exam. Professional Examiners from LAMDA conduct these exams. These examinations are designed to equip candidates, whatever their age and aspirations, with a range of skills that will serve them throughout their lives. UCAS points are awarded for the higher exams which count towards a position at university.

In total there are 12 exams taken over 12 years. The first exam is taken in year One and the final exam in Year 12.

In year One the student has to recite a short poem and then talk about their favourite game. In Year Two the student recites a poem and then talks about their favourite activity and in Year Three again they recite a poem and talk about their favourite book.

The next exams are Entry and Grade One where they now have to recite Two poems and have to explain what the poems are about and need to be able to explain the meaning of certain words.

From Grade Two to Grade 5 onwards One poem and One text from a book have to be recited. There are now also theory questions to be answered.

The next three exams are the Bronze, Silver and Gold. These require an understanding about the process of Breathing and a knowledge about different genres and knowledge about the writers of their poems, including a detailed understanding about William Shakespeare.

These exams are also credited with UCAS points which will assist a student to enter University.

For instance, at Bronze Level if you Pass you receive 8 points, a Merit receives 10 points and a Distinction receives 12 points. Silver Medal gives you 12, 14 or 16 points depending on the Marks and Gold Medal gives 24, 27 or 30 points.

I hope this makes it clearer to you all.

Jean Hughes

With best wishes.