LAMDA Students Succeed with Distinction

The King’s Foundation would like to congratulate our Speech and Stagecraft pupils after our best ever set of LAMDA results were achieved this year. 

In total, 65 pupils from the Senior School and King’s St Alban’s took the examinations in July and, quite remarkably, 90% of them achieved a Distinction and another 9% a Merit. Five of last year’s Upper Sixth (Y13) and one of last year’s Fifth Form (Y11) achieved Grade 8 (Gold Medal) with Distinction. Pupils followed courses in Speaking in Public, Speaking Verse and Prose, Acting, Devising Drama, or Musical Theatre. 

The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, or LAMDA offers regulated qualifications in all these disciplines and King’s has a fine tradition as a centre for LAMDA exams. For more than a decade, a 100% pass rate has been maintained, with results at Merit or Distinction levels exceeding 90%. Lessons are available in termly blocks of ten weekly half-hour sessions and pupils follow an individualised programme, developing core performance and presentational skills. Their work builds to graded examination and a range of options for assessment are available to suit the needs of individual pupils. 

In addition to work building towards the examination, pupils are also given the opportunity to perform publicly in the annual Worcester Competitive Arts Festival and in King’s own showcase opportunities. Many of these showcases are student-led events, spotlighting not just the talent of King’s pupils but the pride they have in these skills. 

John Hollyhead, who masterminds our LAMDA courses, added, “It was most encouraging to see such impressive results across all age groups. Results were consistently high, ranging from introductory levels through to the final Level 3 Grade 8 Gold Medals. All our pupils are encouraged to take personal ownership of their co-curricular activity as they develop lifelong interpretative, technical, and presentational skills. Some have clear qualifications and career goals in mind; others seize the opportunity to develop their confidence and communication skills. Whatever their goals, there is something for all pupils.”