Drama – LAMDA

LAMDA tuition at Caterham School Academic Year 2022-23

The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) examinations have been a consistently successful enrichment activity at Caterham School for many years.   LAMDA is the UK’s largest Speech and Drama board and a nationally recognised qualification in communication and performance, which is why we feel they are an important element of a full education. 

LAMDA examinations are designed to improve standards in communication through spoken word and to support the creative, intellectual and social development of the individual as a whole.   LAMDA examinations are about achievement and provide an opportunity to develop important life-skills, such as self-confidence and the ability to communicate clearly. Please do take time to have a look at LAMDA’s website for more information: https://www.lamda.ac.uk/our-exams

Preparation for examinations is offered for Grades 1 – 8 in all performance and communication options and no prior experience is necessary. The LAMDA teacher will decide which grade and exam is suitable for a pupil and will build on any previous examinations taken or relevant acting experience. UCAS points are attached to Level 3 qualifications – Grades 6, 7, 8 which are awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold medals respectively.  

Caterham School offers LAMDA tuition for all LAMDA’s performance and communication examinations and pupils often take a range of different exams over the course of their LAMDA tuition at Caterham.  

• Speaking Verse & Prose

Designed to develop the skills necessary for effective communication of novels and poetry. Develops a strong speaking voice and memory skills. Designed for individual candidates.

• Acting

Developing acting skills required for communicating character and context. Developing a strong, expressive speaking voice and good memory skills by learning and performing monologues and duologues. Designed for solo, duologue or group performances.

• Devising Drama

Developing creativity by exploring ideas and themes through drama, and realising them through devised dramatic performances. Designed for solo, duo or group performances.

• Miming

Gaining an understanding of non-verbal communication by exploring physicality and movement, and putting it into a dramatic performance. Designed for solo or duo performances.

• Public Speaking

Developing essential skills for constructing and delivering talks, presentations and speeches. Designed for individual candidates. 

• Reading for Performance

Developing a recital around a theme of the pupil’s choice and developing an introduction, links and a conclusion to tie it all together. Prose and verse selections do not need to be learnt. Designed for individual candidates.

• Shakespeare

A new qualification in three levels designed to allow pupils to focus purely on some of the best Shakespearian speeches and study the language used. Designed for individuals at Level One and individuals and duologues at Levels Two and Three.

• Musical Theatre

Depending on the grade, pupils perform contrasting musical pieces of their choice, as well as a short devised introductions in character and a monologue, with the emphasis on performing through song. Designed for solo, duos or groups.

LAMDA lessons are taught by LAMDA specialists, some of whom are examiners as well, offering individual, paired or small group weekly tuition.  LAMDA lessons last 40 minutes and are conducted on a weekly basis with an average of 10 lessons per term.  Pupils in paired or group lessons will not necessarily take an exam together and teaching time is shared between the pupils. Rates for the academic year 2020 – 2021 are included in this letter.    You will be invoiced termly by the school. 

Pupils are withdrawn from their normal timetabled class on a rotational basis, missing the same subject no more than twice each half term.  Sixth formers or any students already missing a lesson for a regular commitment such as music will have their lessons in free periods, lunchtimes or before/ after school where there is availability.  While every effort is made to accommodate grouping or paired preferences and requests , priorities within the curriculum as well as applications will guide the timetable and sometimes individual rather than paired or group lessons will be offered.  Naturally, lunchtime slots are extremely popular, and it may be necessary to be placed on a waiting list at for such a slot.

Examinations are held within school at least twice a year.  Pupils will be advised by their teacher about the best time to enter for an examination.   Examination fees are in addition to timetabled lessons and will correspond to the grade being taken and will be billed by the school once a pupil has been entered. These are listed in full on the LAMDA website. Once a pupil has been entered for an examination, LAMDA will charge the examination fee and any withdrawals will not be entitled to a refund. If a pupil is ill on the day of the examination, LAMDA will provide a Transfer Credit Voucher for half the amount of the exam to be used to retake the exam.

Cost of tuition

Solo – 45 minute lesson	£30.10
Paired – 45 minute lesson	£16.30
Group – 3 students – 45 minute lesson	£11.60

Please note that LAMDA teachers are employed based on demand and that a full term’s notice in writing must be given to withdraw a pupil. Withdrawing a pupil can have a very detrimental effect on groups so please do discuss this carefully with your child before applying. These lessons are a serious commitment on the part of both parent, teacher and pupil, with expectations of pupils to practise and do any preparation or research the teacher deems appropriate to set them out of lessons. These lessons should not solely be entered into as a an extra curricular ‘ taster’ for Drama as there are other inclusive lunchtime and after school Drama clubs which would be more suitable for this. Please do look at the Drama co curricular activities on the website for more information and contact Alexandra Yankova, the LAMDA Co-ordinator if you wish to discuss further the suitability of these lessons for your child. Pupils do not have to have done any exams/ previous LAMDA lessons prior to starting lessons.

The pupil will not be charged for any lesson where the teacher is not present.  Pupils are liable for the cost of any lessons that they miss through illness or other commitments. This includes any additional school commitments, including sports fixtures, which occur after the timetabling of lessons. In exceptional circumstances, a teacher may, at their discretion and only if possible within their timetable, reschedule a lesson if they have been given advance notice of an unavoidable absence. It is the responsibility of the student to inform teachers in advance of any lessons they miss and to catch up on work.

Requesting Tuition

Tuition may be requested at any time during a pupils’ school career by submitting a request form to the LAMDA Co-Ordinator, Alexandra Yankova.  Where a request cannot be immediately accommodated, the pupil’s name will be added to a waiting list and they will be offered tuition at the earliest possible opportunity.

For new pupils starting in September 2022, applications must be received no later than June 22 for timetabling purposes.

You will be contacted before the start of the Autumn Term to confirm whether we have been able to arrange a suitable lesson and your child will then hear directly from their LAMDA teacher within the first week of term with lesson timings and location details. LAMDA lessons usually commence in the second full week of the Autumn Term. During the term, teachers will communicate directly with the pupil rather than the parent regarding any lesson amendments etc.

Cancelling tuition

A full term’s notice must be given in writing. There is no need to reapply for lessons each year as it will be assumed the student is continuing unless we have had a term’s notice.

If you require further information or have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]

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