Date Posted: 02/09/2024Current News
Category / School News Posted on: 03/05/2024
LAMDA success!
We are delighted to celebrate another year of impressive LAMDA results at Kingshott. With over 100 pupils taking part, the exams are a culmination of months of hard work and efforts by pupils. Overall there were an outstanding 80 Distinctions awarded, the highest grade that pupils can achieve in the exams, as well as an additional 25 pupils gaining their Award with Merit. To date, this now means that over 800 pupils have achieved LAMDA Distinctions at Kingshott. It is a testament to the excellence of Drama at Kingshott that over 70% of all LAMDA exams taken, which is over 1000 in total since the School began offering them seven years ago, have been awarded a Distinction.
Kingshott offers LAMDA to both groups and singularly. Pupils who want to take part individually can do so, progressing through the different grades. Uniquely, at Kingshott, all pupils in Years 3 to 8 take part in the LAMDA Group examinations every couple of years. They take these lessons during curriculum time, tying it in with either their English or History curriculum, enabling the pupils to perform the texts they are studying. “This gives them a better underpinning of the texts they are studying,” explains Mrs Adams, Head of Drama. “We take a bit of text, like Shakespeare or classics text, and put it on its feet - acting it out helps to bring the words to life and to deepen understanding.” By taking part in the Group LAMDA award, pupils are encouraged to develop their confidence and performance skills, as well as being inspired to then take the individual examinations.
Pupils can progress through a range of different levels and types of LAMDA exams. This year, pupils took exams from Entry Level, through to Level 1 and Level 2, with Awards in Performance (Solo, Duo and Combined) and Musical Theatre, at a range of various Grade levels from Entry 3, up to Grade 5 – which is the equivalent of a GCSE. This year three pupils took Grade 5, all achieving a distinction, which is a culmination of many years of hard work, having each taken LAMDA since Year 4
“LAMDA results are exceptional at Kingshott”, says Head David Weston. “It inspires and empowers pupils to become confident communicators - which is a vitally important skill for children to develop and hone. By developing their communication skills, pupils improve their levels of self-assurance, and gain confidence in being able to articulate and express their thoughts and ideas.”
There are many other benefits to taking part in LAMDA at Kingshott. It provides an opportunity to further develop their reading fluency and widens their vocabulary - both of which are helpful in improving their English language skills. Pupils also benefit from enhancing their memory and recall - which will be helpful in their future GCSE examinations.
LAMDA is taught by Kingshott's excellent Head of Drama, Mrs Adams, who is supported by Mrs Drake. Mrs Adams is a professional actress, having starred on the West End, including the London Palladium, in a wide variety of roles from Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music, Donna in Mamma Mia and Anna Leonowens in The King and I. She studied at the Arts Educational Schools (at the Barbican and Turnham Green), receiving a Diploma and Post Diploma, as well as at UCL where she achieved a (BA) hons in Performance Studies. Mrs Adams has been teaching LAMDA at Kingshott for eight years, supporting over 1000 pupils to take their examinations to date. Each year the majority of pupils excel, achieving the top mark of Distinction.
As the School moves to offer Years 9 through to 11 over the coming years, LAMDA will also grow, as will the School's range of Drama opportunities and activities. Kingshott is offering GCSE Drama, as well as recently launching a Drama Scholarship.
