What is LAMDA?

LAMDA stands for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. It was founded in 1861 and is the oldest specialist drama school in Britain. But in boarding schools, LAMDA is not a drama school as such, it is an examination system for speech, communication and performance. Every year, more than one hundred thousand people around the world take LAMDA exams. In most British private schools, LAMDA is offered as an extracurricular activity, often built directly into the timetable – usually a thirty-minute lesson once a week.

The exams are divided into two main areas: Performance and Communication. The first includes acting scenes, monologues, dialogues and character work. The second includes public speaking, poetry and prose reading, and Speaking in Public. The levels go from introductory grades up to Grade 8, and students can start from the very simplest level. There are no requirements for previous experience.

Now, to what matters to parents.

When I speak to the parents of my students about LAMDA, the first reaction is usually something along these lines: well, this is not compulsory, we already have so much going on – Maths, English, Biology, revision. Why add the stage to all of that?

This is why.

For most international students, academic English is a weak spot, even with IELTS 6.5. They know the words, they can read a text, but speaking coherently, holding an audience and building natural spoken language is something completely different. LAMDA addresses exactly this problem through practice, not through a textbook. The child learns to speak because they have to stand up and say something – in front of a real person, within a set time, with a specific task. There is nothing more effective.

Second. In a private boarding school, the ability to carry yourself in public is not optional, it is part of your reputation. House meetings, presentations, debates, speeches in chapel – all of this happens constantly. A student who can speak with confidence is perceived differently by teachers, houseparents and peers. It affects everything, including how readily they are trusted and what opportunities they are offered.

Third, and I say this as someone who has seen hundreds of teenagers in different schools: children who have gone through LAMDA carry themselves differently in interviews, in meetings with their tutor, and in conversation with me. There is something in the way they look at you, the way they begin and finish a thought. This is not self-confidence as a personality trait, it is a skill. Skills are developed through repetition, and LAMDA is one of the few formats where this repetition happens regularly and with feedback.

From Grade 6 upwards, LAMDA qualifications are included in the UCAS Tariff system and give real points for entry to British universities. Grade 8 gives up to 30 points – almost like a separate A Level. This is not only for those who want to become actors, but also for students applying to university who want their portfolio to carry more weight. You can read more about LAMDA via this link: Limepalm Productions.

I also want to say something separately about children who stay quiet. There are students like this – bright, well-read, able to understand everything, but quiet in lessons, monosyllabic in conversation, and frozen in any public situation. Parents sometimes say: he is just an introvert, there is no need to push him. I understand that, but I do not agree with the conclusion.

In the British system, staying silent comes at a cost. Grades in subjects depend on the ability to formulate ideas, argue a point and explain. An Economics or History teacher in Sixth Form expects a student to take part in discussion, not just write tests correctly. A speech, a presentation, a question to a lecturer – all of this is part of how you are assessed, often informally, but constantly.

For such children, LAMDA is a place where speaking is compulsory, but safe. There is no class of thirty people, no mark for answering at the board, no comparison with the person sitting next to you. There is a task, there is a text, there is an examiner. It is less intimidating and gives the child the chance to try.

I saw a girl who barely spoke in lessons during her first two months at school. By the end of the year, she was standing in front of a hall, speaking about her character – clearly, without a piece of paper, with pauses in exactly the right places. Not because she had suddenly become a different person, but because she had been taught how to do it and had been given enough practice to stop being afraid of it.

LAMDA offers exams in several formats: Acting, solo, duo or group, Devising Drama, Verse & Prose, Reading for Performance, Speaking in Public, Shakespeare and Musical Theatre. The choice depends on the child’s age, goal and interests. They do not have to love theatre – Speaking in Public is suitable for a student who wants to learn how to speak in a structured and confident way, without any acting task involved.

Sometimes parents only find out about LAMDA after their child has been attending lessons at school for several months, and they are surprised: we did not even know he was doing this. Schools do not always explain in detail to parents what lies behind that line in the timetable.

If your student is studying at a British boarding school and has LAMDA in the timetable or as an option, ask what exactly they are doing, what level they are working towards and when the next exam is. This is not an unnecessary extra activity in an already overloaded schedule, but one of the few places where students work on skills that will later be visible everywhere.

As a guardian, I decided to go and see with my own eyes how one of my students’ LAMDA exam rehearsals works. This was a prep school, and all the children were aged between 9 and 13. I recorded several speeches so that you can get an idea of what it actually looks like.

Extract 1. Speech about music

Good evening.

In my family, music has always been there, and it has a very special meaning for me. I play the piano, the cello and the organ – just like my mother and her mother before her. For us, music is not just notes on a page. It is a way of life.

In my view, music is an expression of the soul. I first began learning music in church and spent my childhood singing in the choir. I still remember many of the songs I used to perform.

Music is very important in church: it expresses faith, joy and devotion. I find gospel music especially powerful. It has energy, happiness, strong emotions and courage. Its melodies inspire people and touch the heart.

Music can support, inspire and motivate, and it can even make a person feel sad or thoughtful. It can change your mood.

For example, in the gym, music helps you train; while studying, it helps you concentrate; in films, it makes you feel emotions more strongly; and at concerts, it brings people together through live performance.

Life without music would be far too quiet. There would be less joy, fewer celebrations and less connection between people.

The fact that I am learning to play different instruments is a great advantage. I can explore different genres, from classical music to gospel and modern music. Through music, I can share moments and feel part of something bigger.

In conclusion, I would like to say that music helps us express emotions and thoughts that are difficult to put into words. It has given me many opportunities, strengthened my connection with my family and my faith, and made me the person I am today.

Extract 2. Scene from “Stowaways” by Jacqueline Wilson

This is a scene from “Stowaways”. The student plays Emma.

— What an amazing place. It is so dark in here, almost like a cathedral. If I keep very still, I can almost feel the waves. I think we are already at sea. America, here we come!

It is too late now. Even if they find me, they will not be able to send me back. I can work off my passage.

What was that? Someone is here. I am not alone. Who is there? What should I do?

— Oh, I had cramp in my leg, it was really painful. And it is actually quite frightening in here when the lid is closed, rather like a coffin.

Poor magician. When he comes to perform, he will discover that half of his costumes are no longer in the trunk. I had to throw them out – otherwise there would not have been enough room for me.

— By the way, hello. I know you are here, do not be frightened, you can come out.

So you are a stowaway too? I am Lily.

— Emma. Emma Brown.

— I am going to start a new life in America.

— So am I.

The ship is incredible: so beautiful, fashionable and enormous, and they say it cannot sink. There are so many decks. Do you think we will manage?

— We will have to steal food, but now there are two of us, so it will be easier. One of us can keep watch or distract people while the other looks for food. There must be plenty of food left lying around. Rich people often leave food on trays outside the first-class cabins.

— You have not travelled much, have you?

— No. I lived in a small village with my father. He was a vicar. My mother died when I was born. My father was a kind and gentle man, always looking after other people. One day, he caught influenza while visiting a sick parishioner, and the next day he died.

— And you ran away?

— No. My aunt took me in, my mother’s sister. She was cold and indifferent. And my cousin Arthur treated me like a servant: “bring this”, “do that”, “sweep the floor”.

Then I saw an advertisement for the ship. I am an actress and I will be able to become famous in New York.

— An actress? Have you performed on stage? But how is that possible? You are my age, you are still a child.

— An actress, a dancer, a singer, I can do everything. My mother performed too, and Nathan, her friend, said that one day I could become just like her.

I wonder what New York will be like. Nathan said he was born there, that the streets are paved with gold, and that anyone can succeed.

— To our future.

— To America.

— To this ship. To the Titanic.

Extract 3. Speech about a trip to Vancouver Island, Canada

Good evening. My name is Hubby, and today I am going to speak about my favourite place from a family trip – Vancouver Island in Canada.

We travelled as a family, visited many different places and, of course, it was all a little chaotic. But one of the lodges became our final stop before returning home. It was the perfect place to end our journey.

What impressed me most were the animals. We saw bears, wolves, orcas, grizzlies and sea otters. But my favourite moment was seeing a whale.

We were on a boat and had almost given up hope of seeing one, when suddenly it appeared very close to us. We saw it moving through the water. A huge cruise ship was passing nearby, and behind it, the whale was playing in the waves. Then we looked away for just a moment – and suddenly the whale leapt out of the water. It amazed all of us. Seeing such a huge animal above the surface of the ocean was an incredible feeling.

I was also struck by the people. We met very kind and welcoming people, whom I think we will remember for the rest of our lives. When we arrived, they greeted us with smiles and told us about their culture and the nature of the island.

Every evening, the staff gave presentations about the animals and the places around us. And at exactly five o’clock every evening, we all went swimming in cold water – about minus five degrees. It was a real challenge.

In conclusion, I would like to say that sometimes it is frightening to try something new, but stepping out of your comfort zone is what gives you the strongest impressions. Even if you feel nervous at first, such an experience can become a memory for life.

The speech text of our Year 8 student, aged 13, who actively takes part in LAMDA:

“I am going to speak about why Poland is a good country and why I like it so much.

First of all, there is its economy and education. The first argument I would like to give is that the unemployment rate is 5.6%, which is one of the lowest rates in Europe. Since 2004, Poland has been significantly ahead of the European Union average in terms of GDP growth. The number of people in Poland with higher education has increased from 40% to over 44% in the last 3 years.

Poland’s GDP per capita, which means how much, on average, there is for each person in Poland, is quickly approaching the level of the United Kingdom and has already reached 85% of the UK level. Some regions of Poland already have a higher level of prosperity than most regions of the UK. Lower Silesia, which is one of the richest regions of Poland, has already overtaken Greater Manchester. Forecasts show that Poland may overtake the United Kingdom in GDP per capita by 2030.

Another argument I would give for why Poland is a great country and why I like it is the food and drink in Poland. Poland is the country of a very versatile dish called pierogi. These are dumplings that can be filled with almost any ingredient, or several ingredients at once. They can be boiled, fried and prepared in other ways, so basically in almost any way you like. In my opinion, it is genuinely excellent food, probably the best food I can eat.

Poland is also a very convenient country. It has a chain of shops called Żabka. It is a local convenience shop where they sell hot dogs, and many Polish people like the fact that Żabka is literally everywhere, and that the food and drinks they offer are of very good quality for a convenience shop.

Another point is about culture, geography and life. Poland is actually located in the centre of Europe. It has excellent connections to places such as Vienna, Prague, Copenhagen, Berlin or Stockholm, if travelling by sea, and to many other places. So Poland is very well connected to many popular regions of Europe.

Poland is also a meeting point between Eastern and Western cultures, and this is another reason why I like it. In my opinion, it is very diverse. It has many different regions, and each offers different food, culture and many other features of Poland and everyday life.

Also, in Poland, communities are very lively in everyday life. Children still play outside, rather than simply sitting all day playing video games. People often communicate much more than in other Western countries, where people usually spend more time on their phones or laptops. In Poland, there is much more real interaction between people.

And I think Poland has a soul that many Western countries do not have.

Thank you for listening, and I hope you have learnt something new about Poland today.”