The Drama Department at LEH Foshan is delighted to announce that the school has officially become an accredited LAMDA examination centre and we will integrate LAMDA lessons into the drama curriculum, which will be led by Mr Stuart Savill, Head of Drama and Creative Arts.
Mr Stuart Savill is the Head of Drama & Creative Arts Faculty, and Exams Officer with over 20 years of teaching experience. He has also held positions including Student Council Coordinator, and worked as a Senior Examiner and Senior Moderator for GCSE Drama.
LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) is both the oldest professional drama school in the UK and a world-recognized exam board offering granded performance and communcation qualifications. LAMDA graded exams demonstrate specific levels of competence in the areas of acting, public speaking and poetry recitation, and are designed to enhance students' performance and speech abilities and competitiveness for university applications.
LAMDA offers a global certification examination system that uses English recitation, speech, and drama performance as a means of English language learning, quality education, and proficiency testing. The exams are open to students around the world who wish to obtain recognized qualifications in performance and communication skills.
In this article, we invite Mrs Jane Arden, Headteacher, and Mr Stuart Savill, Head of Drama and Creative Arts, to share more information about the LAMDA graded syllabus and LAMDA-related courses, as well as answer some frequently asked questions.
How does LAMDA help with university applications?
LAMDA results can be beneficial for students wishing to attend university in the UK. Many LAMDA subjects are divided into 8 grades, in line with the UK's Regulatory Qualifications Framework (RQF), which is a framework that allows comparison between different qualifications and levels of study:
Grades 1-3 are at Level 1, which is equivalent to achieving low grades at IGCSE;
Grades 4-5 are at Level 2, which is equivalent to achieving high grades at IGCSE;
Grades 6-8 are Level 3, which is equivalent to studying at A Level.
Admission to UK universities is administered through an organization called UCAS, which uses a tariff point system for Level 3 qualifications, which they use to determine whether students have the necessary qualifications and grades to meet UK university entrance criteria. This means that students who achieve LAMDA Level 6 and above will receive tariff points for university entry.
There are other benefits to choosing to take the LAMDA placement test, even for those students who do not intend to study at a UK university. As a world-recognized awarding body, LAMDA qualifications demonstrate a student's ability to communicate.
How will LAMDA courses be offered in the preparatory and secondary divs?
LEH Foshan wants to offer all students the opportunity to take LAMDA exams at the appropriate level once they have met the necessary standards. Therefore, we are developing our drama programme to support this goal. This year, we will be incorporating the LAMDA curriculum into our regular drama classes.
Prep School:
The Prep School programme is designed to develop basic skills and encourage confidence and effective collaboration skills. Students play dramatic games and practice creating, acting and storytelling in a fun, hands-on environment. Those students who have developed their skill level to a high enough standard are encouraged to take the LAMDA level exam at the end of the school year.
Secondary School:
At the secondary level, a more detailed exploration of voice, character and performance style will make students' work suitable for achieving passing grades at all grade levels. Students who meet the LAMDA grading criteria are encouraged to take the exam as soon as they are ready.
Our Headteacher Mrs Jane Arden has over 20 years’ experience in education, and prior to this role at LEH, she has spent over 5 years working at top international schools in China as founding Deputy Principal, Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of Academics and Head of English. Under her leadership, her schools achieved outstanding IGCSE and A level results. Jane has also worked as Assistant Principal examiner for AQA English language.
The Relevance of LAMDA to English Acquisition
Many of our students come to LEH Foshan with little or no prior experience in theatre. However, many of them and their parents quickly recognised the benefits of taking drama classes. These benefits include the development of personal skills and qualities such as self-confidence, collaborative skills, and communication skills. Our LAMDA programme is designed to further enhance this aspect of theatre by focusing on communication skills, particularly various types of public speaking. This, in turn, directly benefits students' English language learning and confidence in speaking English.
At our whole school assembly last Friday, Mr Stuart Savill was very excited to announce to the students that our school is about to embark on producing our first major musical theatre production - The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition. The Wizard of Oz is a fun play that incorporates music, song, dance and lots of interesting characters. Our show will take place at the end of the second term of the school year, in March, and it will be one of the highlights of the school year.
We look forward to seeing students of all ages sign up for this musical theatre extravaganza in the coming months. By participating in The Wizard of Oz, we believe it will be a very memorable experience for students as they are able to benefit from this epic production, gain friendships and inspire a sense of accomplishment.
