Students can take LAMDA tuition year round at the College, and the expectation that once signed up, students will take part for a whole academic year. If you would like to apply for LAMDA tuition once you have read about our offering, please complete the form below.
The
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art began offering speech examinations to
the public in the 1880s. Since then, these examinations have been refined and
developed into a comprehensive system of performance evaluation. The aim of the
teaching is to:
- Improve standards in
communication through the spoken word
- Foster an appreciation of
literature, poems, and drama
- Support the creative,
intellectual, and social development of the individual as a whole
First and
Second Years
- Paired lessons are offered
in Acting (Devised or Scripted)
- Solo lessons are offered in
Acting (Devised or Scripted) or Speaking of Verse and Prose
- Students in First Year
generally start on Grade 3, so please advise us if they have already
attained this Grade
Third
Year and Above
- Solo lessons are offered in
either Acting (Scripted) or Speaking of Verse and Prose.
- Paired lessons may be
available from Third Year, and will be at the discretion of the Director
of Drama
LAMDA Lessons
Paired lessons cost £115 per term, and individual lessons cost £230 per term. In any year, students could have 27 lessons, 2 showcases and one pre exam preparation session. These may not be evenly distributed throughout each term. Each lesson lasts for thirty minutes with a 5 minute break between lessons to allow for a smooth changeover and for the tutor to make notes and prepare for each student. Students will be entered into one exam a year in the Summer Term. it is expected that students will remain with the same tutor for the first two years of paired or solo tuition.
Parents will need to reapply at the end of each year should their child wish to continue with lessons. Parents will be asked to give an indication of whether their child wishes to continue with lessons by the end of the Summer Term in order for their place to be secured. Students wishing to continue will be allocated a new tutor each year by the LAMDA administrator and tutors in consultation with the Director of Drama. The final decision will lie with the Director of Drama, and parents will not be able to select their child's tutor.
Two showcases, in February and June, will offer the chance for students to share their work with parents, relatives and friends, and give a valuable focus at the half way point and a pre exam performance opportunity. Tutors would expect to attend the evening rehearsals and showcases. Students who cannot attend the evening showcase will be expected to perform at a lunchtime showcase. Tutors would not be expected to attend lunchtime showcases.
Bills and fees
LAMDA tutors are self-employed and pay a monthly fee to the College for the hire of a teaching room. Invoices to parents will be sent out at the start of each term directly by the tutor concerned an should be settled within 14 days. Once payment has been made and receipted, tuition can begin.
For solo lessons, a half-term's notice is required in writing if a student would like to stop lessons. Written notice must be with the LAMDA tutor before the start of the relevant half term.
For paired lessons, a half-term's notice within the first term only is required in writing if a student would like to stop lessons. Thereafter, a full term's notice is required to protect the interests of the other student. Written notice must be with the LAMDA tutor before the start of the relevant half term or term.
If a teacher wishes to withdraw their services or is not able to teach all expected lessons over the year, a refund will be given at the rate of 1/10th of the termly fee for each lesson not given. The LAMDA lesson fees are reviewed at the start of each academic year and any changes published half a term prior to any changes taking place.
Exam fees are set by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and are payable in the Summer Term:
- Solo £55 - £120
- Paired £50 - £120
LAMDA Practise Books
These are issued to all students taking LAMDA tuition in school at the start of each academic year, and are used by students and tutors in their LAMDA lessons. These also contain lesson times for reference, progress charts, and end of term reports. Replacement books cost £2. Department spaces are open for LAMDA students to rehearse in out of curriculum time if available. Once per term, all drama spaces will be made available at break and lunchtimes for students to rehearse and practise. Drama clubs will not take place during these weeks. LAMDA students will be expected to utilise this time, and Drama Department staff will monitor and sign practise books to show completion.
Timetabling
Lessons are timetabled on a 'carousel' system and these will be compiled by the peripatetic staff; the rotation should be should be session 1,3,5,7 etc and then 2,4,6,8 and so on. Every effort will be made to ensure a student does not repeatedly miss the same academic subject. LAMDA lessons with Sixth Form students must fall outside curriculum time, and fixed lesson times are only given at the direction of the Director of Drama for academic reasons, subject to availability. Lesson timetables are displayed on the Drama Department noticeboards. Permission should always be sought from the academic teacher whose lesson will be missed, and the practise diary presented if requested. LAMDA lessons (30 minutes in length) may only be taken at the following times as per the schedule printed in the school calendar:
- 8:05; 8:40; 9:15; 9:50; 10:35; 11:10; 11:45; 12:35; 13:10; 13:45; 14:20; 14:55; 15:40; 16:15
Tutors must not exceed 5 hours 30 minutes of teaching in any one day without prior arrangement with the Director of Drama. Tutors may take 15 minutes as a lunch break should they wish, but if the maximum of 5 hours 30 minutes teaching is exceeded for any reason, a further 35 minutes midday break must be taken.
Missed Lessons
In the event of student illness, a missed LAMDA lesson is forfeit. If a student is absent from a paired lesson, the other student will receive tuition as arranged. If a tutor is absent, a memo will be posted on their teaching room door and details of what to do will be provided; the lesson will be made up at a later stage. If a student misses more than three lessons in any one term, the Director of Drama and parents will be informed. The offer of tuition may be withdrawn. All parties are expected to make every effort to keep each other informed about any unexpected absence.
Monitoring Progress
All students are expected to work towards a target, which might be focusing on a particular aspect of technique, participating in a play, drama club, a showcase performance or taking an exam. They will be noted in practise diaries by tutors and students at the start of a term. To assist with monitoring progress, LAMDA tutors will write down the work covered in the lessons in practise books and what should be done in preparation for the next lesson. These books must be signed by a parent after the first 5 lessons of a term. Weekly progress charts will be used with younger students. Additionally, LAMDA tutors will provide a report card at the end of the Christmas and Summer Terms, and full reports at the end of the Easter Term. Copies of these are sent to parents and filed in the Drama Department. In the event of a dispute, the Director of Drama must be informed in writing. The Director of Drama will make every effort to resolve the issue, and their decision is final.
Application for for LAMDA Lessons