Every year, boys who sit the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) examinations never cease to amaze us. This year, we saw a record number of boys sit the exam – in total there were 51 boys – and we are delighted to report that they all achieved either a merit or distinction grade.
The wonderful thing about LAMDA is its ability to engage boys who would never normally be seen treading the boards. It also helps boys gain a deeper understanding of texts and writing, which can be carried into academic subjects.
As a school, we are proud of our 100% pass rate since starting LAMDA in 2015. However, this is the second year running the boys have achieved 100% merit and distinction, with over 95% of our Grade 7 and 8 boys (the top two grades) being awarded distinctions.
This year we had boys taking five different exams: Acting, Speaking in Public, Verse and Prose, Reading For Performance and Shakespeare.
Head of Speech and Drama, Fi Fowler, who teaches and coaches the boys, commented, “The results of this year’s cohort demonstrate the hard work and dedication of our boys and specialist staff. It is a joy to walk around the theatre and see so many different skills and hear so many voices performing at the highest level. With nearly 100 boys working towards exams this year, LAMDA at Bedford School is set to flourish for many years to come.
“If you have ever come along to our Evening of Speech and Drama in March (and I encourage you to do so), you will have seen the breadth of subjects taught and the immense talent of those who study these exams.”
A special mention must go to Lower Sixth Former, Will Hayward, who, while also sitting his GCSEs, achieved a superb 96% in his Grade 7 Acting examination.
Will, who has been sitting LAMDA exams since he first started school here in Y3, told us, “I am very pleased. Having worked on the pieces throughout the year and the context behind the author and piece, I was able to explore each piece effectively and authentically.”
For his exam, Will was required to perform three pieces of varying style and period. He chose Blackout by Davy Anderson, Office Hours by Norm Forster and Henry V by William Shakespeare. Additionally, for the theory aspect, he was required to give an explanation of the writing style, and background into the period of each piece.
Lower Sixth Former Will Hayward who achieved the highest score in school.
Will, who was inspired by Miss Fowler, explained, “I am extremely thankful to Miss Fowler for helping me throughout the year and for being so pedantic to help me get the highest grade possible! Also, for making the pieces so enjoyable and fun, despite their varying atmospheres, to help me fully immerse and explore their mood and ideas presented.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the LAMDA exams, please contact ffowler@bedfordschool.org.uk for more details. There are still a few places left for this year’s exams.
Here are the results:
Grade 8
- Theo Artus – Speaking in Public – 90 – Distinction (first boy here through this particular qualification)
- Will Trobe – Acting – 80 – Distinction
- Leo Butler – Acting – 85 – Distinction
- Murray Silk – Acting – 78 – Merit
- Dilan Sharma – Acting (Duo) – 77 – Merit
- Jake Reynolds – Acting (Duo) – 76 – Merit
Grade 7
- Will Hayward – Acting – 96 – Distinction (NB highest score in the school; and whilst taking his GCSEs)
- Tobi Akinola – Acting – 88 – Distinction
- Ben Mealey – Speaking in Public – 87 – Distinction
- Millan Verwoert – Acting – 86 – Distinction
- Nathan Tharakan – Acting – 85 – Distinction
- Akshat Buddineni – Verse and Prose – 84 – Distinction
- Aadhi Arun – Acting – 83 – Distinction
- Tanay Rai – Acting – 83 – Distinction
- Oliver Bymolen – Acting – 73 – Merit
Grade 6
- Henry Gilham – Acting – 94 – Distinction
- Charlie Eggleton – Reading For Performance – 86 – Distinction
- Koya Okusaga – Acting – 86 – Distinction
- Eeshan Agrawal – Reading For Performance – 84 – Distinction
- Stanley Breed – Acting – 83 – Distinction
- Thomas Taylor – Acting – 81 – Distinction
- Oliver Phillips – Acting – 78 – Merit
- Dominic Ray – Acting – 77 – Merit
- Mikel Deans – Speaking in Public – 77 – Merit
- Alfie Redfern – Speaking in Public – 75 – Merit
- Misha Savitiski – Reading For Performance – 74 – Merit
Grade 5
- Leo Mathew – Acting – 95 – Distinction
- Matt Hackney – Reading For Performance – 92 – Distinction
- Ralph Franklin – Reading For Performance – 91 – Distinction
- Oscar Qualtrough – Verse and Prose – 91 – Distinction
- Advik Mishra – Acting – 88 – Distinction
- Kasim Sheik – Reading For Performance – 88 – Distinction
- Sammy Rawlings – Verse and Prose – 87 – Distinction
- Vir Walia – Speaking in Public – 86 – Distinction
- Stirling Smallwood – Acting – 85 – Distinction
- Oliver Cadman-Kerr – Reading For Performance – 85 – Distinction
- Harry Brown – Acting – 85 – Distinction
- Jarred Love – Acting – 84 – Distinction
- Oliver Sprange – Acting – 84 – Distinction
- Charlie Gibson – Acting – 83 – Distinction
- Charlie Neale – Speaking in Public – 82 – Distinction
- Charlie Gandesha – Acting – 81 – Distinction
- Oliver Quince – Reading For Performance – 81 – Distinction
- Cormac Hayes – Reading For Performance – 81 – Distinction
- Josh Lincoln – Acting – 80 – Distinction
- Harry Lousada – Acting – 80 – Distinction
- Edward Randerson – Speaking in Public – 78 – Merit
- Sam Millar – Acting – 76 – Merit
- Will Spice – Acting – 72 – Merit
- Yasseen Khedr – Acting – 69 – Merit
Shakespeare Level 2
- Aryan Sohanpal – 88 – Distinction
Grade 4
- Oliver Yeo – Verse and Prose – 80 – Distinction