LAMDA and the Curriculum: Building Skills for Life
Mrs Clare Farlow, our Guest Blogger, writes:
As the provider of LAMDA lessons at OPS, I am always looking at how we add value to our pupils’ education and ensure parents feel their investment is worthwhile. While our pupils consistently achieve excellent exam results, LAMDA offers so much more than qualifications alone.
As parents, we all want our children to succeed, not just academically, but in everyday life. Strong communication skills are at the heart of that success. By helping children read with understanding,
expand their vocabulary, and express themselves with confidence, LAMDA complements and strengthens the wider curriculum. While working on a monologue with a Year 3 pupil recently, we
encountered three unfamiliar words and explored their pronunciation, meaning, context, and everyday use. Small moments like this help children build vocabulary, strengthen reading comprehension, and develop critical thinking.
The one-to-one nature of LAMDA lessons also gives pupils the confidence to ask questions they may not feel comfortable raising in a busy classroom. As their confidence grows, they often become more willing to share ideas, participate in discussions, and take on new challenges. For younger pupils, this can lead to greater engagement in class. For older pupils, it helps prepare them for public speaking, leadership opportunities, interviews, and future academic demands.
For pupils in Years 7 and 8, LAMDA plays an important role in Drama Scholarship preparation. I am proud of our strong track record of scholarship success, with tailored coaching helping pupils excel in auditions and interviews. The academic benefits extend well beyond prep school. At the OPS, pupils can work towards LAMDA qualifications up to Grade 5. At senior school they study Grades 6–8, which carry UCAS points that contribute towards university applications. A Grade 8 qualification can be worth up to 30 UCAS points – equivalent to a C grade at A Level. Although university may feel a long way off, I regularly see former OPS pupils including their LAMDA qualifications on their applications, where they can make a meaningful difference.
Whether your child loves performing or simply needs encouragement to find their voice, LAMDA provides a supportive environment in which they can develop confidence, communication skills, and a lifelong love of learning. It is far more than an extracurricular activity, it is an investment in skills that will benefit them throughout their education and beyond.
For more information about our LAMDA lessons please contact:
clare@lovelamda.uk