Terms Of Service
There are two formats in which we deliver LAMDA Classes.
Group Classes - A group of around 12-14 students attend a 60-90 minute class either at lunchtime or after school.
Private Classes - One, two or a maximum of three students are excused from their regular lessons to attend a half-period slot throughout the school day, much the same way private musical instrument lessons operate. Private Classes can also be taken on Zoom.
It will be clear from our correspondence if your child's school are hosting Group Classes or Private Classes - but please do ask if you require any further clarification.
Group Classes
(If your child is taking Private Classes, please skip this section)
- As these classes are extracurricular, attendance at every single class is not compulsory. However, please consider that if your child has chosen to work with a partner, they are relying on each other to attend consistently and will be taking their LAMDA exam together. If your child is repeatedly absent, we will contact you. But we ask that you also check in with your child and make sure that they are in attendance when you expect them to be.
- Group Classes can only go ahead if there is enough demand for them to run. For that reason, all classes are payable, regardless of attendance. We bill half-termly and so you can re-evaluate every six weeks.
- Group Classes comprise of speech and drama exercises that students would take part in at drama school. Students then select material to work on for their LAMDA exam. They work under the guidance of their tutor on this material until they are ready to be examined. When this time nears, we will contact you to make arrangements for your child to take a LAMDA exam.
Private Classes
- The timetables will rotate weekly. For instance, if your child's LAMDA class is period 1 on a Monday this week, it will be period 2 on Monday next week, period 3 on Monday the following week - and so on. You will receive the timetable in advance each week and have the opportunity to change the class time if required. We ask for a minimum of 48 hours notice in order to facilitate slot swaps to prevent clashes and misunderstandings.
- Ensuring consistent attendance takes some care and planning from us, the school, the parent, the tutor and the student. Some schools are able to update us with the schedules of each individual student for us to work around - but many do not have the resources to provide us with this information. So we rely on the input of Parents to make sure that LAMDA classes are scheduled at a time that their child is able to attend. All parties need to accept their share of the responsibility for attendance.
Louder Drama - Will make clear the class time and location in advance and will accommodate scheduling needs with appropriate notice.
The School - Will provide an appropriate space to host the classes.
The Parent - Will take note of the timetable when they receive it and provide their child with the support they need in order to attend independently.
The Tutor - Will be proactive in attempting to locate students who forget to attend their LAMDA class.
The Student - Will accept primary responsibility for making their way to class at their allotted time slot.
We are unable to withhold renumeration from our staff in the event of an unarranged absence - and for that reason, lessons missed due to a student's non-attendance are still payable.
Homework
To support their work with us, students must set aside regular time outside of class to learn and practice their LAMDA material. If the work that takes place in class can be reinforced at home, this leads to the best outcomes. Please involve yourself in your child's learning by asking what they are working on and ensuring that they are making progress with memorising the material for their LAMDA exam.
Payments
Parents are invoiced half termly, the week before the half term starts. Classes are to be paid for in advance.
A half term is generally 6 weeks so each invoice will be for 6 classes. We ask that invoices are paid within a week of receipt. No refunds will be made once a half term has commenced.
Louder Drama reserves the right to pause classes if payments are repeatedly made excessively late.
Zoom Classes
It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure all technology is in proper working order before the class begins.
If the tutor experiences technical difficulties that make it impossible to continue, the class will be rearranged or refunded.
A regular weekly time for the slot for the class will be agreed. We will endeavour to facilitate any changes to the slot, but they will be at the tutor's discretion and must be requested with at least 48 hour's notice.
Safeguarding During Zoom Classes
All classes must take place in a communal part of the home such as the living room or kitchen. Classes must not take place in the student’s bedroom or private space.
Care must be taken to ensure the workspace is free of any potential hazards such as sharp corners or breakable items.
Classes must go through the parent’s Zoom account and not that of the student. The student will be contacted through the parent’s account at their pre-agreed allotted time slot.
Ideally the parent would be present during the class. For students who will find this inhibiting, parents must check in at regular intervals or be within earshot.
Students must wear clothing suitable for a public lesson, for example no pyjamas.
Students will sometimes need access to the parent’s email account to view scripts or other learning materials. This should be organised and in place before the lesson starts.
All scheduling and correspondence must always be between the tutor and the parent. The student must not contact the tutor themselves under any circumstances.
The use of any photography or filming during classes is prohibited.
Exams
Louder Drama will make the process of booking LAMDA exams simple and accessible. LAMDA exams take place either at LAMDAs premises in Barons Court, central London - or at one of the many LAMDA centres throughout the county. We will always recommend the LAMDA centre that is closest to your child's school. If you are unable to get to a LAMDA centre, the exam can also be taken from your own home via Zoom.
Students will not be entered for their exam until their tutor is confident they will be able to present their very best work.
LAMDA charge a fee for examining students. This fee must be paid directly to LAMDA when booking the exam.
The deadline for entry for exam booking is six weeks before the exam. Up until this point, the exam can be cancelled and the exam fee refunded. The exam fee cannot be refunded after this point.
LAMDA will allow us to request a day when booking the exam (Saturday or Sunday) - but never a time slot. LAMDA examine over 150,000 students annually and they are not able to accommodate the availability of each individual student. Louder Drama will receive the time slot 14 days before the exam and will pass this on to the parent as soon as we receive it - along with all of the necessary information. Therefore, exam day needs to be prioritised. It is the culmination of the year's work.
Please remember that if your child is working with a partner, their responsibility on exam day is not just to themselves, but their partner also.
Cover
All Louder Drama staff are exceptional performing arts professionals with performing careers. On occasion, your child's LAMDA tutor will need cover. In these instances, the two members of staff will have a meeting where every student and their progress is discussed. This ensures continuity and is a fantastic opportunity to have the input of multiple performing arts professionals into your child's development.