Pupils at King William’s College and the Buchan School are celebrating after achieving outstanding results in examinations from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

At The Buchan School, every child in the equivalent of primary school years 5 and 6 (aged nine to 11) was entered for their choral speaking certificate and all 61 pupils received a distinction.

Alex Duncan, head of drama at the Buchan, said: ’We are thrilled with these results. For every pupil to achieve a distinction is a fantastic effort, and we are so proud of them all.

’Each class had to perform two contrasting pieces of poetry and prose as a group, with each child taking individual lines and characters as well as speaking together in a traditional chorus. They rehearsed each week during their drama lesson and took the exam just before Christmas in front of an examiner from LAMDA who travelled over from London.’

At King William’s College, pupils enter examinations for three main disciplines - acting, public speaking, and speaking of verse and prose - with levels running from Grade 2 to Grade 8.

Of the 40 exams entered, there were 25 distinctions, 14 merits and one pass.

Drama teacher Zoe McAndry said: ’This is another superb set of results.

’Special mention must go to Marie Cilliers, who has gained a distinction in public speaking in every grade up to and including Grade 8, and Henry Davies, who is the first pupil to sit three exams in the same session, gaining two distinctions and a merit.

’Marie’s score of 98% was the highest mark awarded by the Examiner and equalled by Maeve Wilson for Grade 4 Acting.’