The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is a leading British drama school situated in the west of London, United Kingdom. Having celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2011, LAMDA is the oldest drama school in the United Kingdom, and is consistently regarded as a world-class performing arts institute renowned for its excellence in theatre education.The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art prepares actors, directors, designers, stage managers and technicians for careers in the industry. It also helps more than 83,000 candidates worldwide develop their communication and performance skills through LAMDA Examinations, the UK's leading statutory awarding body for speech and drama.LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its Principal is Joanna Read (who succeeded Peter James in 2010). In recent years, over 98% of LAMDA's stage management and technical theatre graduates have found work in their chosen field within weeks of graduation and the Academy's graduates work regularly at the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe, London's West End and Hollywood as well as on the BBC, HBO and Broadway.It is registered as a company under the name LAMDA Ltd and as a charity under its trading name London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. There is an associate organisation in America under the name LAMDA in America, Inc., previously known as The American Friends of LAMDA.LAMDA Examinations are recognised by Ofqual, the regulator in England and its counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, LAMDA accredited examinations at level 3 are recognised by the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) points system.As an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, LAMDA receives funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). This means that eligible UK/EU students are able to access loans to assist with their tuition fees and maintenance costs. In addition, LAMDA and the Conservatoire have a range of scholarships and bursaries available.