Talented pupils at the Calne Speech and Drama School are celebrating after receiving top marks in their LAMDA examinations.

Fifteen pupils at the school, in Church Street, took part and all of these received a high merit mark of 75 and over in the speech and acting examinations.

All medal candidates in acting at senior level received high distinction marks of 90 and over, and 50 per cent of pupils in acting overall received high distinction marks of 89 and over. Several pupils received high distinctions, including Will MacKenzie, Will Haywood, Jay Wright, Joseph Hayes, Oliver MacKenzie, Alyssa Lenton-Jinks and Jasmine Floyd.

Rhianna Winchester and Hayley Latham were also awarded distinctions for their speech examinations.

Rosalind Patterson, principal, said all the students had worked incredibly hard.

She said: “Everything they do, they have to learn by heart. With the acting they have to take into consideration vocal technique and characterisation, they have to make sure they are true to the playwright and portray the characters properly.

“They have to do two very contrasting pieces as well, so they display their versatility. As they get more senior they have to talk to the examiner and prove they have read their plays.”