Extra Opportunities

Extra Opportunities

Beyond the standard curriculum and activities, Orwell Park School runs several specialized programs worth noting. There’s a support department for children with learning differences, LAMDA drama classes that focus on performance skills, English courses designed for international students, and the OPS Challenge—a two-year practical program. These additions broaden what pupils can access and help them develop abilities they’ll use both in senior school and everyday life.

• Learning Enrichment — support for learning difficulties
• LAMDA — acting skills and stage speech
• EAL — English language for international pupils
• OPS Challenge — two-year practical skills course

Learning Enrichment

The Learning Enrichment department supports children who face developmental differences or academic challenges while keeping them integrated into mainstream lessons. Parents consistently praise how attentive the specialists are, and inspectors have described this support system as excellent. Rather than isolating these pupils, the approach emphasizes inclusion—they remain in regular classes with full access to subjects. Only in exceptional circumstances might the administration acknowledge that a particular child would benefit more from a different educational setting.

LAMDA

Individual lessons through LAMDA—the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art—give pupils of all ages a chance to develop their acting abilities, stage presence, and confidence when speaking publicly. Students regularly sit external LAMDA exams, typically achieving merit or distinction grades. These certificates carry weight when applying to senior schools, and many Orwell Park School graduates have secured drama scholarships as a result.

Other Opportunities at Orwell Park School

International students can join EAL courses—English as an Additional Language—with fees ranging from £373 to £1,140 per term depending on lesson frequency. During summer school, morning sessions run in small groups catering to all proficiency levels. There’s also the OPS Challenge, a two-year program for Years 6–7 modeled on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Weekly sessions teach navigation, water rescue, kayaking, and first aid across the 110-acre grounds, building independence as pupils put these skills into practice.