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Every year in England, a strange ritual takes place: the mad scramble to find the right school. Parents consider aspects like tuition and what they will get for their money, what's required for entry into various schools and what those schools have to offer. They weigh everything from reputation to accessibility. Not just whether the school is close enough to home that their son won't have to board, either. They look at how many pupils schools accept and how competitive placement is. Where Dulwich College is concerned:
- you'll find a Junior school for boys aged 7 to 11 years
- a Senior school for boys aged 11 to 18
- a well-developed pastoral care program
- more than 60 clubs and societies your son may participate in
- an extensive sports program that includes facilities and equipment for more than 25 different sports
- facilities for your son to explore drama, music and art
- a library replete with everything from films on DVD to more than 1,000 titles to read
- a low teacher-to-pupil ratio (average class size is 21 pupils)
England has many fine schools to consider. You might, for instance, turn away from City of London School simply because it's too competitive. Still, you have to find a position for your boy - particularly now, with New Year celebrations just behind us. Superprof can help by laying out all you need to know what to expect to get your son into Dulwich College.
About Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent day and boarding school for boys between the ages of 11 and 18. It belongs to both the Eton Group and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses'' Conference. Inclusion into these groups, particularly in the Eton group signals Dulwich College's prestige.
Each year, this campus welcomes over 1500 students to its 70-acre site on Dulwich Common, south London. As one of three Dulwich Schools of the Foundation, Dulwich College celebrates the spirituality, talent and fortune of its founder, Edward Alleyn. The school’s mission is to “ensure that all pupils from a variety of backgrounds can feel secure and equally valued.”
Dulwich College has had nearly 400 years to create a legacy in all aspects of student culture and academics. In 2015, nearly 86% of students earned A or A* at the GCSE. Several students graduating from Dulwich have been accepted into top-notch universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and York. Dulwich's contributions to the Old Alleynians roster grow ever longer and more impressive. It includes household names from politics to the arts.
To see if this school is right for your son, Dulwich invites parents and students alike to attend one of the campuses' Open Days. Alternatively, families may book a visit during a school tour. Note that each of these occasions will be specific to your son’s entry-level and will allow you to experience Dulwich culture firsthand. Like many other independent schools across England, Dulwich makes it easy for you to do so.
The first Open Morning of each school year is generally held early in October for 11+ applicants. You do not have to book an appointment for this visit. Senior staff members for Dulwich’s Middle School (13+) are more than happy to arrange an appointment to meet with parents and students privately. Or you can book a mid-September tour around campus. Lastly, 16+ candidates are encouraged to request an individual appointment to tour the school and speak with Upper School staff.
Dulwich College Admissions Policies
Most students register for Dulwich College in September or November of the year preceding their proposed entry. Along with their registration forms and the requisite fee, the registration packet must include a passport-sized photograph. If you have any additional supporting papers, such as references, requests or special requirements, be sure to include them, too. So far, registering for Dulwich sounds like registering for Harrow School, down to the passport photos.
Placement for 11+ and 13+ is offered based on exam and interview performance, and a report from the student’s current school. Placement for 16+ is a more prolonged admissions process. Your son will sit entrance papers or interviews in the four A-Level subjects that he intends to study at Dulwich. Offers are then based on your son’s performance in these exams, as well as his interview and, if applicable, GCSE results.
If your son is currently working toward GCSEs, Dulwich will award him 3 points per A*, 2 points per A and 1 point per B grade. Students must receive at least 14 points to be considered for entry. Their scores must include studies in English, Mathematics, and an A* or A in the four subjects they wish to study at A-Level.
Dulwich College Exams and Interviews
All students who excel in their examinations will also sit for an interview. However, note that the examinations themselves vary by entry-level. For instance, boys entering at 11+ will sit papers in Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and English. Boys entering at 13+ will write the same examinations in addition to one in Science. Upon acceptance, they will further test in either French or Spanish. Not even Radley College tests prospective pupils this extensively.
Boys entering at 16+ will sit entrance papers or interviews in the four A-Level subjects that they intend to study at Dulwich. Subjects that depend heavily on oral or performative skills will be assessed by interview, rather than by paper. Such subjects include Modern Languages, Theatre Studies, Physical Education, Classics, Art, and Design Technology. Interviews, both general and subject-specific, will be primarily academic. However, note that your son will also be asked to speak about their other interests, and how they might socially contribute to the school.
Dulwich’s interview and exam process can be difficult. Students are encouraged to read the specimen papers provided by Dulwich before they write their exams. For the interview portion, you can help your son by reading through Dulwich’s Welcome or Entry Procedures.
As you go through this text together, encourage him to jot down a few ways he might prove himself to be in line with Dulwich’s vision. For example, Dulwich, like St Paul's School, cites “intellectual ability” and a “strong work ethic” as particularly admirable traits. Preparing a few examples of how he embodies these values will help him stand out from the crowd of applicants. Best of luck!
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Nice school