Dulwich College was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, the Elizabethan actor, and has a history of more than 400 years.
Dulwich College is an academically ambitious, diverse and welcoming school with a genuine community. Rooted in outstanding teaching and learning, it is committed to co-curricular life and pastoral care.
Children can join the Kindergarten and Infants’ School at DUCKS from six months, with additional places for girls and boys from Reception (4+) to Year 2 (6+).
Boys can be offered an all-through College place from Year 3, guaranteeing their education to 18. There are further formal entry points at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), as well as occasional places into other year groups. Dulwich offers both Full and Weekly Boarding for boys from Y9–13 across 4 boarding houses. Weekly Boarding is offered Monday to Friday, with the option of staying for the weekend. Staying here during the week is a great option for boys in Y9 upwards who want to make the most of their time at Dulwich, enabling them to fully participate in early morning or evening co-curricular activities, reduce travel time, and benefit from the support, ease and community that boarding life brings. Moving into weekly boarding during Sixth Form can also provide a valuable stepping stone to university, as well as enable more focus in these important years of school. Weekly boarding can also provide support for busy working families who need flexibility to travel or fulfil other commitments.
Dulwich’s outcomes are strong. In 2026, 94.4% of GCSE grades were awarded at 9–7. At A level, 90% of grades were A*–B. 98% of pupils progress to higher education, with 10% going to prestigious overseas universities in North America such as Chicago, Brown and Harvard over the past five years. In the UK, strong A level results help students secure places at leading Russell Group universities including Oxbridge.
The College’s principal aims for all its boys are:
•to offer an appropriate academic challenge which enables each pupil to realise his potential;
•to create an environment which promotes an independent work ethic and encourages all boys to acquire a love of learning;
•to provide a wide range of sporting, cultural and adventurous activities for pupils to enjoy and through which they can learn to work cooperatively and to take a lead;
•to nurture a supportive community that encourages a sense of social responsibility and spiritual and personal development;
•to ensure that pupils from a broad variety of backgrounds can feel equally secure and valued;
•to offer boys and staff opportunities to benefit from and contribute to the College’s international and UK educational partnerships.
Organisation. The College, comprising some 1,900 pupils, has five specific schools: DUCKS, the Junior School, Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. Each of these has its own Head who is responsible to The Master for that part of the College. Within each School there are Heads of Year and Form Tutors who have daily contact with boys in their care. These teams are responsible for overseeing the pastoral and academic welfare of the boys and they ensure that close links are fostered between parents and the College.
DUCKS. Nestled within the leafy grounds of Dulwich College, DUCKS, the Infants’ school and Kindergarten, fondly referred to as the 'gem on the hill’, stands as a beacon of co-educational excellence. Here, children aged 6 months to 7 years embark on a journey of early education within an environment of expansive outdoor spaces and attractive learning environments. Moreover, DUCKS children enjoy the rich array of facilities and resources available within the 70-acre Dulwich College campus.
Day House system. A thriving Day House system offers boys the opportunity to take part in a wide range of competitive activities, including art, chess, poetry, general knowledge, debating, drama and music. They can also compete in a number of sports throughout the academic year, including rugby, football, hockey, cricket and athletics.
Curriculum. In Years 7 and 8, all boys follow a broad and balanced curriculum, including all standard core subjects and French or Spanish, Chinese, Latin, Wellbeing, PE, Computing, Drama, DT, Art and Music. In Year 8, boys make a choice between Latin, Chinese or German; this reduces the number of languages studied to two, allowing boys the time to engage rigorously in their chosen languages and make significant progress. In Year 9, boys continue with the core subjects, plus Wellbeing and PE, together with French or Spanish, and they choose a second language from German, Chinese, French, Spanish, Latin or Italian. This second language may be a continuation of a language they have previously studied, or they may start a new one from scratch. In Years 10 and 11, boys take between nine and 10 GCSE subjects, comprising English, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and French or Spanish, plus three optional subjects; they all continue with Wellbeing and PE. In the Upper School (Years 12 and 13), there is a free choice of three A level subjects (four if they are studying Further Mathematics) and every pupil has opted for an A level ‘Plus’ option which is an in-house qualification that aims to provide enrichment, cross-curricular links and programmes that reflect the likely courses boys choose at university. Boys will also choose a ‘Link’ course in conjunction with James Allen’s Girls’ School that will provide breadth to their educational profile, including a regular lecture series and community service options. The concept of academic enrichment (supra-curricular and other learning beyond the curriculum) is now fully embedded in the life of the College across all year groups.
Facilities. Over the years, the College has developed its complex of buildings to meet the needs of boys’ education in the 21st century, and this development continues. In the summer of 2025, work was completed to refurbish the College's Lower Hall as well as other areas of the College.
One of these developments is The Laboratory, a state-of-the-art building that brings together the twin cultures of Science and Art. There are 21 laboratories, three preparation rooms and the James Caird Hall, which houses the rescue boat of one of the College’s most famous Old Alleynians, Sir Ernest Shackleton. There are five adaptable ‘Informatics’ suites with free-thinking spaces for creative learning and cross-curricular collaboration, and a seminar room with full videoconferencing facilities. In addition, there is a versatile 240-seat auditorium which is available to the whole Dulwich community for events and exhibitions, and an outdoor piazza for recreation and performance.
Extensive IT facilities are available to all pupils. The IT network gives pupils and staff access to a wide range of centrally stored learning resources through the College’s own virtual learning environment, ‘MyDulwich’. Three separate libraries, all staffed by professional librarians, cater to the specific needs of different age groups. Exhibitions, drawn from the College archive, are regularly mounted in the Wodehouse Library.
The College has two separate dining areas which provide a wide choice of food, including a vegetarian option, on a cafeteria basis for both pupils and staff. The College also has its own shop, the Commissariat, where uniform, equipment and stationery can be purchased. The Medical Centre provides professional nursing care on a round-the-clock basis for boarders and day boys. The College Counsellor, based in the Medical Centre, provides confidential consultation for pupils and parents.
Sport. Sport is integral to life at Dulwich College both within the curriculum and as part of the wider co-curricular programme. There are over 70 acres of playing fields. The Sports Centre includes a substantial sports hall and a modern indoor 25-metre swimming pool. The College owns a boathouse on the Thames, accommodating the thriving Boat Club, and an Outdoor Centre in the Brecon Beacons which is used for a variety of activities and residential courses.
There are 1,200 inter-school fixtures a year, with over 200 teams competing across up to 22 different sports. Across the 2025–2026 academic year, 145 sporting competitions were entered across 17 different sports, ranging from national-level, to regional, to county and local tournaments and festivals.
A multi-sport approach: This includes rugby, football, hockey, cricket, athletics, rowing, tennis, badminton, fencing, swimming, water polo, squash, basketball, cycling and cross-country.
We run a High-Performance Programme tailored to meet the needs of the individual; pupils don’t, however, have to be sports scholars to access this programme.
Pupils have gained scholarships to top universities both in the UK and abroad, and a number have gone on to full-time careers playing sport.
Music and Drama. A professionally equipped, purpose-built Music School provides all pupils with the opportunity to study a musical instrument. More than 500 pupils receive individual tuition every week from experienced specialist musicians, led by the Heads of Strings, Wind, Brass, Keyboard and Singing. The College Chapel Choir, an ancient foundation, leads regular services in the Foundation Chapel (Christ’s Chapel) and also at other venues throughout the country. The Edward Alleyn Theatre is a fully rigged auditorium with a capacity of 250; with 24 House plays across the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools and a further 15 supra-curricular showcases are staged annually and the facility includes rehearsal and teaching spaces, as well as dressing rooms.
The College offers Music Awards at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Music Scholarships are awarded up to 33% remission of fees and include free tuition on two instruments. Music Exhibitions offer free tuition on two instruments.
Art and DT. At Dulwich College, we are not necessarily in the business of turning every student into a professional artist. Instead, we endeavour to instil a lifelong love, respect and understanding of the arts. We strive to ensure our challenging curriculum and diverse co-curricular and enrichment opportunities appeal to the wide range of students who come into our care. We believe art allows students to go on a journey into unknown territories, to discover a passion and niche within the world of cultural possibility, in turn helping them to gain confidence in their ability to create, take risks and problem-solve.
The Store Gallery: Our ‘rough magic’ space The Store hosts exhibitions and events by emerging artists and collectives. These have included ‘Evolving Spaces’ with Almanac architects, ‘Make a Mark’ with a collective of artists both London based and international, and ‘Interview – prototype’ with Harrison Pearce. The space is also used for artists in residence and to showcase work by pupils providing them with the skills and experience of being the maker, curator and technician.
Partnerships: The College proudly runs two Saturday schemes for local state primary pupils, offering weekly sessions in Science and Art. Designed to spark curiosity in a fun and engaging environment, these schemes also help build confidence ahead of secondary school. Dulwich College students play an integral role in supporting the sessions, gaining valuable experience and a strong sense of fulfilment by assisting both teachers and younger learners.
Through these initiatives, our pupils not only support charitable causes but also gain practical insights into the challenges faced by those around us.
Clubs and societies. A wide variety of clubs and societies, many run by the pupils themselves, take place during the lunch break and after school. These range from Lego for the younger boys to the Political Society, which is responsible for inviting prominent public figures to speak. The College is particularly renowned for its Debating success. The College encourages boys to take part in expeditions, as well as many community-based activities which can include membership of the Combined Cadet Force, Scouts, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and Community Action. Academic, cultural and sporting excursions take place at various points throughout the school year.
Careers. Specialist careers staff, professional external advisors, dedicated IT facilities and an accredited library provide an up-to-date service assisting boys in planning higher education and careers. Boys and their parents attend the annual Courses and Careers Convention to consult with representatives from key employers, professional institutes and around 25 universities. Upper School boys receive guidance on how degree course choices might influence their future careers. Regular networking events and groups have the aim of allowing Old Alleynians (OAs) and Alleynians to share experiences and expertise and to develop their network of professional contacts. Alumni of all ages can benefit from membership and are encouraged to join.
Mentoring is widely recognised as an effective tool for enhancing career prospects and ensuring informed choice. The Mentoring Programme is offered to Dulwich College pupils and OAs and brings together mentors and mentees in purposeful, mutually rewarding relationships. It is designed to provide additional support for OAs as they progress through their careers.
Boarding. There are four boarding houses in Dulwich College, all situated within or close to the campus. Each house has a resident Housemaster and their family.
Whether boys are weekly or full boarders, the College’s proximity to London enables us to enrich our students with cultural events and social outings, and also makes travelling to and from home easy, whether via the airport or to another part of London or the UK.
Weekly Boarding is offered Monday to Friday, with the option of staying for the weekend. Staying here during the week is a great option for boys in Y9 upwards who want to make the most of their time at Dulwich, enabling them to fully participate in early morning or evening co-curricular activities, reduce travel time, and benefit from the support, ease and community that boarding life brings. Moving into weekly boarding during Sixth Form can also provide a valuable stepping stone to university, as well as enable more focus in these important years of school. Weekly boarding can also provide support for busy working families who need flexibility to travel or fulfil other commitments.
Whether Full or Weekly Boarders, our boarding pupils love their second home. Dulwich places great emphasis on the boarding community, ensuring each individual flourishes within it and leaves with lifelong friendships.
Boys can board from Year 9 in Old Blew and The Orchard. These lovely houses are period properties which are located at the edge of the campus. Boys living in these recently refurbished houses enjoy spacious dorm rooms, enormous common rooms and extensive beautiful gardens.
Boys entering the Upper School can choose to reside in Old Blew and The Orchard, where they will act as role models and leaders to younger boys. Alternatively, they can move to one of the two Upper School boarding houses, Blew House and Ivyholme. These two houses are physically linked to one another and intentionally provide a stepping stone to university halls of residence. They contain large common rooms, kitchens, and a garden space, and bedrooms here are individual and ensuite.
At present, there are around 140 boarders. Boarding at Dulwich is truly international with boys coming from all over the world; this adds to an atmosphere of cultural tolerance and intellectual curiosity.
ISI Inspection March 2025. We are pleased to share the Independent Schools Inspectorate's (ISI) report following their visit to Dulwich College, Dulwich College Junior School and DUCKS during March 2025. While the ISI no longer awards single-word judgements (and reports on the extent to which statutory standards and requirements are met), you'll see that the College has been widely commended.
‘The extensive range of co-curricular activities extends beyond lessons. There is an appropriate range of activities available for boarders in the evenings and on weekends. Numerous clubs and societies, many initiated and run by pupils themselves, encourage pupils to pursue their interests and to explore new activities. The vast majority of pupils are enthusiastic participants in clubs, and their leadership skills, self-confidence and self-esteem develop through their involvement. The co-curricular programme enriches pupils' education, reflecting the school’s aim to bring purpose and joy to school life.’ ISI Report Dulwich College March 2025.
Entry. Pupils are admitted to the College as day pupils, boarders, weekly boarders or occasional boarders. Places are available at age 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. Occasional vacancies occur from time to time at ages 8, 9, 10 and 12. At age 7, places are awarded on the basis of completing adaptive digital assessments in Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning in small groups as well as some short written assessments of writing and maths. Applicants who have showed sufficient promise will be invited back for a one-to-one literacy and numeracy assessment. At age 11, places are awarded on the results of the Combined Entrance and Scholarship Examination held in the Lent Term. Candidates take papers in English and Mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning test, puzzles and problem-solving and creative comprehension in addition to an interview. At age 13, boys may take the College’s own Entrance Examinations as well as having an interview held in the Lent Term. Entrance is by examination and interview. At 16+, places are offered on the results from subject-specific tests, interview and GCSE grades. Application should generally be in the year before desired date of entry. For further information, please see the Admissions section on the College website. A non-refundable registration fee of £200 is charged for all applications and £440 for overseas applications.
Fees per (2026–2027). Day Pupils (Reception–Y2): £7,950 per term; Day Pupils (Y3–Y8): £10,662 per term; Day Pupils (Y9–13): £10,706; Weekly Boarders: £21,001 per term; Full Boarders: £22,472 per term. Please visit our fees page: www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions/fees. Scholarships and bursaries. We warmly welcome applications from parents and guardians with academically strong boys who need full or partial financial support to send their son to Dulwich College. Bursaries provide financial assistance with school fees. While the majority of bursaries are offered on entry to Year 7 (11+), we also award bursaries to boys joining in Years 9 (13+) and 12 (16+).
Scholarships Offered: Academic, Art, Music, Sports and Design & Technology
We offer Academic, Music and Sports Scholarships at Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+) entry, with Art and Design & Technology Scholarships also available from Year 9 (13+). Further details from The Registrar, Dulwich College, London, SE21 7LD. Tel: 020 8299 9263 Email: the.registrar@dulwich.org.uk. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to give £5.5 million in support of over 200 bursary awards in 2025-26. All applicants are considered on the basis of their performance in the entrance examination and interview. A bursary and a scholarship might be awarded together up to a maximum value of 100% of the school fees. In addition to school fees, means-tested support may be available for trips and other enrichment activities.
Old Alleynians. Founded in 1873, The Alleyn Club is a flourishing former pupils’ association with over 10,000 Old Alleynian (OA) members living in more than 90 countries. The club’s name acknowledges the founder, Edward Alleyn, actor, theatre manager and contemporary of William Shakespeare.
Charitable status. Dulwich College is a Registered Charity, number 1150064.
Governors & Staff:
The Governing Body:
Chair: Randa Hanna, BA, AA dipl RIBA
Fred Binka [OA]
Ben Dean, BA, MProf [OA]
Karen Fowler, MA
Fionnuala Kennedy, MA Oxon
Howard Kerr, MA, MBA
David Parfitt
Catherine Polli, LLB
Malik Ramadhan, OBE [OA]
Kirsty Rutter, BSc, ACMA
Professor Alexander Teytelboym, BSc, MPhil [OA]
Associate Governor: Tim Pethybridge
Honorary International Advisor to the Governors: His Excellency Khun Anan Panyarachun, Hon KBE, MA [OA]
Special Advisor to the Governors: Sir John H Riblat, FRICS, Hon FRIBA [OA]
Clerk to the Governors: Ms K Jones, LLB
Master of the College: Mr Robert Milne, MA
Deputy Masters:
Principal Deputy: Mrs Sally Walmsley
Deputy Master Academic: Mr S Dungate Jones, MA, PGCert
Deputy Master Co-Curricular, Operations and Partnerships: Mr E Read, MA
Deputy Master Pupils and Safeguarding, Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr Sameer Tanna, BA
Chief Operating Officer: Richard Leather
Director of Finance: Mrs Alice Gardiner
Director of Development: Mr M Jarrett, BA
Director of Admissions, Libraries and Archives: Dr N D Black, BA, PhD
Acting Head of Upper School: Mr Rory Fisher
Head of Middle School: Miss Fran Cooke, BA
Head of Lower School: Mrs Caitlin Kelly
Head of Junior School: Dr T G A Griffiths, PGCE, MA, MSc, DPhil
Head of DUCKS (Kindergarten and Infants’ School): Mrs J Parker, BEd Early Years
Registrars: Mrs A Williams and Mrs P Twisk
Archivist: Mr Fredrick Witts
PA to the Master: Mrs M Wood
PA Governance & Finance: Ms S White