OPEN DAYS & NEWS - DULWICH COLLEGE

Open Days

Year 7 Open Morning 

Thursday 12 October, 10.30am  

Tuesday 17 October, 9.45am

Visit their website for further information.

dulwich.org.uk

 

Dulwich College Cadets honoured to participate in state funeral for HM Queen Elizabeth II

Edward, Ben and Charlie, pupils at Dulwich College and members of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), were given the honour of representing their school and the Air Cadets Organisation at the state funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September. The Cadets were accompanied by OC RAF Section, Flight Lieutenant Rutter who had also joined them for four days of training in preparation prior to the funeral.

 

At Dulwich College the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II was marked with assemblies, the Union Jack flying at half-mast from the flagpole by the War Memorial, a Dulwich College Book of Condolence for pupils, staff and alumni, and a Service of Commemoration at Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich, with the choirs from the Dulwich Foundation Schools: Alleyn’s School, Dulwich College and James Alleyn’s Girls’ School. 

And during the period of national mourning, the community recalled that service was the keynote of The Queen’s letter to Dulwich College in celebration of its 400th anniversary, brought down the Thames from Putney to St Paul’s on the Queen’s Rowbarge, Gloriana, on 24 June 2019, passing The Houses of Parliament and the Globe Theatre (images attached).

Pupils at Dulwich College help raise funds for ‘Take & Make Boxes’

A recent own-clothes initiative at Dulwich College saw pupils raising funds for ‘Kitchen Social - Take and Make Boxes’. The project, supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London and in partnership with boroughs across the capital, provides a kit box containing fresh ingredients and simple step- by-step instructions on how to prepare and cook a healthy meal for up to four people.

By receiving a Take and Make Box, which includes important skill training cards and online video tutorials starring young Londoners, this is an innovative way to get young people cooking at home and can help to combat holiday hunger, at a time when increasing numbers of children are eligible for free school meals.

If you would like to find out more information about Kitchen Social, please visit the website -https://www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/kitchen-social/

 

Dulwich pupils cycle thousands of miles every day to get to school

Since the beginning of the academic year an unprecedented level of cycling and scooting has been taken up by pupils and members of staff at the Dulwich Foundation Schools, Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS), in addition to the number of children who walk.

Dulwich College estimates that more than 400 pupils are cycling an average of three miles per day to and from school, which means that a whopping 1,200 miles (or 1,931 km) are cycled in total every day. At Alleyn’s School, there is a marked increase in the use of their 250+ bike stands, and almost two hundred JAGS’ girls are now cycling or scooting to school on a daily basis.

 

Alleyn's Young Pupils
Alleyn's Young Pupils

For all three schools, this visible increase shows the pupils’ commitment to active travel and reinforces the schools’ commitment to sustainability; Dulwich College is delighted to be adding to additional bike and scooter parking slots, helping support the College’s ambition towards being a carbon neutral campus; JAGS has a dedicated Eco Team of staff and pupils from across the school who work to implement eco initiatives into daily school life; and at Alleyn’s, the majority of their Senior School pupils walk, cycle, scoot, or take a train or bus to school, supported by a pupil-led Eco Committee and twice yearly Sustainability Weeks including active travel and cycling-related initiatives.

All three Dulwich schools are part of local school groups working together as Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School, and are also all Gold STARS Schools with TFL.

The increase in cycling has not gone unnoticed; cycling tweets posted on @DulwichCollege have been liked and retweeted by healthy streets groups, local residents and societies. The posts have been viewed more than 25,000 times and received positive messages of encouragement. This number of ‘impressions’ is a record for the College.

The schools welcome recent initiatives by Southwark Council and the Dulwich Estate to improve opportunities for active travel and improved cycling routes within the area.

 

Dulwich College Junior Pupils Cycling
Dulwich College Junior Pupils Cycling
JAGS Prep Pupils with Mrs Suzie Elkerton
JAGS Prep Pupils with Mrs Suzie Elkerton
Ex County Cricket player appointed at Dulwich College

Dulwich College is delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Riley as cricket’s new Head of Player Development. Former Kent County Cricket Club player, Adam, replaces Bill Athey who left the College in 2019 after many successful years. Adam enjoyed an outstanding cricket career with Kent County Cricket Club until 2019, representing the county sixty-one times in first class cricket, thirty-four times in list A cricket and twenty-nine times in T20 cricket. Responsible for developing cricketers throughout the college, Adam’s knowledge of the game, innovative coaching techniques and enthusiasm for cricket will generate a clear pathway for pupils to fulfil their cricketing potential. 

‘’Joining Dulwich College in this role is a great honour. I am looking forward to sharing my skills and experience to help develop the next generation of cricketers at the College’’ said Adam of his appointment. 

Outstanding A Level Results

When Dulwich College Year 13 students received their A level results it was a pleasure to report that 28% of the exams they sat were awarded A* grades, with 89 pupils achieving all A or A* grades, 34 boys achieving 3 A*s or better and 11 gaining 4 A*s or better. 86% of papers were awarded grades of A*/A/B.

Senior staff and Heads of Departments spent the day helping boys finalise their university destinations. 172 pupils have had secured either their firm or insurance offers with 24 securing their Oxford and Cambridge places and 4 going on to medical schools. We are hearing of excellent placements through adjustment and clearing too.

 

 

Dr Joe Spence, The Master, records: “These pleasing results bear testimony to the hard work of thepupils and their teachers. I’m delighted that so many pupils are set for the next stage of their education, but we will continue to help those who didn’t quite achieve what they wanted or neededto find the right destination. Indeed, our support for every 2019 leaver will go on well beyondtoday; they’ve been a credit to Dulwich and deserve our on-going encouragement and advocacy.”

Dulwich College welcomes Artist in Residence, Anne Desmet RA

Dulwich College is delighted to be working with Anne Desmet as a visiting Artist in Residence. Anne is one of seven commissioned artists, all of whom are producing a wood engraving responding to Dulwich College’s 400th Anniversary and the legacy of Thomas Sturge Moore, Old Alleynian (alumnus from 1879-1883) – a wood engraver, dramatist and poet.

Anne will join the Art department for a week from 28 January working with Art Scholars and students from across the College. She will run a series of bespoke workshops and give a talk on her work and practice to the Art and Culture Society in the College’s Woodhouse Library, where there will be a supporting artefacts exhibition. Anne’s visit forms an introduction to this art form and is precursor to the Thomas Sturge Moore exhibition taking place at Dulwich College later in the year.

For more information about Anne Desmet and her work https://annedesmet.com/ and for furtherinformation about Dulwich College’s 400th Anniversary and its planned programme of eventshttps://www.dulwich.org.uk/400th.

 

The new Memorial Garden at Dulwich College

Dedicated to the wives of two Old Alleynians, the newly completed Memorial Garden is situated alongside the Grimshaw designed Laboratory building. The design of the garden continues the celebration of the relationship between the Sciences and the Arts which is embedded into the fabric of the Laboratory building in the form of the Peter Randall-Page cladding of terracotta tiles which are an interpretation the Lindenmayer system dragon curve fractal, replicating the algorithmic beauty of the natural order. 

Sitting between the Laboratory and the original formal gardens of the Barry building, the Memorial Garden is an exploration of Voronoi tessellation, which can be thought of as a geometrical tool used to understand the physical constraints binding the organisation of biological tissues, natural structures and geological forms (such as honeycombs, the giants causeway and the packing structure of corn). The Memorial Garden is a physical representation of how human research is allowing us to understand these innate, natural geometric rules. 

 

The Memorial Garden's paving pulls away from the formal, rectangular layout of the existing paving, disintegrating into a series of irregular convex polygons, closely reflecting the tensions within natural fragmentation patterns, from these tessellating polygons irregular extrusions rise up to form seating. 

The garden will integrate the Laboratory into the heritage site and link the contemporary planting with the original Milner garden and wider site. The plants and trees have be chosen to reflect both the terracotta cladding and the detailing of the nearby Barry building. 

The designer of the garden, Rachel Reynolds is a long-time local resident who has been a multi-disciplinary 3D designer and public artist and maker for over twenty years. Rachel has recently expanded her practise into garden design, graduating from the London College of Garden Design as Top Student 2016. Designing the Memorial Garden for the College enabled Rachel to integrate her previous experience of designing furniture for the public realm within the design of the garden 

Dulwich College appoints two new Deputies

 

Dulwich College is delighted to announce the appointment of two new deputies; Fiona Angel, Deputy Master Pastoral at Dulwich College and Hazel Younger, Deputy Head of Dulwich College Junior School. Fiona Angel, an alumna of Sydenham High School for Girls GDST joined Dulwich over seven years ago as teacher of D&T and more recently held the role of Head of Curriculum & Learning. Hazel Younger joins the College from Channing Junior School in North London where she was Director of Studies. 

 

New Exhibition at The Globe uses the Seven Deadly Sins as its theme

The Archives at Dulwich College hold a wealth of theatrical artefacts dating back to the time of William Shakespeare, some of which are now on loan to the Globe and form part of an exhibition, Henslowe’s Rose, Theatrical Treasures from Dulwich College.

The new exhibition which runs until the end of June, uses the seven deadly sins as its theme and intertwines each sin with the story of Philip Henslowe’s Rose Theatre. The exhibition celebrates the 400th anniversary of the deaths of William Shakespeare and Philip Henslowe, father in law of Edward Alleyn. It was Alleyn who took on the management of his father in law’s theatres and also began building his ‘College’ at Dulwich. Not only is 1616 a momentous year for English drama, this was the year that Christ’s Chapel in the heart of Dulwich Village, was completed and consecrated. Dulwich College has chosen this year to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Christ’s Chapel and Henslowe’s death with a range of events, of which this exhibition is one. These will all lead up to the celebrations already in the planning process of the College’s quatercentenary in 2019.

The exhibition at The Globe runs until 29 June, 2016.

http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/news-detail/2016/05/17/theatrical-treasures-from-dulwich- college-archives-now-on-display-at-shakespeare-s-globe 

 

Edward Alleyn’s Gift: The Foundation Schools’ Concert

Verdi Pater Noster & Requiem 

It was a remarkable performance in so many ways. Dr William McVicker is organist for the Royal Festival Hall and knows thing or two about choral performance in his capacity as Director of Music for St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich. The sheer spectacle of the 450 performers hit him first: 

“Surely this must have been one of the largest choirs ever to have sung at London’s Royal Festival Hall — the singers spilled out from the choir stalls beneath the majestic pipework of the concert organ on to the auditorium's terraces, enveloping the orchestral sound with a lush and rich choral texture.” 

Hundreds of adult and child performers working together, led by three accomplished Directors of Music in a vivid display of the musical talent of the three schools. Edward Alleyn would be proud of his legacy. We are thrilled to have been part of the celebration of his Foundation 400 years ago – gloriously theatrical music, confidently performed in a huge arena. 

It felt like living in the music. As the Dies Irae thundered out from the stage, trumpets rang out antiphonally from the boxes creating a dazzling sound world. No wonder heads were turning in amazement. 

 

Afterwards the professional soloists echoed the audience’s enthusiastic response. Two of the youngest musicians had this to say: 

Jeanette: The choirs sounded amazing. There were so many people and the balance of voices was brilliant. In the 1st movement all the voices come in canon, which was quite powerful. 

Betania: The soloists’ voices portrayed the emotion of the piece really well. 

Jeanette: The beginning of the Dies Irae is extremely difficult to play, but we supported each other and in the easier, slower movements we could focus on the detail. 

Betania: I really enjoyed the liveliness of the piece. When the parts all came together it sounded really wonderful. This piece is great in so many ways – some parts are challenging and some are calm and settled. I was really excited. It was once in a lifetime opportunity and I feel so lucky. 

Souvenir programmes £5 are still available through Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS/proceeds to the Save the children Fund Syria Appeal 

Dulwich pupil to represent England at The World Schools Debating Championships 2016

Dulwich Pupil, Kenza Wilks, has been selected to be the team Captain for this competition which will take place in Stuttgart this July. This is the most prestigious debating competition in the world featuring some of the most skilled orators and thinkers of his generation. Dulwich College has an established history of debating, which in turn encourages and supports its pupils to take part in Local and National debating competitions and is fortunate to have one of its pupils on Team England for the past four years. The English-Speaking Union, which organises Team England believes that the team will continue England’s proud history of success at the competition. To date, England have made it to the knockout rounds every year since the competition began and have reached the finals ten times, winning it on four occasions. 

 

Dulwich Inventive Week

From DNA construction to speaking with the astronauts; a celebration of Science at Dulwich College
During this term, Dulwich College celebrated all that it does scientifically and creatively for one unforgettable week. Dulwich Inventive was driven by the imagination of boys and teachers thinking beyond the confines of individual disciplines, with every pupil in the school being involved in some way – from DUCKS’ liquids workshops to the Upper School’s Fame Lab Finals. During Dulwich Inventive, boys heard from over 25 visiting speakers and scientists and worked with them in a variety of workshops and interactive sessions. Visitors included Sir Robert Winston, Dr Lewis Hartnell and Dr Hugh Hunt. The Enigma Machine from Bletchley Park was at the College for a day and the College was delighted to host the first exhibition of Henry Fraser OA (2008-11) as he made his well-publicised venture into painting. Departments hijacked time, space and events throughout the week. Every pupil was engaged in code-breaking activity, with a new clue being released each day. They became masters of spin, creating paintings while learning about centrifugal force in art lessons; launched paper aeroplanes in DT at 80 miles per hour from the top of The Laboratory; and in Religion & Theology asked whether scientists could put their trust in God. Visits were arranged throughout the week to see performances and visit museums, to attend workshops and participate in experiments such as making Elephant toothpaste, projectile volcanoes and experimenting with chemi-luminescence. While the primary focus was to engage pupils, the College also involved parents, former pupils and students from local schools were invited to see the Science telescope at our star-gazing event and to engage with astronaut Shannon Walker via our live satellite connection on NASA night. Mr Damian King, Director of Science at Dulwich College, said of the event ‘’A successful week that got pupils thinking about the links between Science and the Arts, Dulwich Inventive represented inspiring, challenging and active learning at its best’’.
 

Overseas Scholarship success for Dulwich College boys
 
Dulwich College is delighted to announce that four of its Sixth Form boys have been awarded undergraduate Scholarships to study in North America. 
Przemyslaw Macholak has been awarded a grant from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, for undergraduate study on the prestigious Huntsman Business Programme, for which only 40 are given each year. Przemyslaw will also receive financial support from several organisations which will allow him to follow a joint degree in Business and International Relations together with German. 
Zak Siepman has been awarded a scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at the Southern Methodist University in Texas. 
Luke Connor received an outstanding ten offers to study overseas and has accepted a soccer scholarship to study at Young Harris College in Georgia. 

Anamay Viswanathan will also join an elite group of global scholars, having accepted the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship. Awarded to only around 50 students from across the world each year, this is a tremendous achievement for the Dulwich College school captain.

Dulwich College’s 7th Junior School Symposium

Now in its seventh year and going from strength to strength, empathy was the topic for exploration in this year’s Junior School Symposium. The Symposium, a highlight on the school’s calendar, is a day where pupils from Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) take part in various creative and inspiring workshops. 

All the activities, which are shared across both schools and led by teachers and specialists, were designed to challenge and enrich the pupils’ learning in thought-provoking ways. At Dulwich, we were delighted to welcome Pippa Church, who hosted a spectacular puppet show demonstrating the empathy required by a puppeteer, the puppet and the audience. 

 

The day provided wonderful ‘free learning’ opportunities for the children beyond the curriculum which included Dance in Someone Else’s Shoes, Silent Empathy, Puppetry workshops, What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking, Wonder and Empathy, Expressions in Clay and May Kindness Calendar. 

Pupils went home physically and intellectually exhausted from a memorable day that raised as many questions as it answered!

Dulwich College marks the centenary of polar explorer and alumnus Sir Ernest Shackleton

January 5 2022, marked one hundred years since Sir Ernest Shackleton, described as one of the greatest polar explorers, died following a heart attack. Aged just 47, Shackleton was at Grytviken, South Georgia whilst on the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition on the Quest. 

It was during Shackleton’s 1914-16 expedition to Antarctica on the Endurance, that became known as one of the greatest survival stories in the history of exploration and the name, Shackleton, is now synonymous with adventure, integrity and the heroic age of exploration. When the Endurance became trapped in ice and the crew were stranded on Elephant Island, Shackleton set off in the James Caird, a small boat whose home is now at Dulwich College, with five of the crew in search of help. They spent 16 days crossing 1,300 km of ocean to reach South Georgia and then trekked across the island to a whaling station, returning in August 1916 to rescue the entire crew. There were no casualties. 

Dulwich College, where Shackleton was a former pupil from 1887-1890, has a programme of events to mark this centenary: Archives Presents Shackleton 100, an in-person and online talk with guest speakers (Thursday 3 February); Shackleton 100 Exhibition in the College Archives (by appointment only and on display until Friday 11 February). Both events are open to the public and are free to attend. Details can be found here https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/whats-on/shackleton-100

New short film about Sir Ernest Shackleton and the James Caird

Dulwich College are delighted with the results of a short film they commissioned recently by Hal Howe a brilliant young filmmaker and former pupil, about the life and expedition of one of the College’s most famous alumni, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

With school trips currently on pause, including visits to see the James Caird, the College hope that the film will appeal to primary schools in Southwark who study the James Caird as part of the KS2 curriculum. With the film comes a complimentary resource pack: a specially designed workbook for pupils and a handbook for teachers. The film might also appeal to a wider audience who would like to learn more about the intrepid explorer and his epic voyage on the James Caird.

To watch the film and to download the resource pack, please visit the Dulwich College website https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/history/the-james-caird.

 

Jeremy Deller launches online Thinking About lecture series for Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership students

 

 

Year 7 Dulwich College pupils immerse themselves in Art Creative Workshop Day

Working alongside visiting artists from the forthcoming exhibition, 'Humdrum', Year 7 pupils at Dulwich College immersed themselves in a Free Learning Day of art workshops. The focus was on nurturing their individuality while discovering the knowledge and skills required to develop further, both as young artists and as creative collaborators. Through an eclectic mix of nine workshops, pupils were invited to look at the everyday world with fresh eyes, prompting them to rethink their relationship to mass-produced objects, technology and familiar places. The pupils were also able to grasp (literally in many cases) the importance of understanding materials, learning and experimenting through touch and direct physical engagement to create their own responses to the ‘Humdrum’ exhibition. Artists Adam Hennessy, Sarah Christie, Robin Tarbet and Sebastian Sochin encouraged boys to create work ranging from plaster cast towers to drawings made from royal icing and marzipan, and as the day progressed, clay vessels, wallpaper printing, wrapped and bound structures, florescent comic-books and large collaborative ink drawings emerged from seemingly nowhere. The array of outcomes produced is testament to the enormous sense of community generated by a working studio and will be exhibited in the College’s gallery space, The Store, alongside the work of 12 contemporary artists, including Dulwich Art Teacher Bruce Ingram, as part of 'Humdrum’. The show runs until 17 October. For further information please contact dohertymj@dulwich.org.uk 

Over 40 nationalities in a week-long Dulwich Olympiad

The Dulwich Olympiad 2019 which took place in the Lent term, saw a unique celebration of Sport, Drama, Music and Art with some 900 students from the family of 11 Dulwich College international schools and Dulwich College. Alleynians and international Alleynians participated in workshops and events which showcased their talents in competitions, Masterclasses, exhibitions, and performance and concerts. 

 

The Opening Ceremony saw the Olympic torch passed from Beijing, hosts of the first Olympiad in 2015, to London. Art Masterclasses with resident artists ran as part of this year’s integrated Dulwich Creative, a week of cross-disciplinary activities. Highlights for Music and Drama were performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with a Music concert which included thrilling Taiko and Korean drums and involved 200+ musicians, and, the Drama performance was an outstanding reworking of Christopher Marlowe’s ‘Faustus’. Sport had a number of daily competitions and tournaments in a variety of top venues including Athletics at the Olympic Park Community Track along with Basketball and Swimming at the Copper Box and Olympic Pool respectively. The week drew to a close with an Olympian group photograph in front of the College’s Barry Buildings, and Closing Ceremony. 

Success at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018

Dulwich College pupils past and present enjoyed terrific success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. More than 20 pupils from Dulwich and JAGS (James Allen’s Girls’ school) were involved in sell-out shows as performers, directors, designers and technicians. All were received with critical acclaim, including: 

- The Young Pleasance production of The Red Shoes; 

- The XYP/Clay Party co-production of Outside; 

- Spies Like Us Theatre’s shows, Woyzeck and Our Man in Havana; 

- Incognito’s Tobacco Road; 

- Double Edge Drama’s, Goons. 

Later this year, pupils at Dulwich College will stage productions of Medea and Dorian Gray. Please visit our What’s On page for further details and to book tickets: https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/whats-on. 

Dulwich College welcomes Bailey

Pupils at Dulwich College were happy to welcome the latest member to their community, 12 week old Bailey, a chocolate cockapoo. Bailey will accompany his owner, Boarding House Matron Caroline Fairhall. Already he has settled quickly into College life enjoying lots of visits from pupils and members of staff alike. It's already agreed that Bailey is a 'people person' who enjoys nothing more than being fussed over when the boarding house is full and taking a nap when things are quiet. Fortunately for the Dulwich community, Caroline is happy to share the wellbeing benefits of having Bailey around and he is available for walks and cuddles. 

‘Grease is the word’ according to pupils from Dulwich College and JAGS

Pupils from Dulwich College and JAGS, James Allen’s Girls’ School, joined forces to stage a truly joyous production. A formidable company of 70 actors, musicians and crew from years 10 to 13 created an unforgettable performance. 

 

Photo by Nobby Clarke
Photo by Nobby Clarke

Praise has been high for a show that was sold out for every performance and for which a matinee was added ‘’Terrific show with top performances from all of them and enough kinetic energy to power a small town! Fantastic’’ commented a member of the audience. With stupendous singing, fantastic dance routines and dazzling costumes, the show delighted audiences and gave the cast an opportunity to shine, benefitting from encouragement and mentoring and, providing them with an unforgettable experience. 

Dulwich College pupil awarded first place at the Amnesty International Poetry Awards 2016

Year 13 pupil, Yusuf Tarajia, attended the 2016 Amnesty Youth Awards as a finalist in the Poetry strand. He enjoyed a poetry workshop with the poet Eleanor Carter and at the ceremony his poem, ‘Bad Guys’, was singled out for praise by the adjudicators and by Amnesty International Director, Kate Allan. Yusuf’s poem was awarded first place. 

 

Writer and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank visits Dulwich College to deliver the fourth lecture of the GE Moore Lecture Series

 

 

Over 200 boys, parents, staff and local residents turned out last night to hear writer, art historian and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank, explore the world of the Barry and Scott architectural dynasties in the 150th year of Charles Barry Jnr’s ‘New College at Dulwich’. Central to his theme was Barry’s use of ‘fusion’ architecture at time when authenticity and gothicism were the dominant influences of the age. The lecture took place in the Great Hall, and the Boardroom and Masters’ Library were also open for viewing.

This was the fourth lecture in the College’s 400th anniversary series and as part of the evening, visitors were invited to the exhibition held in the Wodehouse Library celebrating the 150th anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New College at Dulwich. On display were architectural plans and drawings, etchings, prints and photographs as well as an architectural model and pieces of terracotta.

In addition there were six podcasts recorded by members of staff discussing various buildings at the College. The Archive Podcast project, which started in 2010, aims to promote the College’s 400-year history by asking experts and enthusiasts to talk about an object, building or theme that is of importance in the history of Dulwich College.

The next GE Moore Lecture will be held on 24 May when Professor Grace Ioppolo will examine how Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn helped invent English early modern theatre. Tickets are £10, available from lectureseries@dulwich.org.uk

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Edward Alleyn’s Gift: The Foundation Schools’ Concert Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, 16 March 2016

 

The three Dulwich Foundation Schools Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS will come together on 16 March 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Christ’s Chapel of God’s Gift at Dulwich. 

Over 450 pupils, alumni, teachers, parents and members of the local community will perform Verdi’s choral masterpiece, the Requiem Mass at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. They will be joined by internationally recognised soloists Jane Irwin (Soprano), Louise Callinan (Mezzo Soprano), David Butt Philip (Tenor) and Rodney Earl Clarke, Old Alleynian (Bass). 

Verdi’s Requiem is a masterpiece of late 19th century composition and the programme will also include Verdi’s Pater Noster which will be performed by all those singing and playing. The concert will be conducted by the three Directors of Music: Mr Chris Dearmer, Mr Richard Mayo and Mr Peter Gritton.

Christ’s Chapel in Dulwich was consecrated in 1616 by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, as part of the Dulwich College foundation. Edward Alleyn built his College of God’s Gift on Dulwich Green and since then the Chapel has been a place of worship for the local community and for the three Dulwich Schools of the Foundation; Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS. 

The Heads of the three Foundation Schools, Dr Gary Savage of Alleyn’s, Dr Joe Spence of Dulwich College, and Sally-Anne Huang of JAGS, anticipate this wonderful occasion will be an opportunity for the wider communities of the three schools to come together and celebrate in music. All are welcome and tickets are available through Southbank Centre.

Dulwich College welcomes Australian Rugby Squad

 

As an official Team Base, Dulwich College is delighted to welcome Rugby World Cup Squad Australia.  Pupils formed a welcoming Guard of Honour this morning as the team arrived on the College campus.  Dulwich College is hosting Australia until 12 October during which time they will play England this Saturday 3 October at Twickenham and Wales on Saturday 10 October.

The College is delighted and proud to have been selected as one of the approved Team Bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015.  As well as an opportunity to showcase its sports facilities, this is also a wonderful opportunity to see some of rugby’s greats in training; the lasting legacy will be to celebrate the game and inspire future generations of players.  

Dulwich College has a strong history of producing some of the Country’s finest sportsmen, including rugby internationals David Flatman and Andrew Sheridan.  Nick Easter, also an Old Alleynian, who has captained for England, has been selected for the England squad in this Saturday’s game at Twickenham. 

 

The Pavilion and 1st XV pitch will be dedicated during this period to the RWC team, secured and fenced off, and during selected times the Australian Squad will have use of the Swimming Pool, Sports Hall and Weights Room. Hunts Slip Road will have fencing to prevent media cameras obtaining sight of the training pitch.  The use of facilities has been arranged to ensure minimum disruption to games activities and College fixtures have been planned accordingly.
 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 (in England and Wales) runs until to 31 October with 20 countries competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.

 

www.dulwich.org.uk/college/sport/rugby-world-cup-2015-dulwich-college-q-a

 
Dulwich College holds their annual Symposium

DULWICH COLLEGE held their fifth annual Symposium on Thursday 9 October; comedian Jo Brand, political cartoonist Martin Rowson and poet Chris McCabe provided Upper School boys with plenty of food for thought. The Symposium aims to foster boys' intellectual interests through an offtimetable day of interdisciplinary enquiry; the theme for this year was Power.

Responding with refreshing frankness to boys' questions, on subjects ranging from her work as a psychiatric nurse to her views on comedy, free speech, censorship and feminism, Jo Brand demonstrated her deeply-held beliefs about the importance of challenging prejudice, pride and power in the world around us. Later in the day, top political cartoonist Martin Rowson discussed a range of his scathingly satirical work. Chris McCabe contributed to both sessions, reading a selection of his work, which provided a thought-provoking commentary on the power of the media, the horrifying disempowerment experienced by many on the day of the July London bombings, and finally, on the power of literature.

In addition to the keynote speeches, the boys attended two seminars chosen from a selection offered by twenty-nine teachers - a great opportunity for boys to hear their teachers speak about the subjects about which they are most passionate and knowledgeable, free from the constraints of the curriculum.

Dulwich Wood Primary School sings at O2 Arena

Dulwich Wood Primary School Choir joined 9,000 children at the O2 Arena to perform in a spectacular Young Voices concert. The 45 strong choir, is run by Catherine Andrews, Head of Music at DUCKS, Dulwich College Kindergarten and Infants’ School. The pupils performed as part of the ‘largest choir in the world’ alongside guest artists, including the world beatbox champions Beatbox Collective, violinist Anna Phoebe and soul singer Heather Small. 

The 50 minutes' worth of songs learned during the autumn term, covered a vast range of styles - there were traditional British folk songs (including Calon Lân sung in Welsh), soul and disco anthems from the 1970s, Disney songs, reggae music and a hilarious medley of Spike Milligan’s poetry set to music. The breadth and complexity of the songs was challenging, but the choir worked with such determination that on the day they were note and word perfect. Several of the songs required dance moves that were choreographed by the street dance group Urban Strides, resulting in choir rehearsals becoming more like dance classes! 

The children witnessed just how much work goes into putting on a polished performance. They rehearsed for three hours with the conductor, choreographer, and live band to ensure that the evening performance would be perfect. Their hard work paid off: the concert was an exhilarating spectacle of choral singing, dance and beatboxing in a world-class venue. It was an evening that the children from Dulwich Wood felt privileged to be part of and one that they will never forget. 

The mutually beneficial partnership that Dulwich College has with Dulwich Wood Primary School, where pupils and members of staff voluntarily contribute their time and expertise, includes pupil mentors, swimming classes, author visits and a string orchestra. The Year 5 and 6 choir, has been running for several years. To read more about the Partnerships at Dulwich College https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/partnerships

It really was a spectacular event and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the children. Not only was the repertoire tricky (and often in two or three parts) but the choir had to learn 50 minutes’ worth of music and perform it off by heart… the Dulwich Wood choir were note and word perfect. I couldn't have been prouder of them!” Catherine Andrews, Head of Music at DUCKS. 

 

Dulwich College pupils commissioned for Public Art Project at Denmark Hill

During the summer, two Year 13 art students were delighted to be commissioned to paint an optical illusion of the Jamaican poet, writer, and activist Una Marson at Denmark Hill Station. Commissioned by the Camberwell Society, Emilio Nunzi (Year 13) and Timur Safardiar (Year 13) used this as an excellent opportunity to showcase their painting abilities alongside a real-life experience of working with a client and a specific brief.  

During the Second World War Una Marson was one of the most influential women at the BBC. A feminist, poet, playwright and social activist, Una travelled back to London in 1932 and became the first black woman to be employed by the BBC as a broadcaster. In 2009, Una’s pioneering work for the BBC led to the unveiling of the Southwark Heritage Blue plaque on her former home in Brunswick Square, Camberwell. Because of her emphasis on decolonisation and intersectionality she was involved in many organisations whilst living in Camberwell.   

 

Denmark Hill Station is also a finalist for station of the year in the Community Creative Projects and Station Arts.

Both Emilo and Timur are thrilled that over 10,000 travellers a day at Denmark Hill, will be able to view their art installation, an anamorphic illusion of the BBC trailblazer Una Marson.

Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month - I AM because We Are
In its second year of celebrating Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month, Dulwich College are focusing on community. In a year in which ‘self-isolation’, ‘lockdown’ and ‘remote’ have all been ways of living that we have had to adopt, the College wanted to spend this month remembering the importance of interdependence: of staying connected, of being a part of a community, and of our responsibility towards one another. 

As well as a Community Cook Along with Parin Lad, founder of the Curry Community in West Norwood, highlights include talks from Dr Rose Hudson - the Church of England’s first black female Bishop, Nobel Prize Winner Benny Dembitzer, and Economist Vicky Price. Pupils across the College from DUCKS to Year 13 will also be able to send in their entries for the ‘Big Selfie Challenge’, send a letter to a loved one as part of a letter writing initiative as well as eat breakfast together (virtually) during Tutor Time. Recommended book lists have been drawn up to suit age ranges and tastes, and a bespoke Spotify playlist has been created that celebrates togetherness - defying anyone not to dance along! 

Looking forward to DC We Are, Wellbeing Prefect, Charles, said of Dulwich College Identity Awareness month “Community - whether it is your group of friends, your team, your club, the College, an interest - it is what brings us together. It is a part of what makes you who you are and who We Are”. 

 

How would you define identity? Dulwich College pupils are inspired and challenged to find their authentic self

DC IAM (Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month) is taking place throughout February. This new three-week initiative is part of the College’s Wellbeing programme and an opportunity for pupils from DUCKS through to Year 13, to explore different aspects of their own identity, and the identity of the College as a community.

A range of themes will be explored at societies, talks and events, with visiting speakers including clinical psychologist Dr Chris Merritt, author Alex Wheatle MBE and Rohit Sagar from Deloitte. Pupils will be exploring identity through music with a specially created Spotify play-list; through literature with a DC IAM reading list exploring the different concepts of identity (online identity, gender identity); and talks from guest speakers where the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace are discussed.

Working alongside costume designer Oona Brutton, pupils, parents and members of staff will be invited to celebrate individuality by designing and creating their own badge which can either be worn or pinned to one of the many display points around the College. These badges will underpin the message of mutual respect, equality and celebrate individuality in our community.

 

Excellent GCSE Results

It is with pleasure to report that our Year 11 pupils have achieved excellent GCSE results. In a year in which the results have moved almost completely to the new numerical grading, we were delighted to have six pupils gaining straight 9s (the top grade), 46 pupils achieving straight 9 or 8s (equivalent to the old A*) and 99 pupils gaining a grade 7 or higher (equivalent to the old A) in each of their subjects. Overall 35% of the grades were a 9, with 84% of all grades 7 or higher (A*A in the old currency).

The Master comments that ‘our pupils have worked hard and well, with the support of their teachers and parents, to secure these excellent results. They are set fair to face the challenges of even harder public exams at A level, while maintaining their commitment to co-curricular and charitable activities and preparing for life beyond Dulwich. We look forward to helping the vast majority of them towards places at the best universities in this country and throughout the world – and the minority towards those niches, academic or vocational, in which they will excel’.

 

 

Dr Nick Black, Head of Middle School writes: ‘These are excellent results, with many boys exceeding their expectations. To achieve such academic success while also contributing so much to the wider life of the College is what pleases us most. The sense of excitement in the South Cloistertoday was palpable and really joyful. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the boys’Year Head Martin Geach for his work with them over the last three years.

Dulwich College celebrates the start of its 400th Anniversary

Dulwich College launched its 400th anniversary at DUCKS (Dulwich College’s Kindergarten and Infants’ School) on Monday morning with a visit from Queen Elizabeth I, Edward Alleyn, and the Master, Dr Joseph Spence. All the children were dressed up in Elizabethan and Jacobean dress, including an executioner, to greet their guests. The Queen was accompanied by her court acrobat and juggler, and Edward (Ned) Alleyn told the children about his life and the College he founded in 1619. He also explained that he wanted every member of the College community to sign a specially commissioned Dulwich Roll which would be a record of all the events that were going to take place in the coming year.

 

 

After their visit, all the DUCKS children (and staff!) remained in their Elizabethan finery all day, with historically themed lessons for everyone. Lunchtime was a medieval banquet with lords and ladies eating with beautiful manners. Year 2 pupils then walked to Dulwich College and found the bust of William Shakespeare as well as noticing the different architecture in the old and new buildings.

Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School to honour their Great War fallen at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall

Over 500 pupils, parents and friends of Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) will perform together on the stage of the Royal Festival Hall. 

The three Foundation Schools: Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS will come together on 19 February 2018, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the end of the Great War and pay tribute to their pupils and staff who selflessly served their country between 1914 and 1918. 

The Schools will perform Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, War Requiem, at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, where they will be joined by internationally recognised soloists Jane Irwin (soprano), Robin Tritschler (tenor) and Philip Tebb (baritone). 

 

The concert will be conducted by the three Schools’ Directors of Music, Mr Chris Dearmer, Mr Richard Mayo and Mr Peter Gritton, and will also include Herbert Howells’ Elegy for viola and strings. Composed as personal tribute to a fellow student at the Royal College of Music who was killed in the Great War, Howells’ poignant piece makes a fitting companion to Britten’s work. 

The Heads of the schools, Dr Gary Savage of Alleyn’s, Dr Joe Spence of Dulwich College, and Sally-Anne Huang of JAGS, anticipate the concert to be a memorable evening of music and commemoration, and a wonderful opportunity for their communities to give rightful thanks to all those who went before us. 

All are welcome. Tickets at a range of prices from £15 to £45 are available from the Southbank Centre: www.southbankcentre.co.uk 

Resident Artist’s exhibition Interview (prototype)

Dulwich College are delighted to have Harrison Pearce as resident artist with his new work Interview (prototype). The focus of the exhibition is a large kinetic sculpture and sound installation, which has been developed in an ongoing collaboration with composer Nico Muhly. 

Pearce’s work is constructed around philosophical ideas that look at the mind, body, language and experience. His practice combines a wide range of approaches to orchestrate a single piece. The work in this show involves carving, engineering, coding, wiring, prosthetics and sewing. The sum of these parts is an immersive and theatrical installation, which takes its inspiration from radiography and medicine. 

For information on workshops and talks please contact Director of Art and DT Sue Mulholland Mulhollandsm@dulwich.org.uk 

Professor Lord Winston and the Director of National Gallery open The Laboratory at Dulwich College

Dulwich College was delighted to be joined by Professor Lord Winston and Gabriele Finaldi, Director of The National Gallery, who officially opened The Laboratory, a new landmark building at Dulwich College, home to the Sciences and a venue for the Arts. Also present were chief architect Jolyon Brewis from Grimshaw Architects and sculptor Peter Randall-Page RA, who designed The Laboratory’s exterior panels, comprising almost 15,000 tiles. 

Success for joint Dulwich College and Sydenham High Teams at Young Enterprise Central London and East London Finals

‘Seedling’ a team of students from Dulwich College and Sydenham High triumphed at the Central London final of the Young Enterprise 'Company of the Year' competition. In what has been Dulwich’s most successful ever competition; 'Seedling' beat seven other teams to go through to the prestigious London final in June. Luke Henderson, Dmitry Rusanov and Marco Verdino from Dulwich College, along with Nerea Asua Lowe and Ella Bright from Sydenham High School greatly impressed the judges with their innovative product and fantastic branding. The team came away with the award for Best Company in Central London, as well as the Berwin Leighton Pasiner Social Impact Award, thanks to the strong environmental ethos of their company. 

In the East London Finals, Dulwich College and Sydenham High School represented by team ‘Illuminated’ walked away with two of the five awards. Illuminated, represented by Robert Power, Oscar Owen, Sam Groves, Phoebe Proctor and Greta Holmes, against tough competition the team won prizes for Best Interview and Trade Stand, and the Old Mutual Green Award. Their organic soy wax candles in recycled containers really impressed the judges, as did their socially responsible plans for expansion - outsourcing production to local people who are looking for flexible work following unemployment. The judges commented on how impressed they were with the students' professionalism, and how well the two schools worked together. 

 

Lady Sainsbury unveils Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) by Conrad Shawcross RA in The Laboratory at Dulwich College

On 18 January, the Master, Dr Joseph Spence, was delighted to celebrate the unveiling of Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) by Conrad Shawcross, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the artist and pupils of the Art and Science Societies at Dulwich College. The project is graciously sponsored by The Linbury Trust, established by Lord and Lady Sainsbury in 1973 to support a wide variety of causes, including the arts, education and welfare. 

More than 150 well-wishers gathered in James Caird Hall of The Laboratory, the College’s home for Science and the Arts. Lady Sainsbury spoke movingly about her connection to Dulwich College. Her uncle, Charles Alexander ‘Alick’ Hamilton (known to many boys as “Hammy"), spent the whole of his teaching career as a master at Dulwich College from 1925-63, and served as Housemaster of Ivyholme from 1944-1953. While a student at the Royal Ballet, the young Anya Linden, now Lady Sainsbury, spent many a happy weekend with her aunt, uncle and her female cousins in Ivyholme. Anya recalled her uncle’s sense of humour and his gentle request that the girls not play tennis while the boys were trying to revise. Anya quoted from an Alleynian article written upon Alick’s retirement, which celebrated his “serene, quite manner” and the “happy home” he created for his boys. He was “a fine schoolmaster in the fullest sense of the word,” and it is most fitting that the sculpture which acts as a centrepiece of our newest school building celebrates fine teaching and pastoral care, which have long defined the Dulwich experience.

The Master thanked Lord Turnbull, Fellow and former Chair of the Governors, and the Rt. Hon Peter Riddell OA, current chair of the Governors, for their faith in this project. The bold undertaking of constructing a landmark, £21.7m building for Science and the Arts has been made possible by significant funding from the endowment, and generous philanthropic support from OAs, parents, past parents, College staff, trusts, foundations and friends of the College.

Conrad Shawcross RA also has deep connections to Dulwich, as his grandfather, Hartley Shawcross, served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the College from 1959 to 1972. In 2012 Conrad was commissioned by Southwark Council to create a sculpture for Dulwich Park, and he kindly agreed to work with Dulwich pupils on a new work for The Laboratory. The finished work reflects the notion of a paradigm shift, making it emblematic of the audacity of imagination that has often jolted scientific enquiry forward and that will be fostered within The Laboratory at Dulwich College. 

Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) unveiled
Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) unveiled

Conrad reflected on his experience working with Dulwich pupils, stating, “I attended public school, and I thought I knew what to expect of the boys here.” He went on to explain that Dulwich boys do not fit the stereotype. They are not privileged or entitled; he found them to be clever and hardworking. “There’s something about this place that gives that to them.” Conrad also shared some of his inspiration for the work, ranging from Stephen Hawking to Buckminster Fuller to Watson and Crick. The Laboratory itself has been conceived by Grimshaw Architects as a ‘porous’ building, which collapses the false demarcation between the ‘two cultures’ of the Arts and the Sciences. Embodying the symbiotic relationship between creativity and discovery, the Shawcross sculpture has been designed to complement the spirit of endurance proudly represented by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s James Caird lifeboat, which is displayed at the heart of the James Caird Hall. 

Guests also had the opportunity to take a preview tour of Phase 2 of The Laboratory, which will house three further science labs, the George Farha Auditorium and five suites for Informatics. Phase 2 is scheduled to complete 20 June 2016 and will be open for student use in Michaelmas Term 2016. Thanks to the 1,266 Alleynians from around the world and across the generations who have donated to The Laboratory, the College has nearly reached our ambitious fundraising goal of £5.9m.

The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell CBE, Lord Sainsbury KG, Lady Sainsbury, Conrad Shawcross RA and Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College
The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell CBE, Lord Sainsbury KG, Lady Sainsbury, Conrad Shawcross RA and Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College
Comedian Henning Wehn, brings the house down at the end of Dulwich College Symposium

BBC journalist Justin Webb, Kwasi Kwarteng, MP and comedian Henning Wehn headed the bill on 1 October for a day packed full of enquiry, discussion and debate on the theme of 'Us & Them'. The Upper School Symposium, held every October, is Dulwich College’s flagship academic day for all boys in the Lower and Upper Sixth forms. This year, the day was opened by Kwasi Kwarteng, who offered his thoughts on integration, political correctness and history teaching in our schools, as well as engaging in discussion about the current migration crisis, with sixth-formers offering a range of probing questions from the floor. Journalist and author Justin Webb, shared his fascinating personal insights into American politics, as well as discussing the future of journalism in a world where the formerly clear divisions between news-gatherers and the public are becoming increasingly blurred. All Upper School boys also attended two seminars or workshops, choosing from the 34 on offer, their subjects ranging from criminal psychology and caricature to feminism and contemporary film. Several seminars were given by sixth formers themselves, individually, or in collaboration with teachers. The Symposium was rounded off in style by Henning Wehn, self-styled comedy ambassador for Tooting, whose ‘vorsprung durch slapstick’ approach to the ‘us and them’ of Anglo-Teutonic relations provided both food for thought, and belly-laughs aplenty. This was a day which will surely be remembered for years to come by all involved!

Webb Ellis Trophy comes to Dulwich College
The boys at Dulwich College were thrilled when the Webb Ellis Cup visited the College as part of its 100 day tour ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The prestigious cup was delivered by a 12 strong team from the RWC committee.
 
To tie in with the occasion, the Year 8 boys played a mini tournament and were then invited to stand alongside the Cup for photographs.
 
The College is delighted and very proud to have been selected as one of the approved Team Bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015. Later this month, it will host the Australian and Romanian teams during their training sessions. As well as this wonderful opportunity to see some of rugby’s greats in training, the lasting legacy will be to celebrate the game and inspire future generations of players.
 
Open Days

Year 7 Open Morning 

Thursday 12 October, 10.30am  

Tuesday 17 October, 9.45am

Visit their website for further information.

dulwich.org.uk

 

Dulwich Wood Primary School sings at O2 Arena

Dulwich Wood Primary School Choir joined 9,000 children at the O2 Arena to perform in a spectacular Young Voices concert. The 45 strong choir, is run by Catherine Andrews, Head of Music at DUCKS, Dulwich College Kindergarten and Infants’ School. The pupils performed as part of the ‘largest choir in the world’ alongside guest artists, including the world beatbox champions Beatbox Collective, violinist Anna Phoebe and soul singer Heather Small. 

The 50 minutes' worth of songs learned during the autumn term, covered a vast range of styles - there were traditional British folk songs (including Calon Lân sung in Welsh), soul and disco anthems from the 1970s, Disney songs, reggae music and a hilarious medley of Spike Milligan’s poetry set to music. The breadth and complexity of the songs was challenging, but the choir worked with such determination that on the day they were note and word perfect. Several of the songs required dance moves that were choreographed by the street dance group Urban Strides, resulting in choir rehearsals becoming more like dance classes! 

The children witnessed just how much work goes into putting on a polished performance. They rehearsed for three hours with the conductor, choreographer, and live band to ensure that the evening performance would be perfect. Their hard work paid off: the concert was an exhilarating spectacle of choral singing, dance and beatboxing in a world-class venue. It was an evening that the children from Dulwich Wood felt privileged to be part of and one that they will never forget. 

The mutually beneficial partnership that Dulwich College has with Dulwich Wood Primary School, where pupils and members of staff voluntarily contribute their time and expertise, includes pupil mentors, swimming classes, author visits and a string orchestra. The Year 5 and 6 choir, has been running for several years. To read more about the Partnerships at Dulwich College https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/partnerships

It really was a spectacular event and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the children. Not only was the repertoire tricky (and often in two or three parts) but the choir had to learn 50 minutes’ worth of music and perform it off by heart… the Dulwich Wood choir were note and word perfect. I couldn't have been prouder of them!” Catherine Andrews, Head of Music at DUCKS. 

 

Dulwich College marks the centenary of polar explorer and alumnus Sir Ernest Shackleton

January 5 2022, marked one hundred years since Sir Ernest Shackleton, described as one of the greatest polar explorers, died following a heart attack. Aged just 47, Shackleton was at Grytviken, South Georgia whilst on the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition on the Quest. 

It was during Shackleton’s 1914-16 expedition to Antarctica on the Endurance, that became known as one of the greatest survival stories in the history of exploration and the name, Shackleton, is now synonymous with adventure, integrity and the heroic age of exploration. When the Endurance became trapped in ice and the crew were stranded on Elephant Island, Shackleton set off in the James Caird, a small boat whose home is now at Dulwich College, with five of the crew in search of help. They spent 16 days crossing 1,300 km of ocean to reach South Georgia and then trekked across the island to a whaling station, returning in August 1916 to rescue the entire crew. There were no casualties. 

Dulwich College, where Shackleton was a former pupil from 1887-1890, has a programme of events to mark this centenary: Archives Presents Shackleton 100, an in-person and online talk with guest speakers (Thursday 3 February); Shackleton 100 Exhibition in the College Archives (by appointment only and on display until Friday 11 February). Both events are open to the public and are free to attend. Details can be found here https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/whats-on/shackleton-100

Pupils at Dulwich College help raise funds for ‘Take & Make Boxes’

A recent own-clothes initiative at Dulwich College saw pupils raising funds for ‘Kitchen Social - Take and Make Boxes’. The project, supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London and in partnership with boroughs across the capital, provides a kit box containing fresh ingredients and simple step- by-step instructions on how to prepare and cook a healthy meal for up to four people.

By receiving a Take and Make Box, which includes important skill training cards and online video tutorials starring young Londoners, this is an innovative way to get young people cooking at home and can help to combat holiday hunger, at a time when increasing numbers of children are eligible for free school meals.

If you would like to find out more information about Kitchen Social, please visit the website -https://www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/kitchen-social/

 

Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month - I AM because We Are
In its second year of celebrating Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month, Dulwich College are focusing on community. In a year in which ‘self-isolation’, ‘lockdown’ and ‘remote’ have all been ways of living that we have had to adopt, the College wanted to spend this month remembering the importance of interdependence: of staying connected, of being a part of a community, and of our responsibility towards one another. 

As well as a Community Cook Along with Parin Lad, founder of the Curry Community in West Norwood, highlights include talks from Dr Rose Hudson - the Church of England’s first black female Bishop, Nobel Prize Winner Benny Dembitzer, and Economist Vicky Price. Pupils across the College from DUCKS to Year 13 will also be able to send in their entries for the ‘Big Selfie Challenge’, send a letter to a loved one as part of a letter writing initiative as well as eat breakfast together (virtually) during Tutor Time. Recommended book lists have been drawn up to suit age ranges and tastes, and a bespoke Spotify playlist has been created that celebrates togetherness - defying anyone not to dance along! 

Looking forward to DC We Are, Wellbeing Prefect, Charles, said of Dulwich College Identity Awareness month “Community - whether it is your group of friends, your team, your club, the College, an interest - it is what brings us together. It is a part of what makes you who you are and who We Are”. 

 

Jeremy Deller launches online Thinking About lecture series for Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership students

 

 

Ex County Cricket player appointed at Dulwich College

Dulwich College is delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Riley as cricket’s new Head of Player Development. Former Kent County Cricket Club player, Adam, replaces Bill Athey who left the College in 2019 after many successful years. Adam enjoyed an outstanding cricket career with Kent County Cricket Club until 2019, representing the county sixty-one times in first class cricket, thirty-four times in list A cricket and twenty-nine times in T20 cricket. Responsible for developing cricketers throughout the college, Adam’s knowledge of the game, innovative coaching techniques and enthusiasm for cricket will generate a clear pathway for pupils to fulfil their cricketing potential. 

‘’Joining Dulwich College in this role is a great honour. I am looking forward to sharing my skills and experience to help develop the next generation of cricketers at the College’’ said Adam of his appointment. 

Excellent GCSE Results

It is with pleasure to report that our Year 11 pupils have achieved excellent GCSE results. In a year in which the results have moved almost completely to the new numerical grading, we were delighted to have six pupils gaining straight 9s (the top grade), 46 pupils achieving straight 9 or 8s (equivalent to the old A*) and 99 pupils gaining a grade 7 or higher (equivalent to the old A) in each of their subjects. Overall 35% of the grades were a 9, with 84% of all grades 7 or higher (A*A in the old currency).

The Master comments that ‘our pupils have worked hard and well, with the support of their teachers and parents, to secure these excellent results. They are set fair to face the challenges of even harder public exams at A level, while maintaining their commitment to co-curricular and charitable activities and preparing for life beyond Dulwich. We look forward to helping the vast majority of them towards places at the best universities in this country and throughout the world – and the minority towards those niches, academic or vocational, in which they will excel’.

 

 

Dr Nick Black, Head of Middle School writes: ‘These are excellent results, with many boys exceeding their expectations. To achieve such academic success while also contributing so much to the wider life of the College is what pleases us most. The sense of excitement in the South Cloistertoday was palpable and really joyful. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the boys’Year Head Martin Geach for his work with them over the last three years.

Over 40 nationalities in a week-long Dulwich Olympiad

The Dulwich Olympiad 2019 which took place in the Lent term, saw a unique celebration of Sport, Drama, Music and Art with some 900 students from the family of 11 Dulwich College international schools and Dulwich College. Alleynians and international Alleynians participated in workshops and events which showcased their talents in competitions, Masterclasses, exhibitions, and performance and concerts. 

 

The Opening Ceremony saw the Olympic torch passed from Beijing, hosts of the first Olympiad in 2015, to London. Art Masterclasses with resident artists ran as part of this year’s integrated Dulwich Creative, a week of cross-disciplinary activities. Highlights for Music and Drama were performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with a Music concert which included thrilling Taiko and Korean drums and involved 200+ musicians, and, the Drama performance was an outstanding reworking of Christopher Marlowe’s ‘Faustus’. Sport had a number of daily competitions and tournaments in a variety of top venues including Athletics at the Olympic Park Community Track along with Basketball and Swimming at the Copper Box and Olympic Pool respectively. The week drew to a close with an Olympian group photograph in front of the College’s Barry Buildings, and Closing Ceremony. 

Dulwich College welcomes Artist in Residence, Anne Desmet RA

Dulwich College is delighted to be working with Anne Desmet as a visiting Artist in Residence. Anne is one of seven commissioned artists, all of whom are producing a wood engraving responding to Dulwich College’s 400th Anniversary and the legacy of Thomas Sturge Moore, Old Alleynian (alumnus from 1879-1883) – a wood engraver, dramatist and poet.

Anne will join the Art department for a week from 28 January working with Art Scholars and students from across the College. She will run a series of bespoke workshops and give a talk on her work and practice to the Art and Culture Society in the College’s Woodhouse Library, where there will be a supporting artefacts exhibition. Anne’s visit forms an introduction to this art form and is precursor to the Thomas Sturge Moore exhibition taking place at Dulwich College later in the year.

For more information about Anne Desmet and her work https://annedesmet.com/ and for furtherinformation about Dulwich College’s 400th Anniversary and its planned programme of eventshttps://www.dulwich.org.uk/400th.

 

Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School to honour their Great War fallen at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall

Over 500 pupils, parents and friends of Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) will perform together on the stage of the Royal Festival Hall. 

The three Foundation Schools: Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS will come together on 19 February 2018, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the end of the Great War and pay tribute to their pupils and staff who selflessly served their country between 1914 and 1918. 

The Schools will perform Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, War Requiem, at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, where they will be joined by internationally recognised soloists Jane Irwin (soprano), Robin Tritschler (tenor) and Philip Tebb (baritone). 

 

The concert will be conducted by the three Schools’ Directors of Music, Mr Chris Dearmer, Mr Richard Mayo and Mr Peter Gritton, and will also include Herbert Howells’ Elegy for viola and strings. Composed as personal tribute to a fellow student at the Royal College of Music who was killed in the Great War, Howells’ poignant piece makes a fitting companion to Britten’s work. 

The Heads of the schools, Dr Gary Savage of Alleyn’s, Dr Joe Spence of Dulwich College, and Sally-Anne Huang of JAGS, anticipate the concert to be a memorable evening of music and commemoration, and a wonderful opportunity for their communities to give rightful thanks to all those who went before us. 

All are welcome. Tickets at a range of prices from £15 to £45 are available from the Southbank Centre: www.southbankcentre.co.uk 

Dulwich College welcomes Bailey

Pupils at Dulwich College were happy to welcome the latest member to their community, 12 week old Bailey, a chocolate cockapoo. Bailey will accompany his owner, Boarding House Matron Caroline Fairhall. Already he has settled quickly into College life enjoying lots of visits from pupils and members of staff alike. It's already agreed that Bailey is a 'people person' who enjoys nothing more than being fussed over when the boarding house is full and taking a nap when things are quiet. Fortunately for the Dulwich community, Caroline is happy to share the wellbeing benefits of having Bailey around and he is available for walks and cuddles. 

Dulwich College appoints two new Deputies

 

Dulwich College is delighted to announce the appointment of two new deputies; Fiona Angel, Deputy Master Pastoral at Dulwich College and Hazel Younger, Deputy Head of Dulwich College Junior School. Fiona Angel, an alumna of Sydenham High School for Girls GDST joined Dulwich over seven years ago as teacher of D&T and more recently held the role of Head of Curriculum & Learning. Hazel Younger joins the College from Channing Junior School in North London where she was Director of Studies. 

 

Professor Lord Winston and the Director of National Gallery open The Laboratory at Dulwich College

Dulwich College was delighted to be joined by Professor Lord Winston and Gabriele Finaldi, Director of The National Gallery, who officially opened The Laboratory, a new landmark building at Dulwich College, home to the Sciences and a venue for the Arts. Also present were chief architect Jolyon Brewis from Grimshaw Architects and sculptor Peter Randall-Page RA, who designed The Laboratory’s exterior panels, comprising almost 15,000 tiles. 

Dulwich College pupil awarded first place at the Amnesty International Poetry Awards 2016

Year 13 pupil, Yusuf Tarajia, attended the 2016 Amnesty Youth Awards as a finalist in the Poetry strand. He enjoyed a poetry workshop with the poet Eleanor Carter and at the ceremony his poem, ‘Bad Guys’, was singled out for praise by the adjudicators and by Amnesty International Director, Kate Allan. Yusuf’s poem was awarded first place. 

 

Edward Alleyn’s Gift: The Foundation Schools’ Concert

Verdi Pater Noster & Requiem 

It was a remarkable performance in so many ways. Dr William McVicker is organist for the Royal Festival Hall and knows thing or two about choral performance in his capacity as Director of Music for St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich. The sheer spectacle of the 450 performers hit him first: 

“Surely this must have been one of the largest choirs ever to have sung at London’s Royal Festival Hall — the singers spilled out from the choir stalls beneath the majestic pipework of the concert organ on to the auditorium's terraces, enveloping the orchestral sound with a lush and rich choral texture.” 

Hundreds of adult and child performers working together, led by three accomplished Directors of Music in a vivid display of the musical talent of the three schools. Edward Alleyn would be proud of his legacy. We are thrilled to have been part of the celebration of his Foundation 400 years ago – gloriously theatrical music, confidently performed in a huge arena. 

It felt like living in the music. As the Dies Irae thundered out from the stage, trumpets rang out antiphonally from the boxes creating a dazzling sound world. No wonder heads were turning in amazement. 

 

Afterwards the professional soloists echoed the audience’s enthusiastic response. Two of the youngest musicians had this to say: 

Jeanette: The choirs sounded amazing. There were so many people and the balance of voices was brilliant. In the 1st movement all the voices come in canon, which was quite powerful. 

Betania: The soloists’ voices portrayed the emotion of the piece really well. 

Jeanette: The beginning of the Dies Irae is extremely difficult to play, but we supported each other and in the easier, slower movements we could focus on the detail. 

Betania: I really enjoyed the liveliness of the piece. When the parts all came together it sounded really wonderful. This piece is great in so many ways – some parts are challenging and some are calm and settled. I was really excited. It was once in a lifetime opportunity and I feel so lucky. 

Souvenir programmes £5 are still available through Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS/proceeds to the Save the children Fund Syria Appeal 

Lady Sainsbury unveils Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) by Conrad Shawcross RA in The Laboratory at Dulwich College

On 18 January, the Master, Dr Joseph Spence, was delighted to celebrate the unveiling of Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) by Conrad Shawcross, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the artist and pupils of the Art and Science Societies at Dulwich College. The project is graciously sponsored by The Linbury Trust, established by Lord and Lady Sainsbury in 1973 to support a wide variety of causes, including the arts, education and welfare. 

More than 150 well-wishers gathered in James Caird Hall of The Laboratory, the College’s home for Science and the Arts. Lady Sainsbury spoke movingly about her connection to Dulwich College. Her uncle, Charles Alexander ‘Alick’ Hamilton (known to many boys as “Hammy"), spent the whole of his teaching career as a master at Dulwich College from 1925-63, and served as Housemaster of Ivyholme from 1944-1953. While a student at the Royal Ballet, the young Anya Linden, now Lady Sainsbury, spent many a happy weekend with her aunt, uncle and her female cousins in Ivyholme. Anya recalled her uncle’s sense of humour and his gentle request that the girls not play tennis while the boys were trying to revise. Anya quoted from an Alleynian article written upon Alick’s retirement, which celebrated his “serene, quite manner” and the “happy home” he created for his boys. He was “a fine schoolmaster in the fullest sense of the word,” and it is most fitting that the sculpture which acts as a centrepiece of our newest school building celebrates fine teaching and pastoral care, which have long defined the Dulwich experience.

The Master thanked Lord Turnbull, Fellow and former Chair of the Governors, and the Rt. Hon Peter Riddell OA, current chair of the Governors, for their faith in this project. The bold undertaking of constructing a landmark, £21.7m building for Science and the Arts has been made possible by significant funding from the endowment, and generous philanthropic support from OAs, parents, past parents, College staff, trusts, foundations and friends of the College.

Conrad Shawcross RA also has deep connections to Dulwich, as his grandfather, Hartley Shawcross, served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the College from 1959 to 1972. In 2012 Conrad was commissioned by Southwark Council to create a sculpture for Dulwich Park, and he kindly agreed to work with Dulwich pupils on a new work for The Laboratory. The finished work reflects the notion of a paradigm shift, making it emblematic of the audacity of imagination that has often jolted scientific enquiry forward and that will be fostered within The Laboratory at Dulwich College. 

Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) unveiled
Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) unveiled

Conrad reflected on his experience working with Dulwich pupils, stating, “I attended public school, and I thought I knew what to expect of the boys here.” He went on to explain that Dulwich boys do not fit the stereotype. They are not privileged or entitled; he found them to be clever and hardworking. “There’s something about this place that gives that to them.” Conrad also shared some of his inspiration for the work, ranging from Stephen Hawking to Buckminster Fuller to Watson and Crick. The Laboratory itself has been conceived by Grimshaw Architects as a ‘porous’ building, which collapses the false demarcation between the ‘two cultures’ of the Arts and the Sciences. Embodying the symbiotic relationship between creativity and discovery, the Shawcross sculpture has been designed to complement the spirit of endurance proudly represented by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s James Caird lifeboat, which is displayed at the heart of the James Caird Hall. 

Guests also had the opportunity to take a preview tour of Phase 2 of The Laboratory, which will house three further science labs, the George Farha Auditorium and five suites for Informatics. Phase 2 is scheduled to complete 20 June 2016 and will be open for student use in Michaelmas Term 2016. Thanks to the 1,266 Alleynians from around the world and across the generations who have donated to The Laboratory, the College has nearly reached our ambitious fundraising goal of £5.9m.

The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell CBE, Lord Sainsbury KG, Lady Sainsbury, Conrad Shawcross RA and Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College
The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell CBE, Lord Sainsbury KG, Lady Sainsbury, Conrad Shawcross RA and Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College
Edward Alleyn’s Gift: The Foundation Schools’ Concert Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, 16 March 2016

 

The three Dulwich Foundation Schools Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS will come together on 16 March 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Christ’s Chapel of God’s Gift at Dulwich. 

Over 450 pupils, alumni, teachers, parents and members of the local community will perform Verdi’s choral masterpiece, the Requiem Mass at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. They will be joined by internationally recognised soloists Jane Irwin (Soprano), Louise Callinan (Mezzo Soprano), David Butt Philip (Tenor) and Rodney Earl Clarke, Old Alleynian (Bass). 

Verdi’s Requiem is a masterpiece of late 19th century composition and the programme will also include Verdi’s Pater Noster which will be performed by all those singing and playing. The concert will be conducted by the three Directors of Music: Mr Chris Dearmer, Mr Richard Mayo and Mr Peter Gritton.

Christ’s Chapel in Dulwich was consecrated in 1616 by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, as part of the Dulwich College foundation. Edward Alleyn built his College of God’s Gift on Dulwich Green and since then the Chapel has been a place of worship for the local community and for the three Dulwich Schools of the Foundation; Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS. 

The Heads of the three Foundation Schools, Dr Gary Savage of Alleyn’s, Dr Joe Spence of Dulwich College, and Sally-Anne Huang of JAGS, anticipate this wonderful occasion will be an opportunity for the wider communities of the three schools to come together and celebrate in music. All are welcome and tickets are available through Southbank Centre.

Dulwich Inventive Week

From DNA construction to speaking with the astronauts; a celebration of Science at Dulwich College
During this term, Dulwich College celebrated all that it does scientifically and creatively for one unforgettable week. Dulwich Inventive was driven by the imagination of boys and teachers thinking beyond the confines of individual disciplines, with every pupil in the school being involved in some way – from DUCKS’ liquids workshops to the Upper School’s Fame Lab Finals. During Dulwich Inventive, boys heard from over 25 visiting speakers and scientists and worked with them in a variety of workshops and interactive sessions. Visitors included Sir Robert Winston, Dr Lewis Hartnell and Dr Hugh Hunt. The Enigma Machine from Bletchley Park was at the College for a day and the College was delighted to host the first exhibition of Henry Fraser OA (2008-11) as he made his well-publicised venture into painting. Departments hijacked time, space and events throughout the week. Every pupil was engaged in code-breaking activity, with a new clue being released each day. They became masters of spin, creating paintings while learning about centrifugal force in art lessons; launched paper aeroplanes in DT at 80 miles per hour from the top of The Laboratory; and in Religion & Theology asked whether scientists could put their trust in God. Visits were arranged throughout the week to see performances and visit museums, to attend workshops and participate in experiments such as making Elephant toothpaste, projectile volcanoes and experimenting with chemi-luminescence. While the primary focus was to engage pupils, the College also involved parents, former pupils and students from local schools were invited to see the Science telescope at our star-gazing event and to engage with astronaut Shannon Walker via our live satellite connection on NASA night. Mr Damian King, Director of Science at Dulwich College, said of the event ‘’A successful week that got pupils thinking about the links between Science and the Arts, Dulwich Inventive represented inspiring, challenging and active learning at its best’’.
 

Webb Ellis Trophy comes to Dulwich College
The boys at Dulwich College were thrilled when the Webb Ellis Cup visited the College as part of its 100 day tour ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The prestigious cup was delivered by a 12 strong team from the RWC committee.
 
To tie in with the occasion, the Year 8 boys played a mini tournament and were then invited to stand alongside the Cup for photographs.
 
The College is delighted and very proud to have been selected as one of the approved Team Bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015. Later this month, it will host the Australian and Romanian teams during their training sessions. As well as this wonderful opportunity to see some of rugby’s greats in training, the lasting legacy will be to celebrate the game and inspire future generations of players.
 
Dulwich College holds their annual Symposium

DULWICH COLLEGE held their fifth annual Symposium on Thursday 9 October; comedian Jo Brand, political cartoonist Martin Rowson and poet Chris McCabe provided Upper School boys with plenty of food for thought. The Symposium aims to foster boys' intellectual interests through an offtimetable day of interdisciplinary enquiry; the theme for this year was Power.

Responding with refreshing frankness to boys' questions, on subjects ranging from her work as a psychiatric nurse to her views on comedy, free speech, censorship and feminism, Jo Brand demonstrated her deeply-held beliefs about the importance of challenging prejudice, pride and power in the world around us. Later in the day, top political cartoonist Martin Rowson discussed a range of his scathingly satirical work. Chris McCabe contributed to both sessions, reading a selection of his work, which provided a thought-provoking commentary on the power of the media, the horrifying disempowerment experienced by many on the day of the July London bombings, and finally, on the power of literature.

In addition to the keynote speeches, the boys attended two seminars chosen from a selection offered by twenty-nine teachers - a great opportunity for boys to hear their teachers speak about the subjects about which they are most passionate and knowledgeable, free from the constraints of the curriculum.

Dulwich College’s 7th Junior School Symposium

Now in its seventh year and going from strength to strength, empathy was the topic for exploration in this year’s Junior School Symposium. The Symposium, a highlight on the school’s calendar, is a day where pupils from Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) take part in various creative and inspiring workshops. 

All the activities, which are shared across both schools and led by teachers and specialists, were designed to challenge and enrich the pupils’ learning in thought-provoking ways. At Dulwich, we were delighted to welcome Pippa Church, who hosted a spectacular puppet show demonstrating the empathy required by a puppeteer, the puppet and the audience. 

 

The day provided wonderful ‘free learning’ opportunities for the children beyond the curriculum which included Dance in Someone Else’s Shoes, Silent Empathy, Puppetry workshops, What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking, Wonder and Empathy, Expressions in Clay and May Kindness Calendar. 

Pupils went home physically and intellectually exhausted from a memorable day that raised as many questions as it answered!

Dulwich College Cadets honoured to participate in state funeral for HM Queen Elizabeth II

Edward, Ben and Charlie, pupils at Dulwich College and members of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), were given the honour of representing their school and the Air Cadets Organisation at the state funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September. The Cadets were accompanied by OC RAF Section, Flight Lieutenant Rutter who had also joined them for four days of training in preparation prior to the funeral.

 

At Dulwich College the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II was marked with assemblies, the Union Jack flying at half-mast from the flagpole by the War Memorial, a Dulwich College Book of Condolence for pupils, staff and alumni, and a Service of Commemoration at Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich, with the choirs from the Dulwich Foundation Schools: Alleyn’s School, Dulwich College and James Alleyn’s Girls’ School. 

And during the period of national mourning, the community recalled that service was the keynote of The Queen’s letter to Dulwich College in celebration of its 400th anniversary, brought down the Thames from Putney to St Paul’s on the Queen’s Rowbarge, Gloriana, on 24 June 2019, passing The Houses of Parliament and the Globe Theatre (images attached).

Dulwich College pupils commissioned for Public Art Project at Denmark Hill

During the summer, two Year 13 art students were delighted to be commissioned to paint an optical illusion of the Jamaican poet, writer, and activist Una Marson at Denmark Hill Station. Commissioned by the Camberwell Society, Emilio Nunzi (Year 13) and Timur Safardiar (Year 13) used this as an excellent opportunity to showcase their painting abilities alongside a real-life experience of working with a client and a specific brief.  

During the Second World War Una Marson was one of the most influential women at the BBC. A feminist, poet, playwright and social activist, Una travelled back to London in 1932 and became the first black woman to be employed by the BBC as a broadcaster. In 2009, Una’s pioneering work for the BBC led to the unveiling of the Southwark Heritage Blue plaque on her former home in Brunswick Square, Camberwell. Because of her emphasis on decolonisation and intersectionality she was involved in many organisations whilst living in Camberwell.   

 

Denmark Hill Station is also a finalist for station of the year in the Community Creative Projects and Station Arts.

Both Emilo and Timur are thrilled that over 10,000 travellers a day at Denmark Hill, will be able to view their art installation, an anamorphic illusion of the BBC trailblazer Una Marson.

New short film about Sir Ernest Shackleton and the James Caird

Dulwich College are delighted with the results of a short film they commissioned recently by Hal Howe a brilliant young filmmaker and former pupil, about the life and expedition of one of the College’s most famous alumni, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

With school trips currently on pause, including visits to see the James Caird, the College hope that the film will appeal to primary schools in Southwark who study the James Caird as part of the KS2 curriculum. With the film comes a complimentary resource pack: a specially designed workbook for pupils and a handbook for teachers. The film might also appeal to a wider audience who would like to learn more about the intrepid explorer and his epic voyage on the James Caird.

To watch the film and to download the resource pack, please visit the Dulwich College website https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/history/the-james-caird.

 

Dulwich pupils cycle thousands of miles every day to get to school

Since the beginning of the academic year an unprecedented level of cycling and scooting has been taken up by pupils and members of staff at the Dulwich Foundation Schools, Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS), in addition to the number of children who walk.

Dulwich College estimates that more than 400 pupils are cycling an average of three miles per day to and from school, which means that a whopping 1,200 miles (or 1,931 km) are cycled in total every day. At Alleyn’s School, there is a marked increase in the use of their 250+ bike stands, and almost two hundred JAGS’ girls are now cycling or scooting to school on a daily basis.

 

Alleyn's Young Pupils
Alleyn's Young Pupils

For all three schools, this visible increase shows the pupils’ commitment to active travel and reinforces the schools’ commitment to sustainability; Dulwich College is delighted to be adding to additional bike and scooter parking slots, helping support the College’s ambition towards being a carbon neutral campus; JAGS has a dedicated Eco Team of staff and pupils from across the school who work to implement eco initiatives into daily school life; and at Alleyn’s, the majority of their Senior School pupils walk, cycle, scoot, or take a train or bus to school, supported by a pupil-led Eco Committee and twice yearly Sustainability Weeks including active travel and cycling-related initiatives.

All three Dulwich schools are part of local school groups working together as Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School, and are also all Gold STARS Schools with TFL.

The increase in cycling has not gone unnoticed; cycling tweets posted on @DulwichCollege have been liked and retweeted by healthy streets groups, local residents and societies. The posts have been viewed more than 25,000 times and received positive messages of encouragement. This number of ‘impressions’ is a record for the College.

The schools welcome recent initiatives by Southwark Council and the Dulwich Estate to improve opportunities for active travel and improved cycling routes within the area.

 

Dulwich College Junior Pupils Cycling
Dulwich College Junior Pupils Cycling
JAGS Prep Pupils with Mrs Suzie Elkerton
JAGS Prep Pupils with Mrs Suzie Elkerton
How would you define identity? Dulwich College pupils are inspired and challenged to find their authentic self

DC IAM (Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month) is taking place throughout February. This new three-week initiative is part of the College’s Wellbeing programme and an opportunity for pupils from DUCKS through to Year 13, to explore different aspects of their own identity, and the identity of the College as a community.

A range of themes will be explored at societies, talks and events, with visiting speakers including clinical psychologist Dr Chris Merritt, author Alex Wheatle MBE and Rohit Sagar from Deloitte. Pupils will be exploring identity through music with a specially created Spotify play-list; through literature with a DC IAM reading list exploring the different concepts of identity (online identity, gender identity); and talks from guest speakers where the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace are discussed.

Working alongside costume designer Oona Brutton, pupils, parents and members of staff will be invited to celebrate individuality by designing and creating their own badge which can either be worn or pinned to one of the many display points around the College. These badges will underpin the message of mutual respect, equality and celebrate individuality in our community.

 

Year 7 Dulwich College pupils immerse themselves in Art Creative Workshop Day

Working alongside visiting artists from the forthcoming exhibition, 'Humdrum', Year 7 pupils at Dulwich College immersed themselves in a Free Learning Day of art workshops. The focus was on nurturing their individuality while discovering the knowledge and skills required to develop further, both as young artists and as creative collaborators. Through an eclectic mix of nine workshops, pupils were invited to look at the everyday world with fresh eyes, prompting them to rethink their relationship to mass-produced objects, technology and familiar places. The pupils were also able to grasp (literally in many cases) the importance of understanding materials, learning and experimenting through touch and direct physical engagement to create their own responses to the ‘Humdrum’ exhibition. Artists Adam Hennessy, Sarah Christie, Robin Tarbet and Sebastian Sochin encouraged boys to create work ranging from plaster cast towers to drawings made from royal icing and marzipan, and as the day progressed, clay vessels, wallpaper printing, wrapped and bound structures, florescent comic-books and large collaborative ink drawings emerged from seemingly nowhere. The array of outcomes produced is testament to the enormous sense of community generated by a working studio and will be exhibited in the College’s gallery space, The Store, alongside the work of 12 contemporary artists, including Dulwich Art Teacher Bruce Ingram, as part of 'Humdrum’. The show runs until 17 October. For further information please contact dohertymj@dulwich.org.uk 

Outstanding A Level Results

When Dulwich College Year 13 students received their A level results it was a pleasure to report that 28% of the exams they sat were awarded A* grades, with 89 pupils achieving all A or A* grades, 34 boys achieving 3 A*s or better and 11 gaining 4 A*s or better. 86% of papers were awarded grades of A*/A/B.

Senior staff and Heads of Departments spent the day helping boys finalise their university destinations. 172 pupils have had secured either their firm or insurance offers with 24 securing their Oxford and Cambridge places and 4 going on to medical schools. We are hearing of excellent placements through adjustment and clearing too.

 

 

Dr Joe Spence, The Master, records: “These pleasing results bear testimony to the hard work of thepupils and their teachers. I’m delighted that so many pupils are set for the next stage of their education, but we will continue to help those who didn’t quite achieve what they wanted or neededto find the right destination. Indeed, our support for every 2019 leaver will go on well beyondtoday; they’ve been a credit to Dulwich and deserve our on-going encouragement and advocacy.”

Dulwich College celebrates the start of its 400th Anniversary

Dulwich College launched its 400th anniversary at DUCKS (Dulwich College’s Kindergarten and Infants’ School) on Monday morning with a visit from Queen Elizabeth I, Edward Alleyn, and the Master, Dr Joseph Spence. All the children were dressed up in Elizabethan and Jacobean dress, including an executioner, to greet their guests. The Queen was accompanied by her court acrobat and juggler, and Edward (Ned) Alleyn told the children about his life and the College he founded in 1619. He also explained that he wanted every member of the College community to sign a specially commissioned Dulwich Roll which would be a record of all the events that were going to take place in the coming year.

 

 

After their visit, all the DUCKS children (and staff!) remained in their Elizabethan finery all day, with historically themed lessons for everyone. Lunchtime was a medieval banquet with lords and ladies eating with beautiful manners. Year 2 pupils then walked to Dulwich College and found the bust of William Shakespeare as well as noticing the different architecture in the old and new buildings.

Success at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018

Dulwich College pupils past and present enjoyed terrific success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. More than 20 pupils from Dulwich and JAGS (James Allen’s Girls’ school) were involved in sell-out shows as performers, directors, designers and technicians. All were received with critical acclaim, including: 

- The Young Pleasance production of The Red Shoes; 

- The XYP/Clay Party co-production of Outside; 

- Spies Like Us Theatre’s shows, Woyzeck and Our Man in Havana; 

- Incognito’s Tobacco Road; 

- Double Edge Drama’s, Goons. 

Later this year, pupils at Dulwich College will stage productions of Medea and Dorian Gray. Please visit our What’s On page for further details and to book tickets: https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/whats-on. 

The new Memorial Garden at Dulwich College

Dedicated to the wives of two Old Alleynians, the newly completed Memorial Garden is situated alongside the Grimshaw designed Laboratory building. The design of the garden continues the celebration of the relationship between the Sciences and the Arts which is embedded into the fabric of the Laboratory building in the form of the Peter Randall-Page cladding of terracotta tiles which are an interpretation the Lindenmayer system dragon curve fractal, replicating the algorithmic beauty of the natural order. 

Sitting between the Laboratory and the original formal gardens of the Barry building, the Memorial Garden is an exploration of Voronoi tessellation, which can be thought of as a geometrical tool used to understand the physical constraints binding the organisation of biological tissues, natural structures and geological forms (such as honeycombs, the giants causeway and the packing structure of corn). The Memorial Garden is a physical representation of how human research is allowing us to understand these innate, natural geometric rules. 

 

The Memorial Garden's paving pulls away from the formal, rectangular layout of the existing paving, disintegrating into a series of irregular convex polygons, closely reflecting the tensions within natural fragmentation patterns, from these tessellating polygons irregular extrusions rise up to form seating. 

The garden will integrate the Laboratory into the heritage site and link the contemporary planting with the original Milner garden and wider site. The plants and trees have be chosen to reflect both the terracotta cladding and the detailing of the nearby Barry building. 

The designer of the garden, Rachel Reynolds is a long-time local resident who has been a multi-disciplinary 3D designer and public artist and maker for over twenty years. Rachel has recently expanded her practise into garden design, graduating from the London College of Garden Design as Top Student 2016. Designing the Memorial Garden for the College enabled Rachel to integrate her previous experience of designing furniture for the public realm within the design of the garden 

Resident Artist’s exhibition Interview (prototype)

Dulwich College are delighted to have Harrison Pearce as resident artist with his new work Interview (prototype). The focus of the exhibition is a large kinetic sculpture and sound installation, which has been developed in an ongoing collaboration with composer Nico Muhly. 

Pearce’s work is constructed around philosophical ideas that look at the mind, body, language and experience. His practice combines a wide range of approaches to orchestrate a single piece. The work in this show involves carving, engineering, coding, wiring, prosthetics and sewing. The sum of these parts is an immersive and theatrical installation, which takes its inspiration from radiography and medicine. 

For information on workshops and talks please contact Director of Art and DT Sue Mulholland Mulhollandsm@dulwich.org.uk 

‘Grease is the word’ according to pupils from Dulwich College and JAGS

Pupils from Dulwich College and JAGS, James Allen’s Girls’ School, joined forces to stage a truly joyous production. A formidable company of 70 actors, musicians and crew from years 10 to 13 created an unforgettable performance. 

 

Photo by Nobby Clarke
Photo by Nobby Clarke

Praise has been high for a show that was sold out for every performance and for which a matinee was added ‘’Terrific show with top performances from all of them and enough kinetic energy to power a small town! Fantastic’’ commented a member of the audience. With stupendous singing, fantastic dance routines and dazzling costumes, the show delighted audiences and gave the cast an opportunity to shine, benefitting from encouragement and mentoring and, providing them with an unforgettable experience. 

New Exhibition at The Globe uses the Seven Deadly Sins as its theme

The Archives at Dulwich College hold a wealth of theatrical artefacts dating back to the time of William Shakespeare, some of which are now on loan to the Globe and form part of an exhibition, Henslowe’s Rose, Theatrical Treasures from Dulwich College.

The new exhibition which runs until the end of June, uses the seven deadly sins as its theme and intertwines each sin with the story of Philip Henslowe’s Rose Theatre. The exhibition celebrates the 400th anniversary of the deaths of William Shakespeare and Philip Henslowe, father in law of Edward Alleyn. It was Alleyn who took on the management of his father in law’s theatres and also began building his ‘College’ at Dulwich. Not only is 1616 a momentous year for English drama, this was the year that Christ’s Chapel in the heart of Dulwich Village, was completed and consecrated. Dulwich College has chosen this year to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Christ’s Chapel and Henslowe’s death with a range of events, of which this exhibition is one. These will all lead up to the celebrations already in the planning process of the College’s quatercentenary in 2019.

The exhibition at The Globe runs until 29 June, 2016.

http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/news-detail/2016/05/17/theatrical-treasures-from-dulwich- college-archives-now-on-display-at-shakespeare-s-globe 

 

Success for joint Dulwich College and Sydenham High Teams at Young Enterprise Central London and East London Finals

‘Seedling’ a team of students from Dulwich College and Sydenham High triumphed at the Central London final of the Young Enterprise 'Company of the Year' competition. In what has been Dulwich’s most successful ever competition; 'Seedling' beat seven other teams to go through to the prestigious London final in June. Luke Henderson, Dmitry Rusanov and Marco Verdino from Dulwich College, along with Nerea Asua Lowe and Ella Bright from Sydenham High School greatly impressed the judges with their innovative product and fantastic branding. The team came away with the award for Best Company in Central London, as well as the Berwin Leighton Pasiner Social Impact Award, thanks to the strong environmental ethos of their company. 

In the East London Finals, Dulwich College and Sydenham High School represented by team ‘Illuminated’ walked away with two of the five awards. Illuminated, represented by Robert Power, Oscar Owen, Sam Groves, Phoebe Proctor and Greta Holmes, against tough competition the team won prizes for Best Interview and Trade Stand, and the Old Mutual Green Award. Their organic soy wax candles in recycled containers really impressed the judges, as did their socially responsible plans for expansion - outsourcing production to local people who are looking for flexible work following unemployment. The judges commented on how impressed they were with the students' professionalism, and how well the two schools worked together. 

 

Writer and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank visits Dulwich College to deliver the fourth lecture of the GE Moore Lecture Series

 

 

Over 200 boys, parents, staff and local residents turned out last night to hear writer, art historian and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank, explore the world of the Barry and Scott architectural dynasties in the 150th year of Charles Barry Jnr’s ‘New College at Dulwich’. Central to his theme was Barry’s use of ‘fusion’ architecture at time when authenticity and gothicism were the dominant influences of the age. The lecture took place in the Great Hall, and the Boardroom and Masters’ Library were also open for viewing.

This was the fourth lecture in the College’s 400th anniversary series and as part of the evening, visitors were invited to the exhibition held in the Wodehouse Library celebrating the 150th anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New College at Dulwich. On display were architectural plans and drawings, etchings, prints and photographs as well as an architectural model and pieces of terracotta.

In addition there were six podcasts recorded by members of staff discussing various buildings at the College. The Archive Podcast project, which started in 2010, aims to promote the College’s 400-year history by asking experts and enthusiasts to talk about an object, building or theme that is of importance in the history of Dulwich College.

The next GE Moore Lecture will be held on 24 May when Professor Grace Ioppolo will examine how Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn helped invent English early modern theatre. Tickets are £10, available from lectureseries@dulwich.org.uk

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Dulwich pupil to represent England at The World Schools Debating Championships 2016

Dulwich Pupil, Kenza Wilks, has been selected to be the team Captain for this competition which will take place in Stuttgart this July. This is the most prestigious debating competition in the world featuring some of the most skilled orators and thinkers of his generation. Dulwich College has an established history of debating, which in turn encourages and supports its pupils to take part in Local and National debating competitions and is fortunate to have one of its pupils on Team England for the past four years. The English-Speaking Union, which organises Team England believes that the team will continue England’s proud history of success at the competition. To date, England have made it to the knockout rounds every year since the competition began and have reached the finals ten times, winning it on four occasions. 

 

Comedian Henning Wehn, brings the house down at the end of Dulwich College Symposium

BBC journalist Justin Webb, Kwasi Kwarteng, MP and comedian Henning Wehn headed the bill on 1 October for a day packed full of enquiry, discussion and debate on the theme of 'Us & Them'. The Upper School Symposium, held every October, is Dulwich College’s flagship academic day for all boys in the Lower and Upper Sixth forms. This year, the day was opened by Kwasi Kwarteng, who offered his thoughts on integration, political correctness and history teaching in our schools, as well as engaging in discussion about the current migration crisis, with sixth-formers offering a range of probing questions from the floor. Journalist and author Justin Webb, shared his fascinating personal insights into American politics, as well as discussing the future of journalism in a world where the formerly clear divisions between news-gatherers and the public are becoming increasingly blurred. All Upper School boys also attended two seminars or workshops, choosing from the 34 on offer, their subjects ranging from criminal psychology and caricature to feminism and contemporary film. Several seminars were given by sixth formers themselves, individually, or in collaboration with teachers. The Symposium was rounded off in style by Henning Wehn, self-styled comedy ambassador for Tooting, whose ‘vorsprung durch slapstick’ approach to the ‘us and them’ of Anglo-Teutonic relations provided both food for thought, and belly-laughs aplenty. This was a day which will surely be remembered for years to come by all involved!

Dulwich College welcomes Australian Rugby Squad

 

As an official Team Base, Dulwich College is delighted to welcome Rugby World Cup Squad Australia.  Pupils formed a welcoming Guard of Honour this morning as the team arrived on the College campus.  Dulwich College is hosting Australia until 12 October during which time they will play England this Saturday 3 October at Twickenham and Wales on Saturday 10 October.

The College is delighted and proud to have been selected as one of the approved Team Bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015.  As well as an opportunity to showcase its sports facilities, this is also a wonderful opportunity to see some of rugby’s greats in training; the lasting legacy will be to celebrate the game and inspire future generations of players.  

Dulwich College has a strong history of producing some of the Country’s finest sportsmen, including rugby internationals David Flatman and Andrew Sheridan.  Nick Easter, also an Old Alleynian, who has captained for England, has been selected for the England squad in this Saturday’s game at Twickenham. 

 

The Pavilion and 1st XV pitch will be dedicated during this period to the RWC team, secured and fenced off, and during selected times the Australian Squad will have use of the Swimming Pool, Sports Hall and Weights Room. Hunts Slip Road will have fencing to prevent media cameras obtaining sight of the training pitch.  The use of facilities has been arranged to ensure minimum disruption to games activities and College fixtures have been planned accordingly.
 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 (in England and Wales) runs until to 31 October with 20 countries competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.

 

www.dulwich.org.uk/college/sport/rugby-world-cup-2015-dulwich-college-q-a

 
Overseas Scholarship success for Dulwich College boys
 
Dulwich College is delighted to announce that four of its Sixth Form boys have been awarded undergraduate Scholarships to study in North America. 
Przemyslaw Macholak has been awarded a grant from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, for undergraduate study on the prestigious Huntsman Business Programme, for which only 40 are given each year. Przemyslaw will also receive financial support from several organisations which will allow him to follow a joint degree in Business and International Relations together with German. 
Zak Siepman has been awarded a scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at the Southern Methodist University in Texas. 
Luke Connor received an outstanding ten offers to study overseas and has accepted a soccer scholarship to study at Young Harris College in Georgia. 

Anamay Viswanathan will also join an elite group of global scholars, having accepted the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship. Awarded to only around 50 students from across the world each year, this is a tremendous achievement for the Dulwich College school captain.

Open Days

Year 7 Open Morning 

Thursday 12 October, 10.30am  

Tuesday 17 October, 9.45am

Visit their website for further information.

dulwich.org.uk

 

Dulwich College’s 7th Junior School Symposium

Now in its seventh year and going from strength to strength, empathy was the topic for exploration in this year’s Junior School Symposium. The Symposium, a highlight on the school’s calendar, is a day where pupils from Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) take part in various creative and inspiring workshops. 

All the activities, which are shared across both schools and led by teachers and specialists, were designed to challenge and enrich the pupils’ learning in thought-provoking ways. At Dulwich, we were delighted to welcome Pippa Church, who hosted a spectacular puppet show demonstrating the empathy required by a puppeteer, the puppet and the audience. 

 

The day provided wonderful ‘free learning’ opportunities for the children beyond the curriculum which included Dance in Someone Else’s Shoes, Silent Empathy, Puppetry workshops, What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking, Wonder and Empathy, Expressions in Clay and May Kindness Calendar. 

Pupils went home physically and intellectually exhausted from a memorable day that raised as many questions as it answered!

Dulwich Wood Primary School sings at O2 Arena

Dulwich Wood Primary School Choir joined 9,000 children at the O2 Arena to perform in a spectacular Young Voices concert. The 45 strong choir, is run by Catherine Andrews, Head of Music at DUCKS, Dulwich College Kindergarten and Infants’ School. The pupils performed as part of the ‘largest choir in the world’ alongside guest artists, including the world beatbox champions Beatbox Collective, violinist Anna Phoebe and soul singer Heather Small. 

The 50 minutes' worth of songs learned during the autumn term, covered a vast range of styles - there were traditional British folk songs (including Calon Lân sung in Welsh), soul and disco anthems from the 1970s, Disney songs, reggae music and a hilarious medley of Spike Milligan’s poetry set to music. The breadth and complexity of the songs was challenging, but the choir worked with such determination that on the day they were note and word perfect. Several of the songs required dance moves that were choreographed by the street dance group Urban Strides, resulting in choir rehearsals becoming more like dance classes! 

The children witnessed just how much work goes into putting on a polished performance. They rehearsed for three hours with the conductor, choreographer, and live band to ensure that the evening performance would be perfect. Their hard work paid off: the concert was an exhilarating spectacle of choral singing, dance and beatboxing in a world-class venue. It was an evening that the children from Dulwich Wood felt privileged to be part of and one that they will never forget. 

The mutually beneficial partnership that Dulwich College has with Dulwich Wood Primary School, where pupils and members of staff voluntarily contribute their time and expertise, includes pupil mentors, swimming classes, author visits and a string orchestra. The Year 5 and 6 choir, has been running for several years. To read more about the Partnerships at Dulwich College https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/partnerships

It really was a spectacular event and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the children. Not only was the repertoire tricky (and often in two or three parts) but the choir had to learn 50 minutes’ worth of music and perform it off by heart… the Dulwich Wood choir were note and word perfect. I couldn't have been prouder of them!” Catherine Andrews, Head of Music at DUCKS. 

 

Dulwich College Cadets honoured to participate in state funeral for HM Queen Elizabeth II

Edward, Ben and Charlie, pupils at Dulwich College and members of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), were given the honour of representing their school and the Air Cadets Organisation at the state funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September. The Cadets were accompanied by OC RAF Section, Flight Lieutenant Rutter who had also joined them for four days of training in preparation prior to the funeral.

 

At Dulwich College the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II was marked with assemblies, the Union Jack flying at half-mast from the flagpole by the War Memorial, a Dulwich College Book of Condolence for pupils, staff and alumni, and a Service of Commemoration at Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich, with the choirs from the Dulwich Foundation Schools: Alleyn’s School, Dulwich College and James Alleyn’s Girls’ School. 

And during the period of national mourning, the community recalled that service was the keynote of The Queen’s letter to Dulwich College in celebration of its 400th anniversary, brought down the Thames from Putney to St Paul’s on the Queen’s Rowbarge, Gloriana, on 24 June 2019, passing The Houses of Parliament and the Globe Theatre (images attached).

Dulwich College marks the centenary of polar explorer and alumnus Sir Ernest Shackleton

January 5 2022, marked one hundred years since Sir Ernest Shackleton, described as one of the greatest polar explorers, died following a heart attack. Aged just 47, Shackleton was at Grytviken, South Georgia whilst on the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition on the Quest. 

It was during Shackleton’s 1914-16 expedition to Antarctica on the Endurance, that became known as one of the greatest survival stories in the history of exploration and the name, Shackleton, is now synonymous with adventure, integrity and the heroic age of exploration. When the Endurance became trapped in ice and the crew were stranded on Elephant Island, Shackleton set off in the James Caird, a small boat whose home is now at Dulwich College, with five of the crew in search of help. They spent 16 days crossing 1,300 km of ocean to reach South Georgia and then trekked across the island to a whaling station, returning in August 1916 to rescue the entire crew. There were no casualties. 

Dulwich College, where Shackleton was a former pupil from 1887-1890, has a programme of events to mark this centenary: Archives Presents Shackleton 100, an in-person and online talk with guest speakers (Thursday 3 February); Shackleton 100 Exhibition in the College Archives (by appointment only and on display until Friday 11 February). Both events are open to the public and are free to attend. Details can be found here https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/whats-on/shackleton-100

Dulwich College pupils commissioned for Public Art Project at Denmark Hill

During the summer, two Year 13 art students were delighted to be commissioned to paint an optical illusion of the Jamaican poet, writer, and activist Una Marson at Denmark Hill Station. Commissioned by the Camberwell Society, Emilio Nunzi (Year 13) and Timur Safardiar (Year 13) used this as an excellent opportunity to showcase their painting abilities alongside a real-life experience of working with a client and a specific brief.  

During the Second World War Una Marson was one of the most influential women at the BBC. A feminist, poet, playwright and social activist, Una travelled back to London in 1932 and became the first black woman to be employed by the BBC as a broadcaster. In 2009, Una’s pioneering work for the BBC led to the unveiling of the Southwark Heritage Blue plaque on her former home in Brunswick Square, Camberwell. Because of her emphasis on decolonisation and intersectionality she was involved in many organisations whilst living in Camberwell.   

 

Denmark Hill Station is also a finalist for station of the year in the Community Creative Projects and Station Arts.

Both Emilo and Timur are thrilled that over 10,000 travellers a day at Denmark Hill, will be able to view their art installation, an anamorphic illusion of the BBC trailblazer Una Marson.

Pupils at Dulwich College help raise funds for ‘Take & Make Boxes’

A recent own-clothes initiative at Dulwich College saw pupils raising funds for ‘Kitchen Social - Take and Make Boxes’. The project, supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London and in partnership with boroughs across the capital, provides a kit box containing fresh ingredients and simple step- by-step instructions on how to prepare and cook a healthy meal for up to four people.

By receiving a Take and Make Box, which includes important skill training cards and online video tutorials starring young Londoners, this is an innovative way to get young people cooking at home and can help to combat holiday hunger, at a time when increasing numbers of children are eligible for free school meals.

If you would like to find out more information about Kitchen Social, please visit the website -https://www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/kitchen-social/

 

New short film about Sir Ernest Shackleton and the James Caird

Dulwich College are delighted with the results of a short film they commissioned recently by Hal Howe a brilliant young filmmaker and former pupil, about the life and expedition of one of the College’s most famous alumni, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

With school trips currently on pause, including visits to see the James Caird, the College hope that the film will appeal to primary schools in Southwark who study the James Caird as part of the KS2 curriculum. With the film comes a complimentary resource pack: a specially designed workbook for pupils and a handbook for teachers. The film might also appeal to a wider audience who would like to learn more about the intrepid explorer and his epic voyage on the James Caird.

To watch the film and to download the resource pack, please visit the Dulwich College website https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/history/the-james-caird.

 

Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month - I AM because We Are
In its second year of celebrating Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month, Dulwich College are focusing on community. In a year in which ‘self-isolation’, ‘lockdown’ and ‘remote’ have all been ways of living that we have had to adopt, the College wanted to spend this month remembering the importance of interdependence: of staying connected, of being a part of a community, and of our responsibility towards one another. 

As well as a Community Cook Along with Parin Lad, founder of the Curry Community in West Norwood, highlights include talks from Dr Rose Hudson - the Church of England’s first black female Bishop, Nobel Prize Winner Benny Dembitzer, and Economist Vicky Price. Pupils across the College from DUCKS to Year 13 will also be able to send in their entries for the ‘Big Selfie Challenge’, send a letter to a loved one as part of a letter writing initiative as well as eat breakfast together (virtually) during Tutor Time. Recommended book lists have been drawn up to suit age ranges and tastes, and a bespoke Spotify playlist has been created that celebrates togetherness - defying anyone not to dance along! 

Looking forward to DC We Are, Wellbeing Prefect, Charles, said of Dulwich College Identity Awareness month “Community - whether it is your group of friends, your team, your club, the College, an interest - it is what brings us together. It is a part of what makes you who you are and who We Are”. 

 

Dulwich pupils cycle thousands of miles every day to get to school

Since the beginning of the academic year an unprecedented level of cycling and scooting has been taken up by pupils and members of staff at the Dulwich Foundation Schools, Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS), in addition to the number of children who walk.

Dulwich College estimates that more than 400 pupils are cycling an average of three miles per day to and from school, which means that a whopping 1,200 miles (or 1,931 km) are cycled in total every day. At Alleyn’s School, there is a marked increase in the use of their 250+ bike stands, and almost two hundred JAGS’ girls are now cycling or scooting to school on a daily basis.

 

Alleyn's Young Pupils
Alleyn's Young Pupils

For all three schools, this visible increase shows the pupils’ commitment to active travel and reinforces the schools’ commitment to sustainability; Dulwich College is delighted to be adding to additional bike and scooter parking slots, helping support the College’s ambition towards being a carbon neutral campus; JAGS has a dedicated Eco Team of staff and pupils from across the school who work to implement eco initiatives into daily school life; and at Alleyn’s, the majority of their Senior School pupils walk, cycle, scoot, or take a train or bus to school, supported by a pupil-led Eco Committee and twice yearly Sustainability Weeks including active travel and cycling-related initiatives.

All three Dulwich schools are part of local school groups working together as Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School, and are also all Gold STARS Schools with TFL.

The increase in cycling has not gone unnoticed; cycling tweets posted on @DulwichCollege have been liked and retweeted by healthy streets groups, local residents and societies. The posts have been viewed more than 25,000 times and received positive messages of encouragement. This number of ‘impressions’ is a record for the College.

The schools welcome recent initiatives by Southwark Council and the Dulwich Estate to improve opportunities for active travel and improved cycling routes within the area.

 

Dulwich College Junior Pupils Cycling
Dulwich College Junior Pupils Cycling
JAGS Prep Pupils with Mrs Suzie Elkerton
JAGS Prep Pupils with Mrs Suzie Elkerton
Jeremy Deller launches online Thinking About lecture series for Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership students

 

 

How would you define identity? Dulwich College pupils are inspired and challenged to find their authentic self

DC IAM (Dulwich College Identity Awareness Month) is taking place throughout February. This new three-week initiative is part of the College’s Wellbeing programme and an opportunity for pupils from DUCKS through to Year 13, to explore different aspects of their own identity, and the identity of the College as a community.

A range of themes will be explored at societies, talks and events, with visiting speakers including clinical psychologist Dr Chris Merritt, author Alex Wheatle MBE and Rohit Sagar from Deloitte. Pupils will be exploring identity through music with a specially created Spotify play-list; through literature with a DC IAM reading list exploring the different concepts of identity (online identity, gender identity); and talks from guest speakers where the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace are discussed.

Working alongside costume designer Oona Brutton, pupils, parents and members of staff will be invited to celebrate individuality by designing and creating their own badge which can either be worn or pinned to one of the many display points around the College. These badges will underpin the message of mutual respect, equality and celebrate individuality in our community.

 

Ex County Cricket player appointed at Dulwich College

Dulwich College is delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Riley as cricket’s new Head of Player Development. Former Kent County Cricket Club player, Adam, replaces Bill Athey who left the College in 2019 after many successful years. Adam enjoyed an outstanding cricket career with Kent County Cricket Club until 2019, representing the county sixty-one times in first class cricket, thirty-four times in list A cricket and twenty-nine times in T20 cricket. Responsible for developing cricketers throughout the college, Adam’s knowledge of the game, innovative coaching techniques and enthusiasm for cricket will generate a clear pathway for pupils to fulfil their cricketing potential. 

‘’Joining Dulwich College in this role is a great honour. I am looking forward to sharing my skills and experience to help develop the next generation of cricketers at the College’’ said Adam of his appointment. 

Year 7 Dulwich College pupils immerse themselves in Art Creative Workshop Day

Working alongside visiting artists from the forthcoming exhibition, 'Humdrum', Year 7 pupils at Dulwich College immersed themselves in a Free Learning Day of art workshops. The focus was on nurturing their individuality while discovering the knowledge and skills required to develop further, both as young artists and as creative collaborators. Through an eclectic mix of nine workshops, pupils were invited to look at the everyday world with fresh eyes, prompting them to rethink their relationship to mass-produced objects, technology and familiar places. The pupils were also able to grasp (literally in many cases) the importance of understanding materials, learning and experimenting through touch and direct physical engagement to create their own responses to the ‘Humdrum’ exhibition. Artists Adam Hennessy, Sarah Christie, Robin Tarbet and Sebastian Sochin encouraged boys to create work ranging from plaster cast towers to drawings made from royal icing and marzipan, and as the day progressed, clay vessels, wallpaper printing, wrapped and bound structures, florescent comic-books and large collaborative ink drawings emerged from seemingly nowhere. The array of outcomes produced is testament to the enormous sense of community generated by a working studio and will be exhibited in the College’s gallery space, The Store, alongside the work of 12 contemporary artists, including Dulwich Art Teacher Bruce Ingram, as part of 'Humdrum’. The show runs until 17 October. For further information please contact dohertymj@dulwich.org.uk 

Excellent GCSE Results

It is with pleasure to report that our Year 11 pupils have achieved excellent GCSE results. In a year in which the results have moved almost completely to the new numerical grading, we were delighted to have six pupils gaining straight 9s (the top grade), 46 pupils achieving straight 9 or 8s (equivalent to the old A*) and 99 pupils gaining a grade 7 or higher (equivalent to the old A) in each of their subjects. Overall 35% of the grades were a 9, with 84% of all grades 7 or higher (A*A in the old currency).

The Master comments that ‘our pupils have worked hard and well, with the support of their teachers and parents, to secure these excellent results. They are set fair to face the challenges of even harder public exams at A level, while maintaining their commitment to co-curricular and charitable activities and preparing for life beyond Dulwich. We look forward to helping the vast majority of them towards places at the best universities in this country and throughout the world – and the minority towards those niches, academic or vocational, in which they will excel’.

 

 

Dr Nick Black, Head of Middle School writes: ‘These are excellent results, with many boys exceeding their expectations. To achieve such academic success while also contributing so much to the wider life of the College is what pleases us most. The sense of excitement in the South Cloistertoday was palpable and really joyful. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the boys’Year Head Martin Geach for his work with them over the last three years.

Outstanding A Level Results

When Dulwich College Year 13 students received their A level results it was a pleasure to report that 28% of the exams they sat were awarded A* grades, with 89 pupils achieving all A or A* grades, 34 boys achieving 3 A*s or better and 11 gaining 4 A*s or better. 86% of papers were awarded grades of A*/A/B.

Senior staff and Heads of Departments spent the day helping boys finalise their university destinations. 172 pupils have had secured either their firm or insurance offers with 24 securing their Oxford and Cambridge places and 4 going on to medical schools. We are hearing of excellent placements through adjustment and clearing too.

 

 

Dr Joe Spence, The Master, records: “These pleasing results bear testimony to the hard work of thepupils and their teachers. I’m delighted that so many pupils are set for the next stage of their education, but we will continue to help those who didn’t quite achieve what they wanted or neededto find the right destination. Indeed, our support for every 2019 leaver will go on well beyondtoday; they’ve been a credit to Dulwich and deserve our on-going encouragement and advocacy.”

Over 40 nationalities in a week-long Dulwich Olympiad

The Dulwich Olympiad 2019 which took place in the Lent term, saw a unique celebration of Sport, Drama, Music and Art with some 900 students from the family of 11 Dulwich College international schools and Dulwich College. Alleynians and international Alleynians participated in workshops and events which showcased their talents in competitions, Masterclasses, exhibitions, and performance and concerts. 

 

The Opening Ceremony saw the Olympic torch passed from Beijing, hosts of the first Olympiad in 2015, to London. Art Masterclasses with resident artists ran as part of this year’s integrated Dulwich Creative, a week of cross-disciplinary activities. Highlights for Music and Drama were performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with a Music concert which included thrilling Taiko and Korean drums and involved 200+ musicians, and, the Drama performance was an outstanding reworking of Christopher Marlowe’s ‘Faustus’. Sport had a number of daily competitions and tournaments in a variety of top venues including Athletics at the Olympic Park Community Track along with Basketball and Swimming at the Copper Box and Olympic Pool respectively. The week drew to a close with an Olympian group photograph in front of the College’s Barry Buildings, and Closing Ceremony. 

Dulwich College celebrates the start of its 400th Anniversary

Dulwich College launched its 400th anniversary at DUCKS (Dulwich College’s Kindergarten and Infants’ School) on Monday morning with a visit from Queen Elizabeth I, Edward Alleyn, and the Master, Dr Joseph Spence. All the children were dressed up in Elizabethan and Jacobean dress, including an executioner, to greet their guests. The Queen was accompanied by her court acrobat and juggler, and Edward (Ned) Alleyn told the children about his life and the College he founded in 1619. He also explained that he wanted every member of the College community to sign a specially commissioned Dulwich Roll which would be a record of all the events that were going to take place in the coming year.

 

 

After their visit, all the DUCKS children (and staff!) remained in their Elizabethan finery all day, with historically themed lessons for everyone. Lunchtime was a medieval banquet with lords and ladies eating with beautiful manners. Year 2 pupils then walked to Dulwich College and found the bust of William Shakespeare as well as noticing the different architecture in the old and new buildings.

Dulwich College welcomes Artist in Residence, Anne Desmet RA

Dulwich College is delighted to be working with Anne Desmet as a visiting Artist in Residence. Anne is one of seven commissioned artists, all of whom are producing a wood engraving responding to Dulwich College’s 400th Anniversary and the legacy of Thomas Sturge Moore, Old Alleynian (alumnus from 1879-1883) – a wood engraver, dramatist and poet.

Anne will join the Art department for a week from 28 January working with Art Scholars and students from across the College. She will run a series of bespoke workshops and give a talk on her work and practice to the Art and Culture Society in the College’s Woodhouse Library, where there will be a supporting artefacts exhibition. Anne’s visit forms an introduction to this art form and is precursor to the Thomas Sturge Moore exhibition taking place at Dulwich College later in the year.

For more information about Anne Desmet and her work https://annedesmet.com/ and for furtherinformation about Dulwich College’s 400th Anniversary and its planned programme of eventshttps://www.dulwich.org.uk/400th.

 

Success at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018

Dulwich College pupils past and present enjoyed terrific success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. More than 20 pupils from Dulwich and JAGS (James Allen’s Girls’ school) were involved in sell-out shows as performers, directors, designers and technicians. All were received with critical acclaim, including: 

- The Young Pleasance production of The Red Shoes; 

- The XYP/Clay Party co-production of Outside; 

- Spies Like Us Theatre’s shows, Woyzeck and Our Man in Havana; 

- Incognito’s Tobacco Road; 

- Double Edge Drama’s, Goons. 

Later this year, pupils at Dulwich College will stage productions of Medea and Dorian Gray. Please visit our What’s On page for further details and to book tickets: https://www.dulwich.org.uk/about/whats-on. 

Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School to honour their Great War fallen at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall

Over 500 pupils, parents and friends of Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) will perform together on the stage of the Royal Festival Hall. 

The three Foundation Schools: Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS will come together on 19 February 2018, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the end of the Great War and pay tribute to their pupils and staff who selflessly served their country between 1914 and 1918. 

The Schools will perform Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, War Requiem, at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, where they will be joined by internationally recognised soloists Jane Irwin (soprano), Robin Tritschler (tenor) and Philip Tebb (baritone). 

 

The concert will be conducted by the three Schools’ Directors of Music, Mr Chris Dearmer, Mr Richard Mayo and Mr Peter Gritton, and will also include Herbert Howells’ Elegy for viola and strings. Composed as personal tribute to a fellow student at the Royal College of Music who was killed in the Great War, Howells’ poignant piece makes a fitting companion to Britten’s work. 

The Heads of the schools, Dr Gary Savage of Alleyn’s, Dr Joe Spence of Dulwich College, and Sally-Anne Huang of JAGS, anticipate the concert to be a memorable evening of music and commemoration, and a wonderful opportunity for their communities to give rightful thanks to all those who went before us. 

All are welcome. Tickets at a range of prices from £15 to £45 are available from the Southbank Centre: www.southbankcentre.co.uk 

The new Memorial Garden at Dulwich College

Dedicated to the wives of two Old Alleynians, the newly completed Memorial Garden is situated alongside the Grimshaw designed Laboratory building. The design of the garden continues the celebration of the relationship between the Sciences and the Arts which is embedded into the fabric of the Laboratory building in the form of the Peter Randall-Page cladding of terracotta tiles which are an interpretation the Lindenmayer system dragon curve fractal, replicating the algorithmic beauty of the natural order. 

Sitting between the Laboratory and the original formal gardens of the Barry building, the Memorial Garden is an exploration of Voronoi tessellation, which can be thought of as a geometrical tool used to understand the physical constraints binding the organisation of biological tissues, natural structures and geological forms (such as honeycombs, the giants causeway and the packing structure of corn). The Memorial Garden is a physical representation of how human research is allowing us to understand these innate, natural geometric rules. 

 

The Memorial Garden's paving pulls away from the formal, rectangular layout of the existing paving, disintegrating into a series of irregular convex polygons, closely reflecting the tensions within natural fragmentation patterns, from these tessellating polygons irregular extrusions rise up to form seating. 

The garden will integrate the Laboratory into the heritage site and link the contemporary planting with the original Milner garden and wider site. The plants and trees have be chosen to reflect both the terracotta cladding and the detailing of the nearby Barry building. 

The designer of the garden, Rachel Reynolds is a long-time local resident who has been a multi-disciplinary 3D designer and public artist and maker for over twenty years. Rachel has recently expanded her practise into garden design, graduating from the London College of Garden Design as Top Student 2016. Designing the Memorial Garden for the College enabled Rachel to integrate her previous experience of designing furniture for the public realm within the design of the garden 

Dulwich College welcomes Bailey

Pupils at Dulwich College were happy to welcome the latest member to their community, 12 week old Bailey, a chocolate cockapoo. Bailey will accompany his owner, Boarding House Matron Caroline Fairhall. Already he has settled quickly into College life enjoying lots of visits from pupils and members of staff alike. It's already agreed that Bailey is a 'people person' who enjoys nothing more than being fussed over when the boarding house is full and taking a nap when things are quiet. Fortunately for the Dulwich community, Caroline is happy to share the wellbeing benefits of having Bailey around and he is available for walks and cuddles. 

Resident Artist’s exhibition Interview (prototype)

Dulwich College are delighted to have Harrison Pearce as resident artist with his new work Interview (prototype). The focus of the exhibition is a large kinetic sculpture and sound installation, which has been developed in an ongoing collaboration with composer Nico Muhly. 

Pearce’s work is constructed around philosophical ideas that look at the mind, body, language and experience. His practice combines a wide range of approaches to orchestrate a single piece. The work in this show involves carving, engineering, coding, wiring, prosthetics and sewing. The sum of these parts is an immersive and theatrical installation, which takes its inspiration from radiography and medicine. 

For information on workshops and talks please contact Director of Art and DT Sue Mulholland Mulhollandsm@dulwich.org.uk 

Dulwich College appoints two new Deputies

 

Dulwich College is delighted to announce the appointment of two new deputies; Fiona Angel, Deputy Master Pastoral at Dulwich College and Hazel Younger, Deputy Head of Dulwich College Junior School. Fiona Angel, an alumna of Sydenham High School for Girls GDST joined Dulwich over seven years ago as teacher of D&T and more recently held the role of Head of Curriculum & Learning. Hazel Younger joins the College from Channing Junior School in North London where she was Director of Studies. 

 

‘Grease is the word’ according to pupils from Dulwich College and JAGS

Pupils from Dulwich College and JAGS, James Allen’s Girls’ School, joined forces to stage a truly joyous production. A formidable company of 70 actors, musicians and crew from years 10 to 13 created an unforgettable performance. 

 

Photo by Nobby Clarke
Photo by Nobby Clarke

Praise has been high for a show that was sold out for every performance and for which a matinee was added ‘’Terrific show with top performances from all of them and enough kinetic energy to power a small town! Fantastic’’ commented a member of the audience. With stupendous singing, fantastic dance routines and dazzling costumes, the show delighted audiences and gave the cast an opportunity to shine, benefitting from encouragement and mentoring and, providing them with an unforgettable experience. 

Professor Lord Winston and the Director of National Gallery open The Laboratory at Dulwich College

Dulwich College was delighted to be joined by Professor Lord Winston and Gabriele Finaldi, Director of The National Gallery, who officially opened The Laboratory, a new landmark building at Dulwich College, home to the Sciences and a venue for the Arts. Also present were chief architect Jolyon Brewis from Grimshaw Architects and sculptor Peter Randall-Page RA, who designed The Laboratory’s exterior panels, comprising almost 15,000 tiles. 

New Exhibition at The Globe uses the Seven Deadly Sins as its theme

The Archives at Dulwich College hold a wealth of theatrical artefacts dating back to the time of William Shakespeare, some of which are now on loan to the Globe and form part of an exhibition, Henslowe’s Rose, Theatrical Treasures from Dulwich College.

The new exhibition which runs until the end of June, uses the seven deadly sins as its theme and intertwines each sin with the story of Philip Henslowe’s Rose Theatre. The exhibition celebrates the 400th anniversary of the deaths of William Shakespeare and Philip Henslowe, father in law of Edward Alleyn. It was Alleyn who took on the management of his father in law’s theatres and also began building his ‘College’ at Dulwich. Not only is 1616 a momentous year for English drama, this was the year that Christ’s Chapel in the heart of Dulwich Village, was completed and consecrated. Dulwich College has chosen this year to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Christ’s Chapel and Henslowe’s death with a range of events, of which this exhibition is one. These will all lead up to the celebrations already in the planning process of the College’s quatercentenary in 2019.

The exhibition at The Globe runs until 29 June, 2016.

http://www.dulwich.org.uk/college/news-detail/2016/05/17/theatrical-treasures-from-dulwich- college-archives-now-on-display-at-shakespeare-s-globe 

 

Dulwich College pupil awarded first place at the Amnesty International Poetry Awards 2016

Year 13 pupil, Yusuf Tarajia, attended the 2016 Amnesty Youth Awards as a finalist in the Poetry strand. He enjoyed a poetry workshop with the poet Eleanor Carter and at the ceremony his poem, ‘Bad Guys’, was singled out for praise by the adjudicators and by Amnesty International Director, Kate Allan. Yusuf’s poem was awarded first place. 

 

Success for joint Dulwich College and Sydenham High Teams at Young Enterprise Central London and East London Finals

‘Seedling’ a team of students from Dulwich College and Sydenham High triumphed at the Central London final of the Young Enterprise 'Company of the Year' competition. In what has been Dulwich’s most successful ever competition; 'Seedling' beat seven other teams to go through to the prestigious London final in June. Luke Henderson, Dmitry Rusanov and Marco Verdino from Dulwich College, along with Nerea Asua Lowe and Ella Bright from Sydenham High School greatly impressed the judges with their innovative product and fantastic branding. The team came away with the award for Best Company in Central London, as well as the Berwin Leighton Pasiner Social Impact Award, thanks to the strong environmental ethos of their company. 

In the East London Finals, Dulwich College and Sydenham High School represented by team ‘Illuminated’ walked away with two of the five awards. Illuminated, represented by Robert Power, Oscar Owen, Sam Groves, Phoebe Proctor and Greta Holmes, against tough competition the team won prizes for Best Interview and Trade Stand, and the Old Mutual Green Award. Their organic soy wax candles in recycled containers really impressed the judges, as did their socially responsible plans for expansion - outsourcing production to local people who are looking for flexible work following unemployment. The judges commented on how impressed they were with the students' professionalism, and how well the two schools worked together. 

 

Edward Alleyn’s Gift: The Foundation Schools’ Concert

Verdi Pater Noster & Requiem 

It was a remarkable performance in so many ways. Dr William McVicker is organist for the Royal Festival Hall and knows thing or two about choral performance in his capacity as Director of Music for St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich. The sheer spectacle of the 450 performers hit him first: 

“Surely this must have been one of the largest choirs ever to have sung at London’s Royal Festival Hall — the singers spilled out from the choir stalls beneath the majestic pipework of the concert organ on to the auditorium's terraces, enveloping the orchestral sound with a lush and rich choral texture.” 

Hundreds of adult and child performers working together, led by three accomplished Directors of Music in a vivid display of the musical talent of the three schools. Edward Alleyn would be proud of his legacy. We are thrilled to have been part of the celebration of his Foundation 400 years ago – gloriously theatrical music, confidently performed in a huge arena. 

It felt like living in the music. As the Dies Irae thundered out from the stage, trumpets rang out antiphonally from the boxes creating a dazzling sound world. No wonder heads were turning in amazement. 

 

Afterwards the professional soloists echoed the audience’s enthusiastic response. Two of the youngest musicians had this to say: 

Jeanette: The choirs sounded amazing. There were so many people and the balance of voices was brilliant. In the 1st movement all the voices come in canon, which was quite powerful. 

Betania: The soloists’ voices portrayed the emotion of the piece really well. 

Jeanette: The beginning of the Dies Irae is extremely difficult to play, but we supported each other and in the easier, slower movements we could focus on the detail. 

Betania: I really enjoyed the liveliness of the piece. When the parts all came together it sounded really wonderful. This piece is great in so many ways – some parts are challenging and some are calm and settled. I was really excited. It was once in a lifetime opportunity and I feel so lucky. 

Souvenir programmes £5 are still available through Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS/proceeds to the Save the children Fund Syria Appeal 

Writer and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank visits Dulwich College to deliver the fourth lecture of the GE Moore Lecture Series

 

 

Over 200 boys, parents, staff and local residents turned out last night to hear writer, art historian and broadcaster Dan Cruickshank, explore the world of the Barry and Scott architectural dynasties in the 150th year of Charles Barry Jnr’s ‘New College at Dulwich’. Central to his theme was Barry’s use of ‘fusion’ architecture at time when authenticity and gothicism were the dominant influences of the age. The lecture took place in the Great Hall, and the Boardroom and Masters’ Library were also open for viewing.

This was the fourth lecture in the College’s 400th anniversary series and as part of the evening, visitors were invited to the exhibition held in the Wodehouse Library celebrating the 150th anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New College at Dulwich. On display were architectural plans and drawings, etchings, prints and photographs as well as an architectural model and pieces of terracotta.

In addition there were six podcasts recorded by members of staff discussing various buildings at the College. The Archive Podcast project, which started in 2010, aims to promote the College’s 400-year history by asking experts and enthusiasts to talk about an object, building or theme that is of importance in the history of Dulwich College.

The next GE Moore Lecture will be held on 24 May when Professor Grace Ioppolo will examine how Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn helped invent English early modern theatre. Tickets are £10, available from lectureseries@dulwich.org.uk

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Lady Sainsbury unveils Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) by Conrad Shawcross RA in The Laboratory at Dulwich College

On 18 January, the Master, Dr Joseph Spence, was delighted to celebrate the unveiling of Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) by Conrad Shawcross, an interdisciplinary collaboration between the artist and pupils of the Art and Science Societies at Dulwich College. The project is graciously sponsored by The Linbury Trust, established by Lord and Lady Sainsbury in 1973 to support a wide variety of causes, including the arts, education and welfare. 

More than 150 well-wishers gathered in James Caird Hall of The Laboratory, the College’s home for Science and the Arts. Lady Sainsbury spoke movingly about her connection to Dulwich College. Her uncle, Charles Alexander ‘Alick’ Hamilton (known to many boys as “Hammy"), spent the whole of his teaching career as a master at Dulwich College from 1925-63, and served as Housemaster of Ivyholme from 1944-1953. While a student at the Royal Ballet, the young Anya Linden, now Lady Sainsbury, spent many a happy weekend with her aunt, uncle and her female cousins in Ivyholme. Anya recalled her uncle’s sense of humour and his gentle request that the girls not play tennis while the boys were trying to revise. Anya quoted from an Alleynian article written upon Alick’s retirement, which celebrated his “serene, quite manner” and the “happy home” he created for his boys. He was “a fine schoolmaster in the fullest sense of the word,” and it is most fitting that the sculpture which acts as a centrepiece of our newest school building celebrates fine teaching and pastoral care, which have long defined the Dulwich experience.

The Master thanked Lord Turnbull, Fellow and former Chair of the Governors, and the Rt. Hon Peter Riddell OA, current chair of the Governors, for their faith in this project. The bold undertaking of constructing a landmark, £21.7m building for Science and the Arts has been made possible by significant funding from the endowment, and generous philanthropic support from OAs, parents, past parents, College staff, trusts, foundations and friends of the College.

Conrad Shawcross RA also has deep connections to Dulwich, as his grandfather, Hartley Shawcross, served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the College from 1959 to 1972. In 2012 Conrad was commissioned by Southwark Council to create a sculpture for Dulwich Park, and he kindly agreed to work with Dulwich pupils on a new work for The Laboratory. The finished work reflects the notion of a paradigm shift, making it emblematic of the audacity of imagination that has often jolted scientific enquiry forward and that will be fostered within The Laboratory at Dulwich College. 

Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) unveiled
Exploded Paradigm (Inverted) unveiled

Conrad reflected on his experience working with Dulwich pupils, stating, “I attended public school, and I thought I knew what to expect of the boys here.” He went on to explain that Dulwich boys do not fit the stereotype. They are not privileged or entitled; he found them to be clever and hardworking. “There’s something about this place that gives that to them.” Conrad also shared some of his inspiration for the work, ranging from Stephen Hawking to Buckminster Fuller to Watson and Crick. The Laboratory itself has been conceived by Grimshaw Architects as a ‘porous’ building, which collapses the false demarcation between the ‘two cultures’ of the Arts and the Sciences. Embodying the symbiotic relationship between creativity and discovery, the Shawcross sculpture has been designed to complement the spirit of endurance proudly represented by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s James Caird lifeboat, which is displayed at the heart of the James Caird Hall. 

Guests also had the opportunity to take a preview tour of Phase 2 of The Laboratory, which will house three further science labs, the George Farha Auditorium and five suites for Informatics. Phase 2 is scheduled to complete 20 June 2016 and will be open for student use in Michaelmas Term 2016. Thanks to the 1,266 Alleynians from around the world and across the generations who have donated to The Laboratory, the College has nearly reached our ambitious fundraising goal of £5.9m.

The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell CBE, Lord Sainsbury KG, Lady Sainsbury, Conrad Shawcross RA and Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College
The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell CBE, Lord Sainsbury KG, Lady Sainsbury, Conrad Shawcross RA and Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College
Dulwich pupil to represent England at The World Schools Debating Championships 2016

Dulwich Pupil, Kenza Wilks, has been selected to be the team Captain for this competition which will take place in Stuttgart this July. This is the most prestigious debating competition in the world featuring some of the most skilled orators and thinkers of his generation. Dulwich College has an established history of debating, which in turn encourages and supports its pupils to take part in Local and National debating competitions and is fortunate to have one of its pupils on Team England for the past four years. The English-Speaking Union, which organises Team England believes that the team will continue England’s proud history of success at the competition. To date, England have made it to the knockout rounds every year since the competition began and have reached the finals ten times, winning it on four occasions. 

 

Edward Alleyn’s Gift: The Foundation Schools’ Concert Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, 16 March 2016

 

The three Dulwich Foundation Schools Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS will come together on 16 March 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Christ’s Chapel of God’s Gift at Dulwich. 

Over 450 pupils, alumni, teachers, parents and members of the local community will perform Verdi’s choral masterpiece, the Requiem Mass at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. They will be joined by internationally recognised soloists Jane Irwin (Soprano), Louise Callinan (Mezzo Soprano), David Butt Philip (Tenor) and Rodney Earl Clarke, Old Alleynian (Bass). 

Verdi’s Requiem is a masterpiece of late 19th century composition and the programme will also include Verdi’s Pater Noster which will be performed by all those singing and playing. The concert will be conducted by the three Directors of Music: Mr Chris Dearmer, Mr Richard Mayo and Mr Peter Gritton.

Christ’s Chapel in Dulwich was consecrated in 1616 by George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, as part of the Dulwich College foundation. Edward Alleyn built his College of God’s Gift on Dulwich Green and since then the Chapel has been a place of worship for the local community and for the three Dulwich Schools of the Foundation; Alleyn’s, Dulwich College and JAGS. 

The Heads of the three Foundation Schools, Dr Gary Savage of Alleyn’s, Dr Joe Spence of Dulwich College, and Sally-Anne Huang of JAGS, anticipate this wonderful occasion will be an opportunity for the wider communities of the three schools to come together and celebrate in music. All are welcome and tickets are available through Southbank Centre.

Comedian Henning Wehn, brings the house down at the end of Dulwich College Symposium

BBC journalist Justin Webb, Kwasi Kwarteng, MP and comedian Henning Wehn headed the bill on 1 October for a day packed full of enquiry, discussion and debate on the theme of 'Us & Them'. The Upper School Symposium, held every October, is Dulwich College’s flagship academic day for all boys in the Lower and Upper Sixth forms. This year, the day was opened by Kwasi Kwarteng, who offered his thoughts on integration, political correctness and history teaching in our schools, as well as engaging in discussion about the current migration crisis, with sixth-formers offering a range of probing questions from the floor. Journalist and author Justin Webb, shared his fascinating personal insights into American politics, as well as discussing the future of journalism in a world where the formerly clear divisions between news-gatherers and the public are becoming increasingly blurred. All Upper School boys also attended two seminars or workshops, choosing from the 34 on offer, their subjects ranging from criminal psychology and caricature to feminism and contemporary film. Several seminars were given by sixth formers themselves, individually, or in collaboration with teachers. The Symposium was rounded off in style by Henning Wehn, self-styled comedy ambassador for Tooting, whose ‘vorsprung durch slapstick’ approach to the ‘us and them’ of Anglo-Teutonic relations provided both food for thought, and belly-laughs aplenty. This was a day which will surely be remembered for years to come by all involved!

Dulwich Inventive Week

From DNA construction to speaking with the astronauts; a celebration of Science at Dulwich College
During this term, Dulwich College celebrated all that it does scientifically and creatively for one unforgettable week. Dulwich Inventive was driven by the imagination of boys and teachers thinking beyond the confines of individual disciplines, with every pupil in the school being involved in some way – from DUCKS’ liquids workshops to the Upper School’s Fame Lab Finals. During Dulwich Inventive, boys heard from over 25 visiting speakers and scientists and worked with them in a variety of workshops and interactive sessions. Visitors included Sir Robert Winston, Dr Lewis Hartnell and Dr Hugh Hunt. The Enigma Machine from Bletchley Park was at the College for a day and the College was delighted to host the first exhibition of Henry Fraser OA (2008-11) as he made his well-publicised venture into painting. Departments hijacked time, space and events throughout the week. Every pupil was engaged in code-breaking activity, with a new clue being released each day. They became masters of spin, creating paintings while learning about centrifugal force in art lessons; launched paper aeroplanes in DT at 80 miles per hour from the top of The Laboratory; and in Religion & Theology asked whether scientists could put their trust in God. Visits were arranged throughout the week to see performances and visit museums, to attend workshops and participate in experiments such as making Elephant toothpaste, projectile volcanoes and experimenting with chemi-luminescence. While the primary focus was to engage pupils, the College also involved parents, former pupils and students from local schools were invited to see the Science telescope at our star-gazing event and to engage with astronaut Shannon Walker via our live satellite connection on NASA night. Mr Damian King, Director of Science at Dulwich College, said of the event ‘’A successful week that got pupils thinking about the links between Science and the Arts, Dulwich Inventive represented inspiring, challenging and active learning at its best’’.
 

Dulwich College welcomes Australian Rugby Squad

 

As an official Team Base, Dulwich College is delighted to welcome Rugby World Cup Squad Australia.  Pupils formed a welcoming Guard of Honour this morning as the team arrived on the College campus.  Dulwich College is hosting Australia until 12 October during which time they will play England this Saturday 3 October at Twickenham and Wales on Saturday 10 October.

The College is delighted and proud to have been selected as one of the approved Team Bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015.  As well as an opportunity to showcase its sports facilities, this is also a wonderful opportunity to see some of rugby’s greats in training; the lasting legacy will be to celebrate the game and inspire future generations of players.  

Dulwich College has a strong history of producing some of the Country’s finest sportsmen, including rugby internationals David Flatman and Andrew Sheridan.  Nick Easter, also an Old Alleynian, who has captained for England, has been selected for the England squad in this Saturday’s game at Twickenham. 

 

The Pavilion and 1st XV pitch will be dedicated during this period to the RWC team, secured and fenced off, and during selected times the Australian Squad will have use of the Swimming Pool, Sports Hall and Weights Room. Hunts Slip Road will have fencing to prevent media cameras obtaining sight of the training pitch.  The use of facilities has been arranged to ensure minimum disruption to games activities and College fixtures have been planned accordingly.
 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 (in England and Wales) runs until to 31 October with 20 countries competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.

 

www.dulwich.org.uk/college/sport/rugby-world-cup-2015-dulwich-college-q-a

 
Webb Ellis Trophy comes to Dulwich College
The boys at Dulwich College were thrilled when the Webb Ellis Cup visited the College as part of its 100 day tour ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The prestigious cup was delivered by a 12 strong team from the RWC committee.
 
To tie in with the occasion, the Year 8 boys played a mini tournament and were then invited to stand alongside the Cup for photographs.
 
The College is delighted and very proud to have been selected as one of the approved Team Bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015. Later this month, it will host the Australian and Romanian teams during their training sessions. As well as this wonderful opportunity to see some of rugby’s greats in training, the lasting legacy will be to celebrate the game and inspire future generations of players.
 
Overseas Scholarship success for Dulwich College boys
 
Dulwich College is delighted to announce that four of its Sixth Form boys have been awarded undergraduate Scholarships to study in North America. 
Przemyslaw Macholak has been awarded a grant from the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, for undergraduate study on the prestigious Huntsman Business Programme, for which only 40 are given each year. Przemyslaw will also receive financial support from several organisations which will allow him to follow a joint degree in Business and International Relations together with German. 
Zak Siepman has been awarded a scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at the Southern Methodist University in Texas. 
Luke Connor received an outstanding ten offers to study overseas and has accepted a soccer scholarship to study at Young Harris College in Georgia. 

Anamay Viswanathan will also join an elite group of global scholars, having accepted the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship. Awarded to only around 50 students from across the world each year, this is a tremendous achievement for the Dulwich College school captain.

Dulwich College holds their annual Symposium

DULWICH COLLEGE held their fifth annual Symposium on Thursday 9 October; comedian Jo Brand, political cartoonist Martin Rowson and poet Chris McCabe provided Upper School boys with plenty of food for thought. The Symposium aims to foster boys' intellectual interests through an offtimetable day of interdisciplinary enquiry; the theme for this year was Power.

Responding with refreshing frankness to boys' questions, on subjects ranging from her work as a psychiatric nurse to her views on comedy, free speech, censorship and feminism, Jo Brand demonstrated her deeply-held beliefs about the importance of challenging prejudice, pride and power in the world around us. Later in the day, top political cartoonist Martin Rowson discussed a range of his scathingly satirical work. Chris McCabe contributed to both sessions, reading a selection of his work, which provided a thought-provoking commentary on the power of the media, the horrifying disempowerment experienced by many on the day of the July London bombings, and finally, on the power of literature.

In addition to the keynote speeches, the boys attended two seminars chosen from a selection offered by twenty-nine teachers - a great opportunity for boys to hear their teachers speak about the subjects about which they are most passionate and knowledgeable, free from the constraints of the curriculum.