Prep - Dulwich Prep & Senior
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Prep & Senior
Nursery & Reception
Pre-Prep
Prep
Senior
Prep
Lower School: Years 4, 5 and 6
In Lower School, we continue to identify and support the development of each boy’s natural strengths and talents, and pupils may be found writing a script ready to edit and present or carrying out a science investigation. You might also encounter a choir rehearsal, rugby practice in full flow, a pupil curled up with a book in the Library, or a lively philosophical debate.
The class teacher or form tutor looks after our children pastorally, and in Year 4, the class teacher teaches most subjects. From this secure base, our pupils branch out to experience the variety of opportunities and resources the school offers, with specialist Sports, Drama, Music, Art, Design Technology, Computing and Modern Foreign Languages tuition.
Most Lower School pupils will learn to play a musical instrument and so be able to enjoy playing in one of the many musical groups, from the Strings Ensemble to Junior Voices.
As boys move to Year 5, we continue to develop their independence and encourage them to assume greater responsibility for themselves, their possessions, and their work. Our pupils are challenged to pursue excellence while embracing the full range of facilities and opportunities that Dulwich Prep & Senior offers. It is an exciting time filled with confidence and anticipation.
Pupils receive lessons from subject specialist teachers across the curriculum. A more comprehensive range of academic subjects is taught in sets to recognise every individual’s strengths. Pupils continue to use their iPads and take greater responsibility for using them as a tool to support their learning. Preparation for various senior school 13+ pre-tests or 11+ tests in Year 6 is carefully balanced in the curriculum.
Our pupils delight in opportunities to represent their Legend or the school in sporting fixtures and begin to hone their natural strengths inside and outside the classroom. We support and encourage them in this process as they prepare to transition to Middle School.
Ultimately, we aim to have confident and well-rounded pupils. The school values are central to all we do, and our pupils are regularly celebrated for demonstrating them.
Middle School: Years 7 and 8
Middle School comprises Years 7 & 8, which for some pupils will be their final years at Dulwich Prep & Senior. Fantastic opportunities await them as they become role models and lead our values ethos across the rest of the prep school.
Building on the independence fostered in Lower School, we encourage pupils in the Middle School to take on responsibility for all aspects of the school experience. There is also an expectation that pupils are now self-motivated in giving back to the community and initiating whole-school charitable activities.
We have a programme for boys to mentor younger pupils and assist with or lead clubs and activities in other school sections. Middle School pupils also perform duties that help with the day-to-day running of the school.
Pupils continue to take advantage of the significant breadth of the curriculum and the co-curricular programme offered at Dulwich Prep & Senior. We effectively balance the preparatory nature of this part of our school and ensure that all pupils are academically ready for the external and internal exams that take place in the spring and summer terms of Year 8.
We offer numerous senior sports teams, music groups, and drama opportunities, which we actively encourage our pupils to pursue alongside their studies. In Middle School, pupils continue to have the chance to build on their collection of All-Rounder badges, with one available each year to celebrate their commitment to the broad co-curricular programme. In Years 7 & 8, pupils also enjoy residential trips and enjoy a series of cultural and educational visits, lectures, and projects.
At Dulwich Prep & Senior, to mark the end of their Preparatory journey, whether staying on in our senior section or transitioning to another school, the Year 8 post-exam programme experience is second to none. It includes opportunities to learn and develop new skills and prepare for their transition to senior school.
The journey to date has been personalised, and each pupil has their own pathway to carve. Some may be seeking recognition of excellence through a scholarship or exhibition, and others trying to win a place at one of the excellent local or national schools our children depart to.
Ultimately, we aim to have confident and resilient pupils ready to transition to senior school. Our tailored pastoral and academic support programmes help each pupil progress through this challenging and exciting period. Pupils complete their preparatory schooling at Dulwich Prep & Senior fully equipped for a seamless and happy move to the next stage of their educational journey.