Middle School Life September 2021

Middle School Life September 2021

The Middle School at Dulwich College

Introduction

I am delighted that we have been able to offer your son a place at Dulwich College for this coming September. I hope this booklet will give both you and your son a flavour of life in the Middle School at the College, and that it serves to confirm and enhance your experience of the College - a school where the boys are happy, busy and academically fulfilled. The Middle School years (Years 9-11) are so important when it comes to personal growth and identity. As boys enter into this key stage of their lives, they will be supported by a strong pastoral network, that will ensure boys feel comfortable in their school setting and are ready to explore who it is they are, and who it is they want to become. We strive to deliver a demanding yet interesting curriculum, which gives the boys a chance to think deeply about the world that surrounds them. They will learn to listen to diverse views, knowing that we often learn the most from listening to and engaging with those with whom we think we have least in common. We help boys develop outside the classroom, encouraging them to partake fully in the wide variety of co-curricular activities on offer at the College. But most importantly, we make sure that every boy feels safe, secure and supported, so that he can learn to the very best of his ability. I look forward to meeting you and your son over the coming months, be it at College concerts, plays, sporting fixtures or around the campus and helping him become the best version of himself possible as he moves through the College Having joined the College in Year 9, some twenty years ago, I know first- hand how wonderful the Middle School years are, and am committed to giving your son the very best experience possible during his time in the Middle School.

Sameer Tanna Head of Middle School

 We believe that it is important to encourage scholarship and intellectual curiosity, and many academic societies exist at Dulwich to develop boys’ interests (there are, for example, two History Societies). A Scholars’ Programme runs for all boys - activities can be seen on the ‘Thinkers’ Hub’ on the College intranet (to which boys and parents will be given access in September). This introduces boys to different academic approaches, encourages them to discuss ideas beyond the curriculum and to enter national competitions. All boys study two languages in Year 9 (this may include Latin). First Languages are Spanish or French and Second Languages are Latin, German, Spanish, French or Chinese, the latter five all starting Year 9. Over 60% of boys take at least two languages at either IGCSE or GCSE and some boys take three. Annually the College runs around 16 language trips/exchanges across all year groups and languages and more than 20 boys enter the Linguistics Olympiad. The College runs two IGCSE science courses (Dual and Separate Award) and alongside these are various Middle School competitions so that boys can expand their knowledge and demonstrate their understanding beyond the curriculum. The Laboratory, has a lecture hall, IT informatics rooms and 18 individual laboratories. Science lessons (four per fortnight for each Science) have a strong practical focus, allowing boys to gain valuable practical and problem solving skills.

Curriculum and Scholarship

Year 9 is the last year in which boys study all subjects before embarking on their IGCSEs (or GCSEs for a few remaining subjects). Most subjects are now IGCSE, including most languages and the sciences. • For IGCSE all boys must study English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, a Language and Science (mostly at Separate Award) • They then choose three more subjects from the Options List, such as History, Geography, Art, Music, Drama, D&T and Chinese. At the heart of the College is the Wodehouse Library. Last term 5,000 items were loaned to boys, making it a vibrant place which attracts, on average, over 800 visits every day.

“I have really settled in well at the College, thanks to friends and teachers alike. The level of care is superb.”

Structure of Year 9

A key part of Year 9 at Dulwich College is that we want boys to feel settled and confident about being both at the College generally, and specifically in the Middle School. To that end, we do the following: • We mix the 100 boys who join the College in Year 9 with the 120 boys who come up from our Lower School in order that each form has around one third new boys and two thirds Lower School boys; • We timetable the boys so that most subjects are taught by form. The boys will get to know each other well, and, through following a common timetable, travel round the school together.

Helping Boys Settle

• All parents are sent information about the College prior to their son’s arrival here, including details of: • Friday 3 September 2021 - Induction Afternoon. After a talk by Mr Tanna and the Head of Year 9, boys have lunch with their tutors, visit their form rooms and have a tour round the College. • Monday 6 September 2021 - Start of Michaelmas Term. • Monday 13 September 2021 - Team Building Day and Barbeque . All Year 9 boys take part in a range of activities, helping them get to know the other boys in their Day House. • Wednesday 15 September 2021 - a Social Evening for parents with an opportunity to meet their son’s Form Tutor and Head of Year 9, as well as the other parents from their son’s form. • Upper School Mentors or Buddies to give boys an opportunity to chat to an Alleynian who has come up through the Middle School.

“The Scholars’ programme is a good brain work-out.”

Pastoral Care

Form Tutors are there to support, guide, engage with and encourage their tutees, and will often be in close contact with a boy’s parents. Boys will have one Form Tutor in Year 9, and another for their two years of GCSE. Each form has approximately 22 boys, and the Tutor will usually teach the boys one of their subjects. There is also a Year Head who is in overall charge of all the boys in any one year group.

“I have really enjoyed the experience of the Middle School and the transition period has been smooth and trouble free.”

“I like the amazing library, especially the periodicals room.”

“I have enjoyed the skills of precision teamwork and endurance that rowing has brought.”

Art

Art at Dulwich College aims to develop the visual literacy of all pupils, to enliven the academic life of the College in ways that exist beyond the art studios. Art exhibitions are central to a student’s development, these being a combination of student shows and practising artists’ work, providing the vital wider cultural ‘free learning’ that highly ambitious students crave, challenging students to problem solve, be flexible and take-risks. GCSE Art at Dulwich College is challenging but, above all, provides boys with the platform to not only learn how to work independently but to discover there is never only one answer. The answer cannot be found in a worksheet, cannot be downloaded, will not be found in past papers, will only exist because they want it to exist. The department strives to ensure our exciting curriculum and diverse co-curricular enrichment opportunities have a wide appeal. Art allows students to go on a journey into unknown territories, to discover a passion and niche within the world of cultural possibility, in turn helping them to gain confidence in their ability to create and problem solve. We support the idea that while many of our students will go on to Art Colleges, Design courses and Architecture, what we want our students to do is use the subject to learn skills that are transferable in a wide range of professions, to make them ready in an ever-changing world, to prepare them to challenge, change and to be prepared to never stop learning.

Sport

On entering the College, pupils will find they are at the heart of the Games and PE programmes. Our aim is to unlock every boy’s potential through exposure to a range of experiences and opportunities, and increase their understanding of why physical activity plays such an important role in their development as people. From Year 9 boys are able to choose from a number of options, such as rugby, hockey, rowing and cross country. These options increase as pupils progress through the College. The programme is supported by a wide range of fixtures, providing numerous opportunities for boys of varying abilities to represent the College. In addition, pupils have a timetabled PE programme running through the Middle School. This underpins their physical literacy skills, giving them an understanding of how their bodies work, setting physical goals to keep them motivated and improving their knowledge of training methods. There are also further opportunities for pupils to participate in a wide range of sporting activities as part of the co-curricular programme, such as badminton, cycling and water polo. All boys in Year 9 are encouraged to get involved. We recognise that sport has a positive impact on our boys’ well-being, provides opportunities to develop socially, and can be a welcome change in focus from academic endeavours. Our goal is to provide a high quality sporting experience leading to a lifetime involvement in some form of physical activity.

“The arts define our culture our identity and our national conversation.” Sir Peter Bazalgette OA

Music A comprehensive range of musical opportunities are available to all the boys. Some 650 individual music lessons are given on a weekly basis and most boys who take instrumental and/or singing lessons perform in at least one of the 40 different musical ensembles. These are very varied and include a Symphony Orchestra, Chapel Choir, Big Band, Percussion Ensemble, the Brass Consort, Symphonic Wind Band and numerous Chamber ensembles. A programme of concerts, masterclasses and competitions is organised on a two-year cycle with annual House Music Competitions, Instrumental and Singing Competitions, and a Composition Competition. About 55 boys hold Music Awards and facilities for Music include a sound-proofed “Pod” for the Jazz and Rock bands as well as Percussion and Apple Mac suites.

Drama

In 2019 Dulwich College was awarded Independent School of the Year for the Performing Arts, acknowledging the work and talent of the Drama and Music departments

An appreciation of all things theatrical is part of the Dulwich DNA. Echoing the spirit of their South London ancestors, Middle School boys seize every opportunity to get involved in productions, House competitions and theatre trips. Drama is a popular subject for boys at GCSE and A Level. All boys have a Drama lesson in Year 9, taught as a form throughout the year, which includes dance theatre skills introduced by our Dancer in Residence. Our own, fully equipped, purpose-built theatre is always a hive of activity where practical performance skills as well as techniques associated with production design and stage management are taught. All boys are expected to be confident with basic stagecraft and theatre terminology as well as have a sound grasp of performance analysis. Many boys take LAMDA courses with specialist teachers, and there are fantastic opportunities for boys to develop their interest in the theatre though joint productions with JAGS, occasional workshops with visiting Theatre professionals, and with the National Theatre New Views playwriting project.

In recent years Middle School boys have been involved, as actors and technicians, often in collaboration with girls from JAGS, in a chilling and epic reinvention of Golding’s Lord of the Flies , a dazzling adaption of Wilde’s Dorian Gray , a contemporary re-working of the fabled story of Everyman, and in a specially commissioned piece The Playhouse Apprentice , which was staged at the SamWannamaker Playhouse at the Globe Theatre as part of the Shakespeare quatercentenary celebrations. Our very special Dulwich 400 year, boys in Year 10 and 11 were at the heart of the Olympiad production of Faustus at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and involved with the Upper School productions of Macbeth at Dulwich, and Legally Blonde at JAGS. The College also holds the world’s most important collection of papers relating to the Jacobean Theatre.

by Independent School Parent Magazine.

“I loved singing in the part-song competition; the song we chose was beautiful.”

“It is essential to push and challenge students beyond any preconceived ideas of what it means to ‘do art’; digital-media, plaster and cement casting as well as experimental film are all skills that Alleynians can explore.”

“I’m still on a high from the creativity and talent that abounds in the Edward Alleyn Theatre; it oozes from every nook and cranny and every person connected to it.” [Lesley Sharp [BAFTA and Olivier nominated Best Actress and winner of Screen Actors Guild and British Television Society Awards]

Boarding

The buildings of Old Blew and The Orchard are home to approximately 60 boys, with a healthy mixture of weekly and full boarders. As there is no formal Saturday school, weekly boarding can be exactly that; Monday to Friday. For those who are full boarders, there is a weekend programme of visits and activities. Old Blew and The Orchard has a great family feel to it and has the benefit of a home with fantastic facilities that are ideally suited for boys as they develop physically and intellectually.

‘I love being part of a big, internationally-diverse family.’

Ties 

The College colours are black and blue, and these are used on the standard College tie. Boys, however, can be awarded ties for contributions to activities, such as sport, music or drama, as well as being awarded a tie by the various societies in the College. Collecting a range of such ties is very popular with many boys (there are 89 different ties!) and they are worn with pride.

The Campus

The College benefits from 75 acres of grounds and is surrounded by even more open space in terms of other playing fields, parks, allotments, woods and a golf course. The size and openness of the College allows boys the space to grow up both literally and metaphorically. At the centre of the campus are the iconic Grade II Barry Buildings, which are 150 years old and provide a strong sense of the College’s history, even back to its foundation in 1619. Many boys are very proud of the traditions of the College, and enjoy aiming for their Full Colours blazer as recognition for their service to the College. We have now completed the refurbishment our iconic Grade II* listed Barry Buildings (1870) and our ambitious landscaping plans for the campus. The Laboratory, a home for Science and a venue for the Arts, was the winner of the RIBA London Award 2017.

“One of my favourite things is the amount of ties on offer; this allows boys to express themselves and show what they enjoy doing.”

The House system

The Union

The House system is a very important feature of life in the Middle School. Its aim is to provide a structured format that encourages the personal and social development of all boys through competition in cultural activities and sporting events. There are eight Houses, all named after eminent figures who were friends and acquaintances of our Founder, Edward Alleyn. Each House has a Housemaster who is responsible for encouraging boys to get involved in the House competitions. Boys are expected to attend House meetings which take place on a weekly basis. Each House elects its own House Captain and colours are awarded to boys who make a particular contribution during their time in the Middle School.

The Union of Societies has enabled me to follow my passions and develop new skills, as well as making friends with those who share common interests. The Union is the umbrella organisation which oversees the running of all the College’s Clubs and Societies from Year 9 and above, and for many of the boys this is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a range of activities, some of which are academic, such as Geography, Economics and Biolab societies; and others simply fun, such as Dungeons and Dragons, Dismantling and Astronomy societies. There are also societies that teach boys skills or knowledge that are beyond their normal curriculum, such as Engineers’ club, Coding and Debating societies, or to raise awareness of heated topics in today’s world, such as Sustainability and African & Caribbean societies. There are currently 54 active societies at the College, most meeting at lunchtimes, and some after school. There is a real opportunity for boys to find others who share an interest and grow friendships here at DC.

Community Action

Outward Bound Dulwich

Community Action, open to all from Year 10 and above, and often undertaken as part of a Duke of Edinburgh Award, is a great way of getting involved outside the school. Over 300 boys are involved in more than 45 volunteering projects. These include reading mentors at local primary schools; tutoring at homework clubs and Saturday Schools; visiting and helping residents at a number of local Care Homes; preparing food parcels at the Brixton and West Norwood Foodbank; and helping with gardening in Dulwich Park and West Norwood Cemetery. Volunteers find the activities hugely rewarding; they play an important role in the personal development and wider education of the boys and forge important links with our wider community. Available to pupils in Year 10 upwards, the boys volunteer for approximately an hour each week during the first two school terms.

The College has its own Scout Group, which includes two Troops and an Explorer Unit. It currently has 135 boys and girls and is open to boys and girls from Year 6, including children from other schools. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered by the College from Year 10. There are 250 boys across year 10 and 11 doing the Silver Award. In the Upper School, around 80 boys are currently working towards their Gold Award. Expeditions are currently planned for the New Forest and the Vercors in the French Alps. We also regularly visit the English Lake District. From Year 9 boys can also join the CCF, where we have a Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force section. The Army section is affiliated to the Welsh Guards. Around 200 boys and girls (from JAGS) are in the CCF and take part in a wide variety of activities which include - sailing, flying, leadership and fieldcraft. Along with the many camps and courses on offer, the CCF also run an Arctic Survival Expedition to North Sweden, which takes place at the being of the Easter holidays.

Co-educational Opportunities

The Middle School boys have the opportunity, through Music, Debating, CCF and Drama, to mix with girls from JAGS and, as soon as pandemic restrictions are lifted, more planned joint events will be added to this programme. The Year 10 Collaborative Event with JAGS in the Summer Term involves structured workshops designed to encourage the students to work together to think about and discuss a range of topics.

Careers and the Upper School

All boys receive careers education throughout their Middle School years. This is formalised with aptitude and interest testing at the end of Year 10, which is then revisited during lessons in Wellbeing and individual interviews with external Careers Advisers at the start of Year 11. This helps students to select the right A levels and be aware of the implications for Higher Education courses and beyond. In the Upper School, boys at Dulwich can choose any combination of A level subjects and all receive individual careers guidance. The Careers Department run the Professional Insight Programme to help students learn careers research skills and how to secure insight visits in a wide range of careers areas. We also host an annual Courses and Careers Convention for all students in Year 11 and above. On leaving the College, boys join a network of some 10,000 Old Alleynians, many of whom stay in close touch with the College and are keen to support the current generation of Alleynians.

DULWICH COLLEGE Dulwich Common, London, SE21 7LD Telephone: 020 8299 9255 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dulwich.org.uk Registered Charity No 1150064