Educational Partnerships – Dulwich College

The Master of Dulwich College, Dr Joe Spence and Dr Cameron Pyke, Deputy Master External, discuss the school’s prolific engagement with local schools and community and the benefits that brings to all involved.

How would you describe your approach to educational partnerships?

Joe: We are delighted to have an extensive partnerships programme embracing primary and secondary schools, teacher training, and support for the community. Our consultative approach aims to match a partner’s needs to our strengths, and our teams set high expectations for achievement and sustainability, hoping our experiences can serve as a model of national best practice.

Can you share some examples of your primary partnership activities?

Cameron: We have a strong relationship with Dulwich Wood Primary School, and our regular activities include weekly music lessons, which this year led to a wonderful O2 performance at Young Voices, and sports, science, and swimming lessons. In addition, at Saturday Science School Year 5 pupils from 11 Southwark schools are introduced to practical laboratory Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and at Creative School pupils learn ceramics, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, painting and DT. Our partnership with Tulse Hill and Dulwich Hockey Club provides free weekly hockey. coaching including facilities and equipment

And can you tell us about how you work with the secondary school sector?

Joe: As part of our City Heights partnership, our educational partner since 2013, a maths teacher is seconded weekly and Year 13 students mentor KS3 pupils; we hold practical-based science in the College’s laboratories for Year 8 pupils; Year 10 City Heights Portuguese speakers teach Dulwich students as part of their Language Leaders Award; and Year 7 pupils join sports lessons.

SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) offers career changers and recent graduates the opportunity to train as a teacher to join state and independent schools; Dulwich is the lead training school for Modern Languages, Mathematics and Physics and over the past five years we have trained over 100 new teachers.

Dulwich is proud to be a founding member of and contributor to the activities of Southwark Schools Learning Partnership, an alliance of 18 state and independent schools across Southwark and beyond whose pupils and staff share ideas, resources and facilities and learn from each other as equal partners.

In addition, Dulwich staff hold 33 positions of governorship or trusteeship, enriching outcomes through shared learning and skills. Cameron, for example, is Vice Chair of E-ACT, a national multi-academy trust whose social mission and holistic ethos parallel ours.

And what sort of links do you have with the community?

Cameron: Dulwich pupils engage weekly in 45 volunteering opportunities and on our annual Service Day 800+ pupils volunteer at schools, care homes, foodbanks, centres for disadvantaged children, and environmental projects. Joe: We are delighted to share our facilities and welcome hundreds of local pupils to view our archives and the James Caird, the explorer Ernest Shackleton’s famous lifeboat. We are our strongest when we learn together.