Dulwich college

[westerngirl]

Has anyone a boy at Dulwich junior school and what do they think of it?

Anybody at all?

Afraid that everyone I know opts for DCPS instead, sorry. The parents I know at DCPS are very happy with it. I guess that if you were certain that you wanted your son at DC and no other school at 13, then the junior school would be the obvious choice though. But when they're 6 or 7 that is a big decision to make, especially with change of head etc.

Thanks for your reply. Why do parents opt for DCPS instead of Dulwich junior? Is this positively for DCPS or negative against Dulwich junior.

Is change of head remark due to uncertainty about future or present dynamic of school?

DCPS is an academic prep school which will prepare boys for a number of senior schools, including Westminster, St Pauls, KCS, Eton, Tonbridge etc as well of course for Dulwich College. and incidentally those boys do seem to get a alrge number of major scholarships. Dulwich College junior department is of course the junior department of Dulwich College. The assumption is that your son will progress through the junior, lower, middle and senior schools at DC, and will not be prepared for admission to other schools.

I think that there was a new head at DC last year - Dr Spence who came from Oakham. A new head brings changes, so I guess some parents with sons the same age as mine may have chosen to not put all their eggs in one basket in case they didn't like the changes that might come.

Thanks again Ladymuck. What do you think of boys only schools. Are they tougher for a more sensitive boy?

Also, is Dulwich College regarded a good school and are there other ways of preparing boys for entry to other senior schools.

Is St Dunstans well regarded?

It depends on the boys and their cohorts. Both my sons started boys only 4-13 schools at 4, but I removed one of them and he is now at a 2-11 co-ed school. They are both thriving. Whilst I'm not certain about which senior schools they will go to, then will probably remain in single-sex and co-ed respectively, but it is still early days.

In terms of removing one child but not the other, the school was particularly sporty (which suited my older son) whereas my younger son is young in his yeargroup as well as small for his age, and not particularly sporty. There were a number of his cohort who were more boisterous than usual.

DCPS is an oversubscribed selective school, so I don't think that the same issues would necessarily apply.

Is Dulwich College a good school? Yes. But there are plenty of other good senior schools out there (as well as scholarships on offer:)).

I don't think that you can easily apply for a different senior school from DC junior school. They don't do common entrance. And most senior schools would look for a headmaster's report from a prep school, which would probably not be forthcoming? The boys move from the junior school to the lower school at 11 and then it is an automatic feed to the middle school at 13.

Information much appreciated.

Are the independent junior schools around Dulwich all fairly ok?

Are they very difficult to secure a place in? What are the good co-eds? Want an academic school that will stretch. However I also want a pastoral balance. Somewhere that rounds/grounds.

the only junior co-ed I know anything about in Dulwich is Alleyn's - I had a look round for dd but decided against as it's just a little too far for us, but it looked good and I know plenty of kids at the senior school

it is competitive to get into, but as far as I remember the 4+ assessment was play-based and the 7+ wasn't too formal

once they're in, they're pretty much guaranteed transfer to the senior school at 11, which is a big bonus as getting into Alleyn's at 11+ and 13+ is a bit of a lottery

however, there are a lot of very rich kids there, and I'm not sure if it would 'round and ground' It is much less socially and ethnically mixed than places like JAGS and DC and certainly the Croydon schools

ds knows a couple of kids at DC junior and loads of boys at DCPS - DCPS seems to be much more academic and generally a bit more 'full-on', which may or may not be a plus for you ...

ds1 goes to an all-boys school which is perfect for him - he's bright, sporty and extrovert. However, shy rather geeky ds2 will be going to a mixed school as I think the atmosphere at ds1's school is a bit too testosterone-fuelled for ds2 ...

Alleyns also has a 9+ exam. However there are not many mixed options in the private sector in the area, and of these Alleyns is the most academic so entry at any stage is problematic. Just ask them for a list of bus routes and you will get an idea of how large the catchment is. (Beckenham to Kensington!)

DCPS is a competitive school which gets astonishing results, academically, musically, sports etc. My guess is that a child entering late would have to be able to hit the ground running.