Dulwich College

[Bluestockings]

Can anyone opine on how things have changed here since the new head came? It was pretty harsh, by some accouints, under his predecessor - but now?

Thanks!

Harsh? I was never aware of that. I thought it was great before and I still think that now. But my involvement with the school is solely as the parent of a son who could give a clam a run for its money, and we've had very little occasion for contacting the school about anything over the years my son's been there.

Thanks, LondonMother. Glad to read this.

Nephew is in year7 and loving it. Pastoral care is very good I hear.

Becoming more academic imv, website has greater emphasis on standards. And slightly tighter discipline judging from local gossip.

That's very helpful - thanks so much. More welcome!

New head reputed to be more touchy feely tho I have no kids there. When we were there for interview, I was walking down corridor with him and he stopped and had quite a long conversation with a boy about his socks. Afterwords, he apologised and said he is having a tough time looking after a friend at the moment so he needs a bit of extra support. I was impressed.

That is lovely, twoterrors. He sounds super. What about the rest of the staff? I have heard some less heart-warming stuff abt some of the old guard..... Does anyone know?

Feel free to pm me.

A school can only get better with Joe Spence in charge. He worked wonders at Oakham

I've heard very good things about his time at Oakham too.

So have I!

Met Dr Spence the other day at an Open Day. Impossible to really tell from a brief chat over a cup of tea and a Penguin biscuit, particularly as I was very distracted by my excitement to be eating my first Penguin in about 20 years, but I really took to him. Then again, I've often been proved to be a lamentable judge of character...
Terribly happy to see positive comments about him above, as we really liked Dulwich. Now there's just the small matter of getting in. :-(

DS at said school. Jo Spence is brilliant. Everything's better - the academics, the art, the drama, even the sport (if that was possible). Everybody finds something that suits them and it seems that those teachers who have been in areas which were previously less supported e.g. Art, have been given a boost and those teachers who were previously coasting have been given a bit of a kick. All working out for my DS, who's reaping the rewards. Still a few old-fashioned lags with old fashioned ideas, but they'll be gone soon...