DUCKS/DC vs DPL

[dvp2021]

Does anyone have experience they can share of both DPL and DUCKS/DC Junior and maybe even Alleyn's Junior.
I'm especially interested to hear about the experience in the in the age 4-11 wrt to opportunities and exposure in Sports, Drama, Leadership, Computing etc.
From what see and hear, DPL is a great school with brilliant early years section but does the 11/13 + come with an opportunity cost where DS has to take time off from learning to focus on exam prep ? Also, how stressful is that process for both parents and students ?
Being local to the area, we would want DS to go to either Alleyn's /DC for senior school. With an all through offer from DC, we want to take along term view on choosing the primary.

We did DPL and Alleyn’s

• DPL early years is just brilliant. They have added an extra class since we left and it’s pretty big now so best to see whether anyone with current experience can provide more useful info.

Our son also really enjoyed years 1 & 2 and was thriving but like you, we wanted to stay local and moved him at 7+.

We did the 7+ without tutoring or intensive prep - we were conscious that he needed to get in on his own merit otherwise he may struggle to keep up.

Lots of music and sport at Alleyn’s. There is a strings and brass scheme that all children take part in, after school music clubs, concerts, performances. For sports, again lots of lunchtime and after school clubs, regular fixtures and swimming galas. No rugby (unlike DC).
Leadership responsibilities increase as they move through the junior school but in the lower years there see form captains, eco council etc.

I would definitely avoid the 11+ at all costs. Being at a run through school that commits to educating the children they have accepted at 4+ and 7+ is worth its weight in gold. Your son’s and your mental health with thank you for it.
Tutoring is pretty intense in the higher years at DPL and very hard to avoid once you are in that bubble.

Good luck!

If you have a through school offer, and you like the school, go for it. It's always a good idea to avoid the 11+/13+ if you can.

I wouldn't say it was overly stressful at DPL, but it still takes time, energy and money (I bought so many online platform subscriptions!) to get through 11+/13+.

Do note that Ducks doesn't give you automatic entry into DC. I know several children who have been turned down at 7+ in recent years..

@365sleepstogo thanks for your feedback on Alleyn’s and good to know we are not alone in trying to avoid the 11/13+. In fact,we’d like to avoid any further school entrance exams for DS if possible.

@DPLMom we have a deferred offer from DC Junior for DS to start in sep 2025. It’s conditional on DS attending DUCKS for reception, yr 1 & yr 2 though. It’s something new they’ve started this year. We’ll find out more about how it works and what’s needed when we do the Junior school tour later.

From what I’ve heard, feedback of DUCKS is mixed but mostly related to how kids are prepared for 7+. If that’s something we don’t need to worry about then it’s more about relative learning and co-curricular opportunities between DUCKS and DPL.

Ducks does spend time training for the exam, so that’s something to be mindful about. DPL early years are brilliant and play-based so that is something to consider too (but of course prepare for 7+ on your own)

The next thing is to see if you like Alleyns or DC better, your choice may become clear once you figure this out. Both are good schools and you may have to visit both and go by instinct. I liked DC better, but I do generally think boys’ schools suit DC better.

If your priority is avoiding anymore exams and you like Dulwich College it’s a no brainier to select DUCKs.

Ducks has a reputation for being gentler academically compared to the local preps which if you aren’t preparing for exams is IMO a very good thing.

Regarding the co-curricular, there is almost nothing that could exist as a difference between them to turndown a guaranteed place at DC if that’s your long term-aim.

DPL only makes sense if you want keep your options open at 11 and you aren’t 100 percent convinced about DC long-term.

DPL in my view is a fantastic prep but it’s really for parents who if possible would send their boys to Westminster, St Paul’s, a boarding place or who would like Alleyns or another co-Ed option for secondary even though most of them do end up at DC. Also it’s for those who preferred the 11+ relative to the 7+ as DUCKs (historically) didn’t guarantee a place at DC and of course those that didn’t get into DUCKs or DC at the 4+ or 7+

My DS is in Ducks, i love the school but COVID has affected many parents views as we spent a year doing home schooling. So the yr 1 where the DC are getting most of the prep was missed. So on return for yr 2 they have many gaps. Unfortunate as the school is great. Your not guaranteed to get a son into Dulwich College however they are co ed at this stage and they aim to get the DC that is right for them. May not be what the parents want. However they are doing assessments from the minute the kids arrive and your advised of suitable school options at the end of yr 1. The head is linked with other schools and they advise of who they think is suitable. My DS has just sat the online reasoning for Dulwich College Juniors today so we will see if he gets called back. For me on my 7+ visits i absolutely loved DPL, most of the kids end up in DC at 13 + however the rest tend to head to tier 1 schools like westminster, st pauls etc. I can see why parents send DC to DC as once in at juniors they are their until 18 so makes sense

@dvp2021 well done on the little one getting the offer. Have you also had an offer for DPL?
They’ve said they’ll send out offers in January to me.

We’ve had an offer for Ducks and now waiting to see if DC has an offer for DPL!

@theremustonlybeone just wondering if your DS has heard back from the college for the reasoning test?

Mine also did it, but we heard nothing so far, and DS is not from DUCKS.

lovehissmile heard this morning

@theremustonlybeone, same but didn't get in

lovehissmile sorry to hear that