The College Improvement Plan 2014 - 2015
inspiration starts here
College Guiding Statements DEVELOPED BY OUR STAFF TO GUIDE EVERYTHING WE DO
Motto:
Detur Pons Mundo – Building bridges to the world 通向世界的桥梁
Vision:
Children come first when:
Dulwich College Suzhou aspires to be respected internationally as a community committed to developing individuals who seize and act ethically upon the breadth of opportunity the world presents.
1. The College educates the whole child 2. The College provides a safe, secure and stimulating environment 3. The College recognises that we gain knowledge and understanding of the world by questioning and actively solving problems 4. The College emphasises the benefits and responsibilities of working collaboratively together 5. The College values awareness of the natural world and its resources 6. The College prepares children to live their lives honestly with a spirit of respect for themselves and others 7. The College understands that meaningful, life long learning involves taking risks 8. The College challenges each child to be the best that they can be and supports them in this
Definition of Learning:
Good learning is a meaningful experience where students enjoy making connections between new and existing knowledge, skills and understanding. Students are engaged, challenged and are able to reflect independently and collaboratively on their progress.
Contents Introduction The 10 Pillars of Dulwich Culture The Student Experience Learning and Treaching Leadership and Management External Relations Culture and Ethos Campus Development
The College Improvement Plan 2014-15 INTRODUCTION TO THE COLLEGE I am delighted to present the Dulwich College Suzhou College Improvement Plan for 2014 – 2015. This is an annual publication to parents with the aim of informing you of the direction of The College and how we plan to improve aspects of learning across the next year as well as building strong foundations for future developments. Within each development area, we have included an introduction, an analysis and finally a review of future intentions and areas for development. With our new Senior School Campus now operational, The College has realised many of its ambitions for facilities development and our focus is very clearly on continuing to improve the learning. This plan provides a strategic overview of our major initiatives for all stakeholders. Key to the future development of Dulwich College Suzhou is our relationship with Dulwich College London and all Dulwich College International schools seek to build on this tradition of excellence. Rigorous academic standards are central to this philosophy along with opportunities for students to develop skills in music, performing arts, sport and community service. With our sister schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore and High Schools in Zhuhai and Suzhou, we have developed the 10 Pillars of Dulwich Culture and these will ensure continuity of standards, tradition and identity across our Colleges. In 2012, we were accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Many of our development plans connect with recommendations offered by the accrediting teams and indeed, we are pleased to say that their recommendations very much mirrored our own ideas and understanding of The College. We are also careful to take note of feedback from parents and students and will continue to develop methods of reviewing ideas from our student body in a more
comprehensive fashion this year. The College has recently submitted a required two year report to CIS about our developmental progress. Examinations grades in the Senior School were the best ever, but we continue to strive for higher results in all areas to ensure that our graduating students receive the best possible university and college offers. All our students are assessed using both teacher assessment data as well as external standardised testing to review progress and attainment and this is all part of the mix of data we use to assess our progress as a College and to set individualized and challenging targets for each student. Although we are delighted with the success of our students, we do continue to strive for even higher levels of achievement. Through regular communication and consultation, we hope that all stakeholders gain a clear understanding of our shared vision and our planned pathways to future success. John Todd Headmaster headmaster@dulwich-suzhou.cn
The 10 Pillars
of Dulwich Culture Dulwich College Suzhou offers a contemporary British international education that is grounded in 400 years of tradition from Dulwich College London. We combine academic excellence with a holistic approach through our focus on music, sport, the arts and community service. The College offers a friendly and student-centred learning environment. We develop students who compete with the best in the world and have skills that will allow them to develop as life-long learners. Our students aspire to be confident global citizens who have the capacity to be leaders with integrity in tomorrow’s world.
Our College is respected internationally as a community committed to developing individuals, who seize and act ethically upon the breadth of opportunity the world presents. Through collaboration with our family of Colleges in London, Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul, we challenge our students to be reflective independent learners. Linking the Dulwich College Suzhou Ethos to that of Dulwich College International are the 10 Pillars of Dulwich Culture that are shared by all DCI schools and represent a clear link with Dulwich College London and create a common culture in our schools.
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Special Events These include Founder’s Day, Speech Day, Remembrance Day, Dulwich Christmas, Year 13 Graduation, IGCSE and Prefect Award presentations, and celebrations of transition (eg from Ducks to Junior School or Junior School to Senior School).
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Uniform is worn to give a sense of belonging and pride. It should always be worn properly. We have best dressed uniform for special occasions and expect staff to adhere to a dress code as well.
Student Leadership A Head Boy and Head Girl are appointed in Junior and Senior Schools along with Prefects; in Ducks, we have Playground Monitors. Heads of House take responsibility for House activities and elected Student Councils and Eco Councils in Senior School and Junior School help with the expression of the student voice. Positions of responsibility are recognised with a tie, blazer or badge. Students have the opportunity to lead clubs or societies.
The House System This provides vertical articulation within our community and links community service through the College. Through a range of activities, events and competitions, the House system helps to create a sense of togetherness and family.
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Assemblies are communal gatherings to celebrate success. Whole College (Year 1 – Year 13) are held on an annual basis, and schools or year groups or key stages meet regularly. Best dressed uniform is always worn and proceedings begin with the College Song in Latin.
Uniform
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Assemblies
Colours Colours are a recognition of outstanding achievement and success in the fields of sport, academics, extra-curricular activities (including music, art and drama) and community service. Formal awarding of Sporting Colours will begin this year.
The Dulwich Family Being part of the family of Dulwich Schools gives students the opportunity to participate in programmes such as the Dulwich Games, combined choirs and orchestras, representative sports teams, exchanges and links with Dulwich College London. It is an opportunity for our highest achievers to participate or compete at a higher level than individual Colleges can offer. The Dulwich Olympiad and visit by Dulwich College London students will be a highlight of this school year.
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Marketing and Branding Being part of a prestigious international education group means taking care with our identity and public persona. All Colleges follow clear guidelines on branding and corporate identity to ensure that we present a unified, professional and informed face to the wider world.
Tradition
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We are proud to be part of the history and tradition offered by 400 years of the Alleynian heritage. Our students should be aware of famous Old Alleynians (OAs) and International Old Alleynians (IOAs) and ensure that they are connected into our worldwide alumni network.
Community Programmes Links to our local community are a sign of engagement and commitment and allow opportunities for community service as well as strengthening and sharing culture. Practical links with local schools allow our students to interact directly with Chinese children.
The Student Experience
A rigorous set of academic standards is central to our College Ethos and we expect all our students to achieve excellence. Above all, we expect each student to enjoy learning and to be challenged as an individual. Motivation and enthusiasm are words we would expect to hear about all Dulwich students and providing an appropriate balance of academic,
cultural and physical challenge in an environment that is safe, caring and supportive is our aim. Our College has a high degree of mobility and so it is important to create a sense of community and continuity and to promote care, guidance and support at all levels.
Our strengths:
Students are articulate and interact politely and respectfully with their peers, as well as staff, parents and visitors
Teachers lead by example in fostering respectful and animated interactions among and with students and their colleagues
The College celebrates students’ efforts, achievements and leadership in meaningful and culturally sensitive ways
Students take on an increasing level of leadership and responsibility for improving environmental practices and provide creative solutions for the whole community
The support staff are dedicated and work hard to maintain high quality services throughout The College, making the environment highly conducive to effective learning
Opportunities for student leadership such as Head Boy and Girl, Prefects, Student Council, Eco Council, Charities Committee and the House System
A clear and consistent Safeguarding Policy that helps to keep all students and staff at The College safe
Areas for development:
Encourage even greater participation parents and the wider community
Sponsor and encourage green initiatives
Continue to develop programmes that survey the ‘student voice’
Raise awareness Safeguarding Policy
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Learning and Teaching Learning is why our students come to The College and over the last year we have developed our professional practice to look closely at the quality of learning in classrooms. The best learning is facilitated by the best teachers and our continued commitment to recruit, train and retain the best staff possible is a key priority. Teachers need to ensure that learning is personalised, differentiated and challenging and they need to be accountable for the progress of individual students.
Our strengths:
Areas for development:
Sharing a common philosophy on learning and making this the key focus of all College programmes
To develop Building Learning Power across The College so that we develop a meta-language of learning and understand how we learn
Creating a stimulating learning environment that is well resourced
To develop a wider range of standardized data for teachers to give better feedback and to enhance planning
Funding a wide range of professional learning programmes for staff
Reviewing the quality of learning using our Looking for Learning Programme and using the evidence to coach teachers
To review our curriculum mapping across The College to ensure learning is effective and efficient
To develop Technology Integration across The College
Our Mandarin Programme and the Dual Language Programme in Ducks and the Junior School
Ensuring that learning is a social activity that encourages taking risks, and being creative and flexible Our support for students for whom English is an additional language
Leadership and Management
We continue to seek out the best possible teachers to deliver world-class learning to our students and we expect excellence in leadership and management at every level. The College seeks to develop leadership capacity in staff as well as students. Through reviewing
our strategic goals, we aim to create professional development and leadership opportunities that are aligned with the needs of The College. Our strategic goals need to be clearly communicated and rigorously evaluated with challenging success criteria.
Our strengths:
A dedicated and committed Leadership Team at all levels that is focused on delivering excellent student learning
Excellent opportunities for professional learning and development for staff at all levels
A clear leadership structure that is flexible enough to meet changing needs as The College grows
A clear understanding of the strengths and developmental needs of the school acquired through accreditation as well as observation and data analysis
Opportunities for student leadership throughout The College
Areas for development:
Continued opportunities for distributed leadership throughout The College
Development of coaching and mentoring skills and the embedding of the Dulwich College International Leadership Standards
External Relations
Relationships with our community are key to our success and this means communications with people both within and outside our immediate community. Beyond advertising, we recognise the values of our Dulwich brand and seek to build partnerships through the community that enhance the opportunities we can offer to our students. Dulwich College International continues to develop the International Old Alleyninans (IOA) network and this will link IOAs with Dulwich College London as well as the wider world beyond The College gates.
Our strengths:
Communications with stakeholders
Weekly dual language (English / Mandarin) newsletter – The Alleynian
Regular meetings with Parent Representatives and community groups (eg. Korean or Taiwanese parents)
Friends of Dulwich (FoD) - their support for The College
Relationships across the community with local organisations, schools, government and bureaus
Organisation of events
Areas for development:
Improve the access and information on The College website
Opportunities for IOA networking
Clear and consistent branding at all levels
Dulwich College Suzhou recognises and celebrates our cultural links with Dulwich College London and the Dulwich College International Schools through the 10 Pillars of Dulwich Culture. Through linking our traditional values and our international mindedness, we provide our students with a unique opportunity to learn from both west and east. Our students come from many different cultures and backgrounds and we appreciate that we are more alike than we are different and that we can celebrate both similarities and differences. Key to our development is a continuing synthesis of the many diverse experiences of our community leading to understanding and growth.
Culture
and Ethos
Our strengths:
Clear statements about our vision and a common sense of purpose our College Guiding Statements and Definition of Learning
Collaboration and communication between students, parents, staff and the wider community leading to a sense of belonging
Engagement with the local community through community service, sport and world class performing arts
The international mindedness of our students
A common expectation of excellence that is recognized and rewarded in many different ways
Areas for Development:
Ensure that we develop all of the 10 Pillars of Dulwich Culture
Encourage and deepen student leadership opportunities at all levels of College life
Develop a common understanding of international mindedness
Measuring the effectiveness of our Guiding Statements
Campus Development
Our major focus over the last year has been on improving air quality and major investments were made during the summer of 2014. The next area for focus is the external environment around Ducks and the Junior School. We continue to review carefully how
our facilities are used and how we can continue to improve and develop our buildings to ensure that our students have the best possible learning opportunities.
Our strengths:
Individual buildings for each of the three schools
Shared sport and performance areas that provide multiple interchangeable venues
Space for expansion and growth
Filtered fresh air in every classroom – the first and the only school in Suzhou to tackle air pollution seriously
Major new facilities including an aquatics centre, gymnasium, FIFA2 Professional Astro-Turf, and outstanding performance spaces
Areas for Development:
Community partnerships to ensure best use of our facilities outside the school day
Further development of the Ducks and Junior School external environment
Campus access and security arrangements including parking
Traffic control on Dong Chan Road
No. 360 Gang Tian Road, SIP, Suzhou, 215021, China 360 T/
(86512) 6295 9500
F/
215021 (86512) 6295 7540
www.dulwich-suzhou.cn