Dumpton School Prospectus

“

Founded in 1903, Dumpton is a day sc hool for boys and g irls aged 2-13, and it still retains muc h of the atmosphere of the days when there were boarder s.

The Headmaster and his family live

onsite and the pastoral care and

attention readily g iven to all pupils

is still considered to be of

paramount impor tance. ”

H E A D M A S T E R ’ S W E L C O M E

Welcome to Dumpton Sc hool. On my fir st visit, it did not take me long to sense what a happy and successful sc hool this is Smiling, pur poseful pupils clearly live by the sc hool motto: ‘You can because you think you can ’ – a quic k look at their ar ray of academic and co-cur r icular ac hievements is testament to that. The beautiful sur roundings and impressive facilities create an excellent environment for c hildren to lear n, and a committed, car ing staff work hard to ensure that every c hild has the oppor tunity to fulfil their potential But it is the tang ible sense of the sc hool’ s ethos – an ethos built upon the quality of the relationships shared by pupils, staff and parents alike – that shines through.

We hope that this prospectus will share an under standing of what a Dumpton education might offer your c hild We hope, too, that you will visit us and exper ience for your self the family atmosphere and sense of community that

makes Dumpton suc h a special place.

We can promise you the war mest of welcomes

Best wishes

Christian Saenger Headmaster

“

A relatively small but perfectlyfor med prep with a strong academic record, competitive but inclusive spor ts prog ramme, impressive facilities and emphasis on emotional

resilience. Parents say they made the

r ight c hoice.

‘We ’ll be sad to leave, ’ mused one. We can see why ” .

C A M P U S

1 Deans Grove Pitc hes

2 Perfor ming Ar ts Sc hool, Recital Room & Ar ts Cour tyard

3 Food Tec hnology, Design Tec hnology and Ar t

4 Pre-Prep & Nur sery

5 Sc hool Reception

6 Main Entrance

7 Adventure Playg round

8 Visitor and Parent Parking

9 Sc hool Campsite

10 Environmental Ponds

11 Forest Sc hool Site

12 Watson Astro Pitc hes

13 Allotments, Orc hard and Outdoor Classroom

14 Lower Pitc hes

15 Top Pitc hes

16 Science Laborator ies

17 Library

18 Prep Sc hool Classrooms

19 Assembly Hall

20 Swimming Pool

21 Browning Spor ts Hall

22 Netball & Tennis Cour ts

23 Unifor m Shop

C O N T E N T S

The Dumpton Way

Academic Polic y

Lear ning Suppor t – Your Child Matter s

The Str ucture Of The Sc hool

Laying The Foundations - Nur sery and Pre Prep

Time to Flour ish - Prep Sc hool Spor t at Dumpton

Perfor ming Ar ts

Outdoor Lear ning

In The Kitc hen

Made to Treasure Sustainability and Regeneration

How to Find Us

Admissions - Your Child’ s Educational Jour ney Star ts Here

Alumni Dumpton Fr iends

“There is more in us than we know. If we could be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less

Kur t Hahn

Education With Character

At Dumpton, we believe that c haracter matter s Whilst academic success remains a core pr ior ity, we ensure our pupils know that it is the per son they become - not the g rades they ac hieve - that is most impor tant to us. We are prepar ing our pupils for an increasingly c halleng ing world We believe that discover ing, developing and har nessing their c haracter at sc hool is the best preparation for happiness and success in their futures.

Our approac h to c haracter education at Dumpton is under pinned by ‘The Dumpton Way ’ This framework is built around seven c haracter vir tues whic h we model, teac h, seek out and celebrate throughout the sc hool:

Empathy, Resilience, Courage, Collaboration, Enthusiasm, Creativity and Global Citizenship

Every single c hild has remarkable potential within them: it is our job to help them discover it.

Enthusiasm

C r e a t i v i t y

E m p a t hy Courage

C i t i z e n s h i p

G l o b a l

The Dumpton Way

BE

The education at Dumpton is

built upon two clear and simple

values whic h guide all that we

do: ‘Be Kind’ , and ‘Aim High’ .

KIND, AIM HIGH

BE KIND

S C H O O L

VA L U E S

Kindness could not be more impor tant to us. Our ethos is ‘Treat other s as you would like to be treated’ , and we aim for fr iendliness and empathy to per meate ever y classroom and cor r idor of the sc hool The atmosphere is nur tur ing and inclusive, and pupils, staff and parents share strong relationships, as a result. Dumpton is more than just a sc hool; it is a home away from home At a deeper level, our focus on kindness and empathy aims to build pupils ’ emotional intelligence - their ability to under stand themselves and those around them. Nobody quite knows what the world of tomor row will look like for our c hildren, but at Dumpton, we strongly believe that empathy, kindness, and emotional intelligence will lie at the hear t of a happy and successful future.

AIM HIGH Our quiet sense of aspiration and ambition is illustrated by our sc hool motto: ‘You can because you think you can ’ Inspir ing self-belief is key Inside the classroom, this means a commitment to small class sizes, high-quality teac hing, and academic success for all. It means helping every c hild realise that with hard work, practice, deter mination and resilience, anything is possible Outside the classroom, this means a broad range of exper iences that not only provide huge enjoyment but, cr ucially, help c hildren fur ther develop their c haracter: an outstanding spor ts ’ prog ramme, a broad range of perfor ming ar ts oppor tunities, outdoor lear ning through our forest sc hool and the famous Dumpton allotments, a diver se range of clubs and co-cur r icular activities, and some pretty adventurous and exciting residential tr ips, all play their par t in this development.

It is, of cour se, the outcomes that matter most. Our c hildren are our g reatest adver t - fr iendly, per sonable, energetic, deter mined, and smiling in all that they do Our trac k record of ensur ing successful transfer to the finest Senior Sc hools - and record number s of sc holar ships across the academic, spor ting, creative and perfor ming ar ts domains - suggests we are getting something r ight, too

Our small class sizes, ‘ aim high’ culture, and outstanding teac hing ensures that every c hild, regardless of their ability, is suppor ted to fulfil their academic potential.

CURRICULUM

We broadly follow the National Cur r iculum from Reception until Year 6, with Dumpton pupils perfor ming well above national standards year on year, and ac hieving enviable success rates in senior sc hool admissions testing, like the ISEB Pre-Test and the 11+. In Year 7 and Year 8, pupils embark on our own bespoke cur r iculum – the Dumpton Diploma – whic h prepares them br illiantly for life at their c hosen Senior Sc hool.

CULTURE

Our sc hool motto –‘You can because you think you can ’ – is the cor ner stone of our teac hing Teac her s, as well as teac hing assistants, have the highest expectations of the pupils, and encourage c hildren to develop a powerful g rowth mindset towards their lear ning We build on innate abilities and help every single c hild to aim high Academic prog ress is trac ked carefully and repor ted to parents regularly so that we can work closely with you to suppor t your c hild – it’ s a real team effor t.

TECHNOLOGY

Tec hnology is used to enhance c hildren ’ s lear ning – but never t o d i s t r a c t f r o m i t We a r e a m o b i l e p h o n e f r e e s c h o o l , b u t interactive screens, computing suites, tablets and laptops are available for all pupils: we ensure that c hildren lear n how to use tec hnology proficiently, effectively and wisely In Year 7, ever y pupil receives their own Chromebook from the sc hool so they can manage their lear ning even more independently and are old enough to take this pr ivilege responsibly

FACILITIES

Our outstanding teac hing team develop individual cur r iculums with their specific subject knowledge, whic h is enhanced by our fir st class facilities For example, two state of the ar t Science

Laborator ies, a Design and Tec hnology Laboratory, an Ar t Studio,

a Food Tec hnology Kitc hen, and an Outdoor Classroom – whic h

allow c hildren to develop their own excitement and passion for lear ning across our broad cur r iculum

A C A D E M I C S U C C E S S F O R A L L

“The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent.... Pupils of all ages achieve high academic levels in their time at school, as they respond positively to the broad cur r iculum and the high expectations of teachers.”

Independent Schools Inspectorate Repor t 2022

What could be better than filling our librar y and classrooms with stor ies? To paraphrase the wise words of the Roman Philosopher Cicero ‘a room without books is like a body without a soul.’

Helping children develop a love of reading is cr ucial. The Nur ser y and Pre-Prep classrooms and cor r idor s are covered with stor ies – and books and stor ytelling are a huge par t of our cur r iculum in the Pre-Prep. In this for mative stage of lear ning , teachers make time to read to children, and to listen to children read, nearly ever y single day.

For older pupils, our well stocked librar y, where children are free to explore literature and take out their own books, hosts Book Clubs for Prep School pupils ever y single day. The Headmaster hosts his own Book Club in his study once a half ter m, where a few pupils are invited on the mer its of their effor ts in English lessons.

Any c hild can str uggle at sc hool – it might be academically, but it could be socially or emotionally, too, and it is our job at Dumpton to ensure that ever y c hild is suppor ted, if this is the case

If we – or you – have any concer ns about your c hild’ s prog ress at sc hool, suppor t is readily available Our teac her s, and in some cases our EdX (Educational Extra) team, will work closely with you to ensure the appropr iate suppor t can be put in place.

Sometimes, a specific lear ning need might be identified as c hildren prog ress through the sc hool, and we have the relevant exper tise to suppor t and advise on next steps in this area. We celebrate neurodiver sity at Dumpton, and all c hildren are g iven the suppor t and confidence to flour ish

‘All our Matrons are ver y kind, and help make you

feel better when you

scrape your knee or have

a cough’

Henr y 2M

‘Matron is always

welcoming and kind to

me if I am feeling

unwell, upset or sic k’

Heidi 8C

‘Matron helps us if we forget our swim kit or

coat to find us a spare to use, and help us find our lost kit’

Lily 5P

M A T R O N S M A T T E R –A W O R K O F H E A R T

‘I just wanted to say a big thank you to your wonderful team who have been so suppor tive of Hugo and Clara in the last few days Our gorgeous little cat was killed by a car on Wednesday and we miss her ter r ibly. The c hildren have been incredibly sad and their tutor s, the Matrons and all the teac her s they have interacted with, have been thoughtful, car ing and suppor tive. Wonderful to witness the sc hool values and “RULER” in action. Please pass on our g rateful thanks ’ P

‘The best par t of working at Dumpton is watc hing a tiny, shy infant join, g row and prog ress through sc hool, to become an independent, inquisitive c hatterbox teenager ready to take on the world. ’

MATRON

The Str ucture of the School

Age 2 to 4:

NURSERY

Snowdrops, Bluebells and Dandelions

Children in the Nur sery are split over two spacious activity rooms, depending on their age – both rooms have free flow connections to our newly refurbished Early Year s ’ Garden so that c hildren ’ s playing and lear ning can occur both inside and outside A dedicated sleep room upstair s provides a calm space for our youngest c hildren

School Day

8:15am until 3:15pm

Age 4 to 7:

PRE-PREP

Reception

Year 1 and Year 2

Located in the same building as the Nur sery, our Pre-Prep is

split over 6 br ight and airy

classrooms Two Reception

classrooms sit on the g round

floor, with easy access to the

Early Year s ’ Garden. Two Year 1

classrooms and two Year 2

classrooms are located on the

fir st floor.

School Day

8:15am until 3:30pm

Age 7 to 13:

PREP SCHOOL

Year 3 toYear 8

The Prep Sc hool includes Year 3 to Year 5 (the Junior s) and Year 6 to Year 8 (the Senior s) All c hildren have a for m room and for m teac her, but they also move round the sc hool for their different lessons from specialist subject teac her s Children are taught in for m g roups, though some subjects are set fur ther up the sc hool.

School Day

8:15am until 4:15/5:15pm

Wrap around care from 7.45am until 5.45pm is available for all pupils.

Laying The Foundations

The Dumpton Nur ser y and Pre-Prep aim to g ive your child the ver y best star t in life.

In its own dedicated building within the Dumpton site, there is a special atmosphere, always full of smiles and a sense of pur pose Exper ienced and committed staff and small classes ensure that

in the Nur sery and Pre-Prep, c hildren are kept happy and busy, building a love of lear ning and a respect for other s that will last a lifetime.

Cur r iculum

Once they star t sc hool, c hildren are helped to develop the strongest of foundations in the core academic subjects. Reading, wr iting and ar ithmetic are suc h key building bloc ks for future success: in the Pre-Prep, thanks to the exper tise of their teac her s, c hildren build their competence – and confidence – day by day In addition, we have an exciting, energetic cur r iculum for our youngest pupils that extends beyond the four walls of the classroom This includes specialist lessons in Outdoor Lear ning,

French, Swimming, PE, Dance, Music, and Singing. Every day is different, and every activity is a c hance for c hildren to build their self-esteem and discover their own unique g ifts.

Stretch

and Challenge

As well as being nur tured, our c hildren are c hallenged and stretc hed – whether it is Year 2 b e i n g k n i g h t e d , Ye a r 1 A s t r o n a u t t r a i n i n g , Reception r unning their own Pet Show or Nur sery explor ing the woods, we want them to exper ience a life less ordinar y in our safe and fr iendly environment. Regular perfor mances on the stage are par t and parcel of Dumpton life, as are muddy wellington boots. It is only by helping young c hildren step out of their comfor t zones that we can help them realise what they are capable of By the end of Year 2, they are ready for all the excitement of the Prep Sc hool and the world beyond

Working Together

We have an ‘Open Door ’ Policy in the Nur sery and Pre-Prep – the closer we can work together to suppor t your c hild the better. Regular infor mal drop-in sessions at the beg inning of the day g ive you an insight into your c hild’ s lear ning, and teac her s are available at any time to discuss any issues that may ar ise, no matter how big or small

In addition, regular parents ’ evenings and wr itten repor ts provide a more for mal oppor tunity to under stand your c hild’ s prog ress

Clubs and Wrap Around Care

Building on our exciting and var ied cur r iculum,

Pre-Prep c hildren can also sign up to and attend a

range of ‘Hobbies ’ after sc hool on cer tain days.

These include activities like football, cr ic ket, drama, sing ing, ar ts and crafts, yoga, and dance

Suppor ting busy parents is also impor tant to us.

The sc hool day in the Pre-Prep r uns from 8 15am until 3 30pm – but all pupils can make use of

our Early Mor ning Club from 7.45am and our fantastic After Sc hool Club until 5 45pm, should they need to

Nur ser y and Pre-Prep

A Day In The Life Of

O U R D U M P T O N N U R S E R Y

M e e t Ja z m i n e w h o wo r k s w i t h D u m p t o n E a r ly Ye a r s c h i l d re n ( u p t o Reception age) and is a highly valued member of staff. To say she ’ s popular with the c hildren and parents would be an under statement. Jazmine has lived in our beautiful county of Dor set her whole life, other than time away studying. She has worked in education for a decade and also has a passion for cooking, spending time with her family, fitness and travel We caught up with Jazmine following a busy day with pupils in our newly refurbished Early Year s classrooms to talk through an average day.

We welcome c hildren from 8:15am and until 9:30am we have ‘free flow ’ where the c hildren explore their own interests and build on their knowledge with c hild-led but adult-initiated activities Every week day is completely var ied but we largely follow the same str ucture for our breaks and any nap time.

Our break time (for a nutr itious snac k) is at 10am and on a Wednesday we love to explore the Forest Sc hool, followed by stor ies and songs around 11:15am. We all enjoy an early lunc h together, and after this, we have quiet activities for older c hildren and nap time for those who need to recoup energy levels.

At 1pm, we all enjoy outdoor play and then yoga or dance in the early par t of the after noon. The c hildren have a really var ied sc hedule of activities throughout their week, from swimming to gym balance work In the late after noon, we make sure we all have another snac k before some lear ning through stor y and song together before hometime

H O W D I D Y O U G E T I N T O T E A C H I N G ?

I have been luc ky enough to g row up in a big family, where I have watc hed c hildren g row and develop, and this fostered a love of teac hing c hildren skills big or small After sixth for m, I went on to Plymouth Univer sity to study Early Education Dur ing studying, my love of working with c hildren continued to g row and a passion for deliver ing g reat practice developed.

F A V O U R I T E A R E A O F T H E S C H O O L ?

I love the Dumpton allotments and woods; they create suc h natural wonder for all our c hildren. We have weekly visits to both the allotments and woods and the c hildren get the oppor tunity to obser ve how vegetables and fr uit g row, as well as car ing for our duc ks and using their creative imag ination to play in the woods. It’ s a mag ical exper ience and something that has helped build strong relationships amongst our c hildren

C A R E E R H I G H ?

My career high was after qualifying, when I star ted my fir st job in a little village setting, with a very small intake of c hildren. We had a little boy who had selective mutism. Dur ing my time with him, he began to communicate with the adults and his peer s with c o m p l e t e e a s e T h i s , f o r m e , w a s a n i n c r e d i b l e moment in my career; to see a young boy go from being selectively mute to communicating with not only his peer s, but also his parents, was a moment that will stay with me

I F Y O U C O U L D G I V E O T H E R

T E A C H E R S S T A R T I N G O U T A T I P

W H A T W O U L D I T B E ?

E v e r y d a y i s d i f f e r e n t a n d y o u w i l l f a c e m a n y c hallenges due to the different abilities, needs and wants of your pupils but in those times, remember why you trained and how to tur n the c hallenge into something positive for all involved

D E S C R I B E Y O U R O W N A P P R O A C H T O

L E A R N I N G ?

My approac h to lear ning is ver y hands-on. I prefer seeing and doing. Being able to physically touc h something helps to create memor y associated with lear ning and this is something I also look to instil within the c hildren.

W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T A B O U T

W O R K I N G A T D U M P T O N F O R Y O U ?

For me, there is suc h a vast wealth of knowledge amongst the staff here at Dumpton, whic h is fantastic to watc h and also to lear n from Additionally, the oppor tunities and care afforded to the staff and c hildren are really second to none.

W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T O F Y O U R Y E A R ?

I enjoy Chr istmas and the festive fun that comes with it In December there is suc h a mag ical atmosphere around Dumpton. The c hildren are excited about the festive fun and staff enjoy watc hing the mag ic, whic h makes our Dumpton community even more mer ry

A Day In The Life Of

A P R E P R E P C L A S S T E A C H E R

M e e t D a n w h o c u r r e n t l y t e a c h e s i n Ye a r 1 a n d i s C u r r i c u l u m

Co-ordinator for Year s 1- 4. He has been with us at Dumpton for over

6 ye a r s a n d h a s a we a l t h o f e x p e r i e n c e i n t e a c h i n g c h i l d re n f ro m

Reception to Year 2. We caught up with him to explore what life is like

in Dumpton Pre-Prep.

We cur rently have 6 classes (2 per year g roup) in the Pre-Prep: eac h class has a teac her and teac hing assistant. The small class sizes provide us with a wonderful oppor tunity to suppor t eac h c hild, either 1:1 or in a small g roup, with their lear ning, as well as g iving the c hildren the c hance to socialise. We have a br illiant staff team of teac her s and teac hing assistants who are kind, car ing and model the Dumpton Values, whic h, in tur n, aids the c hildren ’ s positive behaviour and relationships These fr iendships are built in the classroom and in the var ious outside play spaces on offer, suc h as the adventure playg round, the astro pitc hes and the woods

The c hildren in the Pre-Prep beg in their day at 8:15am and have daily phonics lessons in eac h year g roup to g ive them the foundation skills for reading and spelling. The c hildren in Reception build on their lear ning from Nur sery and have plenty of oppor tunity for c hild-initiated lear ning, suc h as their ‘ plan-doreview ’ time, as well as getting used to some str uctured lesson time In Year s

1 and 2, the c hildren have daily Maths and English lessons in the mor nings, when they are at their freshest for lear ning They will then have lessons suc h as Ar t, Topic, Computing, Science and RSE in the after noons, following a healthy and delicious lunc h Throughout the rest of the week, they may also see specialist teac her s from the Prep Sc hool for

lessons suc h as Frenc h, P.E., Music,

Dance, and Swimming. The c hildren independently monitor and share their emotions and feelings throughout the

day with reference to our class c har ter s and mood meter s, all par t of our

RULER system at sc hool.

Today, the c hildren ar r ived with smiles

on their faces, a can-do attitude and were ready to lear n Our fir st lessons of

the day were an interactive and practical phonics lesson, followed by Maths –

adding number s up to 20 We then had a

break for a fr uit snac k, dr ink and a

playtime After break, our English lesson

focused on the ‘Shar ing a Shell’ story by

Julia Donaldson where the c hildren

thought of adjectives to descr ibe the

c haracter s and their features. It was then time for lunc h, whic h today was c hic ken

cur ry with r ice, as well as a vegetar ian option, along with a desser t and a bread roll. It was then up to the adventure playg round in coats and wellies for a fun-filled play on the apparatus. In the after noon, for Science, we lear nt about animals and their g roups, suc h as mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and amphibians, and then had swimming to conclude our busy day

Time to Flour ish

Prep Sc hool, Year s 3-8

‘Possunt quia posse videntur’

‘You can because you think you can ’

The Dumpton Prep Sc hool aims to create a perfect environment for c hildren to be happy, to flour ish, and to fulfil their academic and per sonal potential

‘Treat other s as you would like to be treated’

We believe that strong relationships, whether between pupils, parents or staff, lie at the hear t of any successful sc hool – it’ s something we are very proud of at Dumpton Oppor tunities to work as a team present themselves frequently – it might be on the spor ts field, on the stage or in the classroom.

Cur

r iculum Tradition

Meets Prog ress

The traditional academic cur r iculum of English, Maths, Science, Frenc h, Geog raphy, History, RS, and for some older pupils, Latin, is supplemented by a r ic h and var ied ar ray of other subjects, all as impor tant in their own way: daily games sessions, weekly PE and Swimming, and for tnightly Outdoor Lear ning lessons ensures fresh air, exercise, and plenty of teamwork Weekly sessions of a range of creative subjects; Ar t, Design Tec hnology/Food Tec hnology, Music, Drama, and Computing, all in bespoke classrooms and with specialist teac her s complete the pac kage. No two days are the same – and it’ s that var iety that provides suc h a fufilling and enr ic hing exper ience for our pupils.

Ever yone Tr ies

Ever ything

The wealth of academic, spor ting or creative oppor tunities is under pinned by a culture where everyone tr ies everything. Everyone has natural talents whic h, once discovered, g ive them the confidence to aim high in other areas of life. Children at Dumpton have an infectious ‘ can-do ’ attitude – whether it is playing in a spor ts team, sing ing in a c hoir, or perfor ming in a play, all the c hildren are swept up in the enthusiasm of a culture where everyone takes par t

‘Prep’ and Co-Cur r icular

Exper iences

At the end of the Prep Sc hool

Day pupils are encouraged to

stay for ‘Prep ’ for the last hour. As well as completing any homework in sc hool, c hildren can sign up for DECA

(Dumpton Extra Cur r icular

Award, our own mini ‘Duke of

Edinburgh’ award), and

Hobbies, an eclectic mix of

clubs (too many to list!) whic h

create a buzz around the sc hool dur ing Prep time.

In addition, pupils can sign up for a plethora of other activities eac h ter m, like early

mor ning spor ts clubs, breaktime book clubs, lunc htime music ensembles,

c hoir s, swimming clubs, and even after-sc hool speec h and drama

Talking To Dumpton Prep School Teachers

M E E T G A R Y

A T Y P I C A L D A Y

A typical day star ts with making my wife a cup of tea and then walking the dog around the village and saying hello to the other dog walker s

I c ycle into work on days when the weather is fair, occasionally motorbike or dr ive in to work, listening to 6 Music The sc hool day star ts with welcoming my for m in to settle for reg istration and helping them get ready for the day ahead.

I c hec k my emails and star t to pr ior itise any IT

suppor t requests and c hec k on the content of my lesson plans for the day Then to assembly to listen to inspirational talks from staff or pupils about the theme

of the week as well as pic king up the notices from staff

about any c hanges to the day.

The fir st two lessons are often Computing, whether it’ s teac hing Year 3 to log in to the network and how to touc h type or with the senior pupils using the Lego

EV3 robots, Microbits or helping them with their

Chromebooks

Mor ning break is a c hance to breathe and catc h up with colleagues in the staff room, refill the water

bottle and c hec k in with pupils in my tutor g roup or

speak to any junior pupils that need suppor t Lessons three and four continue with teac hing Computing and

liaising with our in-house tec h suppor t to make sure everything is working as it should be; (“Have you tr ied tur ning it off and on again?!”)

Lunc h time is always a pleasure at Dumpton I still haven ’t got used to the fact that I have a full cooked lunc h prepared for me ever yday, although I tr y to restr ict myself to one full-on desser t a week! Catc hing up with colleagues and pupils and seeing lots of smiling faces is always hear t-war ming, and occasionally helping the younger pupils who are finding their way is a rewarding par t of the day

The after noon star ts with reg istration followed by Junior Games, whic h is another time to see quic k prog ress in the pupils in eac h spor t (as well as tying lots of shoelaces!), and the teamwork that comes together over the weeks is fantastic.

One more Computing class ends for mal academic lessons for the day, followed by a quic k tea and seeing some of the pupils to the gate for collection Then it’ s either Prep or DECA, where the pupils get stuc k into a range of

amazing extra-cur r icular activities Tr ying to organise a room full of pupils to wr ite scr ipts and record themselves for a podcast, as well as manage the inevitable tec h suppor t requests that come with it can be a frenetic way to end the sc hool day.

When the pupils have left, I get bac k to my desk and breathe for a moment, then catc h up on emails and c hec k the sc hedule for the following day

Then it’ s home to make another cup of tea for my wife, walk the dog and relax As often as possible, this will involve going to a g ig with my fr iends, but if not, it will be watc hing whatever spor t is on TV before the eyelids get too heavy and I g ive in to sleep.

H O W D I D Y O U G E T I N T O T E A C H I N G ?

I completed my deg ree in Environmental Studies in Manc hester, whic h had an element of student tutor ing in it, and decided to move down to Bath to tr y my hand at a PGCE. Having completed placements in a range of Pr imar y, Middle and Secondar y Sc hools across the south west and midlands, I took up my fir st post at Selwood Middle Sc hool in Frome. I was initially a Year 5 class teac her, but became Head of ICT and Year 8 within a couple of year s

F A V O U R I T E A R E A O F T H E S C H O O L ?

I would have to say the computer rooms are my favour ite area of the sc hool as the pupils really seem to enjoy lear ning to use computer s, and it is the area of the cur r iculum that is constantly c hang ing I love seeing the combination of creativity and problem solving that the Computing cur r iculum presents.

D E S C R I B E Y O U R O W N A P P R O A C H

T O L E A R N I N G

I like to lear n by doing and am a fan of the practical approac h to problem solving: lear ning by mistakes I also think relationships are at the hear t of any successful classroom. There is a ter m “ connect before content” that I lived by as a teac her even before I had heard it If people feel seen, heard and valued fir st, they are going to be more open to lear ning and taking r isks.

M O S T M E M O R A B L E C L A S S

O R P U P I L T O D A T E ?

My cur rent tutor g roup are always my favour ite class!

Although I did teac h a boy called Tom Burgess who

now has a career working for the BBC and as a tour ing comedian. I always thought he might end up on the stage!

W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T O F

Y O U R Y E A R ?

Whilst it would be easy to say the weeks leading up to Chr istmas with all the joy that br ings to teac hing or summer when the days can be spent outdoor s, I am actually a big fan of the star t of a new academic year. A fresh star t for all staff and students to make the most of their oppor tunities always fills me with optimism

W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T A B O U T

W O R K I N G A T D U M P T O N F O R Y O U ?

Having been par t of the Dumpton family for over 17 year s, there is lots that I love about working here

The var iety of Prep Sc hool life is something that I find hugely motivating and rewarding. From teac hing prog ramming to the senior pupils on the Raspber ry

Pi computer s, to coac hing pupils football and r ugby

in Year 3 games sessions, providing tec h suppor t to

the staff and speaking to pupils in my role as Head of

Junior s, it all adds up to a full and var ied day

Talking To Dumpton Prep School Teachers

M E E T O L I V I A

A T Y P I C A L D A Y

I often beg in my day with a r un or bike r ide before getting my own three c hildren washed, fed and ready for sc hool. I like to ar r ive at Dumpton by 7.45am so that I can prepare the classroom and have a mor ning activity ready for the c hildren ’ s ar r ival

8.30am Assembly is one of my favour ite times of day as we sing some wonderfully uplifting hymns and hear about the sc hool’ s theme for the week. Children often perfor m musical or drama pieces and we are able to celebrate spor t or academic ac hievements

8.50am Lessons beg in and I usually spend the fir st two lessons with my class, teac hing English and Maths

10.45am Breaktime for the c hildren and a c hance for me to get a coffee and have a quic k catc h up with

colleagues. Staff c hoir meet once or twice a week at breaktimes, whic h is a wonderful way to spend 15

minutes as Mr s Mudd c hooses suc h lovely music and

creates beautiful har monies

11.10am There are two more lessons before lunc h

for the c hildren. If I am not sc heduled to teac h, then I catc h up on emails and marking before tweaking planning and resources for the after noon and following day.

12.50pm Lunc h beg ins for the Junior s, so I eat with my class. We are blessed with a fantastic cater ing team

and there is so muc h c hoice and var iety on offer After we ’ ve eaten, I’ll usually head out to over see breaktime

or catc h up with colleagues. There are a var iety of lunc h time clubs whic h we all get involved in too.

1.50pm Home room is a c hance for my class to spend some time in the classroom before after noon lessons, reading or practising spellings and times tables on the c hromebooks

2.15pm After noon lessons beg in, whic h usually involves an hour of spor t and an hour in another lesson, but on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, all of the

c hildren are in matc hes I love coac hing and shar ing

my passion for spor t and it’ s wonderful to see so many

parents coming to suppor t and encourage the teams.

4.15pm This is the end of the sc hool day but many

c hildren stay for prep or activities There are lots of

enr ic hment oppor tunities after sc hool as well as

academic suppor t

My evenings and weekends involve a lot of lovely activities with my three c hildren and husband. We go to the beac h a lot, as I love swimming in the sea, and both my husband and I compete in tr iathlons and trail r unning events so we are often training or enjoying those. Saturday nights in front of ‘Str ictly

Come Dancing ’ are a highlight of the week for the c hildren, so we all look forward to Autumn when we can light the fire and c hill out!

H O W D I D Y O U G E T I N T O T E A C H I N G ?

Dur ing the Univer sity holidays, I worked as a Ski and Snowboard instr uctor at an Inter national Kids Camp in Verbier and just loved shar ing my passion and seeing c hildren lear n It planted the seed in me that I wanted to teac h but it took another decade until I bit the bullet and asked my old prep sc hool Head if I could do some voluntary teac hing work Thankfully, I enjoyed it just as muc h and gave up my career in financial ser vices recr uitment to apply for teac her training.

F A V O U R I T E A R E A O F T H E S C H O O L ?

My favour ite areas of the sc hool are the Top Pitc hes, where the c hildren spend their breaktimes on dr y, sunny days It is wonderful to see c hildren from all year s of the Prep Sc hool, playing alongside one another on the football field or in the cr ic ket nets, on the climbing frame or playing on the huge c hess board There are often staff joining in with games or just c hatting at picnic tables in the sunshine and it exemplifies the close community we are.

C A R E E R H I G H

This has got to be when I got the job at Dumpton

Having g rown up in Dor set, I had always heard suc h

good things about the sc hool and I felt extremely

luc ky to be able to join the staff. I am so glad to have my c hildren here now, lear ning from the fantastic staff and shar ing the wonderful facilities

D E S C R I B E Y O U R O W N A P P R O A C H

T O L E A R N I N G

W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T O F

Y O U R Y E A R ?

The Summer Ter m is my favour ite par t of the year. I love the long days and good weather as we can make the most of the outdoor spaces for lear ning I do lots of spor t in my free time so it allows me to do plenty of this in the evening, too.

I believe that c hildren lear n best in an environment in whic h they feel safe and valued If they feel those things, then they will feel comfor table asking questions and trying new things. I usually star t lessons with some retr ieval practice, c hec king what they already know or can remember from a previous lesson. Teac hing is about facilitating lear ning so if you can link new infor mation to something a c hild already knows, then it will be easier to remember I like to use a mixture of multimedia and practical activities, as well as whole class and small g roup work to keep things var ied, and I throw in lots of questions to engage their inquisitiveness and encourage them to discuss their ideas I reflect on lessons and adapt plans if I don ’t feel that all of the c hildren have met a lear ning objective. I am not afraid to ask for help from more exper ienced teac her s and appreciate the CPD oppor tunities on offer at Dumpton

W H A T I S T H E B E S T P A R T A B O U T

W O R K I N G A T D U M P T O N F O R Y O U ?

There are a lot of things that I value at Dumpton; the fantastic facilities, the suppor t from the staff, the

fr iendly parents, the delicious food etc But what really makes me feel glad to work here is the collaboration that goes into making the c hildren feel

valued and inspired. We all feel so strongly about The

Dumpton Values and talk all the time about how we

can improve the c hildren ’ s sc hool exper ience and prepare them for life ’ s many c hallenges. It feels g reat

to be par t of suc h a lovely team.

The Dumpton Diploma

A bespoke cur r iculum for

Year 7 and 8

The Dumpton Diploma blends traditional lear ning with broader c haracter education, aiming to ensure that ever y c hild is inspired to fulfil their potential here at Dumpton, as well as prepar ing them to flour ish in their future.

The Dumpton Diploma includes six domains that aim to capture pupils ’ all around academic and per sonal development.

Y E A R 8 L E AV E R S ’ P R O G R A M M E : T H E G R E A T E S T A D V E N T U R E

I S W H A T L I E S A H E A D

The Leaver s ’ Cour se provides Year 8 c hildren with a fitting finale to their time here at Dumpton with a var ied prog ramme of activities and development oppor tunities The c hildren star t the Autumn Ter m in their last year on a high with a residential tr ip to Ridgway Adventure in the Scottish Highlands The c hildren test their resilience and face c hallenges designed to encourage independence and integ r ity. Year 8 tutor s who accompany the c hildren are always impressed by the tenacity, ambition and commitment the c hildren show over the cour se of a memorable week This legendary residential tr ip in the c hildren ’ s final year offer s the biggest adventure they will have had in their young lives. Dumpton also looks at life beyond education with oppor tunities to visit entrepreneur s and lear n about their business jour neys In tur n, the c hildren are g iven their own Business Enter pr ise Challenge, working over a per iod of weeks to establish a business plan and ultimately pitc h their ideas This final year is jam-pac ked with projects, team building excur sions to water parks and the beac h, and activities suc h as Geocac hing, Mountain Biking, Mud Trails, and fanc y dress tennis tour naments. The Year 8 c hildren exper ience and hone real life skills in a full day of Food Tec h as they plan and cook their own snac ks and meals for a day The final ter m is spent together, celebrating their fr iendships with a week in Cor nwall surfing, visiting the inspirational Eden Project and histor ic mining sites and museums of Cor nwall, and exper iencing the open air theatre at the Minnac k. Their time at Dumpton concludes with a for mal

Leaver s ’ Supper and, of cour se, Speec h Day

Spor t at Dumpton

A Dumpton Legac y

Children at Dumpton have the unique offer of an hour of spor t a day, every day of the week. This means that every c hild has a games or PE session dur ing their day, with a dedicated coac h. We are proud to maintain this impor tant aspect of their time with us, and feel strongly that it allows the c hildren the g reatest oppor tunities to prog ress, maintain fitness and develop key values into their everyday lives. Our games prog ramme blends the traditional prep sc hool games with individual spor ts, developing spor ting oppor tunities across a wide range of spor ts Our excellent facilities allow us to g ive the c hildren the very best of exper iences The depar tment is suppor ted by a large staff contingent, whic h includes several PE specialists as well as exper ienced exter nal coac hes, enabling us to provide exper tise across a wide range of spor ts The major games of hoc key, football, cr ic ket, r ugby, netball and athletics for m the main par t of a pupil’ s year Alongside this, we offer cross countr y, tennis and swimming In PE lessons, badminton, swimming, basketball, tennis and gymnastics are studied throughout the year Every Prep Sc hool c hild will play regular weekly fixtures in the spor t of the ter m Dumpton ’ s spor ting success is evidenced in the number of spor ts sc holar ships ac hieved eac h year.

Our Nur sery and Pre-Prep lay the building bloc ks for this success In addition to weekly Swimming and PE sessions, c hildren are also exposed to ‘Games ’ sessions from Y1 to help them lear n the basics of team spor t, and leave them ready and eager for the transition to the

Prep Sc hool games prog ramme

S p o r t F o r A l l –

To g e t h e r We C a n G o H i g h e r

“I have been doing these types of events

for many year s and the Dumpton boys were the fir st team I have ever seen clear

their plates of food and say thank you to the cater ing staff at every oppor tunity, whic h

they really appreciated.

The way in whic h they took a nar row defeat in the final was a reflection of their c haracter s and their applause for the winner s receiving the trophy was louder than any other team The sc hool should be very proud of them as they

really did show the very best of Dumpton today Every one of the boys came to thank me for the tour nament, whic h to my knowledge, was unprompted and they were the only sc hool to do that

You are doing a g reat job in moulding them into good c haracter s!”

Director of Spor t Bryanston School

P E R F O R M I N G A R T S : T H E S U P P O R T I N G C A S T

From the beg inning of their Dumpton jour ney in the Nur ser y and Pre-Prep, c hildren sing, dance and perfor m at ever y oppor tunity Our “ perfor ming ar ts for all” ethos allows pupils to aim higher and higher as they proceed through the sc hool. Weekly drama and music lessons, LAMDA club after sc hool, and regular perfor mances to parents and the whole sc hool encourage c hildren to express themselves and gain recognition for their effor ts. With a suite of seven practice rooms, c hildren are never shor t of a space

to sing or play an instr ument The Sc hool

Assembly Hall can be transfor med into a

fully equipped theatre, whic h allows for outstanding musicals and drama productions

to be staged In addition, the new multipur pose Perfor ming Ar ts venue and

cour tyard links the Music Depar tment and

Assembly Hall, doubling the space available

for perfor mances

I am pr imar ily wr iting though, to say a big thank you for installing the confidence in my (not so) little g irl to sing like that ... on stage ... by her self ... in a spotlight! If you ’d have asked me a year ago if she could do this, I would have confidently answered ‘No!’ Well you have most cer tainly proved me wrong!

It just goes to show, that anything is possible, if you ’ re sur rounded with the r ight people

and the r ight ethos

Dumpton Parent

.

With 7 choirs, Dumpton is a school that loves to sing

80% of Prep school children have specialist Music and Perfor ming Ar ts lessons

All instr uments are taught by our team of 17 professional musicians and perfor mers

Every pupil from Nursery to Year 8 perfor ms regularly throughout the year in concer ts, recitals, showcases and productions

From Year 2, pupils can take par t in our orchestral instr umental schemes

“Ar ts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation’s leaders for tomor row ”

Michelle Obama

H O B B I E S

All c hildren are encouraged to tr y a range of co-cur r icular activities and develop new skills and interests. In recent ter ms these have included animation, astronomy, badminton, camp craft and c hess – a list that r uns

from A-Z! Hobbies c hange eac h ter m and can be signed up for in advance.

Outdoor Lear ning

Children at Dumpton are often found in their wellies – and with o u r ve r y ow n o r c h a r d , a l l o t m e n t s , wo o d l a n d , d i p p i n g p o n d , outdoor classrooms and campsite, there is always excitement to be found in the g reat outdoor s. Have you ever wanted to lear n how to light a fire? Grow vegetables from scratc h? Wade in ponds looking for minibeasts? Lear n how to build a shelter? Or camp o u t u n d e r t h e s t a r s w i t h yo u r f r i e n d s ? C h i l d re n w i l l g e t t o exper ience all this and more in their time at Dumpton.

BUSHCRAFT SKILL -

FIRE LIGHTING

“It is not just the war mth, glow and beauty, but something deep inside our subconscious that makes a camp fire so fascinating, mystical and comfor ting –even more so if you create it your self using ancient tec hniques and the most basic of equipment It will open your eyes to the talent and resourcefulness of our ancestor s

The science of combustion explains that you need three things to create the chain reaction - fuel, oxygen and heat, but creating a fire is a skillful ar t requir ing careful preparation, patience and per severance The heat is a simple spark, generated by str iking a flint with iron. Catc h the spark on the initial fuel, a combustible mater ial suc h as c harcloth. Transfer the delicate ember into a nest of fine flammable (mater ial, brac ken or wood shaving work well), and increase the flow of oxygen with long gentle breaths making the ember glow br ighter and hotter. With enough heat, the tinder will ignite, bur sting into flames that you can slowly build into a substantial camp fire with the g radual addition of increasingly larger kindling Sit bac k, enjoy your campfire and get cooking ”

In The Kitc hen

Children of all ages at Dumpton enjoy regular Food Technology lessons

SPICED APPLE MUFFINS

Oven @ 180 fan

Makes 8 large (20 minutes) or 12 small (15 minutes)

IN A BOWL

200g wholemeal flour

80g soft light brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon/ mixed spice

4 tablespoons sultanas - soaked overnight in water

IN A JUG

100mls sunflower oil

2 medium eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 large or two medium cooking apples- peeled , cored and grated

TOPPING

2 tablespoons porridge oats

1 tablespoon soft light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon mixed together to sprinkle on the top before baking

Weigh all your ingredients and prepare your muffin tray. Add your grated apple to the liquid ingredients in the jug Pour the wet ingredients onto the dry ingredients in your bowl, mix well until it forms a batter.

Divide equally between your muffin cases and sprinkle the tops with the oat mixture

Bake in a preheated oven for the required time, depending on their size.

BAKED LEMON AND VANILLA CHEESECAKE

ser ves 4/6 depending on hunger levels

Delicious with a raspber ry sauce…

Oven @160 | 9” dish | 25 minutes

BASE

200g digestive biscuits (or g inger nuts/c hocolate digestives if you are feeling fanc y!)

60g butter, melted

TOP

1 lemon (zested) and juice

150g cream c heese

100mls double cream

2 eggs

100g caster sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

2 tablespoons cor nflour

Cr ush biscuits into a fine cr umb and mix well with the melted butter

Press into the ser ving dish with the bac k of a spoon until fir m and place in fr idge to set.

To make the top beat the cream and cream c heese together with the sugar, vanilla essence, eggs, lemon zest and juice, and cor nflour Making sure it is smooth and and well blended

Pour on top of the biscuit base and even out with a knife if necessary

Place on a baking sheet in the oven and cook for approximately 25 minutes or until set.

It should have a little wobble in the centre when just done.

Remove from oven and cool

Made To Treasure

Dumpton pr ides itself on offer ing a range of weekly Ar t, Design and Food Tec hnology lessons that provide creative, imag inative, and thoughtprovoking activities, many of whic h result in an end product that can be taken home and enjoyed Muc h of the work can be seen on display or smelt as you move around the sc hool and

when asked, the pupils will express their enjoyment of working and lear ning in so many different creative ways A number of for mer students have successfully used either their Ar t

or Design Tec hnology

exper iences as par t of an allrounder or individual sc holar ship option for their future sc hools

E M O T I O N S M A T T E R

At Dumpton, kindness, empathy and wellbeing lie at the hear t of everything we do.

Our forward-thinking approac h to whole sc hool emotional literac y is called RULER, and it aims to g ive every c hild the strongest possible foundations for their wellbeing

The researc h on wellbeing and mental health is clear: the fir st few year s of a c hild’ s life are

absolutely cr ucial RULER allows us to be an emotionally intelligent sc hool, helping our pupils lear n to manage their emotions, navigate the ups and downs of life, build healthy relationships, and ultimately, have the tools they need to flour ish in their futures We are proud that Dumpton is seen to be leading the way in this vital area of sc hool life

A sc hool feels more welcoming with a canine fr iend or two. It is not only our teac her s who take care with pupils ‘ well-being ’ ; some staff have extremely well-behaved animals who are extraordinar ily good at reading a mood: they will comfor t the c hild who needs a gentle nudge or act as reading companion for those who are developing confidence when reading aloud

“If I’ m feeling sad or overwhelmed, Mr Brac ken comes and sits quietly on my foot. He makes me feel more calm and c heerful. ”

Kr istin, 6C

F A I T H F U L F R I E N D S

“

Life is amazing. And then it’ s awful. And then it’ s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful it’ s ordinar y and mundane and

routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale dur ing

the ordinar y. That’ s just living hear tbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinar y life. And

it’ s breathtakingly beautiful.

LR Knost

Dumpton Cater ing

Good Food, Good Mood

The sc hool has its own in-house cater ing team who work out a prog ramme of meals, providing both var iety and good nutr ition Daily menus are available on the sc hool website We also cater for c hildren who need special diets. Staff eat with the c hildren to promote healthy eating habits, and good manner s are always encouraged

All food leaving the kitc hen is nut free, and we also ask parents not to send in any food that contains nuts or traces thereof. While we under stand that a completely nut-free sc hool cannot be guaranteed, we aim for a whole sc hool awareness of allerg ies, educating all staff and pupils in the signs and symptoms and how to deal with them.

In order to keep energy levels high, we also provide mor ning and after noon snac k, suc h as sandwic hes, cr umpets, banana loaf, c hopped fr uit and vegetables.

MONDAY

Week 1

Cottage Pie Broccoli

Sweet Potato and

Chic k Pea Cur ry

Cheese and Onion

Quic he

New Potato Salad

TUESDAY Week 1

Pasta Bar

Tomato or

Carbonara Sauce

Beef and Vegetable or Quor n and

Vegetable Bur r itos

WEDNESDAY

Week 1

Jac ket Potato

Beans and Cheese

Souther n Type

Quor n Burger s

Wedges and Salad

THURSDAY

Week 1

Gammon

Roast Potatoes

Sweetcor n

Mediter ranean Bake

Beef and Onion

Cobbler, New Potatoes

Green Beans

FRIDAY

Week 1

Fish Finger s

Potatoes, Peas

Leek and Potato Soup

Cheese Straws

Week 2

Pasta Bolognese

Quor n Cowboy

Casserole

Week 2

Chic ken Pie

Steamed Potatoes

Broccoli

Quor n Bolognese

Week 2

Macaroni Cheese

Peas and Sweetcor n

Garlic Bread

Week 2

Roast Turkey

Roast Potatoes

Car rots

Week 2

Cr ispy Cod

Creamed Potatoes

Peas/Mushy Peas

Cheese and Broccoli

Stuffed Jac kets

Ham, Cor n Fr itter s

Garlic Cr umpets

Jac ket Potato

Beans

Cheese House Slaw

Mushroom Pancakes

Minestrone Soup

Croutons

Sausage Roll,

Saute Potatoes, Beans

Pasta Bar

A selection of brown, 50/50 and white rolls are available Mixed salad is on offer as an alter native to vegetables

In addition to traditional school puddings with sugar free custard, we also offer whole and cut fr uit, ber ry pots and fat free yoghur ts

Developing well-infor med, responsible, genuinely car ing and pro-active global citizens is of pr ime impor tance at D u m p t o n . G o o d g l o b a l c i t i z e n s h i p therefore under pins all we do and is t h o r o u g h l y e m b e d d e d w i t h i n o u r cur r iculum and wider school life. Pupils are encouraged to think globally and act locally to make a positive difference to the health of our planet and the lives of those less for tunate than themselves. We have taken steps to tackle each of the 5 global Ear thshot initiatives within o u r l o c a l a r e a b y r e - w i l d i n g a n d r e g e n e r a t i n g o u r s c h o o l g r o u n d s t h r o u g h w i l d f l o w e r m e a d o w a n d woodland planting , practical workshops on how to live and shop sustainably, and eliminating single-use plastic from many areas of school life. We extend this work into our local community by pupils

working alongside the council to regenerate local g reenspaces and play parks. Our pupils have also attained 4 prestig ious Eco Schools Green Flag Awards and the South West of England Environmental Youth Award.

Our pupils take par t in a Hardship Challenge, g iving up their f avour ite luxur ies, screen times and even sleeping on the floor and hand washing their own school unifor m at outside taps to appreciate a little of what life is like in areas of extreme pover ty. They then choose how their sponsor ship money should be spent suppor ting toilet and tap twinning projects around the world and funding life chang ing bic ycles for COOP Afr ica, enabling pupils in Uganda and Kenya to c ycle to school, work and medical centres.

Sustainability & Global Citizenship

Work and initiatives are ongoing for all our pupils and our Spr ing Global Citizenship Day br ings the whole school together to build and focus on key issues that f ace us all as global citizens including water secur ity, Fair trade and its impact, and a detailed look into the problems associated with the Fast Fashion Industr y. The pupils develop and r un their own initiatives including clothing swaps and a pre-loved f ashion s h o w. G l o b a l i s s u e s a r e t a c k l e d realistically and our emphasis is always on a solution-b a s e d a p p r o a c h , w i t h p u p i l s f u l l y i n v o l v e d a n d t a k i n g t h e l e a d i n ever ything we do - You can because you think you can.

Schemes for our biodiver sity are ongoing. Recently, 100 sapling trees were planted around the schools

g rounds to preser ve the natural environment. The allotments have been developed and maintained by keen gardener s in each year g roup, and bird and bat boxes have been installed. A

environment and the issues it f aces is developed through our Geog raphy, S

a

o n cur r iculum and as such, Environmental Responsibility and Sustainable Living (ERSL) under pins all we do. We are, for example, looking to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy supplies for our heating needs.

The Dumpton allotments are a special par t of the sc hool. Ever y c hild gets the c hance to g row their own fr uit or vegetables, and come the Summer Ter m the allotments are teeming

with produce. Spending time potter ing amongst the raised beds, in the company of our troop

of Indian Runner duc ks, provides an impor tant mindful escape from the busy sc hool

environment – for many c hildren, it’ s their favour ite par t of life at Dumpton.

N O R O A D I S L O N G

W I T H G O O D

C O M P A N Y –

D U M P T O N B U S E S

The sc hool r uns buses to a var iety of locations

The routes can vary according to our

parents ’ requirements.

For fur ther infor mation, please email busadmin@dumpton.com

Our fr iendly bus dr iver s are there

to g reet your c hildren and bid them farewell

at the end of their day.

“I feel g reat at the end of eac h sc hool r un knowing that I have delivered my precious cargo safely and securely from home to sc hool and bac k –from the fir st to the last day of ter m.

Tony Dumpton Bus Dr iver

Safeguarding

Our highest pr ior ity at Dumpton is the safety and wellbeing of all our pupils. It is our business to know ever yone as an individual and to provide a secure and car ing environment so that ever y pupil can lear n in safety. We promote and expect respect, good manner s and consideration between all member s of the school community, so that ever y pupil can develop their full potential and feel positive about themselves as a valued individual. Safeguarding is led by a dedicated team of Designated Safeguarding Leads. They, and all staff , regularly receive relevant and up to date training and Dumpton has strong links with local Safeguarding Par tners. The Safeguarding and Child Protection Polic y is on the public area of the school’s website.

Dumpton

Deans Grove House

From Wimbor ne

Take the Cranbor ne Road (B3078) As you leave the town cross two sets of traffic lights After the second, pass a garage on your r ight, cross a r iver, and see the

30mph restr iction signs. Tur n r ight immediately into

Bur ts Hill, then take the second exit on the left by

Wimbor ne Fir st Sc hool At the top of the hill (about

800 metres) you reac h a pub (Hor ns Inn) on your left.

Just after the pub, tur n left into Deans Grove. The sc hool is about 150 metres on your left As you come

into the sc hool, follow the signs for Headmaster ’ s

Visitor s.

From Blandford

Take the B3082, through Tar rant Keyneston and passes

Badbur y Rings. On the outskir ts of Wimbor ne, pass

Queen Elizabeth Sc hool on your r ight and then come to some traffic lights Here, filter left (so that you actually avoid the lights) At the bottom of this road, come to more traffic lights. Tur n left. Pass a garage on your r ight, cross a r iver, and see the 30mph restr iction signs Tur n immediately r ight into Bur ts Hill, then take the second exit on the left by Wimbor ne Fir st Sc hool At the top of the hill (about 800 metres) you reac h a pub (Hor ns Inn) on your left. Just after the pub, tur n left into Deans Grove The sc hool is about 150 metres on your left As you come into the sc hool, follow the signs for Headmaster ’ s Visitor s

From Ringwood (A31)

The A31 is a dual car r iageway but about three miles from Wimbor ne it becomes single car r iageway after a small roundabout. After this stretc h, you reac h a muc h bigger roundabout. Take the last exit (the fifth) signposted to Colehill, Canford Bottom Follow this road for about a mile as it climbs slightly Pass a small parade of shops on your left, then Colehill Post Office on your r ight, then St. Mic hael’ s c hurc h on your left; the road descends Take the next road on the left, signposted to Wimbor ne, called Long Lane After about 150 metres, just before the Hor ns Inn, tur n r ight into Deans Grove. The sc hool is about 150 metres on your left As you come into the sc hool, follow the signs for Headmaster ’ s Visitor s

E N T R Y

R E Q U I R E M E N T S

D e s p i t e o u r s t ro n g a c a d e m i c re c o r d , we a re, p ro u d ly, n o t a n a c a d e m i c a l ly s e l e c t i ve s c h o o l . Our main admissions cr iter ia at Dumpton is to e n s u re t h at c h i l d re n j o i n i n g t h e s c h o o l c a n uphold our values of ‘Be Kind’ and ‘Aim High’

NURSERY

Children can join the Nur ser y after they tur n two Pr ior ity is g iven to c hildren who are reg istered to star t sc hool at Dumpton – the major ity of c hildren in the

Dumpton Nur sery are planning on prog ressing through to the Pre-Prep

PRE-PREP

A number of c hildren join Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 eac h year There is no for mal entr y requirement, but c hildren are encouraged to have a taster mor ning/day.

PREP

Children can join any year in the Prep Sc hool, but the most popular entry points are Year 3, Year 5 and Year 7.

All c hildren are invited to a taster day, after whic h a place will be offered should the c hild meet our admissions cr iter ia.

Admissions

One Step Forward

The fir st step is for parents to tour the sc hool and meet the Headmaster

Following this, pupils can be reg istered

for entr y to Dumpton.

Helping your c hild settle into sc hool life is our main aim Plenty of time is

dedicated to ensur ing that both you and your c hild feel a par t of our sc hool

community from the ver y beg inning

‘I cannot even beg in to express how

deeply impressed my husband and I were

by Dumpton. It was all we talked about

for the three days following our visit!

My husband and I had previously been

told, “if you ’ re staying in Dor set and

consider ing independent, then it’ s

Dumpton or don ’t bother. ” I couldn ’t

ag ree more with this sentiment, your

sc hool is in a league of its own. ’

Prospective Parent

“Dumpton brought the best out in our son, and he left as a more confident and well-rounded young man, ready for the oppor tunities and c hallenges of senior sc hool. The emphasis at Dumpton is on ‘being the best ver sion of your self ’ across all areas: academic; spor ting; creative; per sonal c haracter and resilience, and we loved seeing Jacob’ s g rowth in suc h a conducive and enr ic hing environment. ”

Alex and Esther, parents of Jacob - ex Dumptonian

AVA BROOK STUDYING AT

BRYANSTON SCHOOL

PERFORMING ARTS

SCHOLAR

“Out of all the sc hools I have been to, I have felt the most at home at

Dumpton. It has helped me to succeed in the area that I love, especially the perfor ming ar ts The staff have g iven me the motivation and confidence whic h helped nur ture my talents and enabled me to ac hieve a perfor ming ar ts sc holar ship at Bryanston Sc hool Dumpton ’ s atmosphere has always been very encourag ing and has inspired me to always do my best Thank you so muc h, I will never forget my time at Dumpton ”

Dumpton Alumni

SAM JONES

FOUNDER OF GENER8

“So muc h in life comes down to confidence: the confidence to make fr iends,the confidence to speak to someone who may end up your husband or wife, the confidence to work hard, the confidence to take r isks, the confidence in your own judgement, the confidence to thr ive outside of your comfor t zone, the confidence to star t a business

Alongside these, Dumpton installed in me the most impor tant

confidence of all: the confidence to believe in myself ”

CHARLOTTE KERSEY

STUDYING AT CANFORD

SCHOOL, MUSIC AND

ACADEMIC SCHOLAR

“Dumpton g ives you the oppor tunity to go anywhere and do

anything You have the freedom to explore what you love, in a kind and suppor tive environment Many of the skills I have today I lear ned at

Dumpton but most powerful of all is the attitude ing rained in every

Dumptonian - I can because I think I

can I wish that every c hild could

have a Dumpton education ”

DUMPTON FRIENDS

This is a Parents’ Association whose aim is to promote social events for parents and staff , and to help with specific fund-raising. Events have included: Summer Balls, Autumn Strolls, Easter egg hunts, Quiz Nights, Chr istmas Fayre, Chr istmas Wreath Making , Whole School Picnics. Funds may be raised to suppor t local or national char ities. There is a ver y busy committee drawn from across year g roups. Any parents may stand for election at the annual AGM held in the Autumn Ter m. We use the CLASSLIST app to keep in touch with our Dumpton Community for social events - please ask the School Office for more infor mation.

L I F E A F T E R D U M P T O NS C H O L A R S H I P S A N D

F U T U R E S C H O O L S

Children head off to a range of outstanding senior sc hools from Dumpton. As a Preparatory Sc hool, it is our job to suppor t you with this process.

The Headmaster offer s an individual consultation with parents to discuss senior sc hools options, nor mally the fir st time when your c hild is in Year 4 or Year 5 We offer ongoing advice and guidance, and ensure your c hild is well prepared for any admissions tests, exams or inter views they might face to secure a place at their c hosen sc hool

Canford, Bryanston and Clayesmore are the three most popular destinations, but in recent year s c hildren from Dumpton have prog ressed to sc hools suc h as Sherbor ne, Milton Abbey, Talbot Heath, Wellington College, Millfield, BCS, Ballard and Char terhouse. Some c hildren leave Dumpton at the end of Year 6, usually to join a local g rammar sc hool.

The sc hool ensures that pupils who show talent or interest in a specific area of sc hool life are g iven the best possible c hance of secur ing a sc holar ship, including

Academic , Spor t, Music , Drama, Ar t, DT and All Rounder sc holar ships With a bespoke prog ramme in place to suppor t pupils with their preparation, the sc hool has an enviable record

An up to date list of future sc hool destinations and sc holar ship awards can be found on our website

H I S T O R Y O F T H E S C H O O L

Dumpton has a r ic h history, being founded in 1903 in Broadstair s, Kent as a boys ’ preparatory

boarding sc hool The sc hool’ s pupils were evacuated to Dor set dur ing the Second World War, and the sc hool itself was moved to Cranbor ne Chase in 1945. After a spell at Gaunt’ s House just nor th

of Wimbor ne, the sc hool finally took situ at Deans Grove in 1988. By this time the sc hool had

added a Pre-Prep and become co-educational, and it soon became a thr iving day sc hool The sc hool has gone from strength to strength, g rowing in size to over 300 pupils, and significantly developing the facilities on its site, including, most recently, new Science Laborator ies, a new

Perfor ming Ar ts Centre, and a brand new state of the ar t Spor ts Hall.

OLD DUMPTONIANS

We are always delighted to hear from our Old Dumptonian alumni, and invite as many as possible to sc hool events and reunions.

Images by Paul West Photography

inted by Shelleys of Sherbor ne and is 100%