Principal Speaks – Dilworth School: an

Dilworth School: an education unlike any other

Dilworth School is based in Auckland and is like no other school or indeed educational facility in New Zealand or the world.

Such a bold statement needs teasing out and much of Dilworth School uniqueness and special character relates to the life and times of the founders, James and Isabella Dilworth. The Dilworth Trust currently provides up to 640 scholarships per year, at an average cost of $35,000 per student per year. This all stems from the original bequest of James Dilworth, whose vision became the reality that is now Dilworth School.

Dilworth today – transforming boys’ lives

In 2018, Dilworth is a single school that operates on three separate campuses: Junior Years 5 to 8, Year 9 (Rural at Mangatawhiri), and Senior Years 10 to 13.

Dilworth provides an all-round education for young men from disadvantaged backgrounds to live, learn, play sport, develop their performing skills and be nurtured pastorally and spiritually in a fully funded, modern boarding school environment. In short, the criteria each boy is selected on is family need and suitability for boarding – that is, the ability for a young man to live harmiously in close proximity with others. The aim is to provide a wraparound care and education package for each individual student. There are now 640 full time boarders on a Dilworth Scholarship. There are no day students, and the school roll is made up of students from many parts of the North Island, not just the Auckland isthmus.

The pastoral care and welfare of boys are vital to their success in many other areas of life, not least academic achievement, and this is a significant focus for staff and resourcing. Many of our students are helped in their own personal lives to come to terms with family loss, diff iculties relating to financial circumstances, and, in particular, the need for people from all backgrounds to work and live well and positively together.

The school continues to follow the principles laid down in The Dilworth Will, recognising that many of these are as relevant today as they were 112 years ago, but also acknowledging that times are changing fast, and the school must be forward looking as well as historically reflective, to make sure students are fully equipped for life in a challenging, fast changing, technological age.

Rural Campus – Te Haerenga

The establishment of the Rural Campus (Te Haerenga) in 2012 for Year 9 boys was an example of vision and adapting to the needs of young men by ensuring the Dilworth journey encompassed allround life skills. Approximately 100 Year 9 boys live in a rural setting (Mangatawhiri, 60 minute drive from Auckland CBD) where, as well as completing the Year 9 academic curriculum, boys are also provided with real opportunities to live, work, and actively contribute to their environment. And a beautiful environment it is!

Boys live in cabins of ten and are responsible for their own needs and of others.

Managing oneself includes: operating a washing machine; cleaning the toilet; chopping firewood; working in the kitchen to ensure the community is well fed; outdoor educational opportunities which involve leading others; teamwork and basic bush survival. It is an appropriately challenging environment but exceptionally wellresourced, with qualified teachers and outdoor instructors.

A short history

James Dilworth was born in Northern Ireland in August 1815. He was chosen by a relative, who was responsible for his upbringing, to travel across the world with some of her money in the hope of adding to this this for himself and possibly his extended family.

The young Dilworth was educated at The Royal School in Dungannon and then, after a few years working in banking, he departed County Tyrone for Australia. A short time later, in 1841, he arrived in Auckland and decided to settle there, purchasing land, developing his business interests and occasionally bringing out other members of his family.

In 1853 James Dilworth married Isabella Hall, the daughter of another family of Ulster-born settlers. James and Isabella had no children of their own. Consequently, when he died in December 1894, his Will left the bulk of his considerable wealth in trust to establish a school for boys – “orphans, the sons of widows, or the sons of persons of good character, and of any race, in straitened circumstances” – so that they might be educated to become “good and useful” members of society.

James Dilworth

A multi-cultural school

Given the criteria in the Will of “straitened circumstances”, it is not surprising that the school is multi-cultural, with an ethnic diversity that enriches the whole community.

Whilst all students must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, the roll reflects the developing diversity in New Zealand society, and in particular groups who are underachieving in social and financial terms as well as in school and tertiary participation and achievement.

The roll is a positive and energetic mix of Pakeha, Maori, Pasifika, Asian, African and non-NZ Europeans. Students’ backgrounds are celebrated, but they themselves talk about “the brotherhood”, which transcends distinctions of race and ethnicity. Given the way our world is developing – as a global village – this dimension of the school strengthens the opportunities for our students to become well adjusted and accepting of others as adults.

Despite the disadvantages, Dilworth students from traditionally underperforming groups in New Zealand society perform significantly above national averages across all levels of NCEA, and retention of students, as well as moves to further education and training is the norm for our leavers. Dilworth boasts a former Governor General, Sir David Beattie; a Prime Minister Honourable Mike Moore; several Members of Parliament and a number of distinguished leaders in business, education, medicine, sports and culture.

Boarding and boys education

The sense of particular respect and pride that students feel in their school community is undoubtedly enhanced by the fact that all are boarders. The ability to effect change and development in this environment is tremendous. Boarding ensures we have a captive audience, where boys (and staff) can focus on nurturing all-round talents, rather than contending with outside pressures that so many young people have to contend with, such as holding down an after-school job to support the family or attending multiple schools and frequently moving house.

One of our core beliefs, in a fatherless society, is addressing the needs of boys, both inside and outside the classroom. The captive audience nature of boarding also ensures that ‘our boys’ have a sense of order and routine.

One boy captured this for me succinctly and appropriately when asked what he enjoyed about Dilworth. His response “I know what’s happening tomorrow”. Dilworth provides a stark contrast for many young men, whose daily lives are complicated and stressful.

What else works for boys and helps them to flourish? Boarding again. We ensure the boys are well fed, sufficient sleep, regular attendance at school, plenty of personal and playground space, regular chapel and assemblies, small classroom sizes and a contemporary uniform all adds to that sense of belonging and nurture.

Maximum participation is expected, whether it is sporting and cultural activities, or spiritual matters. Competition is also a driving force for young men and I derive great joy as a leader to see young men enjoy the performing arts in equal measure with sport.

A number of our rugby players at the Senior Campus, competing in the very challenging Auckland 1A rugby competition, are also in the Big Sing National Group-Singing competition. Our Dilworth choir, Fortissimo, reached the National Finale of the Big Sing three times in recent years.

At the time of writing this article, the current government is focusing on reducing child poverty. I suggest that a Dilworth education goes a significant way to taking young men and their families out of poverty, all thanks to the incredible generosity of the founders, James and Isabella Dilworth.

By Donald MacLean,

Principal, Dilworth School

Word of mouth

Word of mouth continues to be the primary means by which the Dilworth story is told, and in particular teachers and principals reading this article, will no doubt have young boys and their families in mind that may benefit from a Dilworth education.

Our primary intake is Years 5 & 7, and a very small intake in Year 9.

We have two open mornings in 2018 – Saturday 24th February and Friday 23rd March, and for further information about applications or the Dilworth story, please go to the website: www.dilworth.school.nz.