St Dunstan's College - Senior School Prospectus 2022 - 2023

HEAD’S WELCOME

Translating as ‘Adorn the White’, our College motto, Albam Exorna, is as relevant today as it was at the time of our Lewisham foundation, in 1888. The white shield that serves as three quarters of our College crest is a blank canvas onto which is emblazoned the as-yet-unwritten story of each St Dunstan’s pupil.

We cherish our school of unique characters, each being encouraged to navigate their own journey through life whilst being nurtured to develop the Courage to be who they are, the Creativity to develop new ideas and approaches, the Confidence to try, succeed and fail, the Compassion to understand and appreciate others, and the Curiosity to always want to discover more.

Our vision seeks to capitalise upon the rich and imaginative history of our College without being constrained by it, delivering a deliberately ambitious and forward-thinking approach to education without losing sight of the importance of supporting and inspiring individuality. St Dunstan’s aspires for all our young people to thrive in every way – personally, physically, socially and academically – and the breadth of our curriculum and co-curriculum is entirely designed to support that ambition. Our community makes us who we are – our vibrant and grounded Lewisham location, our rich and inspiring history, our co-educational setting, and our eclectic Dunstonians, near and far – all of this sets the tone for a community that is particularly well positioned to embrace the range of challenge and opportunity presented by the globalised world of which we are now a part.

I hope this prospectus gives you an insight into life at St Dunstan’s, through the voices of some of our current students, as well as all the information you need regarding our curriculum, pastoral care and extensive co-curricular offering. I hope you will be inspired to come and visit for yourselves, and we look forward to welcoming you to the College at an open event in the near future.

Mr Nick Hewlett Head

‘There’s a very clear and coherent vision of what they want to do, both with the curriculum and the local community. The head is asking interesting questions of the sector, including areas like privilege and responsibility, which go beyond the usual platitudes. It’s a really interesting school in a tough market, trying to not just survive but actually make something different for the children and families they’re working with’ - Tes Awards 2022

ST DUNSTAN’S OUR HISTORY

1446

A school has been associated with the parish of St Dunstan’s in the East as far back as the 15th century.

1867

St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation is established by the parishioners of St Dunstan’s in the East in the City of London to create a school capable of accommodating 400 pupils.

1892

St Dunstan’s College is recognised by King’s College London and the London County Council as one of the leading schools in the world for the technical education it offers.

1897

The first group of leavers from the College formalises their regular social gatherings into an official Old Dunstonian Association.

1902

1888

St Dunstan’s College opens its doors in Catford for the first time with 91 boys on roll. 60 boarders join the following summer.

1915

154 former St Dunstan’s pupils participate in the Battle of Loos. Of these, more than 40 are injured and 19 die. This is the largest number of deaths in a single battle for the Dunstonian community.

1903

The school song is written in order to open and close Prize Giving ceremonies.

The Union Society is established as the first recorded co-curricular activity at the College. The Society is divided into three branches; literary and debating, natural history and photography.

1923

Headmaster Forder establishes the first extensive co-curricular programme embedded within the College curriculum.

1919

The House System is revised.

New houses are created - Bennett, Goosey, Griffiths, Johnson, Lane, Ross, Thomas and Wilson - all named after Dunstonians fallen in the Great War.

1914

The House System is introduced and is initially based on the geography of where pupils live.

1909 Officers’ Training Corps (now the Combined Cadet Force) is established.

1934

Improvements to the College infrastructure are made, including heating, running water, a new Dining Hall, and electricity.

1938

The ancient tradition of Beating of the Bounds is revived by Headmaster Usherwood to maintain the connection between the College and the Parish Church associated with its foundation.

1930

The St Dunstan’s Benevolent Fund is established to provide an education for pupils from less privileged backgrounds.

1939

The looming threat of the Second World War forces the College to evacuate south to Reigate while the College grounds are used as a First Aid Station for the War Ministry.

Dunstonian Associatio n

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2012

The Jubilee Ground is purchased; giving the school improved sporting facilities and forging closer links with the local community.

2010

Dunstonian Chuka Umunna becomes MP for Streatham.

2007

Dunstonian Sir Martin Evans is awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in biochemistry.

2006

Dunstonian Alice Bird appears in Notes on a Scandal, alongside Cate Blanchett. A Nursery is added, to the school, welcoming pupils from age three.

1994

2013

To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the College, a whole year of activities are held, beginning with the Head greeting every pupil by hand and ending with the burial of a time capsule.

2015

Head Nick Hewlett relaunches the St Dunstan’s Festival.

2018

The Wellness Centre is officially opened becoming the school’s dedicated hub for student wellbeing.

St Dunstan’s College becomes a fully coeducational school welcoming girls for the first time. The first St Dunstan’s Festival also takes place, quickly becoming known as the ‘Edinburgh Festival of South London’.

1973

The Prep Block opens to accommodate the growing number of pupils on roll at the College.

1971

The Music and Physics Blocks are constructed to support a broader curriculum offering for pupils.

1961

2022

St Dunstan’s College wins Independent Senior School of the Year at the TES Awards. The new Performing Arts Centre also opens with a 170-seat theatre.

2021

The new Junior School building, STEM Centre and Sixth Form Centre are officially opened by Old Dunstonian and Nobel Prize winner, Sir Martin Evans.

2020

St Dunstan’s College wins Co-educational School of the Year at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.

2019

The Independent Schools Inspectorate gives St Dunstan’s an ‘excellent’ rating in an inspection visit. The BBC’s political show, Question Time, is filmed in the College’s Great Hall.

1944

A second temporary relocation of the College to Caerphilly, in Wales, is necessary due to increased V2 rocket attacks on London and the Home Counties.

1955

The College swimming pool is constructed and swimming lessons are made available to all pupils.

The current Refectory opens, pioneering the hyperbolic paraboloid architectural design.

1958

The Sports Pavilion is constructed to provide up to date facilities for the increasing number of sports on offer at the College.

1947

Under new laws, the College becomes completely independent.

A YEAR 7 JOURNEY

‘Before I joined Year 7, I was a bit worried about how I would settle in, but Induction Day was so much fun and I made friends straight away. All the teachers were really kind and I really enjoyed the scavenger hunt where we got to go around all the buildings finding different clues. My form tutor spent time with us in the first week going through our transition passports and looking at our St Dunstan’s shields that we had designed to represent us. It was a nice way to get

to know everyone in my form.

The Bushcraft Trip at the start of the year was amazing. I got to know more people in my year group and we had fun building fires and cooking our dinner on them. I really enjoyed signing up to my first Forder clubs. My favourites are Fun Science and SDC Voices. I got to meet loads of new people in different year groups and learnt new things in a fun way!

I was a bit worried about how I would manage

my homework, but my teachers were really supportive and helped us to build up to the full homework timetable and showed us how to see what we had been set and check it off each day.

There are so many new subjects to enjoy. My favourite subjects are Design Engineering because I love getting to use the different equipment and machines to build my designs and Sport and Exercise Science because I enjoy being part of a team’

Year 7 student

ACADEMIC LIFE AN AMBITIOUS CULTURE OF INDIVIDUALISED LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT

St Dunstan’s College has championed a forward-thinking approach to education for over a century, with the opening vision of our Catford school in 1888 being to provide a curriculum ‘in advance of the present time.’

Our first Headmaster, Charles Maddock Stuart, was a pioneer in heuristic (hands-on) education, designing the College to have science laboratories for students to discover learning themselves, the first school in the country to do so, and to devote significant time to hands-on scientific

practical experiments for students to innovate and ‘do’, rather than passively observe.

St Dunstan’s continued to champion student-led learning before the 20th century, with fieldwork in geography, mathematical applications, and conversation classes in modern foreign languages, so that a St Dunstan’s education would empower students to be active participants in the world. Subsequent headmasters diversified our curriculum further; Frank Forder introduced outdoor activities and

sport into the curriculum, and John Usherwood took great efforts to update the College’s wider facilities to prepare pupils for whatever challenges lay ahead, through a care of students as individuals. William Hecker’s belief in resilience and creativity saw the College thrive during the various evacuations of the Second World War.

Our modern Senior School curriculum builds on the legacy of these four founding headmasters. Students entering the College embark on an educational journey of curiosity,

‘Senior students are efficient and effective independent learners, who grasp every opportunity both within and beyond the curriculum to further their knowledge and understanding’

Independent Schools Inspectorate, 2019

studying a wide range of subjects, enhancing their study skills, and committing to a variety of cocurricular activities, not just in those they arrive more confident in, before specialising in the older years. We believe that this wide-ranging, ambitious, and forward-thinking approach to education sets up a lifetime of inquisitive independence, allowing our students to approach new and challenging concepts with courage and conviction.

As a College, we do not rush to make judgment on individual destinations or talents, but help individuals discover them through their time with us. We know that this liberal approach to education promotes individual self-awareness, and ultimately stronger outcomes in wherever a child’s journey takes them.

Fundamentally, we recognise the importance of teaching the child as an individual; only in this way will students develop the confidence to make positive choices about their futures, drawing on well-developed and wide-ranging knowledge, skills and interests. Above all, we teach our students to think, problemsolve, and be active partners in their learning.

Our innovative culture of Learning Scores - where students are rewarded for their approach to learning and able to influence their termly grades through their own choices - demonstrates our belief that firm foundations of values and attitude lead to later success.

The Hecker Core Curriculum

We teach a broad range of subjects from Year 7 onwards, with students engaging with subject specialists who are passionate about learning and teaching throughout their time in the Senior School.

The Stuart Additional Curriculum

Our independence as a school allows us great opportunities to go beyond the Core Curriculum syllabus; our Additional Curriculum teaches students vital skills for wherever their futures take them, and prepares them for adult life. Our Additional Curriculum covers three key strands of relationships, skills for the future and critical thinking and rhetoric.

The Forder Co-Curricular Programme

Our broad offering of clubs forms a vital part of our education of students, which we proudly cement as a central part of each school day; we encourage our students to engage with new and developing interests throughout their journeys with us, coached and mentored by specialists.

Usherwood Pastoral Programme

Our forward-thinking pastoral care programme develops students’ wellbeing, mental health and resilience; their understanding of neurodiversity; and their compassion for each other and for the community. Our state-of-theart Wellness Centre, home to peer mentoring, counselling and physical and mental health first aid services is the flagship hub for this programme.

THE HECKER CORE CURRICULUM

Students take: English, Mathematics; Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Computer Science; Classics (including Latin); Geography; History; Religion; Philosophy and Ethics; Art; Design Engineering; Drama and Dance; Music; Sport and Exercise Science and Games; and two Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish and Mandarin are all taught from Year 7).

In Year 8, students choose which Modern Foreign Language to take forward in lessons, with some choosing to continue on our accelerated duallinguist track as part of their Forder activities.

In Year 10, students choose 10 GCSEs, including a core of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics through either the Double or Triple Science pathway), and one or two Modern Foreign Languages. The remaining subjects are chosen by students with careful guidance from our teachers and careers department.

We set around an hour of homework each day, this increasing as students continue through the College, and we report regularly to parents on their child’s progress. This is enough to support our high academic ambitions for students, but not so as to stifle the teaching of subjects in all their

richness by the continual measurement of progression data across the curriculum.

Our teaching and learning in classrooms aims to develop intellectual curiosity, literacy, numeracy and digital fluency, and we strive to enhance positive collaboration, independence of mind, and strategies for academic and wider organisation and study.

In line with our founders, the Hecker Core Curriculum is taught by teachers who expect students to think, rather than simply do. In this way, students develop robust skills and habits of learning that will benefit them long after they have achieved the strong grades their classroom endeavour will no doubt merit.

Students in Year 7 explore a wealth of content, from Aristotle to Zoology, studying 17 subjects, each taught in dedicated and specialist classrooms by expert teachers.

‘I really enjoy that when you get into a lesson there is always something to do straight away. My teachers are really supportive and always willing to help’

Year 9 student

‘My teachers will always spend time with me to help and explain things. They encourage me to be more confident and tell me when I have done something well. Learning really feels like a team effort and you are not on your own because there is always someone there to help you’

Year 10 student

THE STUART ADDITIONAL CURRICULUM

Our students learn a wide range of strategies for success in our Additional Curriculum, which is divided into three main strands; relationships, skills for the future and critical thinking and rhetoric. The relationships strand allows students the opportunity to explore how they interact with others and covers areas such as healthy relationships, diversity and equality.

Within skills for the future students learn financial, domestic and digital skills along with considering their

future career aspirations, developing skills and strategies to support their ambitions. In the critical thinking and rhetoric strand, students develop skills in debating, listening to others and evaluating reliability of news sources.

Students also participate in our Opening Minds lecture series, where experts talk on matters outside our schemes of learning, including such topics as conservation, authoring books and psychotherapy.

Our Additional Curriculum also looks

to life beyond St Dunstan’s, and our students are guided through important higher education and careers decisions with support from events such as the annual Careers Symposium, and various Futures Days. UCAS journeys are supported by an extensive programme, underpinned by one-to-one advice.

Each year we mentor students towards successful applications to world-renowned universities and courses, including Medicine, Veterinary Science, and Oxbridge.

Year

student

Adorning the white means looking to the world beyond the curriculum boundaries, and our freedom as an independent school allows us to devote significant teaching time to the teaching of the whole person.

‘I really enjoy Stuart lessons. It is great to learn new things like debating, which gave me confidence in public speaking and researching. Learning how to cook was fun and then we got to use those skills in our DofE expedition’

Recent university destinations include:

Durham University

Imperial College London

King’s College London

London School of Economics and Political Science

Loughborough University

University of Birmingham University of Bristol University College London

University of Cambridge University of Leeds

University of Manchester University of Nottingham University of Oxford

University of Sheffield University of Warwick

Year 9 student

THE LEARNING RESOURCE CENTRE (LRC)

Our LRC is the hub of independent study and learning support within the College. It has a fantastic range of resources to help students delve deeper into topics beyond their lessons, as well as a range of fiction and non-fiction books, digital media and current affairs publications. There is wifi throughout, with spaces and charging facilities for laptops, as well as a suite of desktop computers. Students are welcome to print, photocopy, or else receive specific support from our Graduate-in-Residence, or from one of our team of Academic Mentors.

‘One of my favourite things about St Dunstan’s is the different clubs and activities on offer. I really like that it is student led and we can discuss things that affect us both in school and also the outside world’

THE FORDER CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME

Our second Headmaster, the Reverend Forder, believed passionately that schools should offer more to the education of young people than classroom learning. His educational philosophy was to put the development of health and character above the simple acquisition of knowledge. This led to the introduction of one of the first school programmes of ‘outside activities’, with students staying on three afternoons each week to pursue their passions.

This philosophy still impacts on every student journey. The Forder Programme is the name given to our co-curriculum, because it is a central part of every student experience, and not viewed as ‘extra’ at all. Our community values its importance and shares the view that committing to an ambitious programme is an investment in self. A diverse range of high quality opportunities is available with the stated aim of promoting character development, in its broadest possible context. This is reflected in the way the programme is organised, with each profile based on a College value: Curiosity, Compassion, Creativity, Courage, Confidence and Core

Students can choose from up to 250 different activities each term. In the spirit of our College motto – albam exorna – we are consistent with our expectation that students will ‘adorn the white’. They are ambitious with their planning, continuing to develop current interests whilst having the courage to try new things. Each student has the freedom

Curiosity: Academic Enrichment, Student Societies & Clubs.

Compassion: Charity, Community Service, Volunteering & Leadership.

Creativity: Art, Dance, Design, Drama & Music.

Courage: Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Duke of Edinburgh & Adventurous Activity.

Confidence: Sports Leadership, Directing Team (Productions), Society Leadership, Club Leadership, Volunteering Action Group

Core: Core Sports, Development Sports & Wellness.

to map out their own individual, unique journey by making choices that reflect their own passions and interests, before making a full commitment for the proceeding term. High levels of commitment require support, and we regularly send attendance reports to our pastoral team, who encourage students to reflect on their journey to maximise its impact.

The school day is structured to support the delivery of such an extensive programme, with a timetabled slot after lunch dedicated to co-curricular activity. Whilst most activities take place at this time, there is also a selection of clubs that operate before school from 0715-0815 and after school from 1615-1730. Students who commit to co-curricular options that work towards competitions and performances, such as Sport, Drama, Music and the CCF, will also benefit from opportunities on Saturday mornings. Our Forder prospectus includes much more information about the programme.

‘There are so many different things to do in the Forder programme. I enjoy being able to spend time with different people and it has made me think about what I might like to do in the future when I leave school. I like that I can try new things and also keep doing what I love’

‘There are so many different activities and something for everyone to get involved in. I enjoy music and science activities, where we learn new things but in a fun way’

Year 8 student

USHERWOOD PASTORAL CARE PROGRAMME

It is with this in mind that our Usherwood pastoral care is fully integrated throughout our teaching and learning structure to ensure that we effectively and positively meet the individual personal, social, emotional and academic needs of our students.

We know that strong working relationships between students and the staff who are there to support them are essential and our timetable is structured so that students spend time with their form tutor twice a day. This gives ample time for form

tutors and heads of year to develop positive relationships with students so that they know and understand them as individuals. This time is used by our form tutors for form activities to build strong relationships between members of the form, and for one-toone consultations to review academic progress and personal development.

Students also have timetabled sessions for delivery of a knowledge and skillsbased pastoral programme which focuses on three areas: wellbeing, resilience and mental health;

understanding neurodiversity; and being a compassionate member of the community, both within school and in the wider world.

At St Dunstan’s we structure everything we do around providing first-rate care and support to our students and we encourage our parents and carers to buy into the ethos of forming a team around each child, supporting and raising them to thrive and reach their individual potential.

We recognise that students will thrive when they feel happy and supported.

‘My form tutor is really understanding and is always there to help if I have a problem. I enjoy circle time sessions because we can talk about our ideas and how we feel about important issues’

Year 9 student

THE WELLNESS CENTRE

Pastoral support is provided constantly throughout the College, in classrooms, during co-curricular activities and in the corridors. However, we are also very proud to have a dedicated Wellness Centre. The Wellness Centre provides a hub of services, including the College Nurse, first aid and attendance team, the Chaplaincy, the College counsellor, our Peer Mentors and our Youth Mental Health First Aiders. Additionally, the Wellness Centre provides our students with much-needed break-out space; the large, inviting reception area with its café-style seating is in near-constant use by students during break and lunch times, and during study periods.

We know that some young people have needs that cannot be met through school-sponsored early support, which is why we have built links with outside agencies and charities, including Insight Lewisham and the South London and Maudsley Hospital, to provide additional specialist support where needed.

Strong, supportive relationships are at the heart of our approach to pastoral care, and further contribute to the sense of community felt around the College. We understand that early identification of need and provision of support is critical to prevent mental illness from developing or worsening; to this end, we have undertaken an ambitious programme of training Youth Mental Health First Aiders amongst our teaching and support staff and Sixth Form students. This nationally accredited training programme ensures that students at St Dunstan’s have a number of educated, caring adults and young people, who can listen to students and signpost them to professional support.

‘The staff at the Wellness Centre are really nice. It helps to know there is always someone there for you if you need help’

Year 7 student

MEETING INDIVIDUAL PUPIL NEEDS

All students at St Dunstan’s College are supported and challenged throughout their journey in order that they can thrive, and are supported by teachers where there are any individual student needs, be they from an educational, medical, or pastoral background.

Our principle is to ensure that all students are able to thrive within the College, partaking in all that we offer. We passionately believe that students learn best when included within activities, and that students can see their learning taken further beyond the classroom through a variety of ambitious enrichment opportunities.

In the Senior School, there is a dedicated Learning Support Coordinator, overseen by our College Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo), both of whom work closely with our College Nurse who coordinates our medical register and Individual Healthcare Plans and with our pastoral teams. We also have our

Head of Scholars and Deputy Head Academic, who work with our academic departments to ensure students are stretched and challenged through ambitious lessons and enrichment activities. We communicate regularly with students and parents with any individual pupil need to ensure that our approach is personalised for each context, and to feed into our tailoring of teaching to best include students into the busy life of St Dunstan’s. Our teachers are proud of their inclusive teaching, making purposeful adjustments to their classrooms and activities in line with Learning Support Profiles, Individual Healthcare Plans or other recommended strategies.

‘Throughout the school, pupils develop a wide range of academic, creative, physical and practical skills, as a result of the College’s leadership team, who seek to give every individual a chance to work out the person they want to be’

FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS

St Dunstan’s was re-founded in Catford in 1888, but its origins stretch much further back than this.

Originally positioned next to the now ruined church of St Dunstan’s in the East, the College’s strong connections with the City of London and the parish church of All Hallows by the Tower in particular, go back to the 15th century.

We pride ourselves on being forward thinking, whilst still understanding the importance of remembering our rich history and time-honoured traditions. Events are scheduled throughout the year, which present valuable opportunities for the College community to gather and celebrate. Whether it is our Commemoration Day service at Southwark Cathedral, when we commission a train to take all staff and pupils to London Bridge; the ancient ‘Beating of the Bounds’ ceremony in the City of London; or

our annual service of Remembrance, we remember our historic roots and learn about the foundation of the College. Our year ends on a high with the St Dunstan’s Festival – a twoweek celebration of creativity and our diverse community. These events, and others, form the highlights of our College calendar and keep us rooted in the traditions of a community of which we are proud to be a part.

Parade was one of the highlights of my time at St Dunstan’s. It was really moving to see all the poppies and have the whole school come together to remember’

Year 13 student

‘Leading the CCF Remembrance

‘

The Festival is so much fun and really brings the whole community together.

I loved performing in the big events like High School Musical and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but the smaller events and workshops were really interesting too and I was able to learn new skills’

Year 8 student

TRIPS, EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURES

Each year we offer a broad range of trips to students of all ages to support the development of life skills, increase cultural understanding, bring academic subjects to life and create memorable, formative experiences. Whilst the nature of these trips varies significantly in terms of size and scope, each one helps our students to develop a true understanding of the world of which they are a part.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Combined Cadet Force provide students with regular opportunities to get out on adventures and work as part of a team whilst exploring the great outdoors. This sits alongside our Adventurous Training programme which runs regular, smaller-scale

adventurous activity expeditions, such as climbing, mountain biking and kayaking.

Our academic departments take every opportunity to bring their subjects to life, and each year we offer an exciting programme of regular day and ‘short-stay’ trips. We are fortunate to be located within a short train ride of all that London has to offer and our art, music and drama students take regular trips to the world-famous galleries, theatres and concert venues that we are so lucky to have on our doorstep. Our St Dunstan’s linguists take weekends away and immerse themselves in the cultures that they are learning about, taking advantage of the opportunities to practise their

speaking and comprehension.

Our scientists and geographers put their classroom learning to the test, seeking to prove or disprove theories on field trips and expeditions, our historians visit sites of historical significance and our sport department take students to sporting events and fixtures so that they can soak up the atmosphere and dream of being there one day.

We are also fortunate to be able to offer students longer and more immersive trips to locations slightly further afield. More recent examples have included a sports tour to South Africa, a Geography trip to Iceland and a scholars’ exchange to India.

Our commitment to creating opportunities for learning, self-development and growth outside of the classroom is not limited to the Forder Programme.

‘The Iceland trip was the highlight of the year. We got to climb a glacier, the view from the top was amazing. The waterfalls were beautiful and I learnt so much about the volcanoes and geography of Iceland’

‘The Adventure Week trip was really good for team building, making our friendships even closer. I liked learning skills for the DofE expedition - things I hadn’t done before like coasteering and fishing’

TOMORROW’S LEADERS TODAY

There are a number of leadership opportunities and positions of responsibility throughout a St Dunstan’s student’s career.

From College Parliament to Prefecture, chairing a Society, to becoming an instructor in the Combined Cadet Force - there are many ways in which students can become more involved in the areas of College life that most interest them. We greatly value the outstanding contribution our students make to student-led societies and actively encourage and support them across the College as they take their first steps as leaders.

We feel very strongly that our students should have a real say in the development of the school environment and be able to provide

feedback to help us tailor and improve the academic and pastoral care we offer. Students of all ages engage in the process of school improvement through our College Parliament. From Year 7 through to Sixth Form, our Form Representatives, Year Group Councils and College Parliament provide a vehicle for bringing students’ ideas to life, whilst helping them to better understand governance and British democracy. Each year culminates in a summit where student representatives from across the College meet to discuss and agree the student priorities for the upcoming academic year.

Year 7 student

‘I have really enjoyed being the form rep for my tutor group this year. It was good to be able to speak about important issues at school and share what we have been able to achieve with my form group’

OUR HOUSE SYSTEM COMPETITION FOR ALL

Each individual is allocated to a house upon arrival, and they become a part of a team, with representatives from all year groups and the staff. This community will be one of their best opportunities to collaborate with other members of the wider College community, outside of their own class and year group.

Aside from the sense of community that it creates, another key characteristic of house activity at St Dunstan’s is student leadership. Throughout the year, each house meets regularly to celebrate recent successes and prepare for future

events. Students play a leading role not just in competition, but also in all planning and preparation. Staff support student leaders, not the other way around. Under the stewardship of a Head of House and a team of staff, Senior House Captains take the lead, working with elected representatives from each year group to ensure that each and every student has the opportunity to make a full contribution.

The programme itself is broad and diverse. All events are inclusive and enjoyable, but the emphasis of each one is slightly different. The first event all Year 7 students

participate in is Silly Sports Day; for many their first opportunity to work closely with students outside of their form and the start of the team building process. House Drama, House Music and House Art provide many students with the opportunity to showcase their talents in high profile final performances whilst also mentoring other house representatives, to ensure that the team and not just the individual are successful. House Debating and House Quiz are always hard fought and hosted in front of large student audiences, and then the competition builds to a crescendo finishing with Sports Day; an event that every student is part of.

Results and significant achievements are updated regularly, and then announced in the final assembly each term. Each contribution that is made could be the difference to who lifts the prestigious cup.

‘The house competitions this year have been so much fun. I enjoyed performing the house drama competition and it was fun to work with the Year 12 students. House music was my favourite event because the whole house was on stage together singing with our banner’

Year 7 student

Forder, Hecker, Stuart and Usherwood were the names of the first four Headmasters at St Dunstan’s, but also students know them as the names of each of our four houses.

SCHOOL GROUNDS

St Dunstan’s College is ideally positioned: within 15 minutes by train from London Bridge or Charing Cross, it is set in 40 acres of land across two sites, accessible within walking distance. Our magnificent historic buildings, dating back to our 1888 foundation, sit comfortably alongside the most recent 21st century developments.

Great Hall

The Great Hall of St Dunstan’s is the physical and symbolic heart of the College. It has had extensive renovation in recent years including a new organ, sound and lighting system. The Great Hall serves multiple purposes for our College and wider community, including regular assemblies, events, musicals and plays. It is also the home to the permanent memorial to the hundreds of Dunstonians who lost their lives in the Great Wars. The magnificent stained glass, depicting the varied life of St Dunstan, is a wonderful focal point for our work at the College.

STEM Centre for Excellence and Innovation

The school’s first head, Charles Maddock Stuart, was a pioneer in heuristic education, designing the college to have science laboratories for students to discover learning for themselves. St Dunstan’s was one of the first schools in the country to have laboratories and to devote significant time to hands-on scientific practical experiments for students to innovate and ‘do’, rather than passively observe.

In September 2021, the doors opened to our £25million STEM Centre for Excellence and Innovation, which is home to our Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology), Design Engineering and Mathematics departments, as well as our Sixth Form Centre.

This includes 12 state-of-the-art laboratories across two floors, engineering workshops with laser cutters and 3D printers, and mathematics classrooms. Our STEM Centre is connected to the Junior School with a stunning glass atrium.

Performing Arts Centre and Theatre

In March 2022, our Performing Arts Centre was officially opened. Drama, Music and the Performing Arts are highly valued at St Dunstan’s College. We are fortunate to work with an enthusiastic, committed and ambitious student body. Our Performing Arts Centre is home to all three departments and features large studios, practice rooms, LAMDA spaces and a MAC classroom for musical tech. The Performing Arts Centre also is home to our 170-seat theatre which stages large-scale productions, conferences and community events.

Learning Resource Centre

Juxtaposing new and contemporary thinking with a rich heritage, is at the heart of what makes St Dunstan’s unique. Our Learning Resource Centre fuses the traditional library with digital resources and dedicated collaborative and silent study spaces, as well as facilities for academic enrichment and specialist support.

State-of-the-art classrooms

In 2018 we began a rolling programme of classroom refurbishments, modernising these essential spaces with innovative technology, furniture and fittings, whilst retaining the beauty of their 130-year-heritage.

Wellness Centre

St Dunstan’s has developed a unique, dedicated facility known as the Wellness Centre, to serve as a hub for student mental and physical health services. The Wellness Centre – historically known as The Pavilion –is home to First Aid and medical support, counselling, peer mentoring, chaplaincy support, and also features spaces for students to be still and reflect.

Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool

Students have access to a wide range of sporting opportunities across both our sites, both for competitive sport, training and for leisure. Our sporting facilities include two large playing fields on the main College site, a sports hall, gym and fitness studio and a 31 metre indoor swimming pool.

Climbing and Bouldering Walls

As part of our extensive adventurous training offer, the College has its dedicated climbing and bouldering walls. One is a lead climbing wall made from real rock, including crack climb and abseil ledges. The second, donated by the Friends of St Dunstan’s, is a moonboard made for bouldering. It is fitted with an LED system and is fully Bluetooth compatible, allowing students to create their own routes and challenges.

Jubilee Ground

In addition to the facilities contained on our main school site, the College also owns the Jubilee Ground – 23 acres of playing fields in the centre of Catford, a three-minute walk from the College site. Students have access to natural cricket, football and rugby pitches as well as a number of high-quality MUGAs (Multi-use Games Areas) providing opportunities to play hockey, football, netball and rugby.

Ecology Pond

The Senior School ecology pond is located on the top field with breath-taking views of the College site. The pond is used by the Biology Department for outside lessons and is looked after by the Ecology Club who have planted native species hedgerows. The club aim to increase biodiversity on the College site, and the area has been fitted with bird feeders and a camera to watch the area flourish with wildlife.

The Plaza

The Plaza, located in the centre of the College site, is a multi-recreational outdoor space for students and staff to enjoy. Opened in September 2021, and named by the students, the Plaza is still being developed and will eventually include a mixture of hard and soft landscaping and multi-purpose recreational spaces. The outdoor space is available for the College community to enjoy throughout the day.

Dunstonian Office and Archives

St Dunstan’s is very proud of its long and prestigious history, but is not constrained by it. Our thriving archives are accessible to students, staff and alumni and supports educational projects, as well as serving as a broader nostalgic purpose.

ADMISSIONS

Students who wish to enter the Senior School at St Dunstan’s College can do so at 11+ (entry in Year 7). Occasionally places become available at different entry points and we consider applicants as and when places become available.

At 11+, candidates sit a series of online Independent School Examination Board (ISEB) assessments relating to English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning in the January of Year 6. These online aptitude tests are adaptive and take into account the age of the applicant.

Students can only sit these tests once in an academic year preceding our January entrance test. In addition, all candidates will participate in a lesson to observe approach to learning, collaboration and critical thinking followed by a written assessment with comprehension and a persuasive writing task.

Finally, to round off the experience, all candidates stay for a delicious lunch prepared by our caterers, Holroyd Howe. Given the nature of our online and lesson-based assessments, we are not able to offer alternative assessment dates. It is also worth noting that a school reference is requested from the applicant’s current school.

Key dates for entry into Year 7 in September 2023

(All details can be found in our separate Admissions booklet):

Online Registration Deadline: Friday 25 November 2022 (1600)

Bursary Application Deadline: Friday 2 December 2022 (1600) Assessment Day (ISEB session): Thursday 5 January 2023

Assessment Day (Lesson & English paper): Monday 9 January 2023

Interviews

General Interviews: week commencing 23 January 2023

Academic Scholarship: Saturday 21 and 28 January 2023

Art Scholarship:Friday 20 or Saturday 21 January 2023

Drama Scholarship: Friday 27 January 2023

Music Scholarship: Friday 20 or Saturday 21 January 2023

Sport Scholarship: Thursday 26 and Friday 27 January 2023

Offer Letters sent electronically: Friday 10 February 2023

Deadline Acceptance: Friday 3 March 2023 (1600)

Scholarships

St Dunstan’s College offers various Scholarships for Senior School students. At 11+ Academic and Co-Curricular Scholarships are available, with each Scholarship being either minor (10% fee remission) or major (25% fee remission). Students are able to hold multiple Scholarships, with a maximum 35% remission. Scholarships are awarded with the intention that they are held by the student throughout their time in the Senior School.

All applicants to the College at 11+ are automatically considered for an Academic Scholarship; there is no separate application process. Following the assessment day, selected applicants are invited to attend specific Academic Scholarship group interviews with our teachers, and usually are in Mathematics and English, as well as a general interview. There is no specific preparation required for these. Academic Scholars at St Dunstan’s have access to an additional Scholarship Programme, overseen by our Head of Scholars, with various trips and excursions to places of educational interest. Scholars are also supported and mentored through regular meetings with senior staff.

We offer Co-Curricular Scholarships at 11+ entry in Art, Music, Drama, and Sport for applicants who show exceptional talent and potential in these areas of College life. Co-Curricular Scholars have access to additional support, training, and programmes as part of their Scholarship, and are mentored by named specialists within the respective department. Please refer to the website for further details on how to apply for these competitive and prestigious awards. Academic and CoCurricular Scholarships are also available for Sixth Form entry, with full details available in our Sixth Form Prospectus and on our website.

Bursaries

The College is committed to offering as many means-tested (Bursary) places as it possibly can at 11+ so that families who could not otherwise send their children to an independent school may be able to do so.

Typically, both parents need to be in employment, unless they are prevented from being so, and they are both required to provide proof of their income and assets. The level of support varies according to parental need but can extend to full fee remission in some cases. A bursary can also be awarded in addition to a scholarship.

To qualify for consideration for a bursary, the gross family income must be below £75,000 per annum. Each case is assessed on its own merits and awards are made accordingly. Every year, the number of bursary applicants greatly exceeds the amount of funding available –bursaries are therefore awarded on the basis of academic merit.

To assist in reviewing all bursary applications, we use an external company to produce bursary financial reports as well as conduct home visits, in some cases.

Bursaries are offered for a whole academic year but are reviewed annually. Bursaries are only offered to families who are resident in the UK.

Please visit our website to read our full Admissions Policy and Further Guidance for more details.

Fees

Part of the acceptance of a place at St Dunstan’s College is the payment of a deposit of £1250. This deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances.

Fees are reviewed annually by Governors and any increase is kept to an absolute minimum. Fees for the year ahead are confirmed each year at the end of the Lent Term (around Easter time). Fees cover the cost of normal tuition as well as most books and stationery. Costs for lunches and voluntary items such as individual music lessons, are additional.

For entry in September 2022, fees are as follows:

Senior

DISCOVER ST DUNSTAN’S

VISITING THE COLLEGE

Discover St Dunstan’s

Whole College event

Saturday 24 September 2022

Our Open Day showcases everything that St Dunstan’s College has to offer. Families will be able to visit our facilities, meet staff and current students and take part in a variety of activities to help understand what makes St Dunstan’s so unique.

Discovery Mornings

During the Michaelmas and Trinity Terms we offer the opportunity to visit the College as part of a small group tour during the school day. This is an opportunity to see the school day in action, view our facilities and visit lessons, as well as hear from members of our Senior School Leadership Team.

Virtual Events

There will be a series of virtual events with the Senior School Leadership Team for prospective families to join from the comfort of their own home. These will offer an opportunity to hear more about the College and ask any specific questions you may have about life at St Dunstan’s College.

Year 5 Experience Day

Every year in the Trinity Term, we welcome Year 5 families to come to St Dunstan’s on a Saturday in order to have a hands-on experience at the College and to discover more about our rich academic and co-curricular life. The dates will be released in March 2023.

Please check our website regularly for updates on how to join us at our open events.

The best way to be able to understand our values and ethos and to see what life is like at St Dunstan’s College is to visit us in person. We would encourage all families considering an application for 11+ entry to book on to one or more of our open events.

Stanstead Road, London

co-educational, independent College for ages

www.stdunstans.org.uk

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An ambitious, forward-thinking community that inspires and supports individuals to thrive

www.stdunstans.org.uk