Dulwich College Review 2026: Elite Education with Four Centuries of Heritage

Edward Alleyn, the actor who premiered Christopher Marlowe's greatest works at the Rose Theatre on London's Bankside, founded this school in 1619 as an act of thanksgiving for his theatrical success. Four centuries later, drama remains at the college's heart, though the ambition has broadened dramatically. Dulwich College occupies 75 acres of Dulwich Common in a Grade II* listed campus designed by Charles Barry Junior (the architect's son) in 1870. The school admits boys and girls across an all-through structure from age 18 months through 19 years. Academic results place it in the elite: 77% of GCSE grades achieved 9-8, while 87% of A-level students secured A*-B grades (FindMySchool ranking 31st in England for GCSE, 81st for A-levels). In 2024, 20 students secured Oxbridge places from 86 applications, with particular strength at Oxford. The school balances uncompromising academics with music (170 boys learn woodwind or percussion), drama (50 productions annually), and sport across 15+ disciplines. Boarding is available from Year 3 onwards, and the school maintains an international outlook through its network of partner institutions across Asia. Fees for day pupils from Year 3 upwards are £10,164 per term; weekly boarding is £20,020 per term.

Step through the gates at Dulwich Common and the architectural layering becomes immediately apparent. The soaring red-brick Barry Buildings, with their triangular gables and ornamental turrets, stand as the ceremonial heart. Beyond them, the modern Laboratory building (winner of architectural awards) houses 18 science labs and speaks to the school's commitment to contemporary excellence. The 75 acres of grounds provide playing fields, courts, and the calm that comes from space and tradition.

The atmosphere blends formality with genuine intellectual hunger. Robert Milne became Master in September 2025, bringing experience from Emanuel School where he had developed a co-educational, academically ambitious culture. Before him, Dr Joe Spence led the school since 2009, overseeing expansion of bursary support to 214 pupils. The school's values (curiosity, integrity, and service) are not marketing language but genuinely embedded in daily practice. Boys address staff by name after their first few weeks; staff know the details of each pupil's ambitions. The boarding community comprises multiple nationalities, which shapes the cultural tone markedly. Day and boarding students mix fully in academics and co-curricular life.

The chapel, originally consecrated in 1616 before the school buildings were even complete, remains the spiritual centre. Music rehearsals, school assemblies, and major events anchor themselves in this sacred space. The library system is extensive: the Wodehouse Library for older pupils, Raymond Chandler Library for the Lower School (ages 11-13), and the Junior School Library (ages 7-11) are named after alumni, linking the present to distinguished former students.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, the school achieved exceptional GCSE results that position it among England's highest-performing institutions. 77% of all GCSE grades were 9-8 (the highest bands), and 92% achieved grades 9-7 combined. This places Dulwich College 31st (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the elite and outperforming 99% of schools in England. Locally, within Southwark, the school ranks 2nd. The Progress 8 measure (which tracks individual pupil progress from their starting points) is substantially above average, indicating that the school adds significant value to pupil attainment regardless of intake ability.

The breadth of subjects exceeds what many independent schools offer: alongside traditional academics, boys study Classics (including Latin to advanced level), modern languages including Mandarin, and multiple sciences taught separately.

A-Level Performance

A-level results reflect similar strength. 68% of grades achieved A*/A, with 87% securing A*-B (grades 9-7 equivalent). The school ranks 81st in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the national high and positioning it within the top 3% of schools. The breadth of curriculum continues: music, history of art, Russian, and classical Greek sit alongside engineering, economics, and further mathematics.

The school's A-Level Plus programme, unique to sixth form, embeds multidisciplinary study into the academic experience, requiring all pupils to undertake extended projects that bridge departments.

University Destinations

61% of leavers progress to university (2024 cohort), with the remainder entering employment or further education. Beyond the 20 Oxbridge acceptances, leavers regularly secure places at Russell Group universities including Imperial College, Durham, Edinburgh, and Bristol. The school maintains strong pipelines to specific professional pathways: in 2024, 18 students secured medicine places, and engineering draws consistent strength. The university placement reflects not just strong academics but also the school's embedded focus on aspiration, careers conversations begin in Year 9.

The academic programme is structured around rigorous specialist teaching. In the junior school (Years 3-6, ages 7-11), every pupil learns a string instrument through the bespoke Year 3 Strings Scheme, specialising in Colourstrings. This ensures musical literacy from early years. Mathematics is taught with emphasis on depth: pupils tackle problem-solving and reasoning rather than procedural rote. Sciences are taught separately from Year 7, enabling specialist teachers to engage at greater sophistication.

The school explicitly teaches learning skills alongside content. Teachers employ evidence-based strategies: metacognitive approaches help pupils understand how they learn best, spacing and retrieval practice strengthen long-term retention, and extended writing develops conceptual thinking. The curriculum includes philosophy and ethics alongside traditional subjects, encouraging pupils to engage with ideas rather than absorb facts.

For sixth formers, the A-Level Plus programme stands out. Every student undertakes a substantial independent investigation project, often spanning subjects, for example, a historian might collaborate with a philosopher to explore ethics in conflict, or a physicist with an engineer to design sustainable infrastructure. This cultivates genuine intellectual curiosity and trains the independent thinking that university demands. Class sizes in the sixth form typically sit below 12 for A-levels, enabling seminar-style discussion.

Music: A Defining Strength

Over 250 boys receive piano lessons at the college or at London conservatoires. The college maintains 30 high-quality pianos and two organs on campus, including a Steinway Model B grand piano in the Old Library and a Bosendorfer Imperial in the Great Hall. Nearly 170 boys learn woodwind or percussion instruments individually.

The orchestral landscape is sophisticated. The Symphony Orchestra, the flagship ensemble for advanced musicians, rehearses to perform at major London venues including Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, and St John's Smith Square. The Chamber Orchestra comprises the school's most advanced string players regardless of age, and recent repertoire includes works by contemporary composers. The Concert Orchestra, with approximately 40 boys ranging from Grades 2-6, focuses on training and enjoyment. The Big Band performs in the traditional big band format with roughly 25 Grade 6-7 standard musicians. The Britten String Ensemble, named after the composer, serves younger or less advanced players. Additionally, the Purcell String Orchestra functions as a training orchestra for developing musicians; the College Brass Consort gathers the strongest brass players in the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble tradition; and a Dixieland ensemble performs traditional music.

The Chapel Choir comprises approximately 40 choral scholars, and the Concert Choir features every Year 7 student. A Madrigal Choir provides open access to singing.

Performances happen regularly throughout the year: lunchtime concerts, chamber music recitals, formal concerts in major halls, and masterclasses with acclaimed professionals. Recent visiting performers have included legendary trumpet virtuoso Crispian Steele-Perkins and renowned pianists such as Vanessa Latarche. The annual Winter Concert, held at prestigious venues like Cadogan Hall, features multiple ensembles performing repertoire ranging from classical masterworks to contemporary pieces.

Drama: A Living Tradition

The Edward Alleyn Theatre (the EAT), designed by architect Tim Foster to a courtyard plan, is a celebrated, influential building in constant use. The college hosts 50 or more theatrical events annually within it. Every year dozens of boys participate in productions that range from house drama festivals (24 performance pieces total, produced across three festivals annually) to major school productions.

The junior school runs annual productions for each year group, Year 3 performs a full-length play together, Year 4 presents the annual Christmas production, Year 5 create an original piece in two days with external artist support, and Year 6 performs a musical in the Edward Alleyn Theatre. The lower and middle schools produce regular house drama performances. The upper school stages ambitious productions including recent examples of classical plays, contemporary scripts, and original work.

The school maintains close ties with the Rose Theatre Trust, and upper school pupils participate in workshops on the excavated footings of the original Elizabethan playhouse where Alleyn performed. Year 10 boys engage with the National Theatre New Views writing project, collaborating with professional playwrights to develop original scripts. Recent initiatives have included R&D workshops with artistic associates of the Almeida Theatre.

Sports: Breadth and Excellence

The sports programme comprises rugby, football (soccer), cricket, hockey, athletics, badminton, basketball, cross country, cycling, fencing, golf, rowing, squash, swimming, tennis, and water polo. Twenty-five sports are available (FindMySchool data), and 75% of pupils represent the school at competitive level in at least one sport.

Rowing deserves particular mention. The Dulwich College Boat Club operates from a modern, fully equipped boathouse at Putney on the Thames. The club has produced four British champion crews (2001, 2008, 2014 British Rowing Championships and 2016 Schools' Head of the River Race). Rowing begins competitively in Year 9, and the school offers training camps and international rowing tours. An ergo room in the PE Centre enables land training during winter months.

Rugby holds deep historical significance. The college played its first fixture against City of London School in 1859, 12 years before the Rugby Football Union was founded. Since then, over 30 Old Alleynians have played at full international level, with three becoming British and Irish Lions. Between 2012 and 2014, Dulwich won the Natwest Schools Cup (formerly the Daily Mail Cup) three times in consecutive years, a remarkable achievement.

The sports facilities are extensive: a sports centre complex housing a sports hall, gym, and 25-metre swimming pool; 70 acres of grounds providing numerous pitches; the Trevor Bailey Sports Ground (a 5-minute walk away); multiple tennis courts, squash courts, and an athletics track. The school also operates Dulwich College Sports Club, open to the local community, which features additional facilities including astroturf pitches and dedicated fitness studios.

Clubs and Societies: A Culture of Initiative

Over 130 clubs and societies operate across the college, run by students for students. The union holds annual fairs where pupils new to the school meet club representatives. Examples include the Debating Society (which competes in England and internationally, winning the Oxford Union Debating Competition in 2014, 2015, and 2016; the Cambridge Union Schools Debating Competition in 2014, 2015, and 2018; and the ESU Schools Mace Competition in 2014 and 2015), Chemistry Extension Club, Model United Nations (which has competed at multiple international conferences including at the London School of Economics), Chemistry Advanced Problem Solving (CAPS) Club, the Physics, Engineering and Formula One Society, the Investment Society, Psychology Society, and numerous others. Subject-specific societies include the History Society, Economics Society, and Biology Breakfast Club. Creative societies span LitSoc, the Art Society, the Architecture Society, the Chameleon Creative Writers group, and the Dismantling Society. The Alleynian magazine, first published in 1873 and edited at one point by P.G. Wodehouse in his final year, continues as the school publication. Technical interests are served by the Coding Society, AI Society, and the Dulwich Mechanic Society. The Alleynian, the school magazine first established in the 1860s, carries on this tradition of student-led journalism.

Club meetings run at lunchtime (40 minutes) and after school (60 minutes). Friday afternoons extend this further, and many clubs support Duke of Edinburgh Award schemes, Community Action programmes, and charitable initiatives.

Day fees for Year 3 to Year 8 are £10,164 per term (£30,492 annually if paid in three instalments), inclusive of school lunches. Day fees for Year 9 to Year 13 are £10,206 per term (£30,618 annually), excluding lunch which is paid separately. Full boarders pay £21,422 per term (£64,266 annually); weekly boarders (Monday-Friday) pay £20,020 per term (£60,060 annually). All fees are inclusive of VAT.

The Governors run an Advance Payment of Fees Scheme allowing parents to prepay tuition and receive a discount. A full term's fees are payable in advance for overseas acceptances; for international students requiring visa sponsorship, an additional administration fee of £500 is charged.

The school maintains no nursery fees on the published schedule, deferring families to the website for early years pricing. However, day pupils in Year 3-8 have lunch included; Year 9-13 pupils can purchase lunch separately.

Dulwich College admits pupils through entrance examinations at three main points: Year 3 (age 7), Year 7 (age 11), Year 9 (age 13), and Year 12 (age 16). The school is oversubscribed at each entry point. Entry to the junior school and lower school is by entrance examination in English, mathematics, and reasoning. Year 9 entry requires additional assessment. Sixth form (Year 12) entry requires GCSEs (or equivalent) and an interview assessing suitability for advanced study.

Registration fees are £200 for candidates sitting examinations in the UK; overseas candidates pay £440. The acceptance deposit is £2,500 for day pupils and £5,000 for boarders, retained until the pupil leaves and refunded less any balance owing. An additional term's fees are payable in advance if parents live outside the UK.

All boys entering the school place in the top 15% of academic ability for their age group. This explicit selection shapes the peer group markedly: every classmate was top-set at their previous school, creating an environment of consistent intellectual challenge.

The school has grown substantially in recent years. Under Dr Spence's leadership, bursary provision expanded to 214 pupils, reflecting a commitment to equity of access. Further details on scholarships (academic, music, sport, and art) and means-tested bursaries can be found on the school website.

The school places explicit emphasis on pastoral oversight. The boarding houses operate as homes: housemasters and dames (matrons) live on site and maintain responsibility for approximately 30-40 boys each. Tutor groups (smaller clusters of 6-8) meet regularly. A medical centre staffs qualified nurses, and counselling provision is available for pupils navigating personal difficulties.

The school's approach to behaviour is grounded in explicit expectations and consistent consequences. Lower-level issues are managed through conversation and restorative approaches. The school has made particular efforts to create inclusive spaces (there are active PrideSoc and Hindu Society communities) signalling that diversity is welcome and actively nurtured.

Boarding is available from Year 3 upwards. Approximately 100 boys board across all year groups (roughly 20 nationalities represented). The boarding community lives in named houses: boys describe these as "home from home." Houses operate independently but share facilities. Every boarder has a tutor with pastoral oversight. Exeats (free weekends for family contact) occur approximately every three weeks, and the school organises supervised activity during holiday periods.

Boarding creates a distinct culture within the school. Weekend activities include scheduled sports fixtures, drama rehearsals, expeditions, and structured leisure. The density of student self-governance within boarding (older boys mentor younger, sports teams are captain-led, house councils make decisions) develops maturity visibly. Families appreciate the security this offers, but the school does emphasize that boarding is a deliberate choice requiring active commitment to the community.

Highly competitive entry. Every entry point is heavily oversubscribed. Parents should register early, complete assessments thoroughly, and be prepared that admission is not guaranteed despite strong prior performance. The school's explicit focus on academic ability means entrance pressure is real.

Single-sex (mostly) mainstream teaching. The school is mixed-gender in early years and sixth form, but boys dominate the middle and secondary years (ages 7-16 are predominantly male). Families seeking co-education throughout may prefer alternatives.

Pace and intensity. This is a school for intellectually driven pupils who thrive on challenge. The assumption that everyone achieved top grades at primary school is stark. Pupils who prefer a more relaxed environment or who struggle to keep pace with the academic intensity may find stress levels high.

Independent music tuition costs extra. While the school offers extensive instrumental lessons, these are charged separately at professional rates (approximately £30+ per lesson). For a pupil learning multiple instruments, this adds meaningful cost beyond fees.

Boarding accessibility. Boarding fees (£20,020-£21,422 per term) represent significant expense. While bursaries are available, families should engage directly with the admissions office about financial support. The majority intake remains day pupils, so day provision should not be considered secondary.

Dulwich College represents excellence sustained across four centuries. The combination of elite academic results, profound music and drama traditions, comprehensive sporting provision, and genuine pastoral attention is rare. The school has successfully balanced tradition with innovation: the Barry Buildings stand unchanged alongside the award-winning Laboratory; boys study Sanskrit classics and advanced coding in the same institution. Oxbridge outcomes and Russell Group progression reflect the quality of teaching and the calibre of peer group, but they are byproducts rather than the school's driving purpose.

The school suits boys (and girls in early years and sixth form) who are academically ambitious, curious beyond the curriculum, and thriving in a selective peer group. It suits families who value boarding as a genuine educational choice rather than childcare. It suits pupils drawn to music, drama, or sport at high level, the breadth of co-curriculum is genuinely leading. Entry is the barrier; the education that follows is exceptional.