Dulwich College facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dulwich College |
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Dulwich Common, Dulwich
, SE21 7LD
England
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| Coordinates | 51°26′22″N 00°05′03″W / 51.43944°N 0.08417°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public school Private day and boarding school |
| Motto | Latin: Detur Gloria Soli Deo (Let Glory Be Given To God Alone) |
| Established | 1619 |
| Founder | Edward Alleyn |
| Local authority | Southwark London Borough Council |
| Department for Education URN | 100861 Tables |
| Chair | Peter Riddell |
| The Master | Joseph Spence |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age range | 2–19 |
| Enrolment | 1,820 (2018) |
| Capacity | 1,750 |
| Houses |
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| Colour(s) | Royal blue and black |
| Publication | Alleynian |
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| Alumni | Old Alleynians |
| Charity Commission. Dulwich College, registered charity no. 1150064. https://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/SearchResultHandler.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1150064. | |
Dulwich College is a private school for boys aged 2 to 19 in Dulwich, London, England. It's a public school, which means it's an old, independent school in the UK. It started in 1619 as the College of God's Gift, founded by a famous actor named Edward Alleyn. His first idea was to educate 12 poor boys. The school grew a lot from 1857 and moved to its current location in 1870.
Boys usually join Dulwich College by taking an exam for years 3, 7, 9, and 12. This means they can join when they are about 7, 11, 13, or 16 years old. The school is divided into Junior, Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Dulwich College is known for its strong academic results. In 2023, many students achieved top grades in their A-Levels. It's also recognized as one of the best private schools in the world.
Contents
History
The College of God's Gift (1619)
Dulwich College was founded on June 21, 1619, by Edward Alleyn. He was a very famous actor during the time of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He performed in plays by Christopher Marlowe at the Rose Theatre. Alleyn was also very rich and owned a lot of land, including the area of Dulwich.
He started building a chapel, a schoolhouse, and twelve almshouses (homes for poor people) in Dulwich in 1613. These buildings were finished in 1616. Edward Alleyn wanted to create a charity that would help poor people and educate poor boys. After some challenges, King James I officially approved the college.
The charity was set up to include a Master, a Warden, four teachers (called fellows), six poor men, six poor women, and twelve poor scholars (orphans from age six). These people were the legal owners of Alleyn's land and property in Dulwich. The poor scholars were allowed to stay until they were eighteen and were taught "good and sound learning" to prepare them for university or good jobs. Alleyn also made it possible for boys from Dulwich and other areas to attend the school for a fee.
For the next 200 years, the college faced money problems and disagreements among its members. Despite this, some important leaders helped the college. One was James Allen, who in 1741 set up two small schools in Dulwich. One was for boys, and the other for girls to learn reading and sewing. This girls' school eventually became James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS).
In 1842, the Dulwich College Grammar School was created for poor boys from Dulwich and Camberwell. The boys from James Allen's school joined this new grammar school, leaving James Allen's school for girls only. The old grammar school building, designed by Sir Charles Barry (who also designed the Palace of Westminster), still stands today.
The "Upper School" (1857)
In 1857, the "College of God's Gift" was renamed "Alleyn's College of God's Gift." It was divided into two parts: an educational part for the school and a charity part for the almshouses. The old Master and other members were given pensions, but the tradition of having a "Master" as the head of the school continued.
The new head of the college was Reverend Alfred Carver. He worked hard to make Dulwich College a top public school with high academic standards. The educational part was split into an "Upper School" for boys aged 8 to 18, which was known as "Dulwich College," and a "Lower School" for boys aged 8 to 16, which had lower fees and was for children from less wealthy families. The Lower School later became Alleyn's School.
The New College (1870)
By the mid-1860s, Dulwich College had such a good reputation that many boys wanted to join, so they introduced entrance exams. In 1869, the Upper School moved to its current location, which was called the "New College." It was officially opened on June 21, 1870, by the Prince and Princess of Wales (who later became King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). The new buildings were designed by Charles Barry Jr., the son of Sir Charles Barry. The Lower School stayed at the Old College until it moved to its own new site in East Dulwich in 1887.
During this time, the school's colours (blue and black) and the school magazine (The Alleynian) were created. School clubs like Debating and Natural Science also started. By 1882, Dulwich College had grown very quickly and was doing very well, with many students going to top universities and winning awards.
Separation and the 'Golden Age' (1882)
Even with its great reputation, there were discussions about changing the college and using some of its money for other projects. The Master, Canon Carver, fought against these changes for many years. Finally, in 1882, a plan was agreed upon that officially separated the Upper and Lower schools.
The Upper School officially became Dulwich College, and the Lower School became Alleyn's School. Both schools remained part of the larger College of God's Gift charity, which also includes James Allen's Girls' School.
Canon Carver retired after this, and Arthur Herman Gilkes became the new Master in 1885. He was known for his high ideals of learning and public service. He started the College Mission to help people in a poor part of Camberwell.
Later, in 1903, students whose fees were paid by the London County Council started attending Dulwich College. This "Dulwich College Experiment" helped save the college from financial trouble and led to a period of great academic success, especially in the 1950s when many students won awards to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities.
School arms
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When Edward Alleyn founded the school, he was given a special coat of arms and a crest. The school used this until 1935, when it was decided that it belonged only to Edward Alleyn's family. So, the College of Arms gave the school a new coat of arms that looks very similar to the old one.
The flames in the crest represent learning. An arm holding a heart comes out of the flames. This symbolizes charity and reminds us of Edward Alleyn's kind intentions. It also refers to a famous speech he gave to King James I, where he presented the "flaming heart of London." The bottom part of the shield has a silver background with a red chevron (a V-shape) and three red five-leafed flowers (called cinquefoils).
Houses
All boys at Dulwich College belong to a "house." This is a group within the school that competes in sports and other activities. There are two types of houses: boarding houses for boys who live at school, and day houses for boys who go home each day.
Boarding houses
Today, boarders belong to one of three houses. Boys up to age 16 (Year 11) live in The Orchard. Older boys in the Upper School (Year 12 and 13) live in either Ivyholme or Blew House. The school also offers "flexi-boarding," which means students can choose to board for some nights and go home for others.
Historically, the number of boarding houses has changed. There have been six different houses in total:
- Blew House: This is one of the two senior houses today. It moved to its current spot in the 1930s. It was the only house to stay open during World War II.
- Ivyholme: The other senior house, it also moved to its current location in the 1930s. It was damaged during World War II but reopened as a senior house.
- The Orchard: This is the only junior boarding house still open. It was also damaged in World War II but reopened.
- Elm Lawn: Famous writer P.G. Wodehouse once boarded here. After World War II, it became a junior house. In 1949, it became the home of the Master of the College, which it still is today.
- Bell House: This old 18th-century building became a boarding house in 1949, replacing Elm Lawn as a junior house. It was later sold in 1993.
- Carver House: This house was created during World War II by converting the cricket pavilion, but it didn't last long. It was named after Canon Carver, a former Master.
Boarding house clubs and colours
Boarding houses used to have their own sports teams and colours. Boys who earned these colours could wear special ties, caps, and even blazers for outstanding contributions. Today, older boys can join the Zodiac Club (for Ivyholme) or the Caerulean Club (for Blew). Being a member lets them wear a special tie. The House Captain decides who can join these clubs.
Gordon Bowl
The Gordon Bowl is a trophy that was given to the college before World War II by an Old Alleynian (a former student), A. G. Gordon. It's a competition only for boarders. It used to be competed for by all four boarding houses, but after World War II, it was only for Blew House and Ivyholme. In 2017, The Orchard was added back to the competition, and it's still played for today.
Day Houses
All boys who don't board belong to one of eight day houses, also called "Athletic Houses." These houses were created in 1919 to improve sports at the college after World War I. There were originally six houses, named after famous Englishmen from the Elizabethan period (like Drake, Grenville, Marlowe, Spenser, Sidney, and Raleigh). In 1982, two more houses, Jonson and Howard, were added because the school had more students.
These houses compete in many sports and cultural events, like music, drama, chess, and debating. At the end of the school year, the "Cock House Shield" or "Cup" is given to the house that has won the most competitions.
School uniform and colours
The school uniform at Dulwich College has changed a lot over the years. In the very beginning, the poor scholars wore white surplices, long dark coats, and black caps. This style lasted for over 200 years!
In 1863, the Master, Alfred Carver, introduced a new uniform: a short tunic, "Oxford mixture" trousers, a rifle cap, and a dark cape for winter. Later, in 1883, the new Master, Welldon, made sure all boys wore a proper uniform, which was a bit like the dark jackets worn today.
The school colours are blue and black. These colours were first used in 1864, and the college's coat of arms was added to the caps in 1875. From this time, a system of "colours" was created to reward achievements, especially in sports. For example, the best players in rugby and cricket could earn special blazers, ties, and caps. Smaller sports also had their own colours, like blazer badges.
There were many different caps and blazers by 1909. The striped blazers for top sportsmen even gave them special privileges, like being able to go first through certain doors. The most special awards were the rugby honours cap and the very rare white blazer. The white blazer was only given to boys who were excellent in both cricket and rugby, and also good at a minor sport like boxing or squash. Famous alumni like Trevor Bailey, an England cricketer, earned this white blazer.
The uniform stayed mostly the same until the 1960s. Back then, boys wore a black jacket and grey trousers in autumn and winter. In summer, they could wear navy blue blazers with a white "DC" (Dulwich College) embroidered on them, and sometimes even straw hats called "boaters." Boys would "cap" (touch their cap) to show respect. In the 1960s, caps and boaters became less common, and the uniform became simpler.
Co-curricular
Sport
Dulwich College has a strong tradition of sports. In the past, students themselves, through a "Field Sports Board," helped manage the games. This board decided who would be captains and even what kind of blazers could be worn. They were the ones who awarded the famous white blazer to the best athletes. Today, teachers are in charge of coaching and managing the sports teams.
Sports achievements are recognized with "colours." Originally, these were blazers for the first and second teams in major sports like rugby and cricket. There were also special badges and ties for minor sports. The most prestigious awards were the rugby honours cap and the white blazer, given to truly outstanding athletes.
The college divides sports into Major and Minor. Rugby (in autumn) and cricket (in summer) have always been major sports. In the 20th century, field hockey became a major sport, and later, Soccer also became a major sport in 2000.
Many minor sports have been played at the college for over a century, including:
- Athletics (since 1864)
- Fives (a handball game, courts destroyed in WWII)
- Shooting (since 1878)
- Boxing (since 1879, now martial arts)
- Tennis (since 1880)
- Swimming (since 1883, Dulwich was one of the first schools to have a pool)
- Gymnastics (since 1891)
- Fencing
- Squash
- Water polo
The school also has teams for golf, badminton, basketball, cycling, skiing, and table tennis. The college has excellent sports facilities, including a sports centre, courts, an athletic track, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and many playing fields. The "Cow corner" position in cricket is said to be named after a field at the college where cows used to gather!
Rowing
The school has a very active rowing club called the Dulwich College Boat Club, which started in 1991. They have their own boathouse on the River Thames. The club has won several national championships, including the British Rowing Championships in 2001 and 2008, and the National Schools' Regatta in 2014.
Rugby
Rugby is a very important sport at Dulwich College. The school's rugby tradition began in 1859 with a win against City of London School. Since then, over 30 former students have played rugby at an international level.
Three players from Dulwich College have even played for the British and Irish Lions, a famous rugby team. In 1909, the school had an undefeated team with five future international players, known as the "Famous Five." More recently, Dulwich College won the Natwest Schools Cup (a major national competition) three times in a row between 2012 and 2014. In 2017, they made history by winning both the Schools Cup and the Champions Trophy, which is the highest level of school rugby.
CCF
Dulwich College has a strong Combined Cadet Force (CCF) group, which has been active since 1859. Students can choose to join the Royal Navy, Army, or Royal Air Force sections, usually starting in Year 9. Since 2018, girls from JAGS can also join. The CCF goes on many trips, including battle training, flying days, and expeditions to places like the Arctic or desert. They have won many awards in competitions, including the Air Squadron Trophy five times.
Scouts
Dulwich College also has a scout troop called the 25th Camberwell. It has been running for over 80 years and includes both scouts and explorers, from Year 6 to Year 13.
Dulwich College Union
The Dulwich College Union is a large group that organizes over 50 different clubs and societies. There's a wide variety of clubs, from Rocketry to History. In the past, there was even a Chicken society where boys looked after the college's chickens! These clubs are run by older students (Year 12 and 13) and can help them with their The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. Many clubs have their own special ties.
Debating
Debating is a very popular activity within the Dulwich College Union. The Debating Society meets during school terms and competes both nationally and internationally. It's open to students from Year 7 to 13 and has about 50 members. The society has been very successful, winning major competitions like the Oxford Union Debating Competition and the Cambridge Union Schools Debating Competition multiple times. They have also represented Team England in international competitions, making Dulwich College one of the top debating schools in the UK and the world.
School magazine
The school magazine at Dulwich College is called The Alleynian, named after the school's founder, Edward Alleyn. It was first published in 1873. Before that, there was a magazine called the Dulwich College Magazine for School News and General Reading, but it only lasted for a short time. The famous writer P. G. Wodehouse was once the editor of The Alleynian during his last year at the school.
Old Alleynians
Former students of Dulwich College are called "Old Alleynians," after the school's founder. This is often shortened to "O.A." in school publications. It's important not to confuse this with "Alleyn's Old Boys," who are alumni of Alleyn's School. Students currently at the school are known as Alleynians. Before about 1880, former students were called "Dulwichians."
Many famous people have attended Dulwich College, including:
- Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton
- Writer Sir P G Wodehouse
- Author Raymond Chandler
- Musician Michael Ondaatje
- Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Actor Nicholas Galitzine
- Politician Nigel Farage
- Cricketer Trevor Bailey
- Author C. S. Forester
- Architect C. F. A. Voysey
- Comedian Paul Sinha
Headmastership of Dulwich College
The head of Dulwich College is called The Master of Dulwich College. This title has been used since the school was founded in 1619. The Master is the most senior person in charge of the school.
- Masters of Alleyn's College of God's Gift at Dulwich (both Upper and Lower Schools)
- Alfred James Carver (1858–1883)
- Masters of Dulwich College
- James Edward Cowell Welldon (1883–1885)
- Arthur Herman Gilkes (1885–1914)
- George Smith (1914–1928)
- Walter Reynolds Booth (1928–1941)
- Christopher H. Gilkes (1941–1953)
- C. Thomas (Deputy Master, Acting Master in 1953)
- Ronald Groves (1954–1966)
- Charles W. Lloyd (1966–1975)
- David A. Emms (1975–1986)
- Anthony C. F. Verity (1986–1995)
- Christopher Field (Acting Master in 1996)
- Graham G. Able (1997–2009)
- Joseph A. F. Spence (2009–present)
Collections
The school has a very large collection of old documents and items, especially related to drama and the arts. Many of these belonged to Edward Alleyn, the founder. This includes his diaries and other papers about the college. There are also old music books, two of the three original First Folio Shakespeare books, an old map (a Mercator Atlas), and first editions of poetry books. There's even a Book of Hours from the 15th century and a copy of the first book ever printed in London in 1480.
Other interesting items at the college include the James Caird. This was the small lifeboat that explorer Ernest Shackleton used to make an incredibly brave journey for survival from Elephant Island to South Georgia in 1916. The college also has sledges from his earlier expedition.
Above a fireplace in the Masters' Library, there are two old panels. They show pietas (Duty) and liberalitas (Generosity). Edward Alleyn bought them in 1618 from Queen Elizabeth I's royal barge. It's believed they originally came from Francis Drake's famous ship, the Golden Hinde.
In culture and cultural influence
Painting of the college
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In 1870, the famous impressionist artist, Camille Pissarro, painted the buildings of the New College. Pissarro was living in London at the time, having left France because of the Franco-Prussian War, and he loved painting the London landscapes.
See also
In Spanish: Dulwich College para niños
- Alleyn's College of God's Gift
- Dulwich International College
- Dulwich College Beijing
- Dulwich College Seoul
- Dulwich College Shanghai
- Dulwich College Singapore
- Dulwich College Suzhou
- Dulwich International High School Suzhou
- Dulwich International High School Zhuhai
