Welcome back to the second half of the summer term. The start of my first term at DCPS was disrupted by ‘Swine Flu’; the start of the spring term was disrupted by abnormally heavy snow falls and widespread transportation difficulties; the start of this term was disrupted by volcanic eruptions, resultant ash cloud and, again, travel chaos. On the first day of the summer term we were without ten staff and eighty pupils. I was beginning to wonder if someone was trying to tell me something! 

Needless to say the first half of term has flown by in a spiral of success; the tone set by Tommy Leasor (8A).

The weekend before we opened for the summer term, I met Tommy and his father, whilst dog walking in Dulwich Park. Tommy explained that he had been working hard over the Easter holidays in preparation for taking his scholarship exams, ‘The Election’ to Winchester, but had just taken a break from his studies the previous day, to go fishing on the River Test. He had a very successful day on the river, which included the landing of a three and a half pound brown trout: a superb specimen!

I thought it might be a good omen and so it proved. Within days Tommy was awarded his scholarship to Winchester. No sooner had I announced Tommy’s success to the school, when news came through of Eugene Daley and Nicholas Clanchy. They were awarded a Queen’s Scholarship and an Academic Exhibition, respectively, to Westminster. Barely had we time to celebrate these achievements when more good news broke, this time from Eton, announcing William Boys-Stones’ success in winning a King’s Scholarship.

Many congratulations to Tommy, Eugene, Nicholas and William on winning such prestigious awards; we are all delighted for them and their well-earned academic achievements.

Success at this level comes through personal commitment and endeavour, but I know they would be the first to thank their peers for the wonderfully supportive ethos which, together, they have created and fostered. Whether success has come their way, or not, I would like to congratulate all of our boys who took scholarship exams. Their superbly positive influence has been greatly appreciated!

One or two more awards are still to be made, but, regardless of outcome, we can be very pleased with this year’s scholarship performance and we wish our CE candidates the same level of success in their exams.

This is the term when all those hours of early morning/late evening training lengths bear fruit. The summer term is dominated by competition and once again our swimmers, under the expert tutelage of our new coach, Mr Nick Chudzynski, have sought to dominate the opposition.

In the IAPS National Championships held at Crawley our squads put in fantastic performances, but unfortunately were just unable to find that extra push needed to wrestle the title from Millfield Prep.

Congratulations to our two Gold medallists: James Gillie Y6 (50m backstroke) and Julian Chan Quee Lin Y8 (50m front crawl)

Runners-Up in the Nationals was an excellent achievement, but quickly surpassed by the performance of our senior squad in the London Schools’ League Finals, who clearly sought to follow in the wake of the junior squad who had already been crowned London Schools’ Champions!

Julian Chan Quee Lin and Oliver Ramsay Gray are worthy of very special mention as their powerful performances provided the platform for a simply stunning display of competition swimming. In the course of the evening Julian broke the school’s front crawl record, set by P J Ross Martin in 1991 whilst Oliver set two new school records, the 25m breaststroke set by Sam Watson in 2007 and the 50m breaststroke which was set in 2009 by Rupert Scarratt.

DCPS took 1^st and 2^nd places in all events, bar two; in the process setting a new championship points record. As a result, both junior and senior squads were once again crowned London Schools’ Champions for their age group, a tremendous achievement!

This is the time of year when much work is completed in preparation for the forthcoming academic year, including, most importantly, staffing appointments and changes.

The departures of Mrs Hill and Mr Severino will bring a new look to senior management.

I am delighted to confirm Mr Thomas Noble as Deputy Headmaster. Thomas will combine many of the duties he currently fulfils, with that of deputising for me in my absence.

Senior management will be further strengthened with the establishment of three new positions of responsibility; Director of Studies, Head of Curriculum (Teaching and Learning) and Head of School Administration.

The positions have been advertised internally and I look forward to highlighting the duties and responsibilities associated with each position, once each appointment has been confirmed.

I am, however, delighted to announce the first of several associated key appointments, that of Mrs Sarah Brownsdon, as Head of Middle School.

Mrs Brownsdon is currently Head of Modern Languages; a position she has held for five years. Sarah holds a B.A (Hons) in French from Southampton University and a Master’s degree, jointly awarded by Cambridge University and L’Université Stendhal, Grenoble. This is Sarah’s 12^th year at DCPS, during which time she has been a form tutor in Y5 and Y6, and Head of Year 5. Her experience will undoubtedly benefit the boys in her care.

Mr Severino’s impending departure also created an academic opportunity and so I am equally delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Phillip Topham as the new Head of the Geography Department.

Mr Topham has been a stalwart of the Geography Department for the past 7 years. Following his degree from Durham University, Phillip taught geography at The Oratory School, Woodcote for three years, before joining DCPS. In Phillip’s time at DCPS he has been an invaluable member of the games staff and has been Resident Housemaster at Brightlands for the past two years. He is a keen ‘physical’ geographer and so we can expect the announcement of our first field trip to Iceland any day soon!

Management positions aside, this is the time of the year when the staffing profile for the next academic year begins to take shape with resignations, transfers between sections and new appointments being confirmed.

Presently the staffing changes for each section are as follows:

Leavers:

·         Mrs Lois Strover is retiring after 14 happy years in charge of drama and the legendary ‘end of term’ assemblies, nativities and productions.

·         Mrs Ruth Anderson, who has been inspirational in ‘Purple class’ since 2008, is moving with her family to Manchester. Ruth has been appointed to Manchester Girls’ High School.

Appointments:

·         Mrs Jessica Fowler comes to DCPS having worked for six years at Dulwich Village Infants’ CofE School, where she was a post-threshold Class Teacher and member of the Strategic Leadership Team. Jessica qualified with an Early Years specialist PGCE from the University of London, Institute of Education and has a particular interest in the teaching of Literacy.

·         Miss Beth Fowler (no relation to Jessica!) has a Psychology (Hons) degree and a PGCE in Primary Education from London University’s Institute of Education. She has been a reception class teacher at Herne Hill School since 2004.

·         Mrs Sarah Gillie is transferring from the Lower School to teach ‘Orange’ class.

·         Mrs Marie-Clare Bonnar is transferring from the Annexe and will teach the new afternoon class, ‘Indigo.’

Leavers:

·         Mr Tim Santamaria is leaving after two fun-filled years in Year 1 to return home to Melbourne. Tim has been appointed to Melbourne Grammar School.

Appointments:

·         Miss Niav Fisher is transferring from the Nursery.

·         Mrs Lucia Gabriele and Mrs Rosie Owen are also transferring from the Nursery to the Annexe, where they will provide additional help in phonics, reading, writing and maths.

·         Miss Ellen Bretherton has been working in the Annexe covering Mrs Bonnar’s maternity leave; we have now appointed Ellen on a permanent basis. Ellen holds a BEd (Primary) from The Australian Catholic University. Prior to joining the Annexe team, Ellen had two years teaching 5 to 7 year olds at Loreto Independent Girls’ School in Victoria, Australia.

Leavers:

·         Miss Joanna Keith, after 3 excellent years teaching Year 3, is leaving DCPS to take up a new teaching position at Dulwich College, Suzhou, China.          

Appointments:

·         Miss Joanna Roberts, who worked previously as an Assistant Teacher in the Lower School, returns to take up a permanent post having successfully completed her PGCE (Master’s level) at St. Mary’s University College, Twickenham. Jo holds an MA (Hons) from the University of Glasgow and prior to entering the teaching profession had five demanding years managing a ski school in Verbier!

·         Miss Charlotte Livingston joins DCPS having completed her PGCE from Roehampton. Charlotte has a BA (Hons) in History of Art from Bristol. Since leaving school, Charlotte has always been involved in teaching; as an English Language teacher, an assistant teacher at Lyndhurst House Prep School and as a volunteer teacher with the Maria Conceicao Project in Recife, Brazil.

Leavers:

·         Mrs Elaine Vestey has announced her retirement from DCPS after 23 wonderful years of service to Design Technology and school canoeing. She is moving with her family to the West Country.

·         Mrs Emma Severino is accompanying Simon to Eastbourne!

Appointments:

·         Mr John Evans is transferring from the Lower School to teach Middle and Upper School English, his specialist subject.

 It is always disappointing to lose staff, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have decided to move on from DCPS and to wish them the very best for the future; regardless of tenure, each has been a remarkably influential presence and will be greatly missed.

Likewise, I would like to take this early opportunity of wishing our new staff a happy and fulfilled career at DCPS. I look forward to introducing them to you at the earliest opportunity.

We still have one or two positions to fill and I look forward to giving details of these appointments in due course.

Mr Phillip Topham’s promotion to Head of Department has had an unfortunate, perhaps inevitable knock-on effect. In order to focus on his academic leadership, Phillip has decided to step down as Housemaster at Brightlands.

Phillip has been inspirational in turning boarding at DCPS into what it is today - hugely good fun, full of purposeful activity and busy with boys! He has single-handedly transformed the fortunes of Brightlands and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

I write ‘singlehandedly,’ but actually that’s not true, as he and the boys have had the invaluable support of our Matron, Mrs Sally Rutty. Sally has had many happy years as a resident matron, at Christ’s Hospital and Charterhouse prior to DCPS, and so it’s not surprising that Sally has also decided now’s the time to hang up her apron, leaving Dulwich for the peace and quiet of the Hertfordshire countryside. I am sure that the boys that have passed through the house will join me in thanking her for her care, enthusiasm, and wonderful cakes!

To both Mrs Rutty and Mr Topham, a huge thank you.

Phillip’s departure from boarding creates the opportunity for someone else to lead Brightlands and I am delighted to announce that Mr Jonathan Spowart, presently Head of Rugby and Head of Year 5 will be taking over the Housemaster’s position from September. Jonathan has a long history in boarding having full-boarded during his prep and senior school career and then returning to the Blue Coat School in Birmingham as Assistant Boarding Housemaster, prior to joining us in London. Jonny will be accompanied by his wife Holly, and daughters Grace and Jemima. I’m afraid the boys may have to contend with pink fluffy toys being much in evidence.

Jonny and Holly are keen to build on the excellent foundation now in place and are busy planning on how to take boarding at Brightlands to new heights. One of the first initiatives has been to lure

Mr Savill (new heights!) back to the role he formally held, that of resident Assistant Boarding Housemaster. More will surely follow!

Despite all this excitement there is one frustration. 

Earlier this year ‘Brightlands’ was subject to a ‘Care Inspection’ by Ofsted. It was a thorough appraisal of every element of our boarding provision and although we came through 90% of the process with flying colours, it highlighted a failing in terms of facilities and the necessity for work to be undertaken with regard to plumbing, heating and provision of bathroom facilities. Some of these elements were deemed ‘inadequate,’ others ‘in need of modernisation.’

Having carried out a full assessment of need, it is now clear that the work required is fairly major and given that Ofsted sets a time frame in which recommendations need to be addressed, work needs to start as soon as possible. Therefore, it is with regret that Brightlands will have to close during the winter term, opening again in January 2011. We understand this may cause various levels of inconvenience and I apologise in advance for this, however these works are a necessity; we are required to comply with current legislation.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you wish to know more detail on the closure, or the changes and initiatives that are being planned.

Brightlands is very much part of the history of DCPS (there are very few prep schools in London that could boast such a wonderful facility!) and I see it as integral to the breadth of educational experience we can offer to the boys from Year 5 to 8. I look forward to an exciting re-launch in the New Year and to ensuring Brightlands sits firmly in the category of ‘best practice.’

Staying with the theme of refurbishment, one or two key facilities are in line for something of an upgrade this summer, all in the quest for creating colourful spaces that work, that hopefully inspire, that promote a lightness of touch. The recent planting that has been undertaken so successfully at both the Nursery and the Annexe provides a great example of how spaces can be better used to enhance visually and to educate. Thank you to all the parents who have in any way contributed to either scheme…this could be the start of something bigger!

Speaking of bigger, there is a very real need to provide our boys with bigger spaces at break times within which to play, to run around, to chase, to sit and chat. The management of playtime on our site is a priority, but it is confined and so there is only so much we can do. We will try to make it more user friendly. However, an alternative and simple solution may be just around the corner…literally!

We currently hold the lease on ‘Mary Datchelor,’ our playing fields just over the railway bridge. At the moment, due to the sighting of the entrance, it takes our boys about 15 minutes to walk from school. It is a fabulous space; big, well-cared for, safe and secure, and grass! We have submitted planning permission for the opening of a new entrance which would reduce the walk to a very manageable 5 minutes, so watch this space…the boys may be coming home with grass stains…brilliant!

Talk of the Mary Datchelor field reminds me to thank you for ensuring the boys, and Nursery girls, looked their best for our first whole school photograph on the 14^th May. It could have been a stressful, anxious morning - 900+ people to smile at the same time, but the weather held, the photographers were brilliantly organised and the pupils were patient and considerate of others. I am sure the finished product will show the school in a new light, particularly when set against the verdant backdrop. I hope you too like the result.

Much work has been undertaken behind the scenes to design a taught curriculum for the Middle and Upper School that offers every boy opportunity, challenge, support and success. To this end we are investigating various options: increasing setting in the core subjects (maths, English, French and science) from Year 5; rethinking the residential programme; increasing the amount of curriculum time given to English; creating options in languages, with the inclusion of Spanish and Classical Greek; removing the compulsory study of Latin; balancing the time given to Art and Design Technology and creating options in the Y8 Games programme. We are presently firming up the implications for the timetable and staffing and I look forward to sharing these developments with you before the end of term.

We have just concluded our own school review of the teaching and learning of maths in Middle and Upper School. The extensive review involved: focused interviews with all members of the Department; lesson/classroom observation of each teacher; a focused visit by our staff to St. John’s College School, Cambridge; the scrutiny of pupils’ work books and exercises; the scrutiny of commercial texts and their use; an evaluation of lesson plans, the Department’s Scheme of Work, Programme of Study and Handbook; seeking pupil views through questionnaires; an analysis of standardised scores and results; a review of setting and decision making; an in-depth look at strategic planning and the impact of recent initiatives.

We are now compiling our findings and they will then be discussed and debated within the department. The review will now be extended to focus on the teaching of maths from the Nursery to Y4. As in every inspection, good practice will be recognised and shared and areas of weakness will be identified and a timetable for improvement and change agreed. 

Given the shift in the nature of school inspections, this process of self-evaluation and self-improvement is an essential element of every good school. We have started the critical review process with maths. We will further refine the process before adopting a rolling programme of review of each subject.

A staff working party has been looking at the means by which we report on pupil progress; ability, application, attainment etc. The process is critically examining the format and value of our written reports, alongside the opportunities you have to meet with tutors and subject teachers. The party is also charged with examining the information we provide to you on matters of curriculum and learning.

You will have received in the mailing of Friday 28^th May a request from me to submit any views or comments you have relating to our written reports. This is the immediate focus and so I would greatly value your input. Please email your thoughts and/or suggestions.

Last week the committee of the PTA called an extraordinary meeting of parents to propose a change in title from ‘PTA’ to ‘Friends of DCPS’ and to change several elements of the constitution. Thank you to the parents who gave up some of their evening to come along and to take part in the debate. The decisions were unanimously agreed and so we now have a ‘Friends Association.’ As Headmaster, I also act as President of the Friends Association and I look forward to continuing the brilliant work of our volunteer parents in raising money for the benefit of designated charities, for the school and providing much welcome support for community enterprises.

For more information on ‘Friends of DCPS’ or to find out how you could get involved please contact the Chair: Mrs Suzanne Thompson, or the Secretary: Mrs Emily Sterz.

There is a great deal happening in school at present.

Some of the undertakings, such as curriculum review, are aimed at the very core of what we do. Other undertakings may not be so central, but are nevertheless just as important in making life for your boys at DCPS as happy and successful as possible. Your support is invaluable, so thank you.             

For now, summer term is upon us and it’s time to enjoy the many events and activities that mark the conclusion to the year…and we have also the 125^th Anniversary celebrations to look forward to. It is going to be a busy few weeks. Enjoy!