n Academically we saw the boys’ approach to 11+ pay off with some of our best results in recent memory; getting the top four results in English and three of the top five in Maths, out of over 500, was a sign of the excellence at the top end of the year. Overall results were very strong with many boys exceeding our expectations. Similarly our Primary Maths Challenge results, one of our only externally measurable tests, shows the superb progress our boys are making. This year we managed to get 18 gold, silver or bronze awards in the national round, which placed us in the top four schools in the country. But as ever we pride ourselves on how we develop the boys beyond the curriculum, and the depth and enrichment of our projects and free learning has taken another step forward. Each year group is now widening their choices, topics, depth and freedom to explore academic investigations and enrichment. This culminated again in the second Year 6 Great Exhibition. For many this was a highlight of their year and it was such a shame we were not able to exhibit in person. We have had many talks, trips and workshops including DC IAM – Identity Awareness Month, four author visits, a science collaboration with UCL students about air pollution, a trip to a Synagogue, anti-bullying workshops, Young Shakespeare visit and Matilda the Musical visit. In chess the boys again did well but sadly our ‘golden generation’ did not get their day in the sun at Pontins at the ESPCA National Championships. We also held Grandmaster workshops with Raymond Keene in collaboration with Dulwich Wood and Rosendale Primary, and our online tournaments this term have been extremely popular. In music there have been more boys playing in open and pop in and play concerts, being part of senior orchestras and performing in the chapel and madrigal choirs. Whilst in Drama we had the superb LAMDA concert of Olympic Days as well as the Year 5’s play in two days charting the round the world in 80 days. The House system and competitions seemed to be even more keenly contested this year; House History was one of the best we have had for years. I felt very privileged to read all the shortlisted entries and enjoyed how deeply personal, informative and diverse they were. Service learning, charities and acts of kindness were also highlights of the year; the food bank community service project, Christmas party, 26.1 and 401 challenges and the home acts of kindness brought out the importance to the boys of giving of themselves and their time to others. In Sport the all-conquering Year 6s beat almost all schools across the board at football. Their comfortable triumph in the London Schools tournament deservedly took them through to the National Finals. We’ll never know how far they would have got, however they should feel very proud of how they played and progressed. Outside that the philosophy of participation by all in the Junior School has ensured that more boys are playing in every fixture in each term and so enjoying physical exercise, developing their skills and learning about sportsmanship and teamwork to help them in so many other areas of their lives. Looking back on what happened this term I’d like to give a little more context to how we managed to not only cope but really progress the school. During the course of this year the College had already rolled out a plan to give all staff a quality laptop and we were beginning to learn about how Microsoft Teams could work to improve our educational delivery. When lockdown and remote learning were announced the extraordinary benefits of those decisions were seen. The last week of the Easter term was a trial but after constant work over the holidays we undertook a programme of remote learning, which received universal support and acclaim. Central to this was the dedication of the individual teachers to look after their boys academically and pastorally. We tried very hard to ensure that the responsibility HEAD’S HIGHLIGHTS (SPEECH DAY 2020)
for the boys’ learning was shifted towards the staff and the school. Added to this was the full community, enrichment and co-curricular opportunities to engage the boys. The assemblies, extensive clubs programme, sport and Games challenges, House competitions and the reading and library options are areas, which few schools had the ambition or capacity to deliver. I would also like to take this opportunity to talk about the important rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. We were all very affected by the events that have happened in America and this has facilitated some very important self-reflection in how we talk about these issues with the boys and help them be themselves, support them and unify our community against racism. Being able to attend and work at this remarkable institution is a privilege. We must work harder to understand that privilege and what fairness looks like and our responsibilities to give back in order to bring all our communities together. I would like to say thank you to all our parents for their engagement and support with the school this year but in particular of their sons this term. I hope you have found out a great deal about how learning can be facilitated, the new technical innovations in online learning and maybe what it takes to be a teacher. Your engagement, praise and constructive support is always welcome. Particular thanks to the Friends of Dulwich College in the Junior School; Jane Murray and all her team do an amazing job in bringing the parents together, raising valuable funds for some important charities and the school. Sadly, this term we will be saying goodbye to five valuable members of staff. Firstly we say goodbye to Lauren Maskell who has been with us since January on a maternity cover. She has made a big impact on the boys’ maths and English learning in Years 5 and 6 and she leaves us to go to Notting Hill and Ealing Girls’ School as a full time teacher. Catherine Radford has been with us for five years teaching in Year 4. Her professional and dedicated care has always been exemplary and she relocates with her young family to Surrey, where she will take up a part- time form teacher role at Hazelwood School. Wioletta Szymanek leaves us to return to Poland to be with her family. There are very few staff who are as committed to the school as Wioletta has been and we will miss her very much. Emma Field leaves us to relocate to Hampshire with her husband where she will take up a role at Prince’s Mead School in Winchester. Emma has been with us for six years having started as a Newly Qualified Teacher. Her rise to take up middle management positions has been inevitable as she is so caring, dedicated and passionate about the boys and their education. Finally, after 21 years, we will be saying farewell to Francesca Southern. Fran has taught throughout the Junior School and was Deputy Head Academic for many years. Her influence on the boys individually and on the whole school will be felt for many years. She has been a very supportive colleague and a kind and sensitive voice amongst staff and SMT. I would like to particularly thank her personally for the support she has given me, especially in my first years as a Head. Fran leaves us to spend time with her husband, family and young grandchildren. Finally, I have constantly been asked how stressful and tiring the last five months have been. Of course it has been long hours and very little holiday but professionally and educationally it has been a fascinating challenge - almost exciting at times. How do we continue our ethos and education with these staff and resources, but under these constraints? They are completely ready for a holiday, of course, but that challenge will continue in September and beyond, because central to our mission will be the boys’ learning, wellbeing and progress. We will return in September, in whatever circumstances we are placed under, fully committed to those principles and will embrace the continued challenge.
Dr Griffiths
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker