Thinking Matters

Thinking MATTERS

In the words of our Founder, the College should be a place of ‘good learning’. As Dulwich approaches its 400th year, with current generations of pupils facing intense public examination scrutiny, what should ‘good learning’ look like for them? Examination results certainly matter a great deal, and through them the winning of the right place at the next stage of education is important for every boy. Yet interwoven with this is the need for boys to develop to their own intellectual interests, and to learn to think confidently for themselves on issues that go beyond what any examination may ask. Boys are curious, and they need space in their lessons and beyond them to explore the questions that their subject studies will suggest to them. This will happen in preparing for examinations, but often it is in moving beyond the examination – in learning for its own sake – that the most significant progress is made. It is our belief at the College that there is no substitute for time with enthusiastic subject experts, and other like-minded boys, to foster this kind of learning. Attending a lecture, running a society or entering a competition are often formative academic experiences, and it is these that will equip boys to be better learners in the broadest sense when they leave us. This is the good learning that this publication celebrates. A J S Kennedy Deputy Master (Academic) Dr J A F Spence Master of Dulwich College Introduction: Free Learning

CONTENTS

Introduction: Free Learning

Art

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Lower School Science

English

History

Libraries and Archives

Geography

Religion and Theology

Economics

Classics

Politics

Music

Physical Education

Computing

Design and Technology

Drama

Modern Foreign Languages

Mathematics

The Symposium

Free Learning Days

The Scholars’ Programme

The Extended Essay

Design: K Wong. Printed by Lavenham Press.

Art at the College is not limited to the Art Department. The way in which our students engage with artistic practices means that they are always developing as artists, designers and architects beyond the classroom.

The Art department provides many opportunities for our boys to experience cultural life both in and beyond the College. To give two examples, we have seen pupils at the heart of the architectural vision for The Laboratory - working with artists Peter Randall-Page and Conrad Shawcross - and organising a public exhibition as part of the ‘Bold Tendencies’ art project in Peckham. Boys visit galleries here in London as well as New York, Florence and Madrid, to name but a few. During the recent New York trip, a Remove student commented on his experience of a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: ‘I immediately adored how the profound mundane that William Eggleston depicted could be so powerful and absorbing – this was the first time I felt I had really connected with the work of an artist in which his subsequent influence has played a part in a lot of my artistic ideas. Being able to see his exhibition at the New York MET was a real privilege and a point where I became more mature in my outlook of art.’ Durril Weller, OA (now on the Ravensbourne Foundation course)

Leo Bradley, New York sketchbook 2013.

In response to a visit to the Whitney Museum of American Art another student remarked: ‘For me, the trip was, to pardon the horrendous cliché, a voyage of cultural discovery… It was the fourth day when I encountered a revelation… Jay DeFeo made me want to be a better man.’ Zooey Gleaves, OA (1st year BA History of Art, Bristol University) Here in London boys have recently visited Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Hayward Gallery, The Wallace Collection, Frieze Art Fair and the Courtauld Institute. We also make frequent trips to work with artists, art historians and curators at Dulwich Picture Gallery. ‘Art trips are not passive events or time spent aimlessly wandering through a gallery with an exhibition guide – they are fully immersive activities that reveal to us the possibilities of what we can create as we mature as artists.’ Josh Cotton, OA (Kingston University Foundation course)

Robbie Crace at the Guggenheim Museum, NYC.

A diverse range of artists have spoken to the Art Society about their work, from the conceptual art of Turner Prize winner, Jeremy Deller, OA, to the architectural sculptures of Richard Wilson. These talks often inspire students to pursue their own work outside the College: ‘I believe that if you want something done, you need to do it yourself… Art has provided me with an indispensable opportunity to experiment with and refine my craft: in Year 12, I was able to make a short film as part of the course. Being allowed to make a film for school as opposed to having to fit shoots in around studies was very liberating.’ Will Reid, OA (1st year BA Film Production, Bournemouth University)

Artist Conrad Shawcross has been working with boys on the Laboratory project.

Art Society at Frieze 2014.

‘Dulwich Collage’ at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, ’en plein air’.

View from the Empire State Building by Will Reid on the 2013 trip to New York.

Biology is a wonderfully diverse and exciting discipline. Much of our supra-curricular programme is run under the auspices of our Biology Society (BioSoc), which runs weekly practical activities and talks, and we encourage the boys to organise and run these events themselves.

‘I enjoy going to BioSoc when there are talks by scientists or medics giving us lots of detail about their subject – it makes me think about other things that we don’t do in lessons. My favourite dissection so far has been the frog, as we got to see the mechanics of how the legs move by looking at the muscles by pulling on the tendons.’ Dominic Hughes, Year 10 We have had success in a number of competitions, including two gold medals in the national Biology Olympiad this year. We have also run a number of trips, both for Middle and Upper School pupils, to events such as the Science Live lectures in central London, and most recently for 12 potential medicine and biology applicants to the epigenetics laboratory at Guy’s Hospital under Professor Oakey. This summer, a small number of Sixth Form boys went on an expedition to Madagascar where they took part in scientific research programmes aimed at preserving the unique biodiversity of the island. We are very much of the opinion that ‘out of classroom’ learning experiences play a vital role in nurturing the enthusiasm and interest of our pupils. As such, they are an essential part of boys’ experience of the Biology curriculum and the links that can be made to other disciplines.

Within the past year, we have welcomed a number of high profile speakers to the College: Professor Peter Piot, co-discoverer of the Ebola virus and former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, renowned oncologist Professor Karol Sikora OA and Sir Cyril Chantler, former Chairman of Great Ormond Street Hospital. ‘This year, I prepared and delivered a talk on ‘The Biology of Murder’ to the Biology Society. The idea of speaking in public was a daunting one, but I felt I learnt a lot from it and my talk was celebration of national Biology Week, in which the department takes over the Lower Hall to run a series of displays on a biological theme. This proved to be a highly popular event among boys of all ages and will become an annual fixture. ‘It was during Biology Week that I made the decision to study the subject at A level. The displays were well presented and showed the large range of topics that the subject covers.’ Ben Schlossman, Year 11 well-received.’ George Porter, Year 12 One of the key events for the Society is our

‘I really enjoyed Richard Dawkin’s

talk on evolution at the Science Live day. It was interesting to see a famous scientist ‘in the flesh.’ Finnian Robinson, Year 10

‘Biology week was fantastic! I especially enjoyed

seeing the tarantulas and chameleons, and I got to hold the boa constrictor.’ Oliver Storey, Year 7

‘The trip was eye- opening. Not only did we have a taste of how epigenetics

works, but we also had the chance to enter the laboratory and do some experiments. We had a glimpse of the amazing equipment and how even the tiniest amount of solution can be measured. I particularly enjoyed going to the Gordon Anatomy Museum, witnessing real specimens of all different parts of the body.’ Anthony Ki, Year 12

hemistry Chemistry is an exciting subject; intellectually demanding, inventive and vital to everyday life. By studying Chemistry, boys can also deepen their understanding of complementary subjects such as Biology and Physics.

‘The Leeds chemistry trip provided a welcome window into university life and undergraduate chemistry. We were able to live in student accommodation and undertake the same experiments as a first year student, which was both fun and challenging and allowed us to use the full range of equipment found in an advanced chemistry lab. There were also some interesting talks about the research projects being undertaken at the university and we were able to visit the labs where the experiments were taking place, which gave us a greater understanding of how chemistry is applied in the real world.’ James Davis, Year 13

We want to cultivate a genuine intellectual curiosity for Chemistry, and to engage the boys’ natural enthusiasm for scientific investigation and discovery. Practical work is an essential component, allowing the boys to develop their analytical skills and get first-hand experience of a wide range of interesting and useful chemical reactions. Chemistry is a popular subject, due to a combination of boys’ interests and because of the opportunities it can open up for them at university. Boys aiming to read Chemistry, or other sciences, at a top university are encouraged to attend events to broaden their chemical knowledge and stretch them beyond the confines of the A-level syllabus, such as the residential trip to Leeds University’s Chemistry department or lecture days (such as the Eureka Day) in London.

ChemSoc in Action - boys are amazed by the ‘Elephant’s Toothpaste’ demonstration.

Boys take part in the RSC’s national ‘Global Experiement’ to discover the vitamin C content of a range of fruits and vegetables.

‘On the Eureka Day, we saw four different presentations: Extraterrestrial Life, Forensics, Ugly Animals and The Periodic Table. All were very enjoyable and interesting. I learned how extremophiles (microscopic organisms that live in extreme conditions on Earth) can give us clues about possible life on Mars or Titan. Also, we discovered fascinating facts about the properties and uses of a range of chemical elements, including tungsten, molybdenum and hydrogen. A highly entertaining and informative trip!‘ Tom Sampson, Year 9 encouraged to enter Round 1 of the prestigious International Chemistry Olympiad, and in the past three years they have won an impressive 15 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze awards. Last year, 20 boys participated in the highly demanding C3L6 Challenge (organised by the University of Cambridge); gaining a respectable three gold, four silver and five copper awards. Year 10 boys are encouraged to participate in the annual RSC Chemistry Challenge, frequently winning prizes in the regional final. ‘Earlier this year, I took part in Round 1 of the International Chemistry Olympiad. It was a two–hour paper on various chemistry topics, which were very challenging. However, finding the answers by working logically through each question made it a rewarding experience.’ Matthew Feuer, Year 12 Boys participate in a variety of Chemistry competitions. Upper School chemists are

ChemSoc provides weekly opportunities for boys to try their hand at interesting experiments, watch suitably dangerous demonstrations and to attend presentations (by their peers, teachers or outside speakers) on a range of diverse topics and research. ‘ChemSoc has been great this year. The talks are really interesting and allow you to learn about new, innovative developments in the world of chemistry, explained to you by your friends and teachers (and maybe even do a talk of your own). With experiments thrown in for good measure, ChemSoc has been good fun, and I am very excited at becoming a key member of the ChemSoc committee next year.’ Jacob ter Voorde, Year 11

Having obtained some of the highest scores in the national Cambridge Chemistry Challenge competition, Yuchen Yang and Yilun Wu arrive at the Royal Institution to give their presentations.

‘From 2-6 December, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s national Chemistry Week took over the school. The theme was ‘Health’ and treats on offer included: engaging talks on anti-cancer drug developments and beta-lactams (used in antibiotics), a bloodthirsty video entitled ‘Pain, Pus and Poison’, and a fascinating presentation on the chemistry of First Aid kits (including practical experiments and demonstrations). Finally, we participated in ‘The Global Experiment’ to investigate the vitamin C content of a range of fruits and vegetables. We collected results, which we uploaded onto the RSC’s database.’ Ashish Dhawan, Year 13 and Chairman of ChemSoc

DC win Best Design award for their robot in the First Lego League competition.

CERN Masterclass Three prize-winning pupils work with a LHCb research team for a week. ‘This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that none of us will ever forget.’ Manson Chan, Year 12

Outstanding results in the Physics Olympiad competitions! Henry Bradley, Harry Goodhew and Leslie Leung achieve Golds in the GCSE Physics Challenge, Louis Smith, Chihao Li, Manson Chan, Martin Lee and Hongze Zou gain Golds in the AS Challenge. Of nine boys to gain Golds in the A2 challenge, Eddie Lin, Yan Zhuang, Ambrose Yim, Yuchen Yang and Yilun Wu placed in the top 50 in the country, with Yuchen Yang gaining a place in the UK national squad.

The Physics Society The Society continues the tradition of speakers, both boys and professionals, with discussion and demonstrations every Friday lunchtime. ‘Discussing and sharing the latest news from the world of science is always very inspiring to motivate us to research a particular topic after each meeting.’ Michal Mazur, Year 12

40 DC boys return to Geneva for our annual visit to CERN Accessing the beamline and seeing the detectors up close. ‘Truly inspiring. Putting literally mind- blowing antimatter physics into context was exciting.’ Ben Hurd, Year 12

DC had continued success in the Physics Olympiad Alfie Curry achieves Gold in the GCSE Challenge and Leslie Leung gains Gold in the AS Challenge. Chihao Li, Fanjun Yang and Henry Dickie placed in the top 50 nationally in the A2 challenge with a further four boys achieving Gold awards.

Qualifying through the UK heats to represent the UK in the international finals in Israel

‘An amazing experience both in an academic and a cultural sense.’

DC Astronomy takes off Following a generous donation by Brian Davies OA (1942-49), a group of enthusiasts purchase a telescope for viewing the night sky.

Year 10 and 11 pupils attend the acclaimed Science Live and Physics in Action Lectures in London ‘All of the talks were both entertaining and informative, and the lecture on the advancements in the field of medical physics was the most interesting.’ Daniel Torren-Peraire, Year 11 DC submits its final proposal for the CERN Beamline for Schools competition Aiming to be the first school to run a particle Physics experiment. ‘Being a member of the team was truly a great opportunity to collaborate with a friendly team of physicists and expand our knowledge; and also to deal with some current world issues.’ Faraz Taheri, Year 12

Forty boys visit QMUL and UCL to attend their international masterclasses, looking at real Higgs Boson data. ‘The best part for me was where we looked at the real data from ATLAS at CERN, and analysed the particles shown. It made me think that becoming a scientist might actually be fun.’ Tae Youn Kim, Year 12

LOWER SCHOOL SCIENCE

In Year 7, boys start the year with the challenge of designing their own science block of the future. Informed by visits to the College’s eco- greenhouse and observation of the College’s architecture, they create some hugely imaginative designs, which have included a lego model and some intricate Minecraft plans of Science buildings, with electricity even provided by a hamster wheel.

Year 7 boys also visited Greenwich where they were introduced to the world of space in the Planetarium and to the history of the observatory. The day out also included a trip along the Thames in a high–speed clipper from the London Eye to the observatory. The boys in Year 8 were entertained by lasers and optical illusions when Dr Neil Monteiro visited us

from Imperial College. Dr Monteiro demonstrated a whole host of Physics experiments to get the boys thinking about the behaviour of light and other waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. In March, a team of Year 8 scientists represented the College at the Royal Society of Chemistry Salters’ Festival at Queen Mary University, London.

The boys took part in a forensic crime scene investigation using their scientific logic to solve numerous challenges. The boys came third out of 24 other London schools – a great achievement! ‘The Salters’ Chemistry Festival really improved the teamwork between me and my friends as we had to identify a mysterious powder using scientific techniques and equipment. We were really pleased that we managed to come third! ‘ Christopher Millis, Year 8 At the end of the year, all Year 8 boys were set the challenge of identifying the strongest type of toilet roll. This learning (and schoolboy humour) opportunity enabled the boys to design and implement their own method for testing toilet roll strength. The reports demonstrated some fantastic and detailed experiments, planned and executed using sound scientific enquiry.

Throughout the year, the Lower School Science Society has hosted a packed schedule of activities including the heart and eye dissections, making fireworks, growing chemical gardens and ‘spy science’ activities, amongst others. The most recent of which had boys tackling the classic logic puzzle of decanting 300ml and 500ml containers into one another to end up with exactly 400ml. The boys found the hard part was doing this accurately and not spilling a drop, but some groups managed to get it exactly right through logical deduction and a steady hand. ‘I found the Lower School Science Society really challenging this week because it was something I have never done before – it was a new experience in measuring accurately and I was really pleased with my group’s result because we managed to get exactly 400ml. I feel that I am definitely going to get better at science.’ Ben Ramadhan, Year 7

Boys in the Lower School enjoy a wide range of scientific challenges throughout the year.

The Literary Society meets weekly and is addressed by a mixture of guests, staff and boys. ‘LitSoc might just be the most exciting aspect of English at Dulwich College. Away from the classroom, the lines between year groups disappear, leaving an open creative space. The weekly meetings give students the opportunity to hear talks given by teachers, outside speakers and their peers on subjects ranging from Shakespearian Tragedy to Postmodernism.’ Henry Page, Year 13

Year 7 boys travelled to Box Hill for two days of outward-bound free learning organised jointly by the Geography and English departments. The early Spring sunshine warmed the chalk slopes of the famous hill and the boys wrote haikus inspired by the power and mystery of the ancient woodland’s flora and fauna, as well as practising their map- reading and orienteering skills. Theatre visits are a regular part of the boys’ experience, making use of the proximity of central London. In the 2014 season, trips to 12 of the best productions were keenly supported by pupils and staff.

Scarred, mossed, dying, A deadly wound Leaking sap from the tree Thomas Delgado-Little, Year 7

The tangled woods So bare and strong Will stand for years Untouched, along, But then are found. Ivan Chernyshov, Year 7

Year 7 boys writing haikus on an outward bound trip.

These included Hamlet at the RSC, Stratford, Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Vic, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Apollo Theatre, and Richard II at the Barbican. ‘London’s West End is one of the world’s most vibrant theatre communities. As Dulwich boys, we are very privileged to see productions that enrich our learning while studying English, such as Sam Mendes’ King Lear at the National.’ Will Thomas, Year 13 ‘All the performances by the tightly- knit cast of 1984 were powerful, mixing outbursts of hysteria with the latent sense that something was not quite right. Tim Dutton’s performance as the disturbing interrogator, O’Brien, was a highlight in a production that did an excellent job of reinvigorating Orwell’s book for the stage.’ Will Cook, Year 13 This year, the annual Sixth Form literary trip to the Lake District and the houses of Wordsworth became a joint venture with Benenden School. In addition to hill-walking, the students toured around Dove Cottage where they enjoyed looking at some very rare and valuable first editions: Lyrical Ballads , Wordsworth’s annotated Paradise Lost and Frankenstein .

The authors published in 17.

‘Over February half-term, we were fortunate enough to visit the Lake District, an area renowned for its beauty. The trip offered a chance to visit some of the more incredible landscapes of England, but also gave great insight into the history of the Romantic poets.’ Alexander Joe, Year 13 17 is an annual publication that celebrates original writing at A level, inspired by authors such as Woolf, Joyce, Greene, Nabokov, Cheever and Murakami. ‘As a writer, there is no greater satisfaction than that of having your work published. How extraordinary, therefore, that as a student of English at Dulwich College, one is able to experience this with 17, our annual collection of short stories written by boys in the Remove.’ Alexander Joe, Year 13

History ‘Who looks out for the losers in History?’ ‘Should we pursue truth in History?’ ‘Should the claim that ‘fish and chips is a proper subject for a social historian’ be taken with a pinch of salt?’ These are just some of the weighty issues that have been discussed over tea and biscuits at the weekly History Society meetings.

ignores the experiences of ordinary citizens. Members have also been very privileged to hear eminent speakers throughout the year. Their ideas have certainly left a mark, not least by giving members a taste of the historical profession outside the classroom.’ Charles Apthorp, Year 13 Alongside the History Society, we have recently established the Dr Alec Ryrie OA History Prize . The prize is for all boys coming to the College from Dulwich Prep London, thereby treading the same path as Dr Ryrie himself. In October, Dr Ryrie came to the College to open an exhibition in our Archives on Tudor Witchcraft, which he had helped to curate, and addressed a special meeting of the History Society, attended by current and past members, some of whom helped to re-establish the Society in the late 1940s.

The History Society has a long and distinguished list of visiting speakers, ranging from leading academics, writers and documentary makers, to those who have a direct personal link with great events of the past. Recent well-known speakers have included Lord Hurd, Professor Orlando Figes, Dr Lawrence Goldman and Tristram Hunt MP. ‘ Questions posed during meetings are deeply invigorating and aim to assess underlying problems, which strike at the heart of the discipline itself. For instance, in a meeting about the History of Ideas, we spent time deciding whether ideas and actions could be studied in isolation. In attempting an answer, the group became exposed to the debate amongst historians as to whether focusing on ideas leads to an elitist view of history that

The History Department runs a number of trips, which vary from year to year. Each November, all Year 8 boys spend a day at Hampton Court. This provides a fascinating insight into Tudor life, both ‘upstairs’ with the Great Hall, the Chapel Royal and the collections of paintings, and ‘downstairs’, which includes an entertaining and highly informative tour of the kitchens. Middle School boys have enjoyed trips to the battlefields of the First World War and the D-Day landing beaches. ‘Those who survived the horrors of Flanders and Ypres are now all dead. Until recently, the Commonwealth War Graves in France and Belgium might have seemed of mere historical interest. But the events of the forthcoming centenary commemorations made the Middle School trip to the battlefields of the “War to End All Wars” seem curiously contemporary. The sheer number of simple headstones made a huge impression on all who went. For me, the most personal and emotional moment of the visit was when we visited the grave of Major Stewart Loudoun-Shand VC OA, who was decorated posthumously with the Victoria Cross at the Somme. At his grave, we read poems and laid a poppy wreath.’ Robert Power, Year 10

Every year, boys in the Upper School have the opportunity to visit one of the great cities of Europe. Recently, these have included: Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Moscow and St Petersburg. Every year, a number of AS and A2 boys have the opportunity to attend conferences and lectures in central London. Recent events have had a medieval theme, including talks on the Angevin kings of England and the Crusades. Angus Simpson came suitably attired. The History Book Club has established itself as an important part of the boys’ preparation for university entry. Membership is entirely voluntary and meetings are held about once a fortnight, at which a book read by all of the boys is discussed. Over the past year, discussions have been held on books by EH Carr, AJP Taylor, Herbert Butterfield, Christopher Hill, Isaiah Berlin and David Cannadine, to name but a few. Towards the end of the summer holidays, boys in the Remove who intend to read History at university have the chance to join the department’s Reading Party. Based either at the College’s Outdoor Centre in south Wales or closer to home in London – and often held in conjunction with the James Allen’s Girls’ School – the week provides a superb opportunity for historical discussion ahead of the hurly-burly of the A2 academic year. This year, the trip took in sites of interest from Hughenden Manor, country pile of the Victorian Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli;

Lord Hurd addresses the History Society in the Masters’ Library.

History not covered in lessons. This often takes the form of watching a film followed by a discussion on the issues and events it depicts or, more recently, presentations from Middle School boys themselves, whether on the role of martial arts in Chinese culture or the development of the Illuminati. The Lower School History Society has focused on the two World Wars recently. Sessions have included a fantastic talk by Zeb Micic in Year 7, video documentaries on the Dambusters, quizzes and a re-enactment of the trenches. The History Department makes extensive use of the College Archives. All Year 9 boys take part in a project in which they each research the life of an OA who served in the First World War. Boys in the Lower School have the opportunity to handle books that are up to 700 years old, recording events in the Middle Ages.

the Cabinet War Rooms; and St Paul’s Cathedral. Boys also had the chance to engage in original historical research at the National Archive in Kew, ahead of writing their Extended Essays. ‘The week gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in the subject and confirmed my choice of degree subject. The visits were carefully chosen to supplement our theme for the week: man vs. machine. Each site and the reading and discussion that followed gave me the chance to decide for myself whether ‘great men’ and their ideas had shaped history, or whether deeper social and economic forces were at play.’ Max Leslie, Year 13 Meeting every Wednesday lunchtime, the Middle School History Club is an ideal opportunity for those boys in Year 9 or studying IGCSE to explore areas of

Visiting Bomber Command Memorial in central London.

The winning Lower School trench teams led by Titus Hopkins and Toby Mayhew in Year 8.

Making thorough use of the College Archives.

The Raymond Chandler Library, Wodehouse Library and College Archives play key roles in sparking pupils’ interests and love of reading, as well as supporting their independent learning and academic achievement through the loan of their resources, the teaching of skills and by offering opportunities to assist in their organisation and operation.

The Raymond Chandler Library provides a focal point for boys in Years 7 and 8, and in the Book Club around 45 Lower School boys meet to talk about new books, read and review books on the Carnegie Medal shortlist, and enjoy quizzes and other fun events. ‘I go to book club because it expands your knowledge of books, and books are doors to new worlds that lie only in your imagination.’ Simon Adugna, Year 7 ‘I come to book club because I like to read. There are so many books I still haven’t read, but I still like to discover other

selection to the UK final event but winning lots of prizes for their literary knowledge along the way. ‘The Kids Lit Quiz was the highlight of my year, finishing in a great second place. It tested our knowledge to the max and let us work as a team. The great thing was that if I didn’t know the answer, someone else did!’ Leo Tidmarsh, Year 7 ‘I was really glad to be in the Kids Lit Quiz team as it is a real honour to represent DC at a competition and I look forward to doing something similar in the future.’ Tom Burton, Year 8 Author visits give a real boost to boys’ enjoyment of reading and during the past year Lower School boys have enjoyed visits from Michelle Paver, Joseph Delaney, Chris Bradford, Simon Mayo and local authors Simon Pearson and Sam Osman.

great books!’ Louis Wilson, Year 7

Boys take part in quizzes to select teams to represent the College in regional heats of the Kids Lit Quiz and have had some success previously, narrowly missing

‘It was a unique opportunity to meet and listen to the author Simon Pearson give his biographical account of the life and adventures of the great escaper Roger Bushell.’ John Concagh, Year 9 Many boys enjoy helping in the organisation and operations of the libraries as pupil librarians, earning their much sought-after ties as a result. Founded in 2000, the Dulwich Despatch is published twice a year by boys and staff in the Raymond Chandler Library. It is an excellent introduction to the world of journalism, and several contributors have gone on to establish their own publications in the Middle and Upper Schools. Named after one of the College’s most famous old boys, the Wodehouse Library is central to the academic and cultural life of the College. The Library contains a wide-ranging collection of more than 20,000 volumes to support the academic work of all boys in the Middle and Upper Schools. ‘What do you think of the latest book by Michael Grant?’, ‘How does the film of The Hunger Games compare to the books?’ and is ‘The Tales of The Otori the best series ever?’ These and many other topics have been discussed by the Word of Mouth book group over the past year.

‘ I enjoy the informal atmosphere for discussion as an alternative to the formality of lessons. The Book Club offers a tranquil atmosphere for intellectual thought and informative, interesting opinions.’ Thomas Parfitt, Year 11

The Library organises visits from well-known authors to encourage boys to read around their subjects and discover new authors. Recently, Tom Holland, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and John Banville have all given inspiring and enjoyable talks about their work. Approximately 30 boys volunteer to help in the Wodehouse Library. ‘I have found being a librarian both a fun and rewarding experience. The jobs are enjoyable, and their variety keeps me engaged. In addition, it gives me the opportunity to develop skills for later life, such as co-operating with others on an assigned task, or fulfilling certain duties by a particular deadline.’ Barnaby Cullen, Year 12

Lower School boys enjoy a visit from author Joseph Delaney.

Author Tom Holland delivers a memorable talk about his work.

‘The Archives show the history of the school in objects. The Fellows’ Library books were useful to me to show how other generations lived. The value of the objects we saw increased as I explored the different exhibits.’ Joe Atkinson, Year 7 Books are brought into lessons as well. The material does not only illustrate learning but allows contact with the objects as stimulation, which some will remember much better as a result. Upper School boys have been exploring Classics texts from the Library in early editions of their A–level authors. Societies ask for displays and talks based on original material from the collection. English hosts a display of John Donne and John Milton books to illustrate their world and the part religion played in it. Our holdings of 17th century English literature are important, going back to our Founder’s era, and the Reformation texts bring home the violence of belief in that time. The ‘Wondrous to Behold’ Lent show exhibited, some for the first time, 50 early science books surrounded by a host of objects to set them in context. This minor blockbuster attracted significant numbers of pupils, and from such shows come many enquiries; individual boys can examine material interesting to them on private visits.

The Archive and Fellows’ Library

Since 2006, the Archive has been used increasingly as a resource in the College curriculum from DUCKS right through to the Sixth Form. Sometimes the boys have visits to the Archive or material from the Archive is taken into the classroom. In addition, the pupils have many opportunities to study the archival material either through displays and exhibitions or during research following-up personal interests. The Fellows’ Library has a collection of some 6,000 books and perhaps the most exciting aspect of this is to see the boys’ sense of wonder and amazement when viewing the material ‘hands on’ in open displays (which allow judicious turning of pages, under supervision). The questions they ask reveal that for many what they are examining is from a world and culture that is strange and far removed from their modern digital experience. Our material can help to explain the past and how earlier ages treated almost every subject they study and how the content of their present day syllabuses came about. Each year, the Year 7 boys come to see two displays of some 10 books each to show the history of Mathematics, in a series of text books dating from 1522 to the 19th century, and key features of their medieval history course, from 14th century manuscripts to how the Victorians treated the Middle Ages.

Hands-on access to material in the Archives can be very inspiring.

Many boys enjoy the role of pupil librarian.

GEOGRAPHY Geography is one of the best–placed subjects for inspiring learning outside the classroom. Fieldwork plays an integral role in our discipline, not only to enhance GCSE or A-Level learning, but also to instil a sense of awe and wonder, and gain an appreciation of the natural, social and cultural diversity of the world around us.

In their first term at Dulwich, all Year 7 classes spend a week at the College’s Outdoor Centre in the Brecon Beacons National Park, where they learn about limestone landscapes and rivers, whilst practising Ordnance Survey map–reading skills. This year, the boys got to experience dramatic underground limestone features through caving. They crawled through tiny water–carved passageways and saw stalagmite and stalactite formations. Over the past few years, the Geography Department has run popular expeditions across the range of year groups, including to destinations such as Costa Rica (2007), Iceland (2009), South West USA (2010) and Jordan & Israel (2012). Our most recent trip took 29 boys on an action-packed 10–day expedition, with highlights including a jeep safari through Wadi Rum desert, a Bedouin overnight camping experience, a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra and swimming (or floating) in the Dead Sea. The Geography Society has branches throughout the College. In the Lower School, called Geo-Explorers, it is open to all boys in Years 7 and 8 who want to explore the subject in an interactive way, whilst helping them to further develop their geographical skills. Activities have included building and erupting

volcanoes, constructing coral reefs from pasta, debates on current issues such as global warming and designing geographical games and quizzes. ‘Geo-Explorers has been extremely interesting and I have learned loads. It really helped me in my Geography test as well!’ Orlando Firth, Year 7 In the Middle and Upper School, the Geography Society makes the boys aware of how important Geography is in the real world, and we encourage Year 12 and 13 boys to become involved in running the society.

Geo-Explorers presenting volcanoes at end of term assembly.

‘Geo-Explorers has been very exciting. Building our models taught me a lot more about volcanoes and I have enjoyed every minute!’

Joshua Stenhouse, Year 7

Other interesting talks have covered themes such as ‘Montserrat – Reclaiming Paradise after the Volcano’ and ‘Slum Tourism in Mumbai – Transforming thoughts on Global Poverty’. Some of the Sixth Form student-led highlights have included Oliver Gannon’s talk on his summer charity project work in Botswana and Michael Godson’s presentation on ‘Nuclear Energy’ as a panacea to energy insecurity A highlight of Michaelmas 2013 was the hosting of an afternoon talk by Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE. Visiting on the launch date of his new book ‘Cold’, Sir Ranulph spoke in great detail about his experiences in brutally cold environments. BBC Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb and Sixth Former Michael Godson interviewed Sir Ranulph and questions were taken from the floor. Some of the most interesting questions asked included; ‘What has been your most dangerous experience?’, to which Sir Ranulph recounted his loss of several fingers to frostbite on a solo expedition.

The Department is a Member of the Royal Geographical Society, with both groups of pupils and individuals attending Monday night Member’s Lectures and Open Days. This year, boys have attended lectures on themes as diverse as ‘Travels through Sierra Leone and Liberia’ and ‘UK Flood Management’. A particular highlight was a Year 12 and 13 outing to listen to the eminent Professor Iain Stewart. Iain is perhaps best known as the presenter of a number of science and geology programmes for the BBC since 2004: Earth: The Power of the Planet (2007); Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Volcanoes (2006), and most recently Rise of the Continents (2013). The boys were gripped by Iain’s talk on science’s hope of achieving the holy grail of earthquake prediction.

Justin Webb Interviewing Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

Limestone Caves, Brecon Beacons National Park.

‘It was an extraordinary and inspiring experience, from which I learnt so much that I realised I knew so much less. This encourages me to travel, to experience, and to learn even further and even more.’ James Lee, Year 11, Israel and Jordon trip.

In the October half term, 29 boys from Year 11 and the Upper School embarked upon an expedition to Jordan and Israel. The 11 days covered scrambling in Petra, surveying the Golan Heights from the Syrian border, snorkelling in the Red Sea, floating and beautifying with mud at the Dead Sea, looking over ‘The Promised Land’ from Mount Nebo, sleeping under the stars in the Wadi Rum desert and witnessing Shabbat at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Over four days, 40 Year 9 boys explored The Vatican City, including The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, experienced some of Rome’s best–preserved Early Christian Catacombs and visited The Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon and Spanish Steps. The scale and quality of Rome’s cultural, religious and architectural history did not fail to impress them. The RS Gym is held regularly on a Tuesday afternoon, and in the past year topics have included the state of the economy, the most dangerous man in Tudor England: William Tyndale, religion in North Korea, and Islam’s relationship with the West. Perhaps the most controversial seminar this year was held with Dr. Cue (Head of Biology) and Mr. Fox (Head of RT), who tried to defend opposing positions on the place of religion in society. This year, some

excellent questions arose out of several boys seeing the very successful play, The God Particle, which had rave reviews at last year’s Edinburgh festival and which played locally recently. All boys studying RT in Year 13 prepare a presentation on a subject of interest to them to present to the society. When they study Hinduism, Year 7 boys visit the Hindu Swaminaryan Mandir in Neasden. The boys can appreciate the Hindu religion as a living faith that gives meaning and purpose to the lives of a large number of people, not only here in London but worldwide.

On their visit to the West London Synagogue, boys learn Hebrew from a Torah Scroll smuggled out of Nazi Germany.

‘Not only did we learn about Italian religion, but also Italian culture and history whilst staying at the heart of the city.’ Tom Crossley, Year 9

The Cathedral tower provides a fantastic opportunity to spot various places of worship across the London skyline. The boys learn about how architecture reflects religious belief, the Stations of the Cross and St Peter. In February this year, we took a selection of Year 11 boys to the 2014 Religious Studies academy conference to hear a selection of talks from Julie Arkiss, Dr Mark Lewney, Professor Tom Greggs, and Jeffrey Hodges. Dr Lewney dazzled the audience, who were gathered in this grand Baptist church space, with his rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody in order to explain String Theory. He asked the question: ‘Are we made of Maths?’ which allowed boys to consider the roles of not only mathematics but also physics in contemporary philosophy.

Pupils in Year 13 have the opportunity each year to join a one–day conference run by Dr Peter Vardy, long-time Vice Principal of Heythrop College of the University of London. A group of Dulwich boys spent a day at Bloomsbury Baptist church listening to and discussing key ethical topics such as warfare, religious language, the use of drones and natural law. Students were given university style lectures and were invited to discuss the issues in open mic sessions. ‘What I liked about the temple is that it is a stunning building in the middle of a busy part of London, where you wouldn’t expect such a building to be.’ Harry Bassi, Year 7 In June, Year 8 travel through London to visit three different places of worship, with the focus of the day being interfaith dialogue. The West London Synagogue, W1 is the first stop on our itinerary. This particular reform synagogue is home to in excess of 3,000 worshippers, and was built in the same decade as Dulwich College’s Barry buildings. The boys learn Hebrew from a Torah Scroll, which had been smuggled out of Nazi Germany in 1938 after Kristallnacht. The second stop is at the Regents Park Mosque, and Islamic Culture Centre. Our guide is a ةروفان (fountain) of knowledge; she makes us feel welcome in this vast mosque, which was a gift from George VI to the Muslims of London, and the boys are able to focus on the rights of women in Islam and Islamic prayer in particular. The final visit is to Westminster Cathedral.

On the trip to the Regents Park mosque, boys focused on the rights of women in Islam and Islamic prayer.

The Economics Society meets every Thursday lunchtime and boys are exposed to a wide range of views on economic issues. Speakers this year have included MPs, members of pressure groups, think tank and business leaders, civil servants, College governors, and our own pupils.

‘It has been fantastic to look at the great economic thinkers as people, and to see the men and women behind the ideologies they endorse. Their economic philosophies make a lot more sense once you know the context in which they were writing – Marx is a prime example.’ Dillon Harindiran, Year 13 In March, a team of six Remove economists went to the Chartered Accountants Hall in Moorgate to compete in the regional heat of the Business, Accounting and Skills Education (BASE) competition, organised by the ICAEW. The team were tasked with formulating a business strategy in a thought- provoking business game.

Trips to City of London institutions take place throughout the year.

‘It’s great that we get to debate so many issues at EconSoc. Most of the speakers are experts in their field, and the chance to ask them questions and debate with them is absolutely brilliant.’ George Cave, Year 12 Further Economics seminars, in which boys have been studying issues well beyond the confines of the A-level syllabus, run throughout the year.

Remove Economists finished in the top four teams at the BASE regional heats.

‘The further classes are challenging, but in a good way. I am forced to think carefully about issues, and having to defend a position makes me question why it is that I hold a certain point of view.’ Taylor Yu, Year 13 The team’s suggestions caught the attention of the judges, and they finished in the top four teams. They also jumped at the chance to network with professionals and employers. ‘The business game was really engaging and I thought we worked well as a team. I thought the strategy we came up with was good and it was a rewarding experience.’ Charlie Sparkes, Year 12 More than 200 pupils at the College took part in the IFS Student Investor Challenge. A team of four boys in Year 12 played the stock market brilliantly, making a 13 percent return in four months of investing, making it through to the Regional Final of the competition after finishing 35th out of 8,638 teams nationally. ‘The competition was fantastic, and as a team we were always thinking of which stocks to buy and which to sell. We made some good decisions and I was really pleased we made it to the Regional Final. Mr Bazalgette (a College Governor) was really helpful. I feel that I’ve learned a lot about finance, and about how much I still don’t know about it!’ David Fincham, Year 12 Our Bank of England Target 2.0 team gave a fantastic presentation on their comprehensive interest rate and quantitative easing policy suggestions to a panel of economists. They produced an impressive assessment of the state of the UK economy. They defended their policies vigorously when challenged by the panel, and emerged victorious against a number of local schools. Dozens of boys have competed in Model United Nations (MUN) competitions over the last year, with many winning distinguished awards for their contributions.

Boys have represented the interests of some varied countries at the meetings in London, Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh. Many pupils have submitted essays in national competitions including the Royal Economic Society Essay Competition. Economics pupils write articles for, and edit, our Political Economy Review publication, which is sold each year on Founder’s Day, with proceeds going to the College’s Bursary Fund. Students have enjoyed numerous outings this year, including a visit to several City of London institutions, including the Bank of England, the London Metal Exchange (LME), and Lloyd’s Insurance House. Twenty boys spent a day at C.Hoare & co, one of the UK’s oldest family-run banks, where they learned about contemporary issues in the financial world and careers in banking, while also making some valuable contacts. Dozens of pupils also attended the Finance Networking Evening, where boys interested in a career in finance networked with financiers at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. After a term of studying Business Economics, 30 Year 13 boys went on a trip to Fullers Brewery just before Christmas. Other outings have included two conferences run by the Institute of Economic Affairs at Bromley High School and at the Institute of Directors, a trip to Speakers Day at RGS Guildford, and several lectures at the London School of Economics and University College London.

There’s much more to these subjects than just language learning. We are able to introduce pupils to some of the most exciting literary texts in Western culture, show them stunning works of art and architecture, and bring to life many of the most famous figures in this continent’s history.

In October 2013, 28 boys from the Middle and Upper School visited Sicily, touring the island from the slopes of Etna in the East to the desolate island of Mozia in the far West. For eight days we took in a variety of ancient sites, including the Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina, the Doric temples at Agrigento and Selinunte, and a Carthaginian tophet, where the bodies of human sacrifices were buried.

In May, all boys in Year 8 visit the Roman villa at Lullingstone, where a recently refurbished museum displays a remarkably complete site which includes some stunning mosaics and some of the earliest recorded Christian worship in the country. Boys in Year 12 also make a day trips to the British Museum. This year’s visit afforded the boys the opportunity to see the most controversial of all the museum’s holdings, the Elgin Marbles.

Meeting the Emperor Pertinax at Lullingstone.

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