DUCKS is an independent Co-Educational Kindergarten and Infants' School and is one of the five schools of Dulwich College. Attendance at DUCKS is term-time only and the main point of entry is at the beginning of the academic year in September. From September 2025 all new admissions to DUCKS will be fulltime places.
Kindergarten: Age 18 months to 2 years entry
In the Kindergarten, our main points of entry are the Toddler Room and the Duckling Room. Places are offered by date of registration.
Infants: Age 3 to 6 entry
In the Infants' School we have a number of occasional places at Pre-Reception (3+), Reception (4+), Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+). At 3+ places are offered by date of registration and at 4+, 5+ and 6+ entry is via assessment. At 4+ applicants have the opportunity to gain a deferred Year 3 place at the Junior School.
DUCKS: A Day in the Life
DUCKS: A Day in the Life
Follow our youngest pupils as they learn inside and outside the classroom.
Tours of the Kindergarten and Pre-Reception are available most Wednesday mornings during the second half of the Michaelmas term, throughout the Lent term and during the first half of the summer term. Please contact the Registrar to book a visit.
When offering Pre-Reception (3+) places, families are invited back to re-visit the school.
Reception (4+)
During the first half of the Michaelmas term, families wishing to apply for a Reception place the following September, may register online for a bespoke 4+ tour of the Infants’ School.
New User
To use our Admissions Portal for the first time you will need to set up a user account. Once you have submitted a form you will receive a confirmation email, if this does not arrive please check your Junk email folder.
To register another child please select 'Add New Applicant'. To re-apply for your child, please do not edit your child's past application, instead please contact the Registrar for further information.
Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+)
During the Lent term, families wishing to apply for a KS1 place the following September may register online for a bespoke 5+ and 6+ tour while their child sits an assessment.
Kindergarten (Toddler Room 12/18 months and Duckling Room 2+)
Places in the Kindergarten are limited and our waiting lists are therefore short. Offering takes place throughout January and February prior to the year of entry. Places are offered strictly in order of when children are registered and each year we typically offer:
Toddler Room – 14 full-time places
Duckling Room – an additional 8 full-time places
Families are encouraged to visit the Kindergarten before registering and please contact the Registrar to book a tour. The date of registration is the date of initial contact/enquiry and a £100 registration fee is charged.
Pre-Reception (3+)
Entry to Pre-Reception is by waiting list and each year we offer approximately 10/12 places across two classes. Offering takes place throughout December and January, during the academic year prior to the year of entry.
Places are offered strictly in order of when families register and the children are invited to visit the school before an offer is made. During the visit, a small group of children will visit the classroom to familiarise themselves with our Early Years’ setting. At the same time, our Early Years' team will be able to observe each child’s readiness for learning.
Siblings of current DUCKS pupils are given priority when places are offered in the Kindergarten and at Pre-Reception.
Reception (4+)
Entry to Reception is via assessment and these take place during the Michaelmas term prior to the year of entry. Each year we offer between 25-30 places across three classes.
Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+)
Occasional places become available at Year 1 and Year 2 and assessments for these chance vacancies take place during the Lent term, prior to the year of entry.
Admission at Reception is via assessment. Registration is online and opens on the DUCKS website 16 months prior to the year of entry, i.e. Reception 2024 registration will open during May in 2023.
Children are invited to attend an assessment session during the Michaelmas term prior to the year of joining. The assessments take place on a Saturday and children are seen in small groups of between 6 and 8, according to their date of birth, ensuring we account for age related developmental differences in performance. The children are invited into a classroom setting to take part in activities very similar to those already familiar to them from other Nursery settings. A team of four adults will encourage the children to engage in activities within a stimulating learning environment and will observe both their levels of engagement and how well they play alongside other children, thus ensuring they would thrive within the current Pre-Reception cohort.
We are confident that all children who are offered a place in Reception through to Year 2 will thrive at DUCKS and have the opportunity to gain a place at a range of local independent settings when they sit the 7+ assessment during Year 2.
Deferred Year 3 (7+) Offer to Dulwich College Junior School
All children joining at Reception remain at DUCKS until the end of Year 2, when they sit 7+ assessments for Year 3 entry to other schools. For boys who perform strongly, and demonstrate an above average ability across all areas of learning during their 4+ assessment, there is the further possibility of them being offered a deferred Year 3 place at the Junior School, in addition to their 4+ place at DUCKS.
Year 1 (5+) and Year 2 (6+)
A small number of chance vacancies may become available each year at Year 1 and Year 2 and admission is via assessment. Please either contact the Registrar or wait for registration to open online during the Lent term of the year of entry. i.e. Year 1 and Year 2 2024 registration will open during January in 2024.
Children are invited to attend an assessment session during the Lent term prior to the year of joining. The Assessments will last approximately 45 minutes and will be led by our Deputy Head and Head of KS1. The children will join the teachers in the classroom and will be invited to take part in activities similar to those already familiar to them from their current Reception class setting.
To complete the 4+, 5+ and 6+ online Assessment Forms you will need to upload the following:
a recent photograph of your child
if available, your child's latest school or nursery report
if applicable, please provide brief details of any medical history
if applicable, please provide brief details of any Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Learning Support including speech and language therapy. This will enable us to structure the best support for your child during the Assessment
The online Assessment application fee is £125 and is non-refundable
