Around 50 - 54 pupils join the Junior Schoolin Year 3. For 2025, a small number of these places have been offered to pupils currently at DUCKS (who sat the 4+ Deferred Entry assessments). The remaining 40-45 places will be offered to applicants who sit the Year 3 (7+) entrance assessments when they are in Year 2.
For 2025, we also have six to eight additional places for entry into Year 5 (9+), creating forms of around 20 - 21 pupils.
Admissions update 2025 entry
Due to a very positive Year 3 (7+) acceptance rate this year, we will not be holding Year 4 (8+) entry for September 2025. We do not anticipate resuming 8+ entry going forward.
Junior School Life
Junior School Life
Our younger pupils talk about life in the Junior School.
We have enjoyed meeting so many visitors at our various open days this term.
Families looking for entry to Year 3 and 5 in 2026 will be able to visit us from May. Please look at our website at the end of March for dates and the link to book a place.
The admissions team are always happy to talk to families on the phone and to answer any individual queries regarding the application process.
Please do look at our website to capture a flavour of what life at Dulwich College could be like for your sons.
Applicants will complete online assessments in small groups as well as some short assessments of writing and maths. The online assessments will be completed on desktops with a keyboard and mouse.
Stage 2 Assessment
Applicants who have shown sufficient promise in the assessments will be invited back in January for a one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff. During this assessment stage, we will assess their literacy, numeracy and offer applicants the opportunity to work with others, showing their interest and aptitude for learning.
The majority of Year 3 (7+) applicants who are successful in our entry procedure will be working at a teacher assessment of Greater Depth by the end of their Infant or Pre-Prep school or achieving standardised scores >120.
Decisions on an applicant’s suitability will be based on their online assessment results, their attainment and potential in literacy and numeracy, the one-to-one interview, their approach to learning as demonstrated throughout their time with us, and their school report.
Please note that we are aware that some schools’ timeline for entry is different to ours. If you are holding an offer from another school, and have not heard a decision from us, please contact us for further advice if you have any queries.
Disability and Special Educational Needs
Please notify the Junior School Registrar by Monday 28 October 2024 if your child has any specific learning needs or disabilities, which might affect the administration of the 2025 assessments. Sending any professional reports and recommendations is essential so we can ensure suitable access arrangements are made.
What are we looking for in the Dulwich College Junior School Assessments?
It is important to stress that we are looking for potential in the applicants; children who will thrive at Dulwich College to the age of 18. Our challenge is to find students with potential whose natural ability will grow with the challenges and breadth a Dulwich education provides.
Online Assessments
The children do not need to do any preparation for the online assessments. These assessments will look at the applicants’s English, Maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning competencies. Ideally, they will have used a computer with a mouse beforehand, but this is not a barrier to doing well in these assessments. We have the support in place to help all applicants in these assessments.
Reading, reading and reading
Your son should read aloud; he should discuss the stories read, their meanings, any new vocabulary encountered, the feelings of characters and how stories relate to other books, authors and the world around them.
Numeracy
Children should have a good level of numeracy and be able to understand number problems in context. An ability to link topics and use appropriate strategies to explain their thinking will be useful.
Writing
Applicants will be asked to write in response to a given stimulus. We are looking for boys who can express themselves clearly and creatively using interesting vocabulary and accurate punctuation. They will not be asked to write a structured story.
Speaking
Applicants will be encouraged to speak about themselves in a one-to-one interview with a member of the Junior School staff and discuss their genuine interests and enthusiasms and issues around them. Quiet or shy boys can very effectively relay the topics that fascinate them with our gentle and supportive staff.
On the Assessment Days
We aim to make the days as normal and as welcoming as possible with our Junior School teachers encouraging and supporting the boys. Along with the invitation to the assessment days, details will be provided about what the boys should bring and the structure of the day. We offer frequent breaks and provide healthy refreshments to help ensure that your son’s visit to Dulwich College Junior School is positive and memorable.
The Junior School Registrar, Mrs Cara Norfolk, is responsible for dealing with all enquiries to the Junior School and for the administration of the entry procedure for Years 3 to 6.
