A Year of Achievement, Enrichment and Opportunity

As the academic year draws to a close, we can look back with immense pride on a year filled with outstanding achievements, unforgettable experiences and remarkable personal growth. From national sporting success and international representation to enrichment activities and inspiring guest speakers, 2025–26 has been a year to remember.

Excellence across the College

This year has seen pupils achieve at the very highest level across sport, co-curricular activities and academic pursuits.

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) enjoyed a truly exceptional year. Four cadets were awarded prestigious Army Scholarships, while both the Junior and Senior First Aid teams claimed National Championship titles. The CCF also secured the London District First Aid Competition for a remarkable sixth consecutive year and finished second in the RAF Air Squadron Trophy Competition. They will once again represent the London Cadet Force at the national finals later this year.

The College’s debating programme also enjoyed significant success. Louie (Year 12) represented England Debating and, alongside Aidan, won the prestigious South Hampstead High School Debating Competition.

In chess, the College achieved its best result in 15 years at the British Team Chess Challenge Finals, finishing eighth nationally after progressing from a field of more than 300 teams.

Dulwich College has been accredited as a European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS), joining a network of more than 2,000 schools across Europe. The accreditation was marked by a ceremony in the Master’s Library attended by European Parliament representatives, diplomats, and a representative of the Spanish Government in the UK.

CODA, the annual exhibition celebrating the achievements of Dulwich College’s Year 11 and Year 13 artists, showcased an inspiring range of work including sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography, film and immersive installations, highlighting the creativity and artistic development of pupils across all year groups. Spanning four locations, the exhibition also featured Still Boys by Artist-in-Residence Ed Brilliant, offering visitors a vibrant celebration of imagination, experimentation and artistic excellence within the College community.

Sporting Success 

There were many other notable performances throughout the year.

In rugby, Max, Noah and Seán were selected to represent Harlequins at U16 and U17 level. In archery, Sebastian retained the UK U18 National Men's Longbow title, while in fencing Alex represented Hong Kong at the FIE Junior Épée World Cup, helping his team secure a bronze medal.

In football, Mylo earned selection for England Under-16 and represented Crystal Palace at both U16 and U18 level, including in their FA Youth Cup semi-final campaign. Meanwhile, Harry (Year 9), Jack (Year 12) and Chib (Year 13) all gained national recognition through selection for ISFA representative teams.

History was made in the swimming pool as the U18 Water Polo team won the Schools’ Water Polo League for the first time in College history. Strong performances across the programme saw the U13 side finish national runners-up, the U15 team place fourth and the U18s secure third place in the National ESSA Championships.

Our ski racing team further enhanced the College’s reputation by winning silver in The Sunday Times Cup at the British Schoolboys International Races, finishing as the second-ranked schoolboy ski racing team in the country.

Rowers once again excelled at the National Schools’ Regatta, where the J16 Four won silver and the J15 First VIII finished fourth nationally, with numerous crews securing top-ten finishes. More recently, the 1st VIII produced a sensational performance at Henley against Deerfield Academy, one of the strongest school crews in the United States, narrowly missing out by the smallest of margins in a race of exceptional quality.

Cricket continued to thrive. Yohan (Year 10) and Roan (Year 12) earned invitations to join the Kent and Surrey Men's Academy programmes respectively for 2026, recognising years of development through representative cricket and the College pathway. This week, the 1st XI secured an impressive victory over Framlingham in a two-day fixture, while the College was delighted to host both Melbourne Grammar School and Mumbai Cricket Club, strengthening international sporting links. 

A Week of Discovery and Adventure

The final week of term showcased the breadth of opportunities available beyond the classroom through an extensive enrichment programme.

Lower School

Lower School pupils enjoyed a series of exciting Hidden Leaders activities across the College site, including archery, axe throwing, fire writing, pioneering, command tasks and a range of outdoor challenge activities. The week also featured House Debating, House Swimming and Sports Day, encouraging teamwork, resilience and healthy competition.

Middle School

Middle School pupils participated in an extraordinary variety of subject-based and adventure experiences, including:

• Science: London's Spectacular and Behind the Theme Park
• History: Battlefields
• Music: School of Rock
• Religion & Philosophy: Baths, Caves, Witches and Raves
• Spanish: Hispanic Sport, Cinema and Tacos
• STEM: Legoland
• Mathematics: Codebreaking
• English: Creative Writing and Theatre
• Classics: Hadrian's Wall
• Physics: Marseille Fusion Reactor
• Cycling: Ticket to Ride
• Alpine Adventure in Switzerland
• Adventurous Camping in Wales
• CCF and Duke of Edinburgh activities

These experiences allowed pupils to explore new interests, deepen existing passions and develop valuable life skills in settings far beyond the classroom.

Learning from Experience

A particular highlight of the Year 12 enrichment programme was a visit from former international sprinter Dwain Chambers.

Speaking candidly about his career as one of the fastest athletes in the world, Chambers reflected on how his determination to become the fastest man alive ultimately led him to make the decision to use performance-enhancing drugs. He spoke openly about being caught cheating and the consequences that followed, including a lengthy ban from athletics.

His honesty and willingness to address difficult topics resonated strongly with pupils. The audience responded with thoughtful, perceptive and probing questions, creating an engaging discussion about ambition, integrity, decision-making and resilience. It was a powerful and memorable session, and one of the highlights of the Year 12 enrichment day.

Looking Ahead

This year's achievements demonstrate not only the exceptional talent of our pupils, but also their commitment, character and willingness to embrace every opportunity available to them. Whether competing on the national stage, representing their country, exploring new interests or learning valuable lessons from inspiring speakers, they have continued to embody the very best of the College community.

We congratulate all our pupils and staff on an outstanding year and look forward to building on these successes in the year ahead.