Academic Enrichment

At Dulwich, Academic Enrichment is central to our ethos, fostering intellectual curiosity and a love of learning across all age groups.

It represents education for its own sake and unbound by examination or curriculum, encouraging pupils to think independently, creatively, and across disciplines. This approach helps to shape globally minded, collaborative problem-solvers.

Academic Enrichment is embedded throughout school life: in lessons, events, and our wide-ranging co-curricular programmes in the Junior School, Senior School, and DUCKS. Our Union of Societies allows students to explore their interests, guided by subject-specialist teachers.

In the Classroom

Dulwich teachers nurture enquiry-led learning, sparking curiosity through pupil questions and thoughtful connections. They model lifelong learning, ensuring classrooms are dynamic spaces for academic discovery.

Beyond the Classroom

Pupils extend their thinking through the Scholarship Programme, Advanced Electives, Liberal Studies, and events like the Upper and Junior School Symposia. Trips and outings and a plethora of STEM, creative arts and humanities competitions and guest lectures further enrich their academic adventures.

Scholarship Programme

From Year 7 to Year 13, Alleynians are offered stimulating, thought-provoking experiences: Lower School pupils engage in weekly discussions on topics like ethics or philosophy, and may enter our challenging Year 8 Scholarship examination; in the Middle School, the programme includes weekly meetings, visiting speakers, and competitions such as the Gareth Evans Essay Prize; and pupils also attend conferences and visits to institutions in Oxford, Cambridge, and London.

Upper School pupils participate in subject-specific enrichment sessions, one-to-one tutorials, and mock interviews. They are encouraged to read widely and access curated resources through The Thinkers’ Hub, which also connects them to essay prizes and university-level content.

Advanced Electives

All Year 12 pupils select two Advanced Electives. These 10-week courses designed to extend thinking beyond A levels. Taught by staff from Dulwich College, JAGS, and Sydenham High GDST, these seminars foster independent, university-style learning. Topics range from Law and Astrophysics to Finance and Medicine, helping pupils explore academic passions and gain skills for future study and careers. Free from assessment, the courses promote risk-taking, intellectual agility, and critical thinking. 

Read more about the Advanced Electives Course

Liberal Studies

In Year 13, pupils broaden their perspectives further by choosing two Liberal Studies courses, taught jointly with JAGS. These unexamined courses allow them to explore new subjects, complement academic studies, and cultivate lifelong curiosity.

Read more about Liberal Studies Courses