Dulwich Prep and Senior: A School Steeped in Vision, Space and Heart.
Nestled in the serene greenery of Dulwich, Dulwich Prep and Senior blends thoughtful design, modern facilities, and a warm community. Currently expanding to welcome senior boys, it offers a unique environment where academic ambition meets genuine care, preparing boys for the challenges ahead.
The drive to Dulwich Prep and Senior is a familiar one for me — weaving through the urban edges of Clapham Common, the bustle of Streatham, and along the leafy A205. As the concrete softens into the verdant surroundings of Belair Park and Dulwich Park, you know you’re close. A right turn into Alleyn Park, and there it is — Dulwich Prep and Senior School, a deceptively modest exterior belying the expansive, thoughtfully designed world within.
Despite the proximity to other popular schools, I was pleasantly surprised to find parking right outside — a rare win. Walking through the school gates, we were greeted by a warm and genuine welcome. But it was once inside that I truly understood the scale and structure of this place. Dulwich Prep and Senior is vast, logical and built with a clarity of vision that’s hard to miss. If you want to get a real sense of its layout, I highly recommend watching the aerial video available on their website — it’s as impressive virtually as it is in person.
A School on the Move.
Currently an all-boys school from Reception to Year 8, girls are welcomed into the nursery provision, the school is undergoing an ambitious and exciting expansion. By September 2025, Dulwich Prep and Senior will begin welcoming boys into Year 9, growing organically year by year until the provision reaches Year 11.
This isn’t just a reactive expansion. It’s a meticulously planned project, infused with passion and clarity at every stage. We were fortunate to be taken on a school tour by Mrs Caville, Head of Upper School, whose energy and enthusiasm was infectious. Saving the best for last, she revealed her “passion project”: the newly developed KS3 and GCSE block.
Designed for the 21st Century Learner.
This refurbished space feels more like a modern co-working hub than a traditional school block. Multi-functional classrooms, partitioning that mimics office architecture, natural wood-effect finishes, plants and a calming colour palette of neutral pinks and beiges create an environment that feels calm, clean and focused.
Technology isn’t an afterthought here — it’s fully integrated. Interactive whiteboards and blinds were already installed (with months to spare!), a far cry from the frantic August installations many schools scramble through. As someone who's experienced that scramble more than once, I was genuinely wowed.
The communal areas are equally impressive. Lockers aren't shoved into narrow corridors but are strategically placed in open areas, set at angles to create visibility and flow. They're no more than two or three high, giving the space an airy, accessible feel. In between are study pods and social zones where you can already imagine groups of boys deep in conversation, sharing ideas, gaming tips, or quietly reading. It’s sleek, modern, and unmistakably student-centred.
Even the school uniform has been subtly adapted to signify this transition to senior school — a thoughtful rite of passage for Year 9 boys, marking both continuity and progression.
Thoughtful Details at Every Turn.
The school is built around a quadrant and stepping into its centre you are among green expanses of sporting facilities, including a superb astroturf. Every inch of the school is efficiently utilised, and each play zone is named — "Twickenham" or “Wembley” among them — giving structure to breaktimes without dampening the boys’ exuberance.
During our visit, breaktime was in full swing. Balls were flying (it’s cricket season), boys were huddled in discussion, and a free fruit trolley was on hand, a small detail, but one that says so much about the care taken here.
The dining experience is also standout. The servery resembles a hotel buffet, and there’s a travelator system that students use when clearing their trays. The School Council, in collaboration with the Parent Body, is running an initiative to reduce food waste. Students are shown real-time displays of food waste volumes, making sustainability a lived, visible value.
Extended Provision That Works for Families.
Dulwich Prep and Senior excels in its wraparound care:
Breakfast club from 7:00am
Formal school day from 8:10am to 3:45pm
After-school clubs 4:00–5:00pm
Supper served at 5:30pm
Flexi-boarding available
Cycling facilities and coach travel as part of the Dulwich consortium
Curriculum and Culture.
Facilities are extensive and varied: dedicated Art and DT rooms, an indoor swimming pool, cookery on the timetable, and a drama studio, all tailored with how boys learn best in mind.
The school lives its mission statement, and it's not just words on paper. Displayed in every room and echoed in every interaction, these values: love, justice, courage, service, gratitude, self-discipline, humility, honesty — are deeply embedded in school life.
Work is proudly on display in every corner of the school. In the Pre-Prep, which includes the co-ed nursery, the emphasis on a skills- and knowledge-based curriculum is clear — marrying academic ambition with genuine nurturing care. The school has a full-time counsellor, and yes, a therapy dog visits weekly, underlining their commitment to the students’ wellbeing.
Sustainability and social awareness are key pillars here too. Dulwich Prep and Senior is an Eco-Schools Green Flag award holder, a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, and offers extensive wider curriculum opportunities that stretch far beyond the classroom.
Final Thoughts.
Dulwich Prep and Senior is a school not just growing, but evolving with purpose, precision, and passion. It is clear that every decision, from curriculum planning to locker placement, is made with the best interests of the boys at heart.
What stayed with me most wasn’t just the space, the facilities, or even the impressive future-ready buildings — it was the feeling. A sense of belonging, of ambition, and above all, a vision that values students not just as learners, but as whole people.
Come September, I’m certain the new senior school opening will be something truly special. But for now, I’ll keep that secret as promised — and leave the unveiling to the boys who’ll make history there.