This year marks an exciting new chapter for Dulwich College Beijing as we celebrate our 20th year anniversary alongside welcoming our very first cohort of A Level students.

Alongside our world-leading International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) – ranked #1 among international schools in China this year – we are now offering families an equally prestigious alternative: the A Level pathway.

For our students, parents, and wider community, this is more than the introduction of another academic programme. Instead, it is a chance to celebrate our established excellence, broaden opportunities, and provide an opportunity for our students to thrive both academically and personally, in line with our DCB vision to Live Worldwise.

In this article, our Deputy Head of Senior School (Academic), Mrs Peers, shares more about our A Level Programme and what makes it special.

Our A Level Programme at a Glance

In our A Level programme, students can choose to study three or four subjects from a range of courses. At DCB, these international A Level subjects are offered by Cambridge or Edexcel and are recognised globally. Students undertake deep learning in these subjects, and sit AS (Advanced Supplementary) examinations in Year 12, with their final A2 examinations in Year 13.

Outstanding Teachers, Proven Expertise

As always, what sets DCB apart is not just the subjects we offer, but the calibre of who teaches them.

Our teachers are anything but new to the demands of this globally recognised qualification. Many of our staff have taught A Levels in leading schools across the globe, bringing with them a wealth of subject knowledge, proven teaching excellence, and first-hand experience with A Level examinations. Many are also experienced examiners themselves, giving our students unparallelled insights into what the A Level examination boards expect.

They know exactly how to stretch, challenge, support and prepare our students for success in this pathway.

“A Levels is an incredible course. It really promotes and fosters a love of the subject. Not only is it highly independent, but I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the rigour of higher academic study. It’s fun, it’s independent, but it also offers a lot of support from experts in their field. I think it’s a fantastic course to undertake if you’re truly passionate about a subject.

What makes it even more valuable is the experience we bring as teachers. We are really the right people to guide students on their A Level path.”

- Mr Griffin, Senior School Teacher of English and Head of Year 10

More Than Academics: Our A Level Educates the Whole Person

At DCB, alongside our commitment to academic rigour, we are committed to educating the whole person.

At DCB, we place students at the centre of a holistic learning experience, explicitly incorporating our DCB values, and focusing on agency, well-being, leadership and innovation. Our A Level students join their IBDP peers in our dynamic Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) opportunities as active participants in the wider community, working on projects from environmental sustainability to local charities, mentoring younger students or leading CCAs across the College. These experiences build leadership, empathy, and a strong sense of global citizenship.

Students’ Passions Meet Purpose in our EPQ

Another key element of our A Level programme is our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) — an independent research project where students design and complete a project on a topic of their choice, culminating in a roughly 5000-essay to showcase their research.

The EPQ develops critical skills in independent research, academic writing and project management – all essential for success at university. Most importantly, the EPQ allows students to explore and follow their passions, deepening their knowledge and expanding their understanding of that topic.

Universities worldwide value the EPQ for various reasons: for UK applications, it provides UCAS points, but for all universities, it strengthens applications, provides rich material for interview discussions, and demonstrates a student’s readiness for higher education.

“The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) empowers students to explore a topic they are passionate about, while developing academic rigour and key skills such as research, critical thinking, and project management that prepare them for university.

At DCB, our EPQ programme isn't just another school project! It is designed to help students reach their full potential, with dedicated workshops, specialist subject supervisors, and an EPQ coordinator guiding them through every stage of the process.”

- Ms Greenwell, EPQ Coordinator

The Hub: A Space Designed to Help our Students Thrive

Launching alongside our A Level programme is ‘The Hub’, a purpose-designed workspace for all our Key Stage 5 students.

This newly revamped space has been created to mirror the kinds of environments students will encounter at university:

Quiet zones for independent study
Collaborative spaces for group projects
Cutting-edge technology for research and innovation

It is a place where students can take ownership of their own learning, ensuring the level of subject knowledge required by both the A Level and IBDP programmes.

It’s not just a study centre — it’s a community space, where students come together to share ideas, support one another, and develop the sense of friendship and belonging which defines DCB.

Our A Level programme has been designed with the future in mind.

We know that our students aspire to matriculate at some of the world’s leading universities, which we have a wealth of experience in supporting. Our newly expanded UCC team is experienced with supporting both IBDP and A Level students, and we ensure that students are cared for pastorally and academically throughout the university application process.

As always, our commitment to student wellbeing remains firm. Dedicated Form Mentors and Heads of Year work tirelessly to ensure that our learners are supported in all elements of their lives, especially at this crucial stage.

Our Elevate programme, which develops students’ understanding of themselves and the world around them, remains in place for all our Key Stage 5 students and continues to prepare students for life beyond school.

Why Choose A Levels at DCB?

The globally recognised A Levels qualifications are a natural progression for our academically ambitious students, and provide a pathway to specialism, while maintaining our commitment to holistic education that we are so proud of. Families can now choose between two outstanding pathways — both leading to meaningful futures and aligned with our vision for our students to Live Worldwise.