Welcome Dr Cameron Pyke, DCB Head of College
We are delighted to welcome Dr Cameron Pyke as our Head of College this academic year.
Dr Pyke is no stranger to our community. His connection with DCB began in 2010, when he first visited as Head of Upper School at Dulwich College. He began more regular visits in 2015, when he became the Deputy Master External of Dulwich College in London and one of our Board of Trustees, visiting as part of quality inspections. In fact, he was also here last year to witness our first FutureTech cohort’s graduation!
A passionate History educator since 1998, Dr Pyke has also taught Chinese History. His fascination with China began during his final year in Cambridge, when he interviewed Sinologist Dr Joseph Needham, author of Science and Civilisation in China. “Since 2010 I have had the privilege of visiting China regularly and appreciating its wonderful heritage, landscape and civilisation and the great warmth of its people,” he reflected. His book, Benjamin Britten and Russia, was published in 2016, and he is currently writing about Korean history.
We caught up with our new Head of College to hear more about why he joined Dulwich College Beijing, and his vision for the year ahead:
What inspired you to pursue a leadership role in education, and what excites you about joining the DCB community?
Education has always been very important to my family. My grandparents and my parents made me realise that one of the key roles of an educator is to inspire curiosity both inside and beyond the classroom. I love community, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and the rhythm of the school year, and so becoming a teacher felt natural. I’m excited to join a very high achieving school which is genuinely ambitious for every student and has such a strong, vibrant and supportive community towards a shared educational mission — one where students come first.
You’ve met many of our students across the years. Could you share something they have in common?
Whenever I meet former students of DCB, as I have on many occasions, I am struck by their solution-focused approach and creative thinking. They care about the world in which we live and their fellow human beings. Their education at DCB has unleashed their innate potential to be lifelong learners and to make a positive difference through thinking beyond themselves and indeed globally. I am inspired by the potential of DCB’s students to bring solutions to some of the challenges of our world whilst also living good and fulfilling lives themselves.
How do you see yourself leading DCB in the year ahead?
DCB offers an outstanding holistic education. The excellent IB results and university destinations of this year’s 71 leavers are a testament to a truly empowering educational journey which begins in DUCKS and is reaffirmed progressively every step of the way thereafter. My role is to promote the culture and rigour which make this possible, setting a tone of aspiration, celebration and kindness, one which supports my colleagues in unleashing the amazing potential of every student in our care. The College also has a meticulous approach to safeguarding — a key responsibility for me to uphold.
I particularly admire DCB’s partnerships with the local community and inside China and its embrace of an interdisciplinary approach to learning. I am also hoping to start a tradition adopted by our previous Master in London of meeting every member of Year 13 before they leave.
How will you strengthen our linkage with Dulwich College to further benefit learning and teaching at DCB?
I have an excellent Assistant Head in London, Ms. Jenny Stanley, and we’re exploring new ways to connect. My presence here represents this both symbolically and in reality. The introduction of an A level strand at DCB will make these synergies even stronger, as we in London have an A level curriculum. I hope too that many DCB students will enter the (first) international Dulwich Essay Prize! I also see opportunities to deepen our collaboration in university counselling.
How would you like the DCB community to remember your time here?
As a leader who built upon the great legacy of my predecessors, particularly of course Mr Coles, as one who cared very deeply about the College, empowered students and staff to give their very best and as part of a team, and who set an example of kindness, optimism and aspiration. In doing these things, I hope that I will set a worthy standard for my successor.
