DCB Celebrates 20 Years Starting with Founder's Day Festivities

Founder's Day is a respected tradition at Dulwich College and across all Dulwich International schools. It is a time when students, staff, parents and the wider community come together to celebrate music, the arts, sport and performance, and to honour Edward Alleyn's 400-year-old legacy that began with providing students in England with sound learning, strong artistic pursuits and good manners and has extended across the globe.

This year’s Founder’s Day was yet another beautiful celebration filled with music, joy, and community spirit. More than 500 students and teachers delivered a vibrant six-hour live concert, the result of weeks of dedicated practice. Meanwhile, diverse community booths kept families and guests entertained, reflecting the rich spirit and culture of DCB.

Revisiting Dulwich College Beijing’s Past

In 2005, DCB opened its doors to a few hundred students, united by a bold and simple goal: to provide a forward-looking, ambitious education that prepares students for life in their pursuit for their passion. Today, we are a leading international school with over 1,600 students from DUCKS to Senior School, united by our mission to Live Worldwise. 

Today, DCB is recognised for its rigorous and balanced curriculum, outstanding academic outcomes, and holistic approach to learning. Students benefit from exceptional IB results, top university placements, and a dynamic environment enriched by world-class teachers, innovative programmes, and extensive co-curricular opportunities. With strong foundations and a carefully designed learning journey from DUCKS through Junior and Senior School, DCB nurtures each student’s passions and prepares them to thrive in an ever-changing global context. 

None of this has happened by chance. It reflects the dedication of our educators to a values-driven, globally focused education that supports lifelong learning. 

This year’s Founder’s Day was more than just a successful event. It was a vibrant reflection of our collective spirit—a celebration of who we are, where we’ve come from, and what we’re building together.  

Honouring us with his visit was Mr Fraser White, one of our founders, who reflected on DCB's inspiring beginnings:  "DCB's success doesn't rest on the shoulders of one person. It is an institution that goes back for 400 years and will be here for at least another 100 years. It is really an institution founded within the community, and it is this community which is the heart of the school – our students, parents, and our staff. DCB’s purpose, its goal, to empower our students – your children – to go off into the world with the confidence, the resilience, and the ability to deal with the challenges the world is going to throw at them and do so successfully."

Mr Anthony Coles, our Head of College, shared his heartfelt words on how the day was more than an event: "What we achieved together was a powerful reminder of the strength of our DCB community and what makes DCB special. Everyone contributed to make the day special. It was a fitting way to start the celebrations for the College’s 20th anniversary."

One of our longtime parents, Ms Li, expressed her gratitude to all the teachers who have guided her daughter and supported her throughout her musical journey, thanking our leaders for their strong support for music and for empowering the music department to flourish. "DCB's music programme has earned an outstanding reputation not only within Beijing but even among overseas school communities — many of whom express admiration (and even a bit of envy!) for what our students experience here.

After ten years at DCB, last night was a celebration not only of the school's 20-year journey, but my child’s own decade of growth within it. I am so grateful for everything! Thank you all once again for filling our children's lives with music, joy, and inspiration. Here's to many more beautiful years of music at DCB!"

As we celebrate 20 years of excellence, we invite you to join us for the many exciting events in the months ahead. Together, we'll honour our history while embracing a future built on the same pioneering spirit that made DCB what it is today—a community committed to building bold futures.