Junior School

Explore Junior School

Academics

Junior School students engage in topic-based learning, a cross-curricular approach that integrates different subject matter under an umbrella topic or area of interest. This integrated, structured approach helps students learn, develop and apply skills across a broad and balanced curriculum, helping inspire a love of learning that enables our students to develop the skills needed to make a successful transition to Senior School at the end of Year 6.

As part of our commitment to cross-cultural understanding and to Live Worldwise, language is an integral part of the student journey here at Dulwich College Beijing. For speakers of languages other than English, we offer world class language support education for EAL (English as an Additional Language). Junior School students also attend Mandarin classes, which range from sessions for complete beginners to those with fully age-appropriate native-language literacy skills. This helps ensures our students achieve their full potential, regardless of the language.

Performing Arts

Students study the arts as part of the academic curriculum throughout their student life at DCB. Performing Arts plays a major role in the DCB education, and with a wide range of ensembles and events, there are plenty of opportunities for students to shine on stage and build confidence. The vibrant arts culture of visiting professional arts practitioners, performances and events is carefully planned to develop and enhance not only the co-curricular life of the school, but also the academic curriculum.

As part of the Dulwich College International network, we are able to offer students opportunities that a single school would not have the capacity to provide. Some of these opportunities, such as the Dulwich Festival of Music in Senior School, focus on a single artistic discipline, while others, like the Diversity series and the Junior School MADD Festival, are broad ranging. The group has also cultivated collaborative relationships and partnerships with top educational and artistic institutions throughout the world, most recently with the University of Notre Dame, offering students direct access and exposure to creative industries, while developing transferable skills that will prepare them for life after Dulwich.

Sustainability and Global Citizenship

Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) is founded with the vision for our students to Live WorldWise, with Sustainability and Global Citizenship embedded in our curriculum and operations across our whole organisation. Our goal is to encourage our community to make informed choices, take inspired action and create a positive impact as individuals, as a group and at a global level.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Taking the students into the community helps them to ‘make it real’ when it comes to what they have learned in the classroom. This is integral to our curriculum. Over the course of the school year, teachers will arrange half-day or full-day trips to enrich the students’ education, and age-appropriate residential trips during the school year.

Outside of the classroom, students can participate in our robust extracurricular activity programme with activities that may include Minecraft, choir, Lego club, cooking club, and yoga, Debate, to name just a few.  Each of our ECA activities links to an SDG and so students are learning about how they can make an impact or raise awareness of different SDGs. These SDGs also have a central role within the learning both inside and out of the classroom. Guest speakers are invited in to talk to different year groups about a variety of issues or themes, and many of these are on based around one or more of the SDGs.

Each year, the College hosts the Shackleton Lectures. These cover a wide range of topics and are adapted so that they are suitable for different year groups.

There are opportunities for students to learn about Chinese Culture outside of their lesson times. Each year, the Junior School holds a week of activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Students have the chance to learn new skills such as block printing, blossom painting, Chinese board games and calligraphy.

Throughout the year, the students in the Junior School have the chance to participate in a variety of external competitions, such as Kangaroo Maths and the Hong Kong Young Writers Competition, as well as competitions hosted by EiM and Fobisia.  For those who are keen to develop their computing and ICT skills, there are a variety of events and competitions where they can put these skills to the test. The whole Junior School takes part in the BEBRAS Computing Challenge. Others can take part in the Game Jam or other EdTech events throughout the year.

As well as these events, some of our older students prepare for Model United Nations (MUN). They spend time preparing for this event from early in the year, where they research different issues ready to debate. In the 3-day event, the students then join with other Dulwich schools to debate global issues.

House System

Many international school students experience a great deal of change in their lives. As their parents move from country to country, they make new friends and adapt to different cultures and school systems. We ensure that children are welcomed into the Dulwich community, that we know them well and that they are supported during their time at the College.

On arriving at our school, all students and staff are allocated to one of five Houses, where they remain during their time at Dulwich. Our Houses are named after inspirational and accomplished people: Edward Alleyn, Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, Jesse Owens, Soong Ching-ling and Amy Johnson. As an integral part of the College pastoral care structure, our House System builds a sense of community within the student body and helps to develop students' leadership skills. House Captains and students are responsible for helping to organise House activities, which normally take the form of friendly competitions.

Student Leadership in Junior School

In addition to the schoolwork that they do, many Junior School students also participate in and contribute to initiatives across the Dulwich College Beijing campus. Some of these programmes and projects include Student Council, our weekly Dulwich Dudes Podcast, Magazine and Junior Masters in Technology. By being proactive and working cooperatively, these Junior School students are living WorldWise – demonstrating leadership and developing their knowledge and skills in order to produce outcomes that make a positive difference for their fellow students and the Dulwich College Beijing community.

Read more examples about how our Junior School is exemplifying leadership here.

Apply to Junior School.

To learn more about our stimulating creative curriculum for children ages 7-10, feel free to get in touch with us or take our virtual tour. DCB’s Junior School develops students to take greater responsibility for their learning, as well as allows them to identify their unique potential in a supportive environment.

To apply, click here.