Senior School - High Potential Learners
The approach in Senior School is to not only develop subject proficiency and skills, but also lifelong, transferable skills such as research, communication, thinking, social and self-management skills. This ensures students can take ownership of learning in school and life beyond, as well as developing a lifelong love of learning. In Years 7 and 8 the curriculum has been designed to develop individual subject-based skills and build knowledge and understanding to provide a strong foundation for the I/GCSE, IB programmes and beyond. Students are banded in Mathematics, English and Languages to accommodate and differentiate for High Potential Learners.
Dulwich is the only school in Singapore to offer a three-year I/GCSE (International General Certificate of Education) programme which commences in Year 9, with a number of core and optional I/GCSEs to choose from. Students then move onto the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) in the last two years before university. The College is also introducing the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) from 2022 to give students more choice in specialist subjects, such as Engineering, and provide them with the future skills they need for the rapidly evolving workplace.
Students are supported to gain entrance to top independent schools in the UK and beyond, and in 2021 Year 7 and 8 students have been offered places, some with scholarships, at Dulwich College (London), Eton, Royal Mason School for Girls, Fettes, The Leys, Royal Russell, King Edward’s Witley, Moreton Hall, Rugby, Canford, UCS Hampstead, Cheltenham College, Hampton, Millfield, Abingdon, Ardingly, Kingswood, Tonbridge, Oundle, Uppingham, Harrow, Marlborough, Wellington, Marymount International School, Reigate Grammar, Lancing and Haileybury. Students in Years 9-11 have been offered places at Lancing, King’s Canterbury, Bromsgrove, Sutton High, Royal Russell, Harrow and Wellington.
High Potential Learners have access to the following opportunities to nurture their talent:
Advanced Curriculum
- 10 I/GCSEs as standard with option to take Additional Maths I/GCSE (11 I/GCSEs)
- Option to take Double or Triple Science I/GCSE
- Head start to IB (Maths) and IB ‘World Studies’ Extended Essay option for more able students looking to combine two subject disciplines
Languages
- Mandarin is taught at three levels: as a foreign language, as a second language and as a first language to cater for all abilities and, in addition to studying Mandarin at I/GCSE and IB level, students can also sit HSK exams (Chinese Proficiency test)
- First language arrangements also exist for European and other languages, including French, Spanish, German and Japanese with option to take I/GCSE early
- Dual-language options at IBDP level
School Entrance Examination Support
- 13+ entrance exam support in English, Maths and Science and interview coaching. Scholarship support is also provided.
University Entrance Support
- 10 weeks course facilitated by Dulwich in London designed to assist students applying to Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Clubs, Societies, CCAs and Enrichment
- MathsLink, Alpha Club
- Dulwich Times and Creative Writing Club
- History Film Club
- Psychology Club
- Tech Society
- Design Technology Club
- Digital Art Club
- Science Explorers CCA
- Debating CCA
- MedSoc for students pursuing Medicine
- Physics and Computer Science additional workshops
- Academic extensions run by university faculty departments, for example, University of Oxford:
- University of Oxford essay writing competition
- University of Oxford Oxplore Book Club for 11 to 14-year-olds with new texts, author profiles, quizzes, videos, author talks and student book reviews
- University of Oxford Digital Resource Hub with enrichment activities by subject for age groups 12-16 and 16-18
- University of Oxford Engineering Hub resources with Science Faculty for Year 11 and IB students
Competitions
- World Scholars Cup
- Maths Olympiad
- Physics/Chemistry Challenge
- BEBRAS Computational Thinking Competition
- Oxford Coding Competition
- History Bee and Bowl
- Chinese Language Festival and international writing competitions
- KS 3 Debating House Competition
- FOBISIA Short Story Writing Competition
- Readers Cup (independent reading competition)
- Dance Fusion/Elite Dance/FOBISIA Dance Competitions/Dulwich’s Got Talent
Leadership, Exceptional Development and other Opportunities
- Young Leader Summit Singapore
- Dulwich College International Student Leadership Conference
- Leadership Skills development programme
- Model United Nations
- TED X public speaking
- Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
- Ignite! Exceptional Performance Development Programme for students wishing to excel in Sport, Music or the Performing Arts
- Artist in Residence programmes, INARTS Art exhibition, Elite Dance, 24-Hour Play, performance opportunities with Royal Shakespeare Company, Berklee College of Music and Vienna Boys’ Choir
