DUCKS

Curriculum
  

Foundation Stage (Toddler / Nursery / Reception) - Ages 2-5

The curriculum in these youngest years is based on the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum which provides a framework for the education of children from birth to 5 years old.

The Prime Areas covered are: 

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Communication and Language\

• Physical Development

The Specific Areas covered are:

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Under these seven areas of learning, staff guide and facilitate a range of exciting and stimulating activities that encourage curiosity through play and enable each child to achieve the goals and objectives appropriate to his or her individual stage of development.  In addition, all the children benefit from daily Mandarin instruction along with specialist lessons in Music, PE, Swimming, Library and Forest School.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) - Ages 5-7

The curriculum in Years 1and 2 is an enhanced version of the English National Curriculum and aims to ensure that children become successful learners, confident individuals, and global citizens. The structure of the curriculum has been designed to provide breadth and balance whilst ensuring a firm foundation in English and Mathematics. There is a strong emphasis on children's personal development, including the development of learning and thinking skills and personal, social and emotional skills.

Our curriculum is exciting and creative, using topics which draw links between different subjects to give the children an holistic approach to their learning.  We want them to be critical thinkers who question, explore, and develop a sense of purpose in their learning e.g. Why are there colours in a rainbow?  What makes a shadow?

Hands-on learning is central to what we do. As Confucius said, “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember.; I do and I understand."  If the children are learning about different states of matter, we’ll melt chocolate and explore ice.  We have workshops and educational visits to complement the teaching in the classroom as well as cultural performances when the children get to perform in our professional theatre that seats an audience of 700!

In addition, all the children benefit from daily Mandarin instruction along with specialist lessons in Music, PE, Swimming, Library and Forest School.

Mandarin Dual Language Approach

Our dual language programme is one of the things that makes DUCKS unique.  Whilst English is the main language of instruction, children in DUCKS benefit from being exposed to Mandarin throughout the day, courtesy of the Chinese co-teacher (Laoshi) who works in partnership with the class teacher to deliver a dual language programme. This programme focuses on the development of the children's listening and speaking skills in Mandarin through interactions, storytelling and role play.  Our approach is based upon a recognised theory about how children learn language and has been developed through in-depth academic and action research by our own leaders and teachers

In addition to our Dual Language programme, children from Toddler to Year 2 have daily Mandarin lessons.  In Years 1 and 2 these sessions are taught in banded ability groups in order to ensure each child receives lessons correctly pitched to his/her ability.  It doesn’t matter if your child is new to Mandarin or whether they are a native speaker; classes will be tailored accordingly.

By providing an environment rich in learning opportunities, with one teacher focusing on English and a second on Mandarin, young children gain the confidence to use language with meaning rather than just through imitation.

Visit our Mandarin page here to learn more.

High Potential Learners

As a selective school, we find that we have a number of high potential learners – children who are gifted in particular areas.  These children often have a strong curiosity about the world around them and so require a challenge to stimulate their thinking.  At Dulwich, we are committed to ensuring these students have opportunities for deep learning, complex thinking and real-world application through differentiated teaching, project-based learning and collaborative activities.  They might also be invited to take part in workshops or educational visits linked with their area of interest or become a member of one of our high performing music ensembles, sports programmes or art initiatives.

To learn more about our High Potential Learning programme in DUCKS click here.

Forest School

Dulwich was the first independent school in Singapore to have an accredited Forest School and we are proud to be offering this exciting programme to every year group in DUCKS from Toddler to Year 2.

Visit our Forest School page here to learn more.

Pastoral

At DUCKS, well-being and connectedness is at the heart of everything we do, creating a warm, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued, and supported. We believe that well-being and strong relationships form the foundation for academic and personal success, ensuring that each child thrives socially, emotionally, and academically.

When children and their families join DUCKS, they become part of a vibrant and connected community where collaboration between children, staff, and parents is central to fostering a sense of belonging. Positive relationships, mutual respect, and open communication underpin our approach, ensuring that every child is known, heard, and celebrated.

Our pastoral ethos is deeply rooted in a child-friendly interpretation of the Dulwich College Singapore Guiding Statements, reinforcing key values such as respect, resilience, responsibility, and compassion. These are brought to life through:

• Dedicated well-being programmes tailored to different year groups.
• Regular assemblies that explore themes from PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health & Citizenship Education) and global perspectives.
• Proactive classroom discussions that respond to current and relevant issues, ensuring children develop the emotional literacy and social awareness needed to navigate an ever-changing world.
• Self-regulation and emotional awareness tools, such as the Colour Monster, which supports children in identifying, understanding, and expressing their emotions effectively.

Through our holistic approach to pastoral care, we empower children to build self-confidence, form meaningful relationships, and develop the social and emotional skills essential for their future success.

We have an ‘Open Door’ policy here at DUCKS. Parents are encouraged to come in or speak to us if they have any questions or queries no matter how small.

Enrichment

At DUCKS, enrichment is an integral part of developing well-rounded, future-ready learners who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the wider world. Through diverse experiences beyond the classroom, we cultivate leadership, global awareness, creativity, and social responsibility in every child.

From Reception, all children become active participants in the House system, fostering a strong sense of belonging, team spirit, and pride. This community-driven approach nurtures collaboration, resilience, and positive competition, laying the foundation for lifelong interpersonal skills.

Through a variety of enrichment activities and service-learning experiences, children gain a deeper awareness of their local and global communities. They engage in projects that address sustainability, social justice, and innovation, understanding that they have the power to create positive change. From eco-conscious initiatives to global partnerships, our enrichment programme encourages students to take action in meaningful ways, developing empathy and a sense of purpose.

By fostering curiosity, leadership, and social responsibility, DUCKS ensures that children grow into compassionate, adaptable, and forward-thinking individuals who are ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Our rich Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) Programme helps the children to discover their gifts and talents outside of the classroom and discover new interests. There are opportunities to develop their skills in a full range of sports, the performing arts and academic enrichment activities along with clubs such as ballet CIT animation, the magic of Science, construction and LAMDA to name but a few!

Specialist Teachers

Specialist teaching is a real advantage of a Dulwich education.  To have teachers who are specialists in their fields who can share their in-depth knowledge and impart their passion for their subject undoubtedly raises the level of achievement and attainment because pupils are excited and challenged by their learning.

At DUCKS, all our children have weekly swimming lessons in one of our beautiful pools; sport in our gymnasium or on the astro field; music in one of our state-of-the-art music rooms; library lessons in our dedicated infant library where they have access to over 14,000 books; Forest School in our on-site ‘jungle’ and, of course, Mandarin lessons.

Library

Our excellently resourced library allows all of the DUCKS children to immerse themselves in the world of print and develop a passion for reading. The DUCKS library is a magical space that houses over 14,000 books and is a beloved place for students and staff. The book collection grows significantly every year with high quality fiction and non-fiction books in a variety of languages to reflect our diverse student population.  The library is also involved in hosting exciting events which nurture a love of reading in our children and help to bring stories and literature to life. These events include Book Week, International Literacy Day and The Poetry by Heart competition as well as inviting authors into school to share with the children what inspires them to write.

Visit our Library page here to learn more.

Student Leadership

We know that our Dulwich students are going to be the influencers, change makers and peace makers of tomorrow and that journey to leadership starts in DUCKS.

As children progress through the school, they are introduced to student leadership opportunities that empower them to take responsibility and make an impact. House Captains, DUCKS Student Council representatives, Global Citizenship, Mandarin Monitors, Reading Rockets, Creative Stars and Techsperts are elected from the student body, playing an active role in decision-making, school initiatives, and major events. These roles help students develop confidence, critical thinking, and advocacy skills, ensuring they are well-equipped for the evolving world of the future.