Dulwich Cranbrook, Cranbrook

Nestled in the Weald of Kent and only an hour from London, this day & flexi boarding school takes girls and boys from age 2 up to 16 years.

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Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent senior pupils

WHAT? WHERE? 

Dulwich Cranbrook is a rural prep and senior school located in (you guessed it) Cranbrook, pretty much smack bang in the middle of the Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Ashford triangle.

Only an hour from Central London, the school sits in 50 acres of beautiful Kent countryside. Having previously been a prep school, that recently expanded to take children right up until Year 11 this is an exciting time for this school that dares to be different. There are a total of 400 boys and girls aged between two and 16 (with a roughly even gender split) which will increase slightly in numbers as the children progress through the school and fill the upper years.

FACILITIES

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent drone

Cleverly designed, Dulwich actually functions a bit like three smaller schools in one. These self-contained buildings are divided into age groups, each with their own School Office, hall and separate car parking area for Pick Up and Drop off (important detail for us parents).

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent pupils

The split works like this: Nash House (Fledglings, Nursery and Reception); Prep (also referred to as Little Stream, which consists Year 1 – Year 4) and Upper Prep (Year 5 & Year 6) with Seniors (Year 7 – Year 11). The establishment of these older years is a new development at the school and you can read more about that here.

Dividing the year groups like this of course makes perfect sense and allows that all important personal touch and the chance for each child to be known and looked after individually, which is what you pay for after all.

Classrooms are light, airy and spacious. Each building has its own facilities – as well as strong identity and style – and has clearly been designed to meet the specific needs of the children as they pass through each age and stage. Yet they are also linked successfully – for example, the Head attends assembly at Nash House and Little Stream each week.

There’s very much a campus feel about the school and although some of the older buildings have character like Manor, (the Boarding House), the site has a sense of practicality and modernity.

Dulwich School Cranbrook children outdoors

SPORTS

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent children running race

Excellent, with all the usuals you’d expect, plus tennis courts/all weather hockey pitches, eight-lane athletics track, heated outdoor pool on both the Upper School and Little Stream sites.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent astro sports facilities

There are also cricket nets, two out-door permanent table tennis tables, oodles and oodles of playing fields to really knacker the kids out at playtimes and a woodland area for Outdoor Learning. An impressive vegetable patch is tended by Gardening Club and there’s even a Climbing Wall donated by the Friends of Dulwich.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent swimming pool water experiment

Dulwich has a strong standing reputation as a sporting school, with considerable success in fixtures and competitions both regionally and nationally.

However you do not have to be sports-mad to thrive here and the school has made real efforts to establish an ethos of inclusivity – not just talking about it but actually putting this principle into action. In this vein, they launched their ‘Dulwich Inspires’ programme to offer children an alternative to the normal Games activities.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent girl playing cricket

Recognising that the usual repertoire of team sports might not be for everyone they offer a wider choice of alternative activities during the traditional Games afternoon – offering things like Abseiling, Wind Surfing, Climbing, Sailing, Biking, Gardening or Walking, Talking and Drawing.

This has proved an excellent option for keeping kids active and providing opportunities to try new things – while acknowledging that rolling around on a muddy rugby pitch isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea.

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent Music

The MUSIC Department is housed in a purpose-built block in Upper School with a large recital room and seven practice rooms. Little Stream also has a self-contained music suite with teaching and recital space as well as two practice rooms. Dulwich has 17 peripatetic music teachers as well as permanent staff. There’s every kind of music ensemble on offer – from Chamber Choir and Orchestra to Jigs and Reels or – sign me up right now – Rock School!

ART here is very strong, and the school is understandably proud of their pupils’ achievements. Scholarships are inevitably won to major schools every year and Dulwich pupils consistently shine in the prestigious IAPS iArt competition see these exceptional specimens below.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent Art display

Advanced Art Club is open to all pupils in Years 7-9 who would like to study the subject at a deeper level and believe they would like to opt for the subject at GCSE – giving talented pupils the chance to really hone their skills as well as take part in trips to galleries or see their work exhibited.

Dulwich Cranbrook School art department

DRAMA is also a favourite subject at Dulwich, and several students I chatted to commented on how much they enjoyed Drama Director in Residence, Mrs Carter’s, lessons.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent school drama production

Each of the three buildings has its own hall for putting on shows, with Upper School, having a wonderful performing space.

WHAT ELSE?

Upper School has a well-stocked library with lots of ICT equipment and a vibrant creative Librarian. All students have their own iPad from Year 7.

There’s a decent sized DT department, pictured below, which looked so much fun I wanted to stay and play.

When we visited, the pupils were in the middle of creating an electric car (pictured below) that pupils were building to be raced at Goodwood. It’s an initiative by Greenpower Education Trust, a UK based charity which gets young people enthusiastic about science and engineering by challenging them to design, build and race an electric car.

Dulwich School Cranbrook DT deparment Greenpower Team

The project has caught the imagination of dozens of pupils who are involved in the Dulwich Greenpower Team – not just in the design, but also the website creation, fundraising and so on (every aspect of the project). And when they race at Goodwood the goal is sustainability, rather than speed. The winning car will go the furthest on one electric charge. What a brilliant initiative to be a part of.

The great outdoors is a big thing at Dulwich and the woodland area of the school, as well as the on site nature reserve, are regular fixtures in school life. There’s an Outdoors Club and even an Outdoor Education Co-Ordinator.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent outdoor learning

Popular dates in the school calendar involve various team bonding experiences in the older year groups when they get to spend a night camping and trying out lots of Bear Grylls-type activities, like survival skills and den building. By Year 8 the students go to Wales for three nights and climb Mount Snowdon.

There’s a big After School Clubs Activity List – which includes everything from ‘Continents and Oceans Club’ to ‘Sylvanian Family Fun’ in the Prep and ‘Women in STEM’ to ‘Rubik’s Cube’ for the Seniors.

One of the most popular clubs is Triathlon Club, which culminates in the summer when the school hosts the inaugural Dulwich Cranbrook Junior Triathlon (in partnership with The Weald Tri Club and British Triathlon). Competitors from all over the country will compete across the three disciplines. I’m exhausted just thinking about it, but the kids love it.

WELLBEING

The iSpace Wellbeing curriculum has become well established here – with weekly lessons focusing on mental health and personal growth in a very real and practical way, which must be particularly useful for the children in our uncertain world right now.

In fact the school has embraced the ethos of putting each child’s happiness at the core of everything and made Finalist in the Wellbeing category of the Independent School Parent Awards.

The school aims for exceptional pastoral care, working closely with children’s mental health charity, Place2Be. To support this scheme the school has two dedicated rooms and counsellors available four days a week for drop in sessions throughout the school.

It’s already proved hugely successful with the aim being that talking openly and problem solving has very much become part of the school culture. Relaxation techniques are encouraged with everything from Mindfulness Colouring to Broga (yoga for boys!)

ACADEMICS

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent pupils learning

The raison d’être for many for going to Dulwich has historically been to get into the local grammars, in particular local grammar, Cranbrook School, (which now takes pupils from Year 7 ). But now only around a third leave after Year 6 – and, yes, most to Cranbrook School – the rest to other grammars and independent Senior Schools.

Each year Dulwich produces a long list of students who have had scholarship success, gaining Academic, Sports, DT, Art, Drama and Music awards. Around half of all pupils now continue into the Senior years at Dulwich.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent outdoor playground

It’s also worth noting that if your child should need extra learning support for maths and English this is automatically offered as part of the package – basically meaning you don’t have to fork out extra money like you do at some other independent schools, which is a good feature.

From September 2023, Dulwich expanded to include Years 9, 10 and 11, offering an academically ambitious, forward-looking, co-educational day school from Nursery through to GCSE, all housed in a brand new state-of-the-art Senior building. This is positive news for both local families and those considering a move to the area.

ISI REPORT: Click here for the full report.

THE HEAD

Dulwich School Cranbrook head Sophie Bradshaw with pupils

The new Head of School, Sophie Bradshaw, took over the helm at the start of 2023, having been previously Deputy Head at the highly-regarded Croydon High School (and prior to that Ardingly College).

Her appointment to the role followed the announcement of the school’s expansion to GCSE, (more, below, on the school’s senior years.)

It’s a brilliant move for the school and a unique offering in the area. Bradshaw is just the person to lead the school in this next, exciting chapter. She’s got both warmth (she’s very easy to chat to and the pupils are clearly respectfully at ease with her) and energy (just what’s needed to drive the school’s new structure).

She’s determined that what will remain at the core of the school is a strong focus on pastoral care and every effort is made to create a nurturing environment.

SENIOR SCHOOL

Dulwich Cranbrook Kent school Henley Cafe exterior

Sophie Bradshaw and her team are determined that, although they have created a senior school, they also maintain the key benefits that being at a prep school in Year 7 & Year 8 can bring pupils.

So the school is structured in such a way to ensure that pupils at that age get the best of both worlds – for example those years still socialise in the prep school areas during down-time, allowing them to be children for longer. And at the same time, the Senior School extension has a very grown-up feel, including the very swish Henley café (pictured above and below) which buzzes with the older children during their break and lunch-times.

Dulwich Cranbrook Kent school Henley Cafe

When it comes to GCSE options Dulwich has taken all restrictions off the table. Unlike a lot of other schools, there are NO pre-ordained option blocks. They will build the timetable around your child’s choice. So if essay writing is not their thing, a child can choose three creative subjects instead. Don’t want to do a language? No problemo!

Then, in terms of next steps, the school and pupils will work together to help find the right option for after their GSCEs. A lot of spaces open up for entry in Lower Sixth in both independent and state schools, so movement at that entry level isn’t going to be a problem.

LITTILIES

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent pre-prep

The offering for little ones is excellent at Dulwich. Nash House is overseen by Mrs Johanna Scanlon and the Prep is overseen by Mrs Clare Mackie – both are long-standing staff that really know their stuff and are passionate about the school.

Nash House (Fledglings, Nursery and Reception) and the Prep (also referred to as Little Stream, which consists Year 1 – Year 4) are set away from the main school in interconnecting buildings (both fairly recently rebuilt; all classrooms open onto the garden with outdoor retractable roof – light and airy with lots of space).

The inside/outside learning/play spaces function so well I’m not surprised to learn that the teachers themselves played a big part in designing the buildings.

Each building has its own Head and sports hall – they even have their own swimming pool and a cosy well-stocked library. Children eat lunch in their own buildings, so no one is overwhelmed. Overall there is a much less formal, relaxed feel to the younger years setting.

Dulwich School Cranbrook Kent children playing with water

Dulwich holds a ‘Little Explorers’ parent and toddler group every Tuesday morning during term time, (from 10am – 11:15am in Nash House Hall – full info here). All pre-school aged children and their parents are welcome, free of charge, and it’s an ideal way of seeing Nash House in action and getting to know the Early Years teachers and meeting other families.

USP & QUIRKS

Dulwich like to do things differently. This is certainly the case when it comes to their school structure. Extending the offering to go right up to the end of Year 11 and GCSEs makes Dulwich the only school in Kent with this educational model.

The launch of the Senior School was driven by demand. Both from existing parents and those moving into the area. With local senior schools all starting at Year 7 families often felt the need to leave the prep prematurely to fit in with normal points of entry.

Yet with the size of Dulwich and exceptional existing facilities they recognised they had the ability to expand, adapt and develop – and give those children the chance to stay. Plus there has been a swell in families moving into the area, particularly down from London or further afield. Eureka! The new expansion was conceived.

The first cohort progressed into Year 9 in September 2023; they will move through the school to be the school’s first Year 11 students, taking GCSE examinations in the Summer of 2026.

As well as the excitement of a smart, grown up new site, built in a school with an excellent reputation there’s also a Pioneers discount to entice new families.

Fees for Years 9 – 11 will mirror those of Years 7 and 8, and for the first three years, parents will benefit from a ‘pioneer’ discount of 10%, making this forward-looking, co-educational day school – with an individual focus through to GCSE – an even more attractive option.

They have also launched a Governor’s Award Scheme which will focus on helping those who can substantially contribute to, and benefit from, what Dulwich Cranbrook has to offer, but who would not be able to attend without financial support.

Clare Mackie Head of Little Stream

WRAP AROUND CARE

As well as the option to put children into Breakfast or Tea & Prep clubs – there’s no cost for these from Year 5 upwards and children may stay until 8pm – the school offers Flexi-boarding for Years 5 to Year 9.

The boys and girls boarding houses, are now combined into one, Manor, set in the old building and attached to Upper School, so bags of character and very homely. With lots of siblings and cousins at the school the children enjoy being together, but there are obviously very strict rules about which dormitories boys or girls can enter.

Part-boarding is the norm (with students staying between one and four nights each week) but parents can opt for the odd night here and there, when work means they have to be away, or you know, Barbados calls or whatever.

It’s very popular with the children too – so win, win. There are loads of theme nights organised which are highlights in the Boarding calendar, with everything from Comedy Club or Fright Night to Pamper Night.

FEES

On the top end of average and on a increasing scale as you go up the school. Fledgling (Pre Nursery) starts at £2,060 (for 5 mornings); Nursery is £2,400 (for 5 mornings); Reception is £4,350.

Prep School fees: Year 1 is £4,710; Year 2 is £5,840; Year 3 to Year 4 is £6,240 and Year 5 & Year 6 is £6,995.

Senior School fees: Year 7 to Year 11 is £7,410 (Pupils entering Year 9 in September 2023/4 are eligible for the Pioneer fee.)

Regular Boarding is booked termly in advance £45 per night and Occasional Boarding is £48 per night.

WORD ON THE GROUND

The general feeling is that the school continues to thrive and Sophie Bradshaw is a popular choice to lead the school into its next chapter, particularly with its senior years offering.

It’s early days for the Senior School but the inspirational space and existing infrastructure has resulted in a smooth transition. Parents very much feel part of a community here and show a lot of loyalty to the school.

Enthusiasm and support from staff is strong and there is a fun atmosphere. Particular highlights are Flexi boarding, school trips and the huge selection of clubs.

Children make the most of the freedom the outdoor space and facilities give them – and the independence and creativity that follows on from this.

Dulwich School Cranbrook garden gazebo outdoor classroom
Garden gazebo outdoor classroom

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Sporty, outdoorsy, driven kids will obviously thrive here. But so will those who don’t necessarily yet know what their ‘thing’ is as there’s so much on offer – all activities encouraged and pastoral care is exceptional – everyone seems to get the opportunity to shine. These days Art and Academics are equally strong too. Also great for parents who want Flexi-Boarding options and those who seek a friendly slick school in the countryside with a strong sense of family and community.

Not for: Those who want a smaller, intimate setting and don’t like the campus feel. No matter how well structured a school is, there are some children who just do better at tiny schools, being a big fish in a smaller pond. Although if you think this is your child I still wouldn’t rule out Dulwich before taking a look, you may be surprised.

Dare to disagree?! Have a look for yourself at the Whole School Open Morning on Fri 8 Mar 2024, 9am-11.30am.

Dulwich Cranbrook, Coursehorn, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3NP, 01580 712179, dulwichcranbrook.org

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