Founded in the City (and in 1446 judged an efficient grammar school by Henry VI), it was re-founded in Catford in 1888. It occupies a single urban site, surrounded by playing fields. Many additions have been made to the original and striking Victorian building and facilities are good, including new floodlit netball/tennis courts and sports hall complex. The pre-prep and prep schools are in separate buildings on the same site. The whole school became co-educational with the introduction of girls in 1994. The main emphasis is on giving pupils a fine education to meet the needs of a fast-changing world. Every pupil is nurtured and encouraged to be happy and successful in everything they do. There is much emphasis on individual pastoral care and close links between home and school. The academic standards are high and examination results good. The International Baccalaureate is available as an alternative to AS and A-levels. Music, art and drama are popular and there is a good range of sport and games, with high standards (quite a lot of representatives at international level). The Duke of Edinburgh Award and CCF are offered, and there is strong commitment to many local community schemes.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18, 875 day pupils (525 boys, 350 girls). Senior school 11-18, 625 pupils (410 boys, 215 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 7, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used.
A range of scholarships, value 10%-50% fees: academic; specialist (music, art, drama, sport), sixth form (including some IB scholarships worth up to 100% of fees). Means-tested bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks; extras include subscriptions, music and some sports coaching.
Headmistress: Mrs Jane Davies, appointed 2005. Educated at Goldsmiths College London. Teaching staff: 82 full time, 7 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age under 35.
GCSE: 92 pupils in Year 11: 99% gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects (average in 9 subjects). A-level: 75 in upper sixth, gaining an average final point score of 402.
Nearly all sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (10% after a gap year), 8% to Oxbridge. Pupils go on to courses in medicine, mathematics, modern languages, humanities, social science, science, engineering and art. Others typically go on to art school, armed forces or financial services.
GCSE, AS-levels, A-levels and the IB. 22 subjects offered at IB; 19 for AS/A-level. Sixth form: 20% take IB. Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 45% take science A-levels; 55% arts/humanities. Vocational: Work experience available (2 weeks after GCSE). Special provision: Specialist tuition for dyslexic pupils. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered at GCSE and A-level; also Italian for beginners as part of the IB. Modern languages society. Regular lectures by European nationals about their respective countries and the EU. European work experience programme. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. All pupils expected to take ECDL. 100+ computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.
Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Musical groups include orchestras, choirs, wind bands, jazz group, various informal groups. Drama: GCSE and A-level drama may be taken. Many pupils are involved in school and house/other productions, drama and dance clubs. Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 15 A-level. Steady numbers of pupils go on to art college or art-related courses, including recently the Slade School of Art.
Sport: Specialist coaches in major and minor sports. Cricket, rugby and soccer (boys); hockey, swimming, netball (girls). Also cross-country, fives, tennis, basketball, squash, judo, badminton, golf, sailing and a variety of other sports in sports hall. GCSE and A-level may be taken. Numerous sporting achievements: regular representation in a variety of sports at all levels. International rugby, netball, basketball and cricket representatives, county rugby champions U15, U16, national champions colts singles and doubles in rugby fives. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF and community service both optional for 2+ years at age 14. Regular fund raising for charity. Up to 25 clubs, including The Armstrong Society (science), Electronic Workshop, Amnesty International, Christian Union, debating, chess (national representatives in chess), Japanese.
Uniform: School uniform worn to Year 11; dress code in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, head of school, heads of house and house prefects appointed by the Head after consultation with staff and prefects. School council made up of representatives of Years 7-13. Religion: Christian. Religious worship compulsory, subject to parental right to withdraw. Social: Close links with local independent schools for music, drama, debating, films. Regular overseas trips; recent locations include USA, Morocco, Poland, Iceland, St Lucia, Russia, France, Germany, Red Sea, Estonia, Greece and Spain. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals self-service.
Aims to be fair but strict. Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect work to be repeated, usually under supervision; those caught involved with illegal drugs could expect expulsion.
Old Dunstonians run by the school (see website).
Matthew D'Ancona (Editor, Spectator); Lord Drayson (Under Secretary of State); Dr Walter Hamilton (Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge); Dr David Jenkins (formerly Bishop of Durham); Sir Paul Judge (Chairman of the Royal Society of Arts); Bill Muirhead (former MD of Saatchi); Wing Commander Stanford Tuck; Major Johnson VC; Hubert Gregg (broadcaster); Michael Grade (Chairman ITV); Sir William Castell (Chairman of the Princes Trust); Richard Balfe, MEP; Richard Caie (British Ambassador of Guatemala); Sir Martin Edwards (Nobel prize winning scientist).
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