Kicking off the 2025/26 Academic Year in style! This Monday, our academic and admin teams came together at the Mondrian Hotel for Day 1 of Teacher Planning Week. It was a day full of collaboration, learning and laughter. From planning the year ahead and engaging in CIS committee sessions to enjoying a full buffet breakfast and lunch, receiving our special 15th Anniversary polo shirts and wrapping up with a lively house quiz, it was the perfect mix of hard work and fun. Here’s to an exciting year ahead at DCSL!

사실 지난 6월 런던에서 공부하고 왔다. 글로벌, British 에티켓 트레이너, 멘토링 자격증 따서 왔다. ILM, CPD 인증까지 받았기때문에 맘만 먹으면 영국에서도 활동이 가능하다. 소득은 높아지는데 격있는 매너가 못따라가서 졸부티를 내는일도 봤고, 머리는 똑똑한데 정작 글로벌에 풀어놓으니 소셜스킬이 부족해서 커리어의 기회를 놓치는 일도 많이 봤다. 어렸을때부터 '영어'만 시켜서 될 일이 아니다라고 생각한다. 누구나 챗지피티 만들고 일론머스크하고 싶지. 그렇다고 이런 재능이 없는 사람들은 다 잉여인간으로 남는 디스토피아를 꿈꿀수는 없다. 내 생각은 요즘 어린친구들이 미친 광야의 시대에서 살아남으려면, 본인이 가진 한국인의 문화적 뿌리와 서양의 문화까지 잘 블렌드해서 기회를 잡아야 한다고 생각한다. 그래서 영 제너레이션 글로벌 인싸만들고 싶어서 트레이너 자격을 따부렀다.기회는 많다. 물론 직장인, 어른들도 수강생으로 환영합니다. #국제학교 #채드윅 #YISS #한남동 #대치동영어학원 #영어유치원 #DSSI #lyceeintetnationalxavier #BEK #황소수학 #dulwichcollegeseoul #VIP의전 #명품행사 #직원교육 #압구정영어학원 #압구정과외 #KIS #GSIS #송도영어학원 #프랜시스파커대치원 #폴리어학원 #슈카월드 #슈카코믹스

This week we’ve been delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to the Dulwich College Seoul community. They join us from a wide range of countries and backgrounds, each bringing a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm for the year ahead. As many are also settling into life in Korea for the first time, our induction programme has helped them get to know the school, explore the local area, and connect with their new teams. From IT onboarding and curriculum sessions to neighbourhood walks and riverside dinners, it’s been a warm and energetic start. We’re excited for the year ahead and proud to have such a strong group joining our community.

Last term, we spoke with Charlotte (Year 7), the passionate student behind the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Student Group ECA at DCSL. What began as a personal interest in learning more about DEI quickly grew into a student-led initiative that sparked meaningful conversations across the school. From surveys to assemblies, Charlotte has been leading with curiosity, empathy, and purpose. We’re proud of Charlotte for taking initiative and helping make our school a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Read the full interview via the link in bio.

We are proud to announce the updated IB results for our Class of 2025. • Our students achieved an outstanding average score of 36.5, far exceeding the global average of 30.58, with a 100% passing rate for our 19 candidates. • One student achieved a perfect score of 45 points, a remarkable achievement from a student who has been with us for 15 years since the college was established in 2010. • 21% of students scored 40 points or above. • Three (3) students received full marks in Mandarin. • Two (2) students were awarded bilingual diplomas. Congratulations to our students, teachers and wider community for their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellence at Dulwich College Seoul. This shows the power of our personalised learning journey from day one when the student joined our Nursery class all the way to completing the holistic and academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme.

As we prepare to begin a new academic year, we also take a moment to reflect on the legacy of the colleagues who have shaped our students’ journeys. Our former Director of University & Career Counselling, Paul Sweet, was featured in AJP News sharing his perspective on why more students are looking beyond traditional destinations when applying to university overseas. His insights, drawn from years in international admissions, continue to resonate deeply with our community. At Dulwich College Seoul, we see this shift in real time. Our 2025 graduates received offers from leading universities in six countries across multiple continents, a testament to the growing diversity of pathways available to students today. As we look ahead to welcoming a new Director of University & Career Counselling next term, Paul’s message remains a powerful reminder: “Let your interests and personality guide this journey. A well‑chosen international university can open doors to opportunities anywhere in the world.” Read the full article on AJP News to explore his advice: https://lnkd.in/gmJreFND #UniversityGuidance #UniversityCounselling

Our Year 10 Spanish students took us on a culinary adventure across Spain and Latin America in their Masterchef competition! After weeks of exploring Hispanic culture and cuisine, students prepared three-course meals inspired by regional festivals. Team Spain served gazpacho, marmitako, and a Canary Islands dessert called bienmesabe. Team Latin America wowed with arepas from Colombia, aji de gallina from Peru, and an unforgettable dulce de leche from Argentina. Judges Mr Wise, Mr Zea, and Ms Boinot awarded the win to Team Spain for their flavour, teamwork, and presentation but gave a special shoutout to Team Latin America for their incredible dessert. ¡Felicidades a todos! What a delicious way to end the term!

For our Language and Culture Trip, Senior School students recently travelled to Chengdu, where they explored the language, culture, and community of southwestern China. From speaking Mandarin at Jinli Ancient Street to learning Sichuan opera, cooking local dishes, and connecting with residents at an elderly care home—each day brought something new. They also visited a tea farm, met pandas at the Wolong Panda Base, and explored ancient engineering at Dujiangyan. It was a meaningful journey filled with learning, connection, and growth. Students stepped out of their comfort zones, embraced new challenges, and returned with stronger language skills, deeper cultural understanding, and lasting friendships.

Recently, our Year 6 students visited Senior School for their Transition Day and had a fantastic time meeting new teachers and exploring their future learning spaces. They embraced their inner scientists during lab sessions with Mr McShannon and Ms Fullagar, diving into hands-on experiments. To wrap up the day, they received their official invitations to the first day of Senior School on Monday 18 August. Stay tuned — Year 6 Graduation photos coming soon!

We recently marked a proud milestone at Dulwich College Seoul with our first-ever Sports Awards Ceremony, a celebration of excellence, resilience and school spirit. A highlight of the event was the launch of our new Dulwich Colours system, which recognises students who have made outstanding contributions to school sport. Students awarded Half Colours now wear two-striped ties, while Full Colours are represented by four-striped ties, both worn proudly across campus. From local tournaments to international competitions, our DCSL Leopards have consistently outperformed expectations. For a school of our size, the achievements have been extraordinary. As our Director of Sport, Peter Poulton, shared, “This event is an important moment in our school year — not only to recognise achievement, but to reflect on the role sport plays in developing character, leadership, and a strong sense of community. It offers students the opportunity to celebrate one another’s growth, honour the values that matter most in sport, and feel proud of the collective journey they’ve taken with their teammates and coaches.” Thank you to Director of Sport, Peter Poulton and the entire PE team for leading such an exceptional year. We look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.

We are proud to share that Dulwich College Seoul was recently featured in Business Korea for being shortlisted for the Responsible Business of the Year Award at the inaugural British Chamber of Commerce in Korea (BCCK) Business Awards, which honours organisations leading in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A highlight of the year was hosting the WISE25 Women’s Leadership Conference, which brought together over 150 delegates from 18 countries for two days of inspiring dialogue and collaboration on gender equity in international education. “It reaffirms our commitment to fostering a world where women are empowered to pursue diverse paths to leadership,” said Head of College Alison Derbyshire. Special thanks to our Head of Primary, Jane Smith, and Head of Senior, Suzy Pugh, for their leadership in shaping this powerful event. We also proudly participated in the EMPOWER programme, led by the British Embassy Seoul in Korea and BCCK, which supports mid-career women in building leadership, confidence and networks. Dulwich College Seoul sponsored a staff member to take part in the programme this year, and the experience has been so positive that the school plans to continue its involvement as EMPOWER enters its third year. Congratulations to Elspeth Stewart, EMPOWER programme lead, who was recognised with the Chair’s Award for Personal Contribution at the BCCK Business Awards. This honour reflects our continued commitment to equity, inclusion and meaningful change across education. Please click on the link below to read more on our website, where we share a full recap of this experience along with a link to the original article featured on Business Korea. https://lnkd.in/gqaYMJnB #DulwichCollegeSeoul #BusinessKorea #BCCK #WISE25 #EmpowerProgramme #DEI #GenderEquality #WomenInLeadership #BritishEmbassyKorea

At Dulwich College Seoul, we are committed to nurturing global citizens who engage meaningfully with their community. Last week, our Year 5 students participated in a two-day cultural exchange with a neighbouring school as part of a programme led by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The initiative, running since 2021, aims to connect schools and students across the city through shared learning experiences that promote interaction and cultural understanding. Our students explored traditional Korean instruments and mask dances, shared performances, and connected over global cuisine. Through these experiences, they developed empathy, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for different cultures. “By exchanging with peers from the local school community, students gain insight into different cultures and learn to see the world from new perspectives,” said Jane Smith, Head of Primary. This opportunity reflects our continued commitment to building community, celebrating diversity, and engaging with our host culture in meaningful and authentic ways. Please click on the link below to read more on our website, where we share a full recap of this experience along with a link to the original article featured on AJP News. https://lnkd.in/gTq8DXJG #InternationalEducation #GlobalCitizenship #CommunityEngagement #CulturalExchange #StudentExperience

Throwback to a truly memorable evening celebrating the King’s Birthday at the British Embassy Seoul. As proud Gold Sponsors, we were honoured to support this year’s celebration themed Best of British — a special evening that showcased the creativity, culture and values the UK is known for. As the only British school in Seoul, we deeply value our long-standing relationship with the Embassy and are proud to play a role in strengthening UK and Korea ties. From cultural showcases to meaningful conversations, the evening was a true celebration of the Best of British and we were thrilled to be a part of it. A special thank you to His Excellency Colin Crooks for hosting such a wonderful celebration at his residence. #KingsBirthday #BritishEmbassySeoul #DulwichCollegeSeoul #UKKorea #Community #Sustainability #Inclusion #BestOfBritish #주한영국대사관 Jane Smith Namju Cho

After six memorable years at Dulwich College Seoul, long-standing parent Carly West reflects on her family’s journey with our school community. With two sons currently in Year 6 and Year 8, Carly shares how the College has nurtured their academic growth, wellbeing, and personal development. In this heartfelt testimonial, she highlights the close-knit, family feel of the school, the dedication of our teachers, and the strong sense of community that shaped her family’s experience. https://lnkd.in/gx5pyAVc