The CCF, established in 1859, covers Army, RAF, and Royal Navy sections with recorded national competition results.
Leading boys' boarding school in south London since 1619
Why this school
The CCF, established in 1859, covers Army, RAF, and Royal Navy sections with recorded national competition results.
The college awards over £5.5 million in means-tested bursaries each year, funded by the school itself.
The Grimshaw-designed science laboratory cost £14 million and includes a triple-height atrium and informatics suites.
Dulwich College was founded in 1619 by actor and entrepreneur Edward Alleyn as the College of God’s Gift, making it one of England’s oldest independent schools for boys. Set on a 70-acre campus in south-east London, it educates around 1,820 boys from nursery through to the upper sixth. The school sits within the London Borough of Southwark — one of the few full-boarding schools operating within the capital. Accredited by ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate), HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), BSA, and ISC, the college operates with an explicit ethos of equity, excellence and service, which shapes both its admissions policy and its bursary programme.
Dulwich College is academically selective throughout its senior school. Boys follow GCSEs in Years 9 to 11 and A-levels in the sixth form. In 2024, A-level results stood at 63% A*-A and 85% A*-B, performance that consistently supports entry to competitive universities in the UK and internationally.
The academic offer is broad. Alongside core GCSE and A-level pathways, boys have access to specialist subject combinations that are less commonly available at comparably sized schools. The senior curriculum builds coherently from the junior years, and the sixth form is structured so that university application preparation forms a distinct part of the programme rather than an afterthought.
The sixth form runs A-levels across a wide subject range. With 63% A*-A grades at A-level in 2024, boys regularly progress to Oxford, Cambridge, and competitive universities in the United States.
A-Level results
63% A*-A, 85% A*-B (2024)
Boarding runs from Years 9 to 13 across three named houses: The Orchard, Ivyholme, and Blew House, accommodating boys aged 13 to 18. The boarding community draws from over 20 nationalities, making it one of the more internationally diverse boarding environments among London’s private schools. Full boarding fees for 2025/26 stand at £64,200 per year, inclusive of education, board, and lodging. Weekly boarding is also available at £63,003 per year (2026/27 rates).
Each house operates with a resident housemaster and pastoral team. An on-site medical centre provides round-the-clock care. Pastoral oversight is integrated with academic mentoring, so boys have consistent points of contact across both dimensions of school life.
The co-curricular programme is broad and structured. Sport has a prominent place: rugby, cricket, rowing, swimming, and fives all feature, with the Dulwich College Boat Club having won national championships. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) was established in 1859 and covers Army, RAF, and Royal Navy sections, with competition results including the Cadet Cambrian Patrol and Air Squadron Trophy.
The Dulwich College Union supports more than 50 societies — debating, with recorded wins at Oxford and Cambridge Union competitions, alongside STEM clubs, arts societies, and community service groups. The Space performing arts centre hosts full-scale drama and music productions across the school year, as well as public lectures.
The campus covers 70 acres in Dulwich, south-east London. The Grade II* listed Barry Buildings sit at its centre, alongside a £14 million science laboratory designed by Grimshaw Architects, which includes a triple-height atrium and informatics suites. The college also has three libraries, specialist subject labs, a sports centre, swimming pool, and a rowing boathouse. The archive holds Ernest Shackleton’s James Caird lifeboat.
Dulwich College is in south-east London, within the London Borough of Southwark. London Gatwick Airport is approximately 30 minutes by train from nearby stations. London Heathrow is accessible in around 60 to 75 minutes by road or public transport. Both airports offer extensive international connections for families travelling from the UAE, Russia, Nigeria, and across Europe.
Annual tuition
£67,416 per year · full boarding · Senior · Years 9-13
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Years 3-8 | Day | — | £31,986 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Day | — | £32,118 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Weekly boarding | — | £63,003 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Full boarding | — | £67,416 |
| Pre-Prep | Pre-Reception | Day | — | £21,681 |
| Pre-Prep | Reception, Year 1, Year 2 | Day | — | £23,850 |
| Nursery | Babies, Toddlers and Ducklings | Day | — | £23,766 |
| Nursery | Babies, Toddlers and Ducklings | Day | — | £19,008 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£2,000
Registration
£200
London Gatwick (~30 min by train); London Heathrow (~60–75 min by road or rail)
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Full boarding fees for senior boys (Years 9-13) are £64,200 per year (2025/26), inclusive of education, board, and lodging. Weekly boarding is available at £63,003 per year. Day fees for the same year groups are £32,118 per year, excluding lunch.
The college accepts boys from as young as six months old through its DUCKS Kindergarten, which operates from 8am to 5pm. Day places in the senior school begin at age 13 (Year 9), which is also when boarding becomes available.
In 2024, 63% of A-level entries were graded A* or A, and 85% were graded A* or B. These results support entry to competitive universities in the UK and internationally, including Oxford and Cambridge.
The boarding community draws from over 20 nationalities. The three boarding houses, The Orchard, Ivyholme, and Blew House, accommodate boys in Years 9 to 13.
Dulwich College awards over £5.5 million in bursaries annually. These are means-tested awards funded by the school, reflecting its founding ethos of equity and service.
Sport includes rugby, cricket, rowing, swimming, and fives. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF), established in 1859, has Army, RAF, and Royal Navy sections. The Dulwich College Union supports more than 50 societies, and The Space performing arts centre hosts drama and music productions throughout the year.
A registration fee of £200 is payable at the point of application, and a deposit of £2,000 is required on acceptance of a place. For full admissions details, prospective families should contact the college directly or consult an EDVISION adviser.
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