Dulwich College has won the Independent School of the Year Award 2022 for Contribution to Social Mobility.
Presented at the Independent School Magazine’s Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 11, the award recognises independent schools that ensure pupils “can fulfil aspirational choices despite their socio-economic background”.
Independent schools, otherwise known as private schools, don’t have to follow the national curriculum and charge fees instead of receiving government funding.
A spokesperson for Dulwich College said: “Dulwich College is delighted to have been awarded winner of this year’s Independent School Magazine’s Independent School of the Year Award 2022 for Contribution to Social Mobility.
“Dulwich College is, and has been since its foundation in 1619, committed to helping academically-talented disadvantaged students from the local community achieve their potential.”
Every year, the school awards bursaries to 200 pupils from in and around Southwark, worth over £4 million in total.
148 of those students have between 75 and 100 per cent of their fees paid for, which would cost up to £47,949 annually for full boarders. The school has more than doubled its spending on bursaries since 2013.
Four bursary recipients from the 2021 leavers cohort went on to study at Oxbridge, studying Aeronautical Engineering, Classics, Medicine, Psychology, Mathematics and Economics.
There was also Peter who secured an apprenticeship at KPMG and Nkem, who is now reading Computer Engineering and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Nkem said: “During my time at Dulwich College I have met some incredible people who encouraged me to work hard and aim high. Thanks to their support, I fulfilled one of the biggest dreams of my life.”
Other schools on the shortlist for the category Contribution to Social Mobility included Christ’s Hospital, Oundle, St Dunstan’s and Berkhamsted.
The independent panel of 14 judges, chaired by Dr Helen Wright, selected the independent schools across 24 categories from more than 250 nominations.