Dulwich Prep & Senior

Dulwich Prep & Senior (DPS), formerly known as Dulwich Prep London (2011-2024) and Dulwich College Preparatory School (1885-2011), is an independent school in Dulwich, south London, England for boys aged 2 - 16 years, with a co-educational Nursery. The current Headmaster is Louise Davidson.

Dulwich Prep & Senior (DPS)
Address
38-42 Alleyn Park London , SE21 7AA England
Coordinates	51.4342°N 0.0852°W / 51.4342; -0.0852
Information
Type	Independent school Preparatory school Senior school
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England
Established	18th January, 1885; 140 years ago (18th January, 1885)
Founder	Thomas Mason
Local authority	Southwark
Department for Education URN	100862 Tables
Head Master	Louise Davidson
Gender	Boys
Age	2 to 16
Houses	Gryphon, Lammasu, Pegasus, Phoenix
Publication	Focus
Website	https://dulwichprepsenior.org.uk/

Early years (1885-1893)

At the suggestion of the Master of Dulwich College, Thomas Mason opened Dulwich College Preparatory School (DCPS) for 13 pupils on 18th January 1885. Its original area was near where the Alleyn’s Head pub is currently. The school moved to its present site in 1893.^[1]

In 1916, a house system was created for the school called tribes. Each one was named after a Native American tribe. They are:

1. Chippeway (red)
2. Deerfeet (blue)
3. Objiwas (yellow)
4. Mohicans (green)

Deerfeet was an exception, it was named after Deerfoot.

The war years (1938-1945)

In 1938 headmaster John Leakey established an evacuation camp in the orchard on his father-in-law's land at Coursehorn, near Cranbrook, Kent, where the affiliated Dulwich Cranbrook still is today.^[2] Due to risk of invasion, the school moved to Betws-y-Coed and stayed there for the rest of the war.

In 1941, the original site of the school was bombed.

Growth (1957-present)

The school became a Charitable Education Trust in 1957. Since then the school gained more land and new buildings were built.^[1]

The school celebrated its centenary in 1985 with a Centenary Day on Friday 7th June, 1985.^[3]

The Hugh Woodcock Music School was opened in 1989, followed by the Betws Building in 1995, a library in 1999, and a sports hall, opened by cricketer and former pupil Derek Underwood in 2008.

In 2005, a book titled Dulwich and Beyond: A History of Dulwich College Preparatory School written by Neil Smith was published in 2005. It covers the complete history of the school at the time of publication.^[4]

A co-ed nursery was opened in 2007 at Gallery Road.

The school changed its name on 1st September, 2011 to Dulwich Prep London, having been previously called Dulwich College Preparatory School. Despite their close proximity and relationship, the school has no official link with Dulwich College, which has its own junior school for students between ages 7 and 13.

In May 2023, the school announced that it would be opening a senior school, starting with Year 9, in September 2025.

In 2023, the school introduced Flexi-boarding (boarding only on school weekdays) at 38 Alleyn Park.

As of September 2024, the school renamed itself Dulwich Prep & Senior for the upcoming senior school.^[5] They also renamed the tribes into legends. Each one of the legends are named after a winged mythical beast. Chippeway was renamed Phoenix, Deerfeet became Lamassu, Objiwas became Gryphon and Mohicans became Pegasus.