Co-Curricular

Dulwich Prep London runs a huge number of co-curricular clubs and activities each week – there were almost 150 clubs last year! All pupils and staff members from Year 1 upwards are encouraged to participate. Some are by invitation only, such as musical groups or sports squads but the vast majority are open to any interested pupil.

In Years 1 to 4, most clubs run during the school day. From Year 5 onwards, a number of clubs run from 4.00 to 5.00 pm.

There is usually no additional charge for clubs unless an external instructor is used, for example, LED Light Sabre, Karate, Fencing, Percussion, Rock Climbing or Gymnastics.

The range of activities is huge and reflects links to many areas of the curriculum. They may be derived from staff interests and expertise, but are also reflective of pupil or parental interests.

Lower School Clubs And Activities Autumn 2023

Middle And Upper School Clubs And Activities Autumn 2023

All Rounder Award

Co-curricular activities are extremely well supported by pupils and are an integral part of our All Rounder Scheme in Middle and Upper School. Boys in Years 5 to 8 are encouraged to participate in a broad range of clubs. Pupils choose from Sport, Music, Creative and Academic and Cognitive Enrichment categories. Those who cover the full spectrum and demonstrate an excellent level of commitment throughout the year can then claim their All Rounder pin badge.

In addition to being one of our most popular clubs Cookery, along with Art, Computing, DT, Drama, Music and Robotics is part of our Creative Programme in the Upper School.

The boys in Year 7 spend two double lessons a week working on a project in their chosen area whilst those in Year 8 spend a whole afternoon a week on theirs. Each project lasts six weeks and the boys will undertake five projects over the course of the year.

We find that this arrangement allows us to spend a concentrated period of time on each project with the boys.

Drama at The Prep is active and alive, all the way from Nursery through to Year 8. Presenting over 15 shows each year, dramatic performances range from:

• Original musicals for the children in Nursery
• Opera in Year 2
• Home-grown pantomimes, complete with audience participation…”oh no there isn’t!” in Year 4
• An annual School Play. Previous pieces have included James and the Giant Peach, A Christmas Carol and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• An annual School Musical for boys in Middle and Upper School. Recent productions include Cats, The Wizard of Oz, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, Little Shop of Horrors and Bugsy Malone.

Performances take place in either our state-of-the-art Drama Studio, or in the main Concert Hall, and have full lighting, sound and projection that allows boys to have a thorough theatrical experience.

We are also proud to champion a unique opportunity for every boy in Year 8, where boys spend a full two weeks outside lessons and work with a professional West End director to create and perform in an anthology of dramatic, poetic and literary works.  Culminating in performance, each boy takes a centre-stage position in an excerpt and “treads the boards” to see if they are bitten by the theatrical bug .

Launched in 2012,  Prep+ is a programme of cultural ‘adventures’ which encompasses the arts, theatre, concerts and opera.   We hope you enjoy browsing the new events and will be able to participate.

Prep+ is open to boys in Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 and their parents and Prep staff. For all outside school events boys will be accompanied by staff, transport will be arranged and they will be brought back to school for pick up at the times indicated. Only Upper School boys (Years 7 and 8) may attend evening trips individually and priority for tickets will be given to them. Middle School boys (Years 5 and 6) have found that the late evenings out on school days are often quite challenging. If an evening event is deemed appropriate for the Middle School boys then we ask a parent or carer to book a ticket to attend with them. This is not necessary for daytime events in the holidays or weekends.

Prep+ is the perfect way to enrich our appreciation of the wealth of arts events and cultural experiences on offer in our capital city.

All booking should be made via the Parent Message Centre

Trips and Visits are the things we all remember from our own school days.

They are an opportunity to venture out from the ‘safety of the classroom’ and enjoy the world beyond the school gate. At Dulwich Prep London we strongly believe that, in an age when many schools are reducing the number of trips out, these visits enrich the education our pupils enjoy and are fundamental to what the Prep has to offer.

We are determined to continue to provide opportunities away from the classroom that not only enhance their learning but their understanding of themselves and the world in which they live.

Visits range from day trips and short visits that support the curriculum by making use of the wealth of local resources and places of interest in Dulwich, London and the South East through to the longer expeditions that we build in for each year group and, of course, the optional holiday trips. These residential trips include outdoor pursuits trips to Wales, cultural visits within the UK and to Iceland and Italy, ski and snowboarding trips, sailing trips and sports tours.