Our Guide to Dulwich
Education in Dulwich
Dulwich sits across three local authorities. Principally within the southern end of Southwark and extending into Lambeth and Lewisham, it offers families a broad range of options, with schools catering for a wealth of different needs, preferences, interests and budgets.
At primary level, there are some very successful state primaries as well as a number of well-regarded private pre-preps and preps that take children through to the age of 11 or 13. At secondary level we have some top-notch state comprehensives which are regularly oversubscribed – a matter further inflamed by recent addition of VAT to private school fees. There are no grammar schools in the area although a handful of families each year are drawn to the grammar schools in Sutton. And private schools? The local senior schools – two of them single-sex and one coeducational – rank among the best-performing schools in the land.
Living in Dulwich
Just five miles or so from Westminster, this south-east London enclave is one of the capital’s most desirable places to live. With its elegant architecture, charming shops and sense of community, it has a countryside feel – yet it’s only 15 minutes by train to Central London. Popular with families and retirees alike, it’s also home to high-achieving city, media and professional types and a smattering of famous actors. There’s plenty of green space for children to play in, terrific galleries and museums (Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Horniman Museum and Gardens for starters) and a good mix of large Victorian, Edwardian and Tudor Revival houses.
Dulwich is divided into several distinct areas, including Dulwich Village, East Dulwich and Herne Hill, each with its own character. Dulwich Village, a conservation area located just down the road from Herne Hill, is the oldest and most affluent part of Dulwich, boasting a wide tree-lined avenue dotted with distinctive white wooden posts, the open spaces of Dulwich Park and cricket grounds, tennis courts and playing fields galore. East Dulwich tends to be younger and more fashionable, crammed with chic bars and the popular Picturehouse cinema, while Herne Hill offers leafy streets, independent shops and the famous Herne Hill Velodrome. Herne Hill station is particularly well-connected, with regular trains to Blackfriars and Victoria. Tate Modern and the South Bank are just a 20-minute ride away.
Looking for the best schools in Dulwich? Our education consultants can help.
The Good Schools Guide’s education consultants successfully help parents from all over the world find the best schools for their children. Our UK team is spread across the country, each expert with their own specialist areas of knowledge. If you would like us to help you find a school place or are keen to know more about your family’s education options in Dulwich, we are ready to help. Read about our education consultancy services or get in touch – consultants@goodschoolsguide.co.uk.
Your thoughts on education in Dulwich
Do you have experience of education in Dulwich – or indeed elsewhere – that you would like to share with us? We would like to hear from you. We depend on our network of parents and teachers to make sure the advice and information we publish is accurate, complete, relevant and up to date. Please write to us at editor@goodschoolsguide.co.uk.