Last week, we visited Dulwich College Beijing (Legend Garden Campus), where two representatives from Dulwich College Suzhou came to give a presentation about the British school’s newly opened boarding facilities, called the Alleyn House. This is the first academic year the boarding house has been open and 23 students currently reside there, though the Alleyn House is able to accommodate 180 international students from age 11-18.
Alex Colenso, Head of Boarding, joined in August 2013 from Dulwich College London. He, his wife, and young son live in the boarding house with the students. “The stigma about boarding of 20-30 years ago has changed. This is not just a facility to provide parents with everything they need from an education, it’s also a community.” he said.
Parents can choose from the following three boarding options to suit their needs:
Full boarding– Seven days a week during term time
Weekly boarding– Students are there five or six nights per week and spend weekends at home
Flexi Boarding- Arranged on an individual basis as needed to provide extra support during exam time or when parents have to travel.
Head of Senior School, Stuart Bridge, explains that small class size, small tutor groups, and two-three hours of monitored homework in the evenings, as well as access to all school facilities like the aquatics center, fitness studio, library, gym, music rooms, and a full range of after school and weekend activities are just some of the perks of students who board. “There’s a chance for everyone to be involved. Everyone is a star. It’s a big advantage,” he said.
Suzhou, a quiet, second-tier city known best for its canals, is a five hour train ride from Beijing, and only a 30 minute train ride to Shanghai. Both presenters emphasized that school’s boarding facilities are a viable option for busy Beijing parents who may travel a lot for work, or parents that want to give their children the opportunity to have a learning experience that will develop self-confident individuals with a global perspective.
To arrange a visit to Dulwich Suzhou or for more information, contact Dulwich Suzhou Tel: (86512) 6295 9500 or Email: admissions@dulwich-suzhou.cn
