The Dolphin Approach 2022

Dolphin School The Dolphin Approach

The teachers’ ability to inspire and the quality of teaching were rated highly by over 90% of parents.

RS Academics Survey

dolphinschool.london

'This is a place where I can be myself.'

Dolphin Pupil

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HEAD'S WELCOME Why choose the Dolphin School?

Located on the Northcote Road, Dolphin School is a small, independent co-educational Christian school, which thrives on our motto: Love, Wisdom and Truth. At the heart of our ethos, these values embody our approach to develop meaningful, authentic and powerful relationships with the children and each other in the school. All our children know each other and their teachers extremely well in a family environment which supports their educational and personal development, whether joining us in our nurseries or leaving at the end of Year 6.

Children leave Dolphin to attend some of the best schools in London and the home counties. We achieve our excellent results through a number of unique factors: Our classes are small and our rich knowledge of pupils allows us to focus on detailed education of each child. The warm, family nature of Dolphin School provides the children with space to explore their flourishing personalities, in a safe and entertaining way. We have high expectations of behaviours for learning and a robust moral compass in our daily lives.

Dolphin is a Christian School and our ethos centres around children discovering a living understanding of the Christian faith. Not all families at the school are Christian, but our values and the ‘way we do life’ has humanity that speaks to our entire community in this modern world.

It's recently been said to me that senior schools are able to spot a Dolphin pupil when they see one: caring, compassionate, supportive and funny. However, they are secretly ambitious, value integrity and truth, whilst also going that extra mile to inspire others to also achieve.

Sam Godsen

The Great Outdoors AT DOLPHIN SCHOOL

Outdoor Learning

Multi-Use Court

Noah's Ark Nursery, West side Reception Playground

Playing Fields

Playground

Wakehurst Road

Bolingbrook Grove

Dolphin

& Noah's Ark Nursery, School Dolphin Garden

School

Northcote Road

Outdoor 3G pitches

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Ethos FROM THE BEGINING

Dolphin is a school which prizes relationships highly, a place where joy is found in daily interactions and in sharing life together. Here we make the time to chat, to soak up a smile, to light a birthday candle, to cheer on our home team, and to celebrate all that makes up the richness and wonder of school life.

That richness and wonder was part of the plan for Dolphin School from the beginning. The founders who started the school back in 1986 saw what they believed to be a God-given image in their minds’ eye of a child riding, with great joy through the waves of the sea, on the back of a dolphin, with some words above reading ‘Riding on the back of my Word’. From this came the vision for a new school with a Biblical foundation – a place for the tangible expression of the love of God – a place of warm welcome, where children could be nurtured in their educational journey as they ‘roamed the universe’ in their learning and discoveries, encouraged to ponder and to question; a place where each child would be known and loved, recognized as an individual of very great worth with a unique personality and attributes.

Each child was to be seen in the same way as a precious jewel – as a beautiful, extra-ordinary, multi-faceted individual, with the potential to become strong and resilient and part of the bedrock of society, and in a position to confidently shine beauty and strength and God’s love into the lives of others. A daily reminder of this was to be found in class names - the names of precious stones – Reception Diamonds, Year 1 Pearls, Year 2 Sapphires, Year 3 Rubies, Year 4 Emeralds, Year 5 Topazes and Year 6 Aquamarines.

‘Love, Wisdom, Truth’ became the threefold motto of the school, focusing on the ‘how’ of relationships and the purpose of learning. The uniform chosen reflected the blue of the sea and the yellow of the sun and the grey of the armour of strength.

The heart of Dolphin – the DNA of the place – reflects the Biblical values that underpin it and the people who are drawn to it. The ethos of the school continues to find fresh expression in both old and new ventures– academic, creative, sporting, spiritual and community.

Janet Clark, Director of Ethos

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A Word from our parents...

Happy.

My kids are truly happy. There hasn't been a single day that they have not wanted to go to school. A huge credit to the staff at Dolphin.

Challenged.

Are my children challenged? Absolutely. Could they be challenged more? Yes. But I'm not sure that would be good for them. Dolphin has a way of appropriately challenging the pupils which enables them to thrive to achieve excellent results.

Genuine.

The teaching staff seem to genuinely love working at Dolphin- that translates into confidence and the passion the children have for learning.

Community.

Dolphin cuts through the veneer of life and gets to the real stuff. It truly is an amazing community.

Thrive.

Hand on heart, my two children are better human beings for being at the school. They have learned how to thrive in relationships and tackle the grit that life so often hands you.

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EASY STEPS

THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS Book a visit by completing our online enquiry form or contact our Admissions Registrar, Mrs Benson.

After your initial visit, complete an application form and return it with the registration fee.

For entry beyond Reception, children are invited to the school for a Trial Day. (We are non-selective for children joining us in Reception.)

The school will be in contact with regard to an offer of a place.

admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk www.dolphinschool.org.uk

02079243472

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Vivienne Benson, our Admissions Registrar

Q&A

What size are the classes?

This varies year to year; however, we aim to limit the classes to 20 or less.

at Dolphin School

Is there an entry assessment for my child and what is the process for offering places?

At Reception level we do not hold assessments. We offer places a year in advance to those registered - siblings first, then Noah’s Ark children, then on a first come first served basis. However, for children joining mid-year and higher up the school, we require reports and a Trial Day where we do internal assessments. We will then decide on whether an offer can be made. Dolphin School welcomes children who would thrive in a mainstream environment.

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O n th e c o m m o n

How are new children and parents helped to integrate?

We are used to having new children join at various stages from a variety of countries, so the children and staff are very welcoming and make huge efforts to get to know a child and to include them in all aspects of school life both academically and socially. It is a real plus that our classes are not too big so new children feel at home very quickly as a quote from a current parent of a new child shows “Honestly, it’s such a wonderful school, my son has come out every day this week saying he has had the best day ever. So thank you all for making him feel so welcome”. Our Parents of Dolphin (POD) class reps will get in touch with you to make sure that you as parents also feel welcomed and involved in the Dolphin community - a community which is diverse, international and inclusive.

Where do they have their playtimes and how often do they go out?

Children have two daily playtimes on Wandsworth Common, a short walk from the school, which is where the Reception class also have their daily outdoor learning activities come rain or shine!

How much homework is there?

This is age dependent. Homework is set from Monday to Thursday and usually consists of Maths, English and another subject. Year One is expected to do 10 minutes, Year Two - 20 minutes, Year Three – 30 minutes and so on. Homework is not set at the weekend in order to maximize family time together and to promote good mental health. Learning is not all about school.

What food is there?

We have delicious organic hot lunches served daily on a tri-weekly menu rotation.

Imm ersi ve lear ning !

Do the children go on trips?

Yes, the children enjoy enriching and varied trips, both day and residential (depending on their age). The classes go on between 3 to 5 outings or trips per year. Please see the website for further information.

When does school begin and end?

The school day runs from 08.30 to 15.30 for the Lower School and 08.30 to 15.45 for the Upper School, unless children are attending a club in which case the pick-up times are 16.30 and 16.50.

We currently offer the Early Bird drop off (from 08.00).

Are there Bu

rsaries?

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Application Form

Dolphin School LEAVERS' DESTINATIONS AND OFFERS *Schools where scholarships were offered

dolphinschool.london

2020 Alleyn's School* Box Hill School* Caterham School Emanuel School* Hall School Wimbledon Ibstock Place School Kew House School Lingfield School Northwood Senior Oratory Prep Royal Russell Saint Cecilia's Streatham & Clapham High St John's Leatherhead Surbiton High School Sutton Grammar School Thames Christian School* Torquay Boys' Grammar School The Laurels Tiffin School Trinity School* Woldingham School Worth School

2021 Alleyn's School* Caterham School* Dulwich College Eaton Square Senior School Emanuel School* Ewell Castle School* Farnborough Hill Frensham Heights Fulham Boys School Fulham Senior School Hampton School Ibstock Place ICS London International James Allen's Girls' School Kew House School King's College School* Lady Margaret School Manor House School* Northwood Senior Plymouth College* Streatham & Clapham High Radnor House* Reed's School Royal Russell School* St Catherine's, Twickenham St Cecilia's C of E School St George’s, Weybridge St John’s Leatherhead* Sydenham High School* Tabernacle School Thames Christian School* Thomas’s Battersea Square* Trinity School* Wimbledon High School Woldingham School*

2022 Alleyn's School Bedales Prep, Dunhurst Broomwood Hall Charterhouse School Dulwich College Emanuel School Epsom College Ewell Castle School Francis Holland School Fulham Senior School Hall School Wimbledon Hazlegrove School* Ibstock Place James Allen's Girls' School Kew House School Lancing College Northcote Lodge Northwood Senior Royal Russell School* St John’s Leatherhead Sherbourne Girls Streatham & Clapham High* Sydenham High School Thames Christian School Thomas’s Battersea Square Thomas's Clapham Trinity School Whitgift School Woldingham School* Winchester College