Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong

IB Diploma Excellence at Dulwich Pudong

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong has established itself as one of the premier IB Diploma Programme schools in Asia, with a track record of exceptional results over multiple consecutive years.

2023 Results Highlights

In 2023, DCSPD students achieved an average IB Diploma score of 38.0 out of 45, compared to the global average of approximately 30. Key highlights include:

• 100% pass rate — every candidate who sat the IB Diploma passed
• 38.6% of graduates scored 40 points or above — nearly two-fifths of the cohort in the top scoring tier
• One student achieved a perfect score of 45 points
• Nearly one-third of graduates earned the Bilingual Diploma, reflecting the school's multilingual community

Multi-Year Track Record

The school's IB results have been consistently exceptional:

• 2022: Average score of 39.8 — an extraordinary result
• 2021: Average score of 39.2
• 2023: Average score of 38.0

All three years recorded 100% pass rates, demonstrating that excellence is systemic rather than incidental.

University Placement Outcomes

The Class of 2023 leveraged their strong IB results to secure placements at some of the world's most competitive universities. At the first-reveal stage, the cohort had already accumulated at least 9 offers from QS World Top 50 universities, including offers from Oxford and Cambridge, as well as acceptance to UK medical programmes.

Academic Culture

The school attributes its performance to a holistic approach that avoids treating students as mere exam machines. As the Head of College has stated, the school is committed to both academic excellence and the "healthy development" of students as individuals. This philosophy appears to produce students who are not only high-achieving academically but also well-rounded and resilient.

A Philosophy Built Around the Whole Child

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong's educational philosophy is rooted in a conviction that outstanding academic results and genuine personal development are not in conflict — they are complementary. The school's Head of College articulates this clearly: students come first, and the goal is to foster both a love of learning and healthy development as individuals.

Core Values in Practice

The school's community is guided by three explicit core values:

• Compassion: Encouraging students to empathise with and care for others
• Inclusivity: Building a diverse and collaborative community that welcomes all backgrounds
• Kindness: Creating a culture of mutual respect and positive relationships

These values are not merely aspirational statements. The school's diverse international community — drawing students from across the globe to the Jinqiao area of Shanghai — gives these values concrete meaning in daily school life.

Live Worldwise

The school's vision for its graduates is captured in the phrase "Live Worldwise" — a call to develop students who have a global perspective, can make informed choices, take inspired action, and contribute positively to society. This vision shapes curriculum design, co-curricular programming, and the school's investment in community service.

Holistic Curriculum Design

The British National Curriculum framework, progressing through IGCSE to the IB Diploma, is used as a vehicle for developing not just knowledge but character. The school explicitly structures learning around the belief that students who are happy, healthy, and supported will naturally achieve more academically. This is reflected in the school's investment in counselling, EAL support, and learning support services for students with special educational needs.

Campus Life and Facilities at Dulwich Pudong

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong operates across two campuses within the Jinqiao residential area of Pudong, providing distinct environments tailored to different age groups.

DUCKS Campus (Early Years)

Located at 425 Lan An Rd, the DUCKS (Dulwich's early years programme) campus caters to children aged 2 to 7 (Nursery through Year 2). It features:

• A dedicated music room and library for young learners
• A spacious shaded outdoor playground with age-appropriate equipment
• A running track for physical development
• Multiple tennis courts
• After-school care facilities integrated into the campus design

The DUCKS campus is designed to be a warm, nurturing environment where young children can explore and learn through structured play and inquiry.

Main Campus (Years 3–13)

The main campus at 266 Lan An Rd serves students from Year 3 through Year 13 and contains an impressive array of facilities:

Performing Arts:

• A fully renovated theatre with two black-box stages
• Multiple music teaching rooms and a recording studio
• Five independent music practice rooms
• A dedicated dance studio

Sports:

• Two gymnasiums
• A multipurpose hall
• A 25-metre, 6-lane FINA-standard competition swimming pool
• A separate training pool
• A basketball court and large stadium

Academic and Innovation:

• The SE21 Centre (opened 2017): a state-of-the-art hub for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Entrepreneurship
• Primary Film Studio with editing suite
• Maker Space for hands-on creation
• Science Lab ("The Lab") in the Junior School
• Art classrooms, primary library, and outdoor classrooms
• University counselling office within the spacious Senior School library

The breadth and quality of these facilities position DCSPD as one of the best-resourced international schools in Shanghai.

Community and Support at Dulwich Pudong

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong is home to approximately 1,600 students, drawn primarily from the expatriate families living in and around Shanghai's Pudong district. The school's community reflects the cosmopolitan nature of modern Shanghai, with students arriving from across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond.

Language and Inclusion

While English is the primary language of instruction, the school is deeply committed to welcoming students for whom English is not a first language. The school's EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme provides structured support to help students transition into English-medium learning at their own pace.

Beyond English, the school teaches Mandarin Chinese throughout all year groups, acknowledging the context of its Shanghai location. Students in the senior school can also study French, German, and Spanish, preparing them for an international future.

Learning Support and SEN

The school offers dedicated Learning Support and Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, ensuring that students with diverse learning profiles can access the full curriculum. This commitment to inclusivity is central to the school's core value of compassion.

Pastoral Culture

With approximately 150 teachers serving 1,600 students — a ratio of roughly 1:10.7 — DCSPD maintains strong teacher-student relationships. The school's pastoral approach is embedded in the holistic philosophy articulated by the Head of College, ensuring that student wellbeing is never sacrificed for academic pressure.

Parent Partnership

The school operates a school bus service across multiple routes in Pudong and beyond, making it accessible to families across the district. Key dates such as the June 15 school bus registration deadline reflect the school's organised approach to community logistics.

The History of Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong

Origins (2003)

Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong was founded in 2003, making it one of the earliest British international schools to establish a presence in mainland China. It was created as part of the Dulwich College International network — the global schools arm of the historic Dulwich College, founded in London in 1619 by actor Edward Alleyn.

The school was established in the Jinqiao area of Pudong, Shanghai, which was rapidly developing as a premier residential district for expatriate families. From the outset, the school's mission was to deliver a world-class British education to the children of international families working in Shanghai.

Growth and Development

Over its first two decades, the school has grown from a small start-up to a community of approximately 1,600 students. This growth necessitated expansion across two campuses:

• The DUCKS early years campus at 425 Lan An Rd for students aged 2–7
• The main campus at 266 Lan An Rd for students in Years 3–13

SE21 Centre (2017)

A landmark moment in the school's development came in 2017 with the opening of the SE21 Centre in the Senior School. This state-of-the-art facility was purpose-built to encourage innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Entrepreneurship — signalling the school's commitment to preparing students for a 21st-century economy.

IB Diploma Programme

The school introduced the IB Diploma Programme to provide its senior students with an internationally recognised qualification well-suited for entry to leading universities worldwide. By 2023, the school had achieved a 100% IB pass rate and an average score of 38.0 — placing it among the strongest IB schools globally.

Recognition

Today, DCSPD holds accreditations from the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), the IB World Schools network, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — a collection of credentials that few schools in Asia can match.