Stories

This March, St Dunstan’s College, Catford, London, was delighted to celebrate historic success in girls’ football with two senior teams reaching national finals and a junior squad winning their local tournament.

In the senior school, two teams have reached national finals marking a new chapter of sporting success for south London’s award-winning school.

St Dunstan's year 9/10 girls’ team have reached the final of the U15 ISFA Shield, a prestigious national competition for independent schools. The journey for the girls started back in September. Along the way, St Dunstan's have had to overcome tough competition with matches against Wellington College, Chigwell School, Colfe's School and then a semi-final in Southampton to take on the Gregg School. The semi final resulted in a fantastic 4-0 win for the girls earning them a place in the ISFA final, against Stephen Perse Foundation.

Meanwhile, the year 7/8 girls’ team have also had a great cup run which resulted in them reaching the final of the U13 Girls’ ISFA Cup. On route, St Dunstan's girls have had to overcome City of London Girls School, Highgate School, Ardingly College and Wimbledon High School before beating favourites Surbiton High in the semi-final after a tense penalty shoot-out. Both teams are now preparing for their finals, which take place in the next few weeks.

St Dunstan’s Head of Football, Paul Palmer, said: ‘Both our senior girls’ squads have had a fantastic season, and the cup runs have elevated the status of St Dunstan's girls’ football on a national level.’

St Dunstan’s Junior School year 4 girls’ team have also been celebrating success on the pitch. Taking part in the local Girls’ Under 9 Tournament, the girls were victorious following a final with Alleyn’s School.

The football success comes just over a year after St Dunstan’s announced a groundbreaking partnership with Chelsea FC Foundation. As part of the partnership, Chelsea FC Foundation now have a full-time officer based at the school to develop the new programme working closely with the St Dunstan’s team and to reach out and build relationships across Lewisham. 

Speaking at the time, St Dunstan’s Education Group’s CEO, Nick Hewlett said: ‘We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Chelsea FC Foundation. Sport at St Dunstan’s has been on an incredible journey in recent years, and this is the next exciting chapter in our history. 

‘We are passionate about our local community, and I am particularly pleased that this new partnership will not only benefit our pupils, but young people across the whole borough. It really does have the potential to transform football across south-east London.’ 

St Dunstan’s Assistant Head, Co-curricular, Danny Gower, added: ‘Sport plays such a key role in supporting the development of character. Young people learn about themselves; how they respond to challenges and pressure, how they work with team-mates and opponents and about the culture that they perform within.

‘Whilst developing individuals, sport is also uniquely placed to bring communities together. We are delighted to have found a partner in Chelsea FC Foundation who are as committed to delivering experiences that enrich the lives of people across this community.’

St Dunstan’s College, located in Catford, south-east London, is one of London’s leading independent schools, having been named Senior School of the Year at the 2022 Tes Schools Awards and Most Progressive School in South-East England at the 2024 Private Education Awards.