Co-curricular Programme
St Dunstan's College's second Head, the Reverend Forder, believed passionately that schools should offer more to the education of young people than classroom learning. His educational philosophy was to put the health and character of a student above the simple acquisition of knowledge. In pursuit of their passions outside of the classroom, the students would encounter a variety of experiences, each one an opportunity for personal growth and development.
This pioneering philosophy provides the inspiration for our co-curriculum, the Forder Programme. This ambitious, forward-thinking programme is sufficiently broad & diverse to give each individual the freedom to carve out their own unique journey. No matter the path, the individual will embark on a journey that offers opportunities for character development, in its broadest possible context.
This emphasis on character is evident in our activity profiles, with each one based on a College value: Curiosity, Compassion, Creativity, Courage, Confidence and Core. Each student is challenged to embrace the spirit of our College motto – albam exorna – by taking ownership of this journey, embracing new challenges, creating memorable, shared experiences along the way.
Each experience is an opportunity for personal growth, full of lessons that students will take with them on their journey through the College and on into life.
Festivals and Celebrations
Originally positioned next to the now ruined church of St Dunstan in the East, the College’s strong connections with the City of London and the parish church of All Hallows by the Tower in particular, go back to the 15th century.
We pride ourselves on being forward-thinking, whilst still understanding the importance of remembering our rich history and time-honoured traditions. Events are scheduled throughout the year, which present valuable opportunities for the College community to gather and celebrate. Whether it is our Commemoration Day service at Southwark Cathedral, when we commission a train to take all staff and pupils to London Bridge; the ancient ‘Beating of the Bounds’ ceremony in the City of London; or our annual service of Remembrance, we remember our historic roots and learn about the foundation of the College.
Our year ends on a high with the St Dunstan’s Festival – a two-week celebration of creativity and our diverse community. These events, and others, form the highlights of our College calendar and keep us rooted in the traditions of a community of which we are proud to be a part.
History of our Forder Programme
Our Forder Programme is named after Reverend Frank Forder, one of our former visionary Heads, who was appointed to St Dunstan’s College in 1922. Forder was an academic, having been educated at St Olave’s Grammar School and then at Christ’s College, Cambridge. He believed in the need for beauty, and was versed in many aspects of literature, art and music. His changes were to be wide-ranging when he joined the College, as he decided to give students attending St Dunstan’s ‘wider views and a fuller culture’. Indeed, he was concerned that the increasing range of subjects being taught in schools would end up creating a system of education which prioritised cramming and learning by rote. Rather than simply following the approach of others, he quickly changed the timetable and decided to end the school day early on three afternoons a week, in order to introduce ‘out of school’ activities. Students could choose from a diverse range of activities, such as Wireless Telegraphy, Metal Models, Photography, Lecturettes on Industry or Map Modelling.
These unique, exciting and formative experiences were fundamental in creating a love of learning, and supporting the development of character, in its broadest sense. So many have been able to reap the benefits of this pioneering approach to education in the years that have followed.