Welcome to St Dunstan’s Senior School, a progressive community where innovation, integrity and individuality flourish in a culture of academic excellence.
From the moment a Year 7 student steps onto our site they begin a journey of discovery, from building new friendships in Year 7, to networking with industry leaders and leading volunteering projects in Year 13.
From the outset, we encourage students to engage in thoughtful reflection about the individuals they aspire to become, and to consider the values and principles that will underpin their decisions and guide their lives.
St Dunstan’s was established with the bold vision of challenging the norms of education. From our founding days, when a courageous group of governors introduced science and technology into the curriculum, making us one of the first schools in the world to do so, we have remained ambitious and progressive.
These qualities continue to shape our approach as we prepare our students to become global citizens in a rapidly evolving world. St Dunstan’s has undergone a remarkable academic transformation
We are ranked among the top 60 independent schools in the UK, and our students secure places at a dazzling array of destinations, from Oxford and Cambridge for classics and mathematics, to art foundation courses, drama schools, and conservatoires. We were named Co-educational School of the Year in 2020, followed by Independent School of the Year in 2022, and more recently Most Progressive Independent School in London in 2023, Most Progressive Independent School in South-East England in 2024, and Best Diversity and Inclusion in Sport in 2024. We were shortlisted again for Independent School of the Year in 2025.
Academic excellence here asks one to cultivate intellectual depth, curiosity and the ability to learn how to learn. We take an evidence-led approach to teaching and learning, engaging with pedagogical research and cognitive science to empower both teachers and students. Our students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, to embrace complexity, and to remain intellectually agile in a world that demands lifelong learning.
Taking inspiration from our founders, we see innovation as an essential part of being a Dunstonian. Our new AI Education and Ethics programme launches this September, but innovation at St Dunstan’s extends far beyond the digital. It is embedded in our approach to wellbeing, to resilience, and to the broader question of what it means to live a flourishing human life. Our Stuart and Usherwood curricula tackle the real issues young people face today. We are unafraid to teach what others might overlook, because we believe education must be relevant, courageous and future facing.
At St Dunstan’s. we honour the individual. Our Forder co-curriculum ensures that every student has the freedom to pursue a broad and balanced educational journey, nurturing intellectual curiosity, creative exploration and personal growth across a wide spectrum of experiences.
We see the development of integrity as central to our mission. Many schools can offer academic success and glittering destinations. Fewer, in my view, place equal emphasis on raising young people of character. Our leadership and volunteering programmes focus on listening, understanding and co-creating solutions.
We want our students to recognise their privilege and use it to make meaningful change as they prepare to thrive and to lead in whatever future awaits.
I invite you to explore what makes the Senior School unique through the voices and journeys of our students. Whether you are interested in our innovative Hecker, Stuart and Usherwood curricula, our unparalleled co-curricular Forder programme, or our exceptional pastoral care, I hope you will be inspired to visit us and discover first-hand the warmth and energy of our school. I look forward to welcoming you to St Dunstan’s Senior School for our Open Day or for a Discovery Tour very soon.
Ms Jade McLellan
Head of Senior School
South london's
AWARD-WINNING
Senior School
In recent years, St Dunstan’s has been named Co-educational School of the Year, Senior School of the Year and Most Progressive School in south-east England.
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Welcome to Senior School
