07 June 2024

Headmaster's Letter 7th June 2024

Dear Parents

On its 80th anniversary, it has been a privilege to talk to the children about D-Day. How I have enjoyed explaining to the children the scale and ambition of this quite astonishing achievement.

Quite apart from its obviously seismic historical importance, I hoped to convey to the children that D-Day was an incredible organisational, logistical achievement that required teamwork, ingenuity, creativity, planning and problem solving of the highest order. And of course, the most incredible courage from those brave men who landed by sea and by air and played their part in what President Roosevelt called ‘this mighty endeavour’. Stirring stuff!

But as important as it is to learn lessons and take inspiration from the past, education is really about looking ahead. We are preparing our children for a complex future world. Sadly, worrying instability in the geo-political landscape has returned. The challenges of climate change and sustainability are obvious. And of course the AI revolution, of which we are really only at the very beginning, is likely to change the world we know more dramatically than most of us can yet envisage.

But I am optimistic. Some things stay the same - our incredible ability to adapt as a species and find ways to thrive and flourish. The creativity, collaboration, resilience, courage, enthusiasm, empathy and sense of global citizenship required to pull off D-Day, are the very same qualities our children will need to thrive in the world of tomorrow. That’s why we have embedded these seven virtues - ‘The Dumpton Way’ - into all that we do, and why Character Education sits at the heart of our school, day in, day out, for our brilliant pupils.

As ever at this time of the year there is lots to tell you about - I hope you will find it all useful.

Political Threats
Our Chair of Governors Hugh Cocke wrote to you recently about our fee increase for September, and the Governing Body’s ongoing work to plan for the threat of VAT being imposed on school fees under a Labour Government. Since he wrote, an election has been announced, but our position remains the same: parents should be confident that Dumpton’s financial strength and strategic planning puts us in a strong position to weather what lies ahead. Without diluting our offering, we are prioritising ensuring we remain affordable to you, our parent body: our recent fee increases continue to be well below the national averages for independent schools which were 8% for this academic year, and The Telegraph predicts will be 6.2% for 2024-25. We will continue to keep you updated as parents.

Staffing News
Having a brilliant staff team remains our utmost priority, and I am delighted to announce three new recruits to the Dumpton staff body for September 2024

Mrs Kat Hatchard has been appointed as our new Year 2 teacher for September 2024. Kat shone through in perhaps the most competitive field we have had for a teaching role at Dumpton. She joins us from Yarrells, where she has been a Year 3 teacher and English Lead, but her varied career has seen her teach across the primary age ranges, in both independent, state and international schools. Kat impressed with her outstanding teaching, but equally importantly, her strong alignment with the school’s values and ethos. I feel sure she will make a superb addition to the Pre-Prep teaching team.

In addition, Mrs Gemma Limpenny joins us next year as a Maths teacher covering Mrs Sowden’s maternity leave. Gemma has fantastic experience teaching Maths at Key Stage 2 Level from her time at Baden Powell, and, stood out for her brilliant maths teaching as well as her compassionate, positive approach. We are very lucky to have her on board.

Finally, Mr Harry Morgan is joining us next year as a Sports Coach, and will work across the Pre-Prep and Prep delivering sports coaching across the year. Harry is an incredibly promising football coach, and has been recruited to coach within the AFC Bournemouth Academy, alongside running his own coaching company. He is also a regular first team player for Wimborne Town. Harry has impressed us all, and we are really excited to have such a promising and highly rated coach joining the Dumpton team.

Y7 and Y8 Exams – The Dumpton Certificate
Well done to our Y7 and Y8 pupils who have made a brilliant start to their exams. This is the first Dumpton cohort in the school’s 120 year history not to sit ‘Common Entrance’ - and our move to ‘The Dumpton Certificate’ allows us retain the important rigour and challenge of the examinations, but now in a far more child-centred, inclusive fashion that better meets the needs of our pupils, and better prepares them for their future education.

Reception and Y3 Transition, and New Parent Information Sessions
All 2024-25 Reception children should have received an email today confirming their class teacher for next year, as well as the offer of a home visit, which is such a lovely opportunity for those all important relationships to begin to form. At the same time, our current Y2 parents have hopefully noted the date of the children’s first ever ‘sports fixture’ (Thursday 20th June) another lovely chance to prepare for life in the Prep School. Parents with children starting Dumpton, as well as those joining Y3, will be invited to our information sessions on Friday 21st June as per the calendar – do look out for an invitation from Juliet next week.

Pre-Prep Home Learning Survey
Thank you to all parents in the Pre-Prep who have filled out this very brief survey sent out in your class newsletter as we review our home learning ahead of next year. Please do complete this over the weekend if you have yet to do so.

Cricket, Swimming and Athletics
As well as some brilliant competitive cricket fixtures against Port Regis this week, we look forward to seeing how our brave swimmers get on in the National Finals at the London Aquatics Centre on Saturday, as well as 50 Junior athletes at Junior Wessex. Good luck to everyone involved!

Prep School Sports Day – From Mr Randle
The Prep School Day (Y3-8) is scheduled for Wednesday 26th June, further details will be sent out shortly but a reminder to parents that it is a lovely occasion to attend if you can.

Music & Drama Exams
We are looking forward to a brilliant batch of music exams later in the term. All parents of pupils involved have been informed and I hope practice at home is going well! The exam timetable will be published here in the next couple of days. Huge congratulations to our LAMDA pupils who took exams earlier in the term. Lots to celebrate, but huge thanks must go to the team of music and LAMDA teachers who are so dedicated to getting the best out of the brilliant children.

Ballet tuition Y1 to Y5 - September 2024
As part of our vision for an increasingly broad and rich co-curricular programme, we are excited to be able to reveal that our dance provision will be increasing in September and the wonderful Miss Sophie will be offering specialist Ballet lessons to pupils from Y1 up to Year 5. (for starters, anyway!) There will be much more information on cost and overall logistics to follow, but lessons will be available to pupils who don't already take ballet lessons out of school, and sessions will take place during the Hobbies or early morning slots (8am-8.30am). More options may be available if demand is high. If your child is interested in taking up Ballet lessons next year, please could I ask you to register your interest here and we will get more information to you as soon as we are able.

Pre-Prep Country Dancing
We are very excited about the upcoming Country Dancing event on the 24th June. This will be for pupils in Reception to Year 2. Apologies to nursery parents for the error on the Calendar, this has now been updated. You are, of course, welcome to come along and enjoy a cup of tea and some dancing on the lawn with us anyway!

Lost Property - from Matron
We still have a huge amount of unnamed lost property which we would love to reunite with its owners. We will once again put a table outside at the gate this Thursday (13th June) for afternoon pickups (weather dependant). Please do stop by and have a look - you may spot something you did not realise you had lost! Following this any unclaimed lost property will be taken to a charity shop. We have simply run out of space!

Charity Tennis Day
Dumpton parent, Sara Baylis is part of a group organising a Charity Tennis Day at Wimborne Tennis Club on Sunday 30 June. Sarah explains “we are hoping to raise money for two incredible causes - The Brain Tumour Charity and Forest Holme Hospice, in memory of our friend who passed away last year after suffering with a brain tumour. All are very welcome - should be a brilliant day with a children’s and child-adult doubles friendly competition, as well as a BBQ, cakes and a raffle.”

With best wishes,