by LYIS
Leading Your International School was delighted to be given the opportunity to visit Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi and meet the school’s exceptional principal David Ingram. “There are a commonality of challenges that we face as international school leaders”, David tells us. I get the feeling as David expands that he is working to support other principals in the same way he is always attempting to develop and improve his own practices.
Our second Dulwich School visit, following on from Singapore [1], has further emphasised to us the quality that is represented in a Dulwich school. Yet despite the outstanding nature of the school building and its facilities, like many outstanding schools, it is the quality of the teachers that makes a difference.
When I ask David, what is on his mind, he replies replies without hesitation “Curriculum”, adding, “the development of the curriculum to meet the changing needs of the world”. What will not change, however, I learned through David, is the need to take care of our students and wider staff body particularly through a wellbeing perspective, “helping students to flourish in life”.
As we walk around the school, David meets and greets every individual student, he asks students about what they are learning. He wishes departing sports teams the best of luck in their forthcoming matches in the afternoon. He takes great pride in introducing me to his colleagues. This is a Principal who cares deeply about his students, staff and school and both his actions and words demonstrate it. We see a piece of litter on the floor – David’s leadership means that there is no job too small for him.
There is a deep and rooted sense of community that you so often find through a founding school. Its fabric and DNA seem perfectly intertwined with each other.
Like all great leaders, David is praising his wider leadership team. He acknowledges them to us with great admiration. He also places great trust in staff and clearly takes great pride in introducing me to them. “I have amazing heads of schools” he tells us, adding “My job is to empower them”.
Wellbeing at Dulwich College is a core strategic priority – not an added bolt-on, as it can end up to many. Everyone matters and policies reflect this.
When we arrive back at David’s office, he is inquisitive and instinctively asks me what LYIS has observed in other school visits [2} – a question that makes us feel very important. David is clearly committed to being the best leader he can possibly be.
This is a school where every learning journey matters. Each child is truly valued and we cannot wait to meet again to continue this leadership discussion.
LYIS extends its warmest thanks to David Ingram and Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi for being such special hosts. We wish everyone at Dulwich College all the very best for the rest of the school year.
[1] https://news.leadingyourinternationalschool.com/school-trips/lyis-visits-dulwich-college-singapore/
[2] https://news.leadingyourinternationalschool.com/category/school-trips/