Dear Parents
It’s been a fairly seismic week in terms of protecting our children’s safety online. This week, Keir Starmer announced a sweeping ban on social media use for under-16s in the UK, calling it a big step for the country and saying social media is making children unhappy and unsafe. The ban covers major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram and will come into effect next Spring.
Whilst reaction about the ban has been mixed, countries around the world are making similar moves, and it feels the momentum has finally shifted. As you will know from the conversations we have been having with you here at Dumpton, we all need to recognise the potentially damaging impact of social media and the online world on our children and their mental health.
Whatever your view on the ban, and on screens and social media, I think it’s really important we all consider what sort of childhood experiences we are giving our children. How much of their childhood is screen-based, as opposed to, what is described by Jonathan Haidt as ‘play-based’: interactive, social, real world experiences?
I hope, by sending your children to Dumpton, you are giving them plenty of the latter. As I watched Y3 charging around the Lower Field late last night for the camping trip, or the brilliant Nursery sports day, or the amazing iSpeak public speaking in our Y8 Leavers' Programme, I was very reassured that that was the case.
Swimming Nationals – Girls Success
I have three more fantastic results to celebrate from the recent swimming national final. Amelie C became 10th in the country for backstroke, Eva W 15th in the country for freestyle, and Matilda D for 17th in the country for Breaststroke. We’re so proud of them all.
Y3 Campout
A huge well done to our intrepid Y3 campers. They had a wonderful evening, with a walk at Badbury Rings, and then fun in the sun with the obligatory campfire and ‘smores. They have been a little tired today, and will need an early night, but what a brilliant experience!
Junior Wessex
It was a great day at the Junior Wessex Championships, with our young athletes claiming 8 individual gold medals plus a stunning relay gold, alongside 2 silvers and 4 bronzes. Leading the way were our double gold medallists: Elijah K (U9 Boys) struck gold in both the 50m and 150m, Francis K (U10 Boys) won the 150m and 400m, and Kaia K (U11 Girls) took gold in the 75m and Long Jump. They were joined on the top step by Max M (U11 Boys), who won Turbo Javelin gold, and Ebba G (U11 Girls), who topped the podium in the High Jump. The celebrations continued with a brilliant gold-medal run from the U11 Girls relay team — Mollie L, Ebba G, Arabella M and Kaia K. Congratulations to everyone who competed, and special mention to Kaia who was named Athlete of the Day.
Cricket Success
It's been such a successful cricket season! A big well done to all our pupils, but especially our U13As who went undefeated across the season, and our U11As who won the Sherborne Tournament, beating Millfield and Castle Court, and then Bryanston Prep in the final.
Nursery and Reception Sports Day
Wow! This was a brilliant event. We are so proud of the children – I have rarely seen so many smiles and happy faces. Just wonderful to see the children enjoying these experiences with so much confidence. Bravo to our brilliant staff team for their efforts here.
Heatwave
We are keeping a very close eye on the weather for next week and are checking that we put everything in place to ensure that everyone is safe in the heat. Please do ensure that pupils come in with sun cream, their school cap, and water bottles.
Uniform Shop – Closed Monday 22 June
The Uniform will be shut on Monday 22 June due to training. The shop will reopen on Monday 29 June from 3pm – 5.30pm. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Photograph Orders
A reminder that orders will close on Monday for the Whole School photograph, the Y8 Leavers and the Nursery photograph. This will ensure that these are delivered here to school before the end of the summer term without incurring a cost for postage and packing.
Junior Kangaroo Maths Challenge – from Mr Smith
Congratulations to the three pupils who took part in the Junior Kangaroo Maths Challenge last week. All had qualified by achieving excellent results in last half term’s Junior Maths Challenge. Jenson J narrowly missed out on a Bronze certificate, Jayden L performed brilliantly to secure a Silver certificate, and Elizabeth X achieved an outstanding score, earning a prestigious Gold certificate.
From Dumpton Friends - Summer Picnic
We are looking forward to the Summer Picnic which directly follows Speech Day on Friday 3rd July, from 11.30am-3.00pm.
With best wishes
Christian Saenger
Headmaster
Key Events W/B Monday 22 June 2026
WEEK A
Week 9: Theme of the Week – Changes and Transitions
Monday 22 June
All Day Home Visits taking place throughout this week (for children joining Reception, September 2026)
15.00-15.30 Pre-Prep Country Dancing Show – Reception to Y2 involved
16.00-17.15 Y8 iSpeak Event
Tuesday 23 June
All Day Final LAMDA sessions of the term
8.50-12.10 Y8 Leavers’ Programme: Business Enterprise, Tidy Up and Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
13.00-13.30 Team Photographs (Fraser Portraits)
16.30-17.15 Summer Serenade (Prep School Music Concert for selected instrumentalists and ensembles)
17.15-19.30 Y8 Leavers’ Supper
Wednesday 24 June
All Day ABRSM Exams (requested date)
Y8 Leavers’ Programme: Feed Yourself, Football Golf Tournament, Science Way followed by Speech Day Rehearsal
14.00 Y1 & Y2 Sports Day
15.00-16.15 Y8 Leavers’ Programme: Parents’ Tea
Thursday 24 June
All Day ABRSM Exams (requested date)
7.30 Final Junior Early Morning Tennis of the term
14.00-15.15 Dandelions’ Afternoon Tea with Parents
Friday 26 June
7.30 Last Senior Early Morning Tennis of the term
12.00-16.30 Prep School Sports Day – normal school day timings
16.25 Final Prep School Hobbies of the term