23 January 2026

Headmaster's Newsletter, Friday 23rd January 2026

Dear Parents

Today I am pleased to share our updated Future Schools Guide with you. While for many families the choice of a senior school may feel some way off, it is always helpful to begin thinking ahead and to keep half an eye on future options.

At Dumpton, we are proud to support and advise families through every stage of this important journey, regardless of destination. Our merger with Canford naturally ensures a strong and continuing pathway to this excellent school, but we are equally committed to supporting children applying to a wide range of other outstanding independent schools. These include local schools such as Bryanston, BCS, Talbot Heath, King Edward’s Southampton and Clayesmore, as well as leading boarding schools nationwide. We currently have pupils on the admissions journey for schools including Winchester College, Millfield, Eton, Wycombe Abbey and Brighton College.

It’s important to stress that we are just as keen to support families considering state or grammar schools; we are so fortunate to be served by some excellent schools in our local area, and these remain superb choices for many families.

Choosing the right senior school pathway can feel daunting, but this is where my support can help. I regularly meet with parents for ‘Future Schools’ discussions in Y4 or Y5, which are always personal and child-centred. Having supported hundreds of families through this process, I hope that my experience and advice can help you arrive at the right decision for your child with confidence.

It goes without saying that we also do our bit to ensure your child has the best possible chance of securing their place at their chosen school. Whilst many of these processes are competitive, Dumpton’s track record is really impressive!

Above all, as a ‘preparatory’ school, we take that role seriously. Being ‘prep’ at Dumpton of course means academic preparation – but it also means ensuring every child is developing their character and confidence, so they are ‘prepared’ to take their next steps. Supporting this transition successfully is a core part of who we are, and one we will remain deeply committed to getting right for every child and family.

So do flick through the Future Schools Guide for now – and I look forward to having that Future Schools conversation with each of you at some point further down the road...

Dumpton Talks – Real World Ready
This week we launched Dumpton Talks 2026.

This annual week of talks is in its 3rd year now, aiming to bring us together as a community to explore how best to support children as they grow, in the acknowledgement that raising children has arguably never been a harder job!

With inspiring speakers and expert voices, from AFC Bournemouth to Norland Nannies, topics including nurturing sporting potential, entrepreneurial spirit, the power of play, family dynamics, and a world of AI.

House Art Competition
Congratulations to ALL who entered the House Art Competition this year. A special mention to Charlotte G who won points for Hants with her winning piece of art, Lucy S who gained points for Sussex as runner up, with Amelia C for Kent and Olivia P for Dorset in joint third place. Please do take a look at our social media pages to see the wonderful pieces created and well done to Kent who won the overall House Art Cup!

Primary Maths Challenge - Bonus Round
Congratulations to Jayden L, Elizabeth X, and Mia D, who have all qualified for the PMC Bonus Round. This is an excellent achievement and is the result of their scores in the PMC in November 2025. We wish them good luck in the Bonus Round in a few weeks’ time and look forward to seeing how they get on.

Hockey and Netball Success
There was plenty of silverware in assembly on Thursday, from our mighty U10 Girls who came Runners Up in the Canford Netball Tournament, to the Girls U11 Netballers who won the Vase at the Bryanston Tournament, and the U13 Boys who came Runners Up in the In2 County Championships to qualify for the regionals. The U8 Girls Netball teams and U8 Boys Hockey teams were also so impressive on their first ever fixtures for Dumpton... the future of sport at Dumpton is very bright indeed!

Y7 Independent Project Presentations
On Monday at 4:15, all Y7 parents are invited to the Independent Project Presentations – please make your way to the Assembly Hall. Year 6 will watch the presentations during prep. Pupils are welcome to stay for prep even if they do not usually. Please do let form teachers know.

Dumpton Friends Quiz and Disco (R, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5)
A reminder that there are still tickets available for both events. Please see Classlist for details and to book your tickets!

From the Matron Team
Please remain vigilant as we are still getting one or two cases of D&V and there are lots of coughs and other germs circulating. Please remind your children to use paper tissues to blow noses, cover their mouth if they cough or sneeze and most importantly wash their hands often. We are very grateful to everyone for respecting our 48-hour rule after episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, as this will help prevent the bugs from spreading.

With best wishes