Leadership starts early at Dulwich College (Singapore)

When you picture a school leader, you might Imagine a senior student giving a speech or a prefect managing lunchtime duties. But what if that image began forming far earlier? At Dulwich College (Singapore), we believe it should. Student leadership in our Junior School is not a title. It is a lived experience. Every year, over 250 children – more than a quarter of our students – take up leadership roles. From sustainability to sport, creativity to compassion, our leadership programme is arguably the most far-reaching of any junior school in the world.

Our student leadership groups are organised into distinct, purposeful strands aligned with our school’s values. Mandarin Ambassadors promote language and cultural appreciation across our community. Sustainability Ambassadors lead real-world initiatives, such as recently working with a local organisation to turn waste cotton into marketable products. Community Ambassadors raise awareness and funds for local causes, while Equality Ambassadors lead assemblies on inclusion and fairness. Reading Ambassadors champion the joy of books, opening new worlds to their peers.

“Children want to make school – and the world – a better place”

Positive Influence

Children apply for roles through an equitable and inclusive process. This year, we reimagined our Leadership Day, involving every student in leadership experiences. Children explored groups, reflected on what interested them and were encouraged to apply there and then, supported by their teachers and peers.

The Leadership Fair, now a well-established tradition, sees current student leaders hosting stalls to showcase their work and inspire the next generation. It is a celebration of leadership in action and a reminder that positive influence comes in many forms.

Importantly, leadership here is democratic. Every class elects a representative to join a Year Group Student Council. House Captains and Head Students are shortlisted and then voted for in whole-school elections. It is leadership by the students, for the students – engaging, authentic and energising.

Our young leaders do not simply carry out roles, they shape school life. They campaign, present, collaborate, and lead events. One of our Head Students pledged to raise awareness around kindness and upstanding. She did not stop at a poster. She wrote and recorded a song and choreographed a full theatre production, complete with staging and lighting. The song is now on Spotify. She used that performance to speak to others about what it means to be an upstander. More ten-year-olds than we realise are capable of this kind of vision. What is rarer are schools that give them the platform to try.

We are proud not just of the scale of the programme, but the spirit behind it. Children lead because they care. They want to make school – and the world – a better place. Where adults hesitate, they act. Where we see complexity, they see possibility.

At Dulwich College (Singapore), we will continue to do what we do best – giving children the tools, the voice, and the belief that leadership starts with them.

Dulwich College (Singapore)
 71 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8, Singapore, 658966

+65 6890 1003,  [email protected],
 www.singapore.dulwich.org