Alumni

Alumni Events

We are keen to keep in touch with all of our alumni, and we hold regular alumni events to ensure we keep abreast of your news.

If you would like to join our alumni database and receive communication from the School such as invitations to upcoming alumni events, please complete the form below or email alumni@dulwichcranbrook.org

Eminent alumni

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Wife of Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and member of the British Royal Family

Will Gompertz, Arts Editor for the BBC
Previously, Director of Tate Media

Tana Ramsey, Cookery Author and TV Broadcaster

Dugald Bruce-Lockhart
Actor and Director

Tom Ransley, Men’s Eight Rowing Team
Bronze Medal Winner at the London Olympics in August 2012 and Gold medal winner August 2016

Ellie Kendrick, Actress
Anne Frank in TV production, appeared in Game of Thrones

Olly Freeman, Triathlete

History of our school

Dulwich has a rich history of proactive and dynamic change, dating right back to its foundation in 1885. Dulwich Prep London opened at the suggestion of the Head Master of Dulwich College with just 13 pupils.

This number quickly grew and in 1938 when its then Head Master John Leakey anticipated the outbreak of war, he had over 200 boys needing a safer school. He brought the very first pupils here to Cranbrook then just a house and several fields with tents in 1939.

After the war, this Cranbrook site continued as a second, linked school. Dulwich Prep Cranbrook. In the 1950s Dulwich was again ahead of the curve, introducing a girls’ section of the school.

John Leakey was one of those controversial figures who believed it may be beneficial to educate girls as well as their brothers.

By the 1970s the girls’ and boys’ sections of Dulwich Prep Cranbrook were combined into one of Kent’s first coeducational prep schools. 50 years on Dulwich Cranbrook is yet again pioneering.

In September 2023 we opened our Senior School. After less than a year of building work, our redesigned Coursehorn building welcomed our first Senior pupils. We are really pleased to see the Senior School growing more quickly than we could have hoped. We have just seen our first Year 11 cohort through their GCSE’s, receiving an outstanding set of results, more than one-third (35%) of all grades were grades 9-7 (equivalent to the previous A* and A grades). Almost two-thirds (65%) of all grades were grades 9-6 (equivalent to the previous A*-B grades).

Tribes become 'Legends'

As many of our alumni will remember, our ‘House System’ was founded around 1916 amid the First World War. The Headmaster at the time chose Tribes, instead of Houses, as a beacon of how to live well and in balance with one another and the environment. We know the intention at the time was to celebrate and appreciate Native American culture. When the boys from Dulwich Prep were evacuated to Cranbrook, and our school formed, the Tribe system came too. For over a century, the Tribes have served as a way to build community.

Changing Times

We, however, recognise that as society’s understanding of history evolves, we have reached a point where it is appropriate to move away from using Tribes as our ‘House System’. This decision follows a period of reflection and research that has included advice from the National Congress of American Indians.

Introducing the ‘Legends’ 

Our new system is known as ‘Legends’. We have transitioned our current pupils to four feathered mythical winged ‘Legendary’ creatures: Gryphon, Lamassu, Pegasus, and Phoenix.

If you have any Tribe stories to share, questions, or comments about the change, please contact alumni@dulwichcranbrook.org.