Love Wisdom TruthDOLPHIN SCHOOL
Located in the heart of the Northcote Road, Clapham Junction, we are a school brimming with life, love and learning.
The School is built on values such as individuality, relationships, moral compass, and respect. Dolphin School is unashamedly a family school and we work tirelessly within our community to provide a broad and diverse educational experience – pupils live and breathe a sense of school ownership that binds the Dolphin community in a way that I have rarely seen before.
Hooke Court – Day Two 🇬🇧
Like all great adventures, this one began with anticipation(-ish)…�The 5am wake-up call made sure of that. 🤪
After a hearty breakfast and a few sleepy recalibrations, minds were fixed on one mission: fully embrace the World War I experience.
The morning began in true 1914 fashion — kitchen duty. Cabbage. Carrots. Potatoes. And yes… SPAM. The recruits also mixed up wads and sawdust biscuits for later (let’s just say MasterChef won’t be calling anytime soon).
The “young men” were put through their paces with training drills. I’m pleased to report the marching is now sharp, disciplined, and surprisingly synchronised.
The homemade lunch was devoured — and to everyone’s amazement, spam and spuds proved to be a hit.
Then came the long march to the trenches.
Entering through the narrow supply trenches, the children quickly discovered why trench foot was such a problem… the mud (and frogspawn) were the real enemy! But morale remained high, and every soldier arrived at the main trench — muddier, wiser, and intact.
The afternoon unfolded with the full rhythm of trench life:�• Bayonet drills�• Mills bomb practice�• Sandbagging�• Watch duty�• Poetry (because even in hardship, humanity finds words)
They even managed to fend off the “rats” long enough to enjoy their homemade biscuits.
And then — the moment.
Captain Allen’s whistle pierced the air.
Up and over.
The first wave crossed the battlefield safely.�The second wave met smoke, barbed wire, craters… and this time, some soldiers fell.
It became deeply poignant. No theatrics. Just stillness. Reflection.
The children stood quietly as poppies were placed, the Last Post drifted into the blue Dorset sky. When the sound faded, only birdsong remained.
It was beautiful. Sobering. Unforgettable.
And because this is Year 6 — and because joy and reflection can coexist — the evening closed around a crackling fire beneath that same vast sky. Wacky songs. Laughter. A few questionable harmonies. And a moment of prayer.
Pure wonder.
Love. Wisdom. Truth.
#residentialtrip #ww1 #adventure
Hooke Court – Day One
A blue-sky kind of day.�Silk-sheet smooth.Freshly skimmed stone across still water smooth. Champions League final, last-minute winner smooth. Flawless Italian gelato smooth.
Deepest Dorset delivered.
Arriving at Hooke Court, the children fuelled up and headed straight onto the lawn for a series of team-building challenges. What followed? Connection. Curiosity. Cooperation in action.
They tackled each task with grit and grace — so much so that the instructor paused and said:
“Never in my 10 years have I seen a group complete this challenge without losing a single team member… amazing, genuinely!”
You could feel it — this wasn’t just teamwork, it was belonging.
With success under their belts and the Dorset countryside wrapping around them in all its lush glory, they unwound beside the moat with a few well-earned games. The fresh country air began to siphon the energy (quietly, stealthily)… but just in time, the Hooke Court catering team came to the rescue.
A tantalising pasta feast and…home-made apple crumble! One pupil declared:�“That was the best crumble I have ever had… in my entire life!”
And that was only the prelude to the trip.
As evening fell, we stepped into our World War I experience. Captivated by Captain Allen’s thoughtful and deeply human account of the recruitment process, the children began to grasp the weight of history. Handling authentic replicas made it real — tangible — sobering.
An unforgettable start to our adventure.
Early night now (we hope!) as we prepare for tomorrow’s chapter…
The trenches await.
Love. Wisdom. Truth.
#residentialtrip #loveoutdoors #historyalive
Our Iconic Assemblies – 40 Years of Community
For a good portion of our time in the NRBC building, assemblies have been at the heart of who we are. What began as humble classroom gatherings has grown into powerful, joined-up moments where our whole community comes together.
Today, our Friday assemblies are a treasured rhythm of school life. Parents, pupils and staff gather to unpack a memory verse, sing, pray and celebrate together. And it always begins the same way:
“Can the assembly please stand?”
“Good morning…”
That simple exchange — repeated week after week, year after year — is more than routine. It’s tradition. And tradition matters.
In a fast-moving world, these shared moments teach something profound: respect, attentiveness, good manners and the power of collective voice. They remind us that community is built intentionally — through eye contact, shared words, listening well and celebrating one another.
Assemblies create belonging. They shape character. They connect generations.
Forty years on, they remain essential — and well worth celebrating.
Love.Wisdom. Truth.
#NRBC #SchoolCommunity #40YearsStrong #TraditionMatters #FridayAssembly
