Ambassador Insights: Meet a Global Family at Home in China

Nov 1, 2022

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At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, we believe that education must be a partnership between school, parents and students. We value the contributions of all community members and believe that Together we can create an environment where students Live Worldwise; equipped with the skills, knowledge and motivation to make a positive difference in the world.

We are proud to announce the launch of our Ambassador Platform. Those interested in learning more about Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi can reach out directly to members of our community through the Ambassador Platform. Parents and other community members from a variety of backgrounds are available to chat directly with you through the platform, just a few clicks away.

In this article, we meet one of our long-standing community members, Stuart, whose daughter Tilda is currently in Year 5. If you would like to communicate directly with Stuart, you can scan the QR code below or click ‘Here’ to reach out through the Ambassador Platform.

Q: Can you please tell us a bit about your family?

My wife Kirsten and I have been living in China for nearly eight years with our daughter Tilda. All this time has been spent living in the Former French Concession of Shanghai. We both have strong Scottish links; our parents are all from the West Coast of Scotland. Kirsten was born in South Africa and her senior school years were in Australia. I was born in India and had my middle and senior schooling in Scotland. We also share creative backgrounds in advertising and design. Kirsten started her first branding agency in London and now has a studio of about 20 people here in Shanghai.

Tilda is in Year 5 this year and is so excited to be 10 years old next March. She loves stories of all kinds: the more pictures the better. She loves to make short, animated films on her laptop. Tilda picks up on any quirky information or detail and is as happy watching a nature programme as she is a noisy cartoon. Friendship means a great deal to Tilda, and she never treats it like a toy. Tilda has a soft spot for Scotland, especially homemade jam on toast for breakfast and real fires on a wintery night.

Q: Why did you choose Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi?

Out of all our educational choices, Dulwich College was the only one who invited us to test out the school bus journey. When we arrived on campus, Tilda was introduced to the children in Reception. She ended up sharing both lunch and afternoon classes with them. Kirsten and I were very familiar with the quality of the teaching, but also pleased to see so much warmth and affection shown by all the teachers that we spoke to on our visit, none more so than David Ingram, Head of College.

Q: You mentioned the bus journey. Can you share any thoughts you have about this? What has Tilda’s experiences been so far?

The first time you travel out to College campus it does feel quite far away, but once you’ve done it a few times the journey becomes much easier. By travelling on the bus, Tilda had her own bit of independence right from the start. She also made friends with the senior students and listened to their conversations, which made the journey a bit of an education. The current bus Ayi, Ms Cui plus driver Mr. Chen are both very considerate and thoughtful, which is a great help.

The students on the bus are usually occupied with either reading books, listening to music or chatting to one another, which makes the journey pass much quicker than you think. The bus Ayi makes sure everyone is safe and comfortable. She is also in close contact with every parent through WeChat. The school bus journey allows students to mix with different year groups, forming friendships outside the classroom and encourages personal responsibility.

Q: What are your favourite memories from Tilda’s time at Dulwich?

When everyone arrives back from school camp, exhausted but with the twinkle of a new experience in their eyes.
All the people letting their hair down at the “Welcome Back BBQ”. It was such a great way to start the year and say “hello” to each other.
Dozens of students singing and dancing on stage and suddenly you see your own daughter in amongst them all.
Blowing a trumpet’s not easy, but when you hear a 9-year-old blasting out solid notes, you can’t stop smiling.
Christmas is for choirs and there’s nothing quite like a cold night, lots of red hats and children’s voices filling the air.

Q: What positive changes have you seen in Tilda during her time here?

Tilda stands up for herself and others when she encounters unfairness, she’s gradually finding her voice. She challenges me all the time now. She understands how to arrange her evidence when debating a point of view.

Tilda wants to achieve more than she did before. Her relationship with schoolwork has become more practical, especially homework, as it’s important for her to have time to play and time to discover.

Her curiosity about the world often involves us both in new discussions, that help our understanding of each other. My daily conversations with Tilda are now full of her opinions and her ideas, which are mostly formed by listening and learning from her teachers and friends at school.

Q: What makes Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi special to you?

The school is comparatively young, and you really feel part of something. Every time I walk through the College I can see a healthy environment, full of activity, which is the sound of learning.

Watching all the students arriving in the morning, with Head of College, David Ingram, and other staff members welcoming everyone, it’s an absolute joy to see and a great start to the school day. Learning never stops but your school years come at a special time in your development, it’s important to be at a school that teaches great values for life.

Tilda’s peer group is important - her close friends and her classmates - as they all play a role in her learning process. (Even when Tilda loses, she wins, as it’s all a learning experience).