Ambassador Insights: Meet Anna – A Journey Across Continents
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.
This article series profiles our Community Ambassador parents. If you are interested in learning more about Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi and would like to hear directly from our parents, you can reach out through The Ambassador Platform, just a few clicks away.
In this article, we meet a family who are long-standing community members. Anna, whose three daughters have all studied at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, takes a look back at her family’s time at the College, which will culminate with their eldest daughter’s graduation this year. If you would like to communicate directly with Anna, you can scan the QR code below or click ‘Read More’ to reach out through The Ambassador Platform.
Q: Can you please tell us a bit about your family?
We’re originally from the UK but relocated to Sweden 15 years ago for an expat placement only to fall in love with the country and it is now where we all call ‘home’. We have three daughters aged 18, 16 and 13 who we think are totally fantastic! Mark works for a Swedish industrial company still based in Shanghai and is there with Isabel who is in Year 13 completing her IBDP. I am a clinical nurse specialist by profession and have worked for many years both in the UK and Sweden. I am currently in the UK with Lily and Madeleine who are both at school here. We have two black labradors who travel the world with us!
Q: Why did you choose Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi?
Our girls chose the school. On our ”look-and-see” in 2017 we looked around a few schools and the girls were unanimous that Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi was the school for them. Their observations were that it felt like the most friendly and welcoming school, all the students looked happy and they felt very strongly that they would be seen there as individuals rather than just another student.
Q: Each of your daughters have had a slightly different journey with Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi. Can you please briefly explain their journey, where they are now, and how Dulwich has helped them in their unique ways?
Madeleine came to Shanghai as a regular 9-year-old Swedish girl and had to face enormous challenge both in terms of adjusting to the new language (EAL) and teaching style (from the Swedish school system to the British) but also the culture. She overcame so many obstacles. After 4 years at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, during the lockdown in Shanghai, she decided that she wanted to explore her British roots and she is now at an all-girls UK independent school in Year 9 and, thanks to the great foundation Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi has given her, she is thriving academically and getting thoroughly involved in the wide range of additional activities available to her.
Like Madeleine the move to Shanghai was a huge jump for Lily academically but she was fortunate to be in a small class and able to receive the individual attention she needed to be successful. She is now in year 12 at a UK state/boarding school and thrilled to be doing A-levels. Her time at Dulwich helped her to learn how to manage her time and organise her studies in a structured way.
Isabel did not find school in Sweden enjoyable, because she was under-challenged. At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi she has been given the opportunity to stretch her academic abilities, be challenged, and really take her learning to a new level. That may never have happened if we didn't join Dulwich. It has been an utter joy to watch her transform from a shy and nervous 13-year-old into the confident and hugely successful 18-year-old that she is today. Isabel is currently completing her IB Diploma Programme at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi.
Isabel’s Journey at
Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi
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Students at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi benefit from an impressive array of opportunities, from leadership, social and academic to extra-curricular. Students, like Isabel, benefit from our bespoke educational pathways and caring teaching staff who nurture and encourage their passions, as well as our membership in the Dulwich College International and EiM family of schools. Isabel’s journey from Year 9 to Year 13 demonstrates the exemplary achievements that Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi students are empowered to pursue:
Year 9:
- Was a Student Council representative
- Co-directed and performed in the production of ‘A Christmas Carol’
- Joined netball team and attended a tournament in Beijing
- Attended Dulwich Olympiad for Art
- Joined the orchestra, playing violin
Year 10:
- Was elected House Captain for Earhart House
- Performed in the Senior School production of Twelfth Night
- Continued in the netball team
- Continued in the orchestra, playing violin
Year 11:
- Was elected Head Student
- Continued in the netball team
- Continued in the orchestra, playing violin
- Played Helena in the Senior School production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Received Bronze Certificate in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge
- Achieved Duke of Edinburgh International Silver Award
- 9 A* and 1 A in IGCSE
Year 12:
- Commenced the IBDP
- Continued in the netball team
- Continued in the orchestra, playing violin
- Received Silver Certificate in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge
- Wrote a digital cookbook for younger students (IBDP CAS project)
Year 13:
- Completing IBDP
- Continued in the netball team
- Joined the basketball team
- Received Gold Certificate in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge
- Ran a CCA for younger students (Dungeons and Dragons)
- Led service projects, ran cooking sessions for younger students and was on the school social committee
- Scored in the top 4% of students taking the UCAT (University Clinical Admissions Test) entrance exam for medicine at a UK university
- Connected with Professor Vivian Etting during a History IA research into Scandinavian Medieval history
- Applied to a number of medical schools in the UK and has begun interviews
Q: What are your favourite memories from the girl’s time at the College?
Without a doubt watching them perform in productions, concerts, and sporting events. Madeleine’s ‘Baroness Bomburst’ in the Junior School production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2019 will long be remembered as one of the funniest performances ever witnessed on the Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi main stage! Accompanying the Year 4 & 5 students as a parent supporter at the Dulwich Games in Yangon was also a great highlight.
Isabel’s time as Head Student being a part of the Dulwich student leadership conference and being present in the theatre when she gave her final Head Student speech as well as watching her playing the violin in the orchestra on the stage at Disneyland.
And discovering that Lily is secretly a very fast runner and high jumper as she won medals for her house in Sports Day in the 200m sprint and the high jump as well as seeing her participation in the choir and various productions. Being able to see your child perform live after you know they have been preparing hard for something for months is a very special thing and the opportunities for doing so do not come along as often as they get older and move into different things.
Q: What makes Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi special to you?
Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi is unique as an international school in the huge city of Shanghai as it has maintained its small community feel where everyone feels welcome, and the students benefit hugely because they are taught in a very bespoke, individual way. Both my husband and I agree that we have never met such a dedicated and highly skilled group of teachers who have the ability to bring out the absolute best in their students and who make learning a fun and exciting part of growing up. As parents this was our number one hope for our girls that they would enjoy school and be inspired to continue to learn, and Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi has succeeded in this and for this we are truly grateful.
Scan the QR code below or click 'HERE' to chat directly with Anna and ask her about how Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi supported her daughter's development through our academically rigorous programme, outstanding faculty, and holistic educational offering.
If you are interested in learning more about Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi community, reach out to our Admissions Team directly.
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