Week Without Walls
Each year in Term 1, new to DHSZ students in Year 10, PAL and IG1 attend our Week Without Walls programme, based in Qiandao Lake. Students are presented with a unique opportunity to develop new skills and a sense of agency. Team-building, leadership, organisation, resilience, and consideration for others are actively encouraged and nurtured in a safe yet challenging environment.
We also strongly believe in the importance of students building relationships with their peers and teachers, contributing to a sense of belonging within the Dulwich family. The skills and connections formed during this time should not be underestimated, as the experience lays a positive foundation for students to thrive both personally and academically.
All of this reinforces several key Dulwich values: collaboration, empathy, confidence, and excellence. Research from several countries has shown that adventure learning provides positive benefits for both academic achievement and self-confidence. Our aim is to provide a holistic educational experience—an integral part of the DHSZ curriculum. It also helps students develop outdoor and experiential learning skills that support their future university applications. As such, all students are required to attend, as these are considered regular school days.
The Week Without Walls trip for Year 10, Year 11/IG1/PAL students' Week Without Walls trip will take place at the end of October. An additional payment is required for Week Without Walls. Further information will be provided in August. DHSZ runs one of the largest outdoor education programmes among international schools in China, and a great deal of time and effort has gone into organising Week Without Walls. We are very grateful for the continued support of our parent community.
If your child is joining us in Year 12, a series of trips is offered to upper school students. For 2026-27 there is a choice between a trip to Xishuangbanna, Guizhou and Xiamen. On joining our school, families will receive more information about these trips, and Year 12 students will be able to choose which trip to join.
Please be assured that our school places high importance on health and safety and safeguarding during such activities. All activities will be supervised by teachers. Students must always follow the safety guidance of teachers or instructors to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for everyone.