Week Without Walls
Each year in Term 1, pupils from Years 10 and 11 attend our Week Without Walls programme, based in Qiandao Lake and Lin'an. 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.
Separate trips for Year 10 and Year 11/IG1/PAL students 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 of any international school 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.
