Head Space Daily Words...

A letter to Edward Alleyn, founder of Dulwich College.

Dear Edward,

You were an original rock star, an Elizabethan actor, supposedly with an eye for the ladies. You were Lord of the Manor, whose wealth allowed you to own a vast area of South East London, stretching from Crystal Palace to Denmark Hill, with Dulwich at it’s heart. In your later years you were struck down by a mighty pang of moral conscience and an overwhelming desire to do good, to give yourself the best chance of entering the pearly gates, by helping others.

As a result of discovering your conscience, in 1619 you formed an establishment “with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars,” (Dulwich College Wikipedia page) and “providing an education to all, irrespective of social background and financial resources,” (Dulwich College website.) What a great legacy to leave behind, a truly noble action to be remembered for within the local community. Good on you. So noble in fact, that your school – along with every other private school in the country - was awarded charitable status, meaning that in today’s economic terms they are exempt from paying VAT. You may be alarmed Mr. Alleyn, to hear that your school is in fact now fully dependent on pupils’ social backgrounds and financial resources. The cost of attending Dulwich College is £6,554 per term for day fees and £13,680 per term for full boarders. Looking out for the poor scholars and providing an education for all has certainly gone out the window. You must be turning in your grave as the your philanthropic intention is abused and disparaged.

You may be interested to know Ned, if I may call you by your nickname, that to qualify for charitable status under the Charities Act 2011, ‘an organisation must be set up for public benefit (rather than for an individual or small select group of people.’) The privileged elite, which is able to attend private school is the concise definition of a ‘small select group of people.’ Dulwich College, whilst a charity in name and exempt from paying VAT, has built and owns seven other educational establishments in locations across China and the Far East. That is doing nothing for our local communities. Where is the public benefit there? The College is merely after a slice of the Far East financial boom.

Where did it all go wrong Ned?

Of course, if people can afford to and want to send their children to be educated privately, that is entirely up to them. Society will become ever more damaged and fragmented as a result but the system isn’t going to change. Private schools though, must do more to help the pupils in state education in other ways – for the public benefit.

When you established the college in the 17^th century Ned, you owned all the land, which has been passed on to the school. The Dulwich Estate makes a fortune from it and it still has a toll booth to tax road users who may lower the tone. In those days the population was tiny compared to what it is today. Everyone was trying to avoid catching the plague and horse and cart was the preferred mode of transport. Since then, we have had two world wars, the Empire has fallen and there has been large-scale immigration as a consequence. Society and its needs are unrecognisable to what they were back in your day, yet the last challenge to the College’s charitable status seems to have taken place in 1876 and was defeated (thanks again Wiki.) The school still owns the surrounding land, which is completely disproportionate to the size of the area’s population and the educational needs of a built up region of London. There are acres upon acres of sports and playing fields. Dulwich College actually resides within 70 acres of land, comprising 12 rugby pitches, ten football pitches, eight cricket squares… In fact the list goes on and on. When driving along the main road towards Dulwich College, the amount of green space dedicated to sport is mind blowing.

Amongst the biggest issues of today are obesity and mental health.

My sons’ school, a state secondary, 15 minutes bus ride from Dulwich College is going through hard financial times at the moment due to the government spending squeeze and cut backs. One of the financial savings the school will be making is to end the use of a local sports ground, which has playing fields and football pitches. Instead, the pupils will exercise within the school’s gym, playground and occasionally the local Public Park. They will be using jumpers for goal posts and avoiding drunks and dog walkers, instead of focusing on sport and the health benefits which come with it.

You used to enjoy getting out and about Ned, feeling the wind rush through your hair as you rode your trusty steed across the land, so you will appreciate that exercise and sport is absolutely vital for both the physical and mental well being of ALL young people. As I say, we are currently living in the midst of an obesity and mental health epidemic. Exercise maintains physical health and mental well being, by offering a release.

What I’m proposing Mr Alleyn, if you would be so good as to have a word, is that Dulwich College – and your other local private schools, as well as St.Dunstan’s for that matter – rediscover their original charitable intentions and let the local secondary school pupils, who don’t have sufficient resources of their own, use your huge abundance of green space and sports fields.

This is not about jealousy or envy. I am very proud to send my kids to a state secondary school and would not want it any other way. The elitism and privilege within education will always remain BUT the right to exercise within a positive environment, to allow pupils to achieve the best mental and physical health, should be available to all children. In view of your thoughtful conception of Dulwich College’s ‘charitable status’ Ned, let’s see some community spirit by allowing local secondary schools to use Dulwich College’s playing fields and sports facilities, for the positive physical and mental well being of their pupils and for the benefit of society as a whole.

You may have passed away nearly 400 years ago but rouse your spirit and see what you can do from beyond the grave please Ned. You may be our only hope.

Yours sincerely,

Head Space Daily.