Deputy Head's Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week, while walking around the campus, it was a very pleasing experience to see our students going about their daily lives, following the values that we hold dear at DBS. As a teaching community, we place a lot of importance on our Five Pillars, our Skills and also our Values.

For those new to the school, our five values at DBS are humility, generosity, courage, integrity and empathy and we feel that these are important in shaping a well rounded student who is capable of thriving in both academic and social environments.

Students who show humility recognise that they don't have all the answers and are open to learning from others, including their peers and teachers at DBS. Additionally, being humble makes it easier for our students to work in groups, as it allows one to value the opinions and skills of others. Finally, showing humility means that each student acknowledges their own limitations, setting the stage for growth and self-improvement.

Students who show generosity help create an atmosphere of trust and community, important aspects of any educational setting, especially DBS. Generosity often correlates with other important skills like empathy and teamwork, which are valuable in leadership roles. Finally, generous actions often inspire gratitude, which has been shown to have positive psychological benefits.

Students who show courage are more likely to take risks and think outside the box, essential skills in today’s changing world. Additionally, as we all know so well, academic and social settings are filled with challenges and being courageous enables our students to confront them head on. Finally, we expect our DBS students to stand up for what is right, even when it is unpopular, fostering a sense of justice and fairness.

Students who show integrity are more likely to be trusted by others, creating a more constructive, positive environment both in school and life beyond. As a school, academic integrity is crucial to maintain a fair and honest academic environment. Finally, it has been shown that integrity correlates with long-term personal and professional success, as it is a trait highly valued by schools, universities and employers alike.

Students who show empathy will better understand their peers, including those from very different backgrounds, leading to more meaningful relationships and a more inclusive environment. Showing empathy improves a student’s ability at conflict resolution, an essential skill in any community setting. Finally, empathy contributes to an individual's emotional intelligence, which is increasingly recognised as being just as important as IQ in determining overall success both at school and adult life.

If you have got this far, then you are showing immense generosity and courage by persevering through my entire article and I appreciate your stamina. What I hope you have realised is that these 5 values are not just throwaway words that we have put on the walls of DBS, but are an important contribution to the holistic development of your child. By following these, your child will not only be better prepared for academic success, but also become responsible, global citizens in their adult lives.

Thank you for reading and have a safe and restful weekend,

Simon Fowler

Deputy Head