STEM: Innovative Education and Learning in SE21
What is SE21?
SE21 is our Innovation Hub, where technology and design converge for pupils to tackle real-world problems, bringing science, technology, engineering, arts, maths, entrepreneurship, sustainability and 21st-century skills together under one cross-disciplinary roof.
S STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths
E Entrepreneurship and Environmental Sustainability
21 21st Century Skills in our Approaches to Learning (ATL) Framework
SE21 also refers to the postcode of Dulwich College London, and the pioneering spirit that has been in our DNA since the College's founding in 1619.
Effective collaboration is central to SE21 learning, with team projects a prominent feature throughout. Our ambition is to innovate in both the process and products of pupils' learning, helping them grow into confident, capable contributors who engage with the world beyond school with integrity and a commitment to sustainability.
From DUCKS to Senior School
SE21 begins as early as Year 1 and 2, where pupils learn the Design Thinking Process — empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test — applying it to real problems, alongside an introduction to computational thinking through unplugged games, apps and robotics.
As pupils get older, they combine design, engineering and coding to solve self-selected problems, such as Junior School pupils designing playable games from recycled materials, or Senior School students developing sustainable furniture or building their own apps. Each stage brings greater autonomy, with Senior School pupils taking the lead on ambitious, real-world projects.
Beyond the Classroom
SE21 extends into our co-curricular life through initiatives such as Panther Robotics, our student-run robotics CCA, and Dulwich Dynamos, our STEM Racing team, which has won the regional championship for three consecutive years and became National Champion of China in 2026. Our Tech Ambassadors programme gives pupils from DUCKS to Senior School a voice in how the College engages with technology, while our Digital Safety Leaders help peers navigate the digital world responsibly.
SE21 Events
Throughout the year, whole-school events bring SE21 to life. Our annual STEAM Expo gives pupils dedicated time to choose from workshops spanning machine learning, robotics, drones, 3D design and more, led by teachers, student leaders and external providers. HakD, our annual student-led hackathon, challenges teams to prototype solutions to real-world problems over an entire weekend, while Hour of Code introduces every pupil to the basics of computer science.