Dilworth School in Auckland has a proud history of providing high quality education for young men of all social and ethnic backgrounds
Dilworth School in Epsom, Auckland, an independent school with a difference, recently celebrated its Centenary, when Old Boys from all over the world returned to their roots. Dilworth is unique in Australasia and one of a handful around the world where every boy has earned a full scholarship.
Applications are now open for scholarships for 2009. A scholarship normally will last from entry through to Year 13 (Form 7).
James Dilworth was an Irish immigrant who came to New Zealand in 1841 and subsequently became a successful farmer and entrepreneur. He was one of the first 3 directors of what is now the ASB Bank.
He and his wife, Isabella, had no children and when James died in 1894, he left the bulk of his estate to found a school for boys from disadvantaged backgrounds. After a number of significant hurdles and 12 years later, the school opened with the first 8 boys moving in. 102 years on, the school can cater for 546 boys in a total of 9 boarding houses.
The school today bears no physical resemblance to the original school but the basic philosophy under which the school is run has remained unchanged for the past 100 years. The conditions in the original will are still valid today with the main points being:
• Boys only
• No fees
• Must board (there are no day boys)
• Must come from homes with good parent(s)/guardian(s)
• Will be brought up in the Anglican faith
• Any race
Scholarships are hotly contested and around 500 applications are received for the 75 to 80 places available each year. The Board accepts applications from one parent families, married and defacto couples, relatives or orphans and unfortunately a rising number of grandparents where the parents are not around for their boys for a variety of reasons. Financial need is one of the main criteria for acceptance.
The main entry times are into Years 5 and 7 (Standard 3 and Form 1) for 24 and 48 boys respectively. Dilworth will also take applications, where vacancies arise in other years between 6 and 12 (Standard 4 and Form 6). However, vacancies in these other years are scarce, with literally only a handful of places available.
A Dilworth scholarship covers all costs including uniforms, food, boarding, education and almost all “extras”. A school like this where all costs are met is unique in this part of the world.
There are sometimes misconceptions about the school – it is not a school for boys with behavioural challenges – it is a school for “making good boys better”.
What kind of boys does the school turn out? – a full range of young men, some of whom have made a major mark on society as Prime Minister, Governor-General, leaders in the church and business, but just as importantly, those who have turned out to be the “good and useful citizens” which was part of James Dilworth’s vision.
A boy accepted into Dilworth has a major start in life and it can also be a major benefit for all the family as well. The selection of a boy for a Dilworth scholarship begins a journey for the student and his family, which often lasts for at least seven years. During that time, staff at Dilworth School endeavour to teach, encourage and care for the boy in many different ways, and in a wide variety of different situations.
The main aim of Dilworth is education, and the classrooms are the centres of much of the activity of the School. However, the fact that all students are boarders makes the Dilworth community much more than a place of classroom learning. In the boarding houses, and in the musical, cultural and sporting activities of the school, significant life skills are taught and absorbed.
Think about it for your boy.
Source: Dilworth School
