Welcome to Dover Campus
Welcome to Dover Campus
Patrick Hurworth
Head of UWCSEA Dover
A very warm welcome on behalf of our community to UWCSEA. My wish for everyone who considers us is that they gain a sense of the possibilities as to how they might contribute to our community and to the UWC mission.
As the incoming Head of Dover in August 2022, I began my 30th year in schools with a deep sense of gratitude at having been offered the opportunity to lead this high-functioning, mission-driven school. It is a responsibility which I take on with humility and enthusiasm.
The desire to seek new perspectives, to broaden my horizons, was what first prompted me to move into international education in 1996. Since leaving the UK I have lived and worked in Switzerland, the USA, Hong Kong and China, taking on leadership roles at a number of well known international schools. Many of these schools share, on the surface, much in common with UWCSEA. A reputation as a leading international school. A successful IB Diploma programme, with graduates who go on to selective universities around the world each year. Alumni scattered across the globe in increasing numbers who count themselves as global citizens (whatever that might mean).
However, as I have come to understand more deeply through every interaction I have had since joining the College and the Dover community, the unique power of UWCSEA is in the wholehearted, collective commitment to bringing to life the UWC mission–to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Although we acknowledge the importance of individual achievement to each of us, our mission does not limit us to concern for individual success. Instead, our mission is far more ambitious, and we take seriously our responsibility as educators to give young people the tools, skills, qualities and dispositions that will in turn empower them to take responsibility for shaping a better world.
Our committed staff - teachers, educational support, facilities and administrators all - do their utmost to ensure that every student’s experience with us is the most fulfilling and joyful it possibly can be. The warm and welcoming environment created on campus is nurtured through an approach of mutual respect: between staff and students, between staff and parents and between students and students. Our belief is that ‘living in and with’ those is our community rather than ‘living alongside’ them as ‘others’ is an important way in which all members of the UWCSEA community are challenged to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their own cultures and ways of life.
The lens of intentional diversity is a key factor we apply when creating our community of students and staff on campus. Our consideration of a combination of factors—be it nationality, languages spoken, life experience, or one of any number of factors—means we have a rich daily life on campus. Our boarding community, a third of whom are scholarship students selected on the basis of their potential to have a positive impact, add a great deal to the vibrancy of the community at Dover. There is a feeling of extraordinary vibrancy, dynamism, warmth and fun, and it is worth noting that much of what you will see as you explore this website or walk around our campus on a visit is student-driven.
As I settle into both Singapore and UWCSEA I consider myself very fortunate to have joined the College in a year when the whole community is finally able to come back together in person following several years of pandemic-related disruptions. The feeling of renewed energy and enthusiasm from our students, staff and parents has been wonderful, and I, like many so many who have joined our community in the past few years, am enjoying experiencing the campus traditions which those who have been in our community for a number of years missed so very much. I hope that everyone who joins us is able to contribute to this sense of community, and to contribute in their own unique way.
I am so pleased that your family is considering UWCSEA. We look forward to welcoming you to the campus so that you can experience first-hand the vibrancy of our community.
Regards,
Patrick Hurworth
Head of UWCSEA Dover
Explore Dover Campus
Dover Campus by the numbers
Meet our community
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We learn in a lot of different ways.
Profile 1
On a daily basis, I see individual and community action that directly addresses the disparities of health, wealth and opportunity in our world.
Profile 2
Every day I am inspired by our students and their motivation to learn.
Profile 3
UWCSEA is more than just a school - it's a culture, a spirit, a 'can-do' attitude.
Profile 4
We value and trust in the school and community.
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The Tent Plaza is a great place for you to feel the community aspect of UWCSEA.
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UWCSEA is an exciting environment where students, staff and community members challenge and inspire each other, inside and outside the classroom.
Profiles Pop Up Container
Profile 1
Susan Edwards, Head of Global Concerns and Teacher of Middle School Humanities/English, Dover Campus
I teach at UWCSEA because of its mission, ethos and values.
UWC is a force for positive change; it is relevant, challenging, intimidating, humbling and an incredible privilege. On a daily basis, I see individual and community action that directly addresses the disparities of health, wealth and opportunity in our world. A heady mix of service, intellectual rigour, a culture of questioning and of open transparency, yet most of all, a community of positivity and possibility.
Profile 2
Leah Daniels, Head of Grade 3, Dover Campus
I teach at UWCSEA because it defines the way I live my life. The school's mission and values are completely aligned with my own. I am part of a movement which believes that education is a force to unite people, as do I, and it lives and breathes that mission. It is immensely rewarding working with motivated, engaged students from all over the world and the professionalism of my colleagues is inspirational; we buzz on a daily basis.
The Service program is exceptional; permeates children of all ages and creates wonderful human beings contributing to the society we live in and the wider world. I am inspired by our children and their motivation to learn, perform, organise, engage with others from all walks of life and take action. And, whilst there are opportunities to enrich the lives of the students I teach, my own life is enriched on a daily basis. UWCSEA is a thriving, energetic and wonderful place to be. Where else could I get this in my working life?
Profile 3
Candice Greedy-Kefford '00, Dover Alumnus, Class of 2000
UWCSEA is more than just a school - it's a culture, a spirit, a 'can-do' attitude. As an alum, I'm so proud to be a member of this community and network of like minded individuals.
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Kuniko Fuls, Grade 3 Parent, Dover Campus
Since my daughter Aika joined K1 in 2016, she has repeated the school values at home, especially 'Be kinder than necessary' which I believe requires a lot of imagination and observation of one's environment. Being kind not only to your friends and teachers but also to ourselves is important as we sometimes tend to neglect our own wellbeing by following busy daily routines. Kindness can be extended further to the others in the community and then those you don't know. That is well promoted by the Service Learning part of the UWCSEA programme.
My husband and I are not originally from Singapore and so the UWCSEA Dover community has become like our extended family. We feel a sense of community, not only for our daughter but also for ourselves as parents. We value and trust in the school and community, and are impressed by so many aspects of their care - varying from how they have adjusted for students and families with the ever changing COVID situation, to how all the staff take care of our children while they are on campus!
UWCSEA’s educational philosophy encourages students to think, analyse and find solutions by putting importance on process. While the Japanese educational system teaches by asking students to memorize a textbook without asking why, UWCSEA’s education starts with letting students ask 'why' and values a more independent approach. I feel this is indispensable for our children, who are facing an ever changing and challenging future.
A better world starts with a drop of kindness from one individual, and this is something both UWCSEA and our family value, and encourage and practice in our daily lives.
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Sarah Song, Teacher of Humanities and English in Middle School
I was drawn to the UWC community both as a parent and a teacher after learning of its mission, which aligned with the very motivation that led me to the education field.
I was born in Seoul, Korea, and emigrated to the US at the age of three. I grew up in a small town on the outskirts of New York City. After completing my BA and MA at the University of Pennsylvania and my Ed M at Columbia University, I imagined settling down in the New England area. Life, however, had other plans and led me to stays in Dallas, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong before I settled in Singapore.
While I loved growing up in New York, I periodically encountered bouts of intolerance and prejudice (even in such a culturally diverse environment). These encounters affirmed my conviction that the classroom can and should provide a forum to promote dialogue and understanding as part of a holistic learning programme. I really enjoy teaching students in Middle School, and I’m always happy to share my own personal experiences and life anecdotes to encourage meaningful conversations about individual perspectives.
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