Dolphin School celebrates 50 years
Hurst: Bubbles of children headed to the forest to cook and sing songs by a campfire
Dolphin School celebrated its 50th birthday with children gathering in their ‘bubbles’ with a trip to the forest.
The independent day school in Waltham Road, Hurst, was founded on December 5, 1970 by Dr Ophelia Follett. It is informal in style with a focus on critical thinking and outdoor learning, spending around 124 days of the year on trips out.
Normally, the school would have celebrated its 50th anniversary with a firework display but due to COVID-19 restrictions, it could not do this.
Instead, on December 4, the children visited their forest school in the copse, so they could still enjoy outdoor festivities.
Each bubble sang songs around a campfire with warm apple juice and toasted marshmallows. The five bubbles visited in turn throughout the day for an hour each.
“Because of the kind of school this is, the children aren’t fazed by cold weather and were able to enjoy a celebration,” said headteacher Adam Hurst.
“Even though they are young, they have a level of maturity that allows them to have a sense of pride and ownership for the school.”
Dr Follett also visited in the evening with teachers, then on Saturday met outside with Mr Hurst and was presented with a cake. She then had a Zoom call with some alumni of Dolphin School.
“Dolphin School is her life’s work and she’s done a fantastic job,” said Mr Hurst. “She must have been very young, to do something so pioneering – to found a school that’s on trend and not afraid to go off-script, and is exactly what parents are looking for up and down the country.
“I feel very lucky to be head of such a wonderful school, that has managed to remain a warm place all through COVID.”