Carly West’s Parent Perspective | Dulwich College Seoul

In this testimonial, long-standing parent Carly West reflects on her family’s six-year journey with Dulwich College Seoul and the role the College has played in supporting her children’s learning, confidence, and wellbeing.

Carly and her family joined the Dulwich community after relocating to Korea, at a time when everything felt new and uncertain. With two children, Simon and Benny, now in Year 8 and Year 6 respectively, she recalls being immediately drawn to the College’s small, family feel and the warmth of its community.

One of the family’s earliest experiences was the Transition Troops programme, which helped her children settle into school life by pairing them with buddies and offering a warm welcome from day one. For Carly, this thoughtful approach made what could have been an intimidating transition feel seamless, ensuring her children quickly felt safe, supported, and known.

As the family’s first community in a new country, Dulwich College Seoul became the place where Carly’s children formed friendships and began to develop core values. She reflects on how the College nurtured qualities such as kindness, responsibility, risk-taking, and global citizenship, values that have shaped her children both in and beyond the classroom.

Carly highlights the breadth of opportunities available to students, from music, dance, and debate to Model United Nations and international travel programmes. These experiences allowed both children to explore their interests and develop confidence beyond the classroom.

She shares how teachers at the College played a key role in recognising and nurturing her children’s individual strengths. Theatre became a turning point for Simon, helping him build confidence through creative expression, while supportive teaching in Mathematics allowed him to overcome self-doubt and flourish academically. For Benny, leadership opportunities through roles such as Student Council and Playground Prefect, alongside his enthusiasm for athletics, helped him develop a strong sense of responsibility and initiative.

The House system, Carly notes, also played an important role in building confidence. Simon’s decision to stand for House Captain, and his success in doing so, reflected years of encouragement and gradual confidence-building, beginning in the Junior School years.

Beyond her children’s experiences, Carly reflects warmly on her own sense of belonging as a parent. From workshops and guest speakers to coffee mornings and informal connections, she valued the opportunities to engage, learn, and build meaningful relationships within the parent community.

Carly acknowledges the bittersweet nature of this transition. She speaks with gratitude about the teachers, staff, and wider community who have supported her family throughout their time at Dulwich College Seoul, and hopes to find something that comes close to the same sense of connection in their next home.

A heartfelt reflection on belonging, confidence, and community, Carly’s story captures the lasting impact of a Dulwich education on both students and families.