Founded in 1931, the College is housed in a splendid Victorian mansion overlooking square gardens in Notting Hill Gate. There are over three hundred students at the college, mostly Sixth Formers preparing for A Levels in the conventional way over a two year period. A wide ranging extra curricular activities programme includes film making, photography, sport, drama, philosophy, journalism and supplementary courses in modern languages leading to Foreign Languages at Work LCC qualifications. Exchanges abroad are arranged for all modern linguists, if required. Specialist part time tutors, engaged professionally in the fields of theatre, photography, film, sculpture and ceramics, are on the staff. Approximately one hundred students per year come to the college to retake A Level examinations, many of these are prospective medical students. There is also a Fifth Form with some 30 students preparing for GCSE examinations over a one year period.
The majority of the staff are Oxbridge or London graduates, and able to relate to and motivate young people. The building is well equipped with a large supervised library, two art studios, two laboratories, a computer room and a snack bar. DLD is a member of ISCO (Independent Schools Careers Organisation) and there is a full time Head of Careers. Higher Education candidates are all advised individually before submitting UCAS applications. An Accommodation Officer is able to arrange lodgings with families or placements in students residences. Academic performance is closely monitored by Personal Tutors. Timetabled supervised study periods are obligatory for those students who under-perform. The college atmosphere is positive and friendly, the vast majority of the students come to us through recommendation.
