The UK’s ‘affluent village’ with eight private schools and big celebrity status

The village is home to an elite private school which Nigel Farage attended (Image: Getty) A picturesque UK village has so many private schools that a nearby uniform shop comes close to selling out on blazers and shirts before the new school term.  Dulwich in South London – actually made up of three villages: Dulwich Village, East Dulwich, West Dulwich and a chunk of Herne Hill – is known for its upmarket shops and charming streets.  The location boasts eight private schools with Dulwich College boys school being the most well-known. Parents of pupils attending Dulwich College, known for its notable alumni such as Nigel Farage , Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers, can expect to pay up to a staggering £51,546 per year for full-time attendance. Panny Kokkini with shop assistant Melissa in their West Dulwich school uniform store (Image: MyLondon / Robert Firth) For those looking for more affordable options in the area, the day school Alleyn’s, admitting boys and girls, charges £25,020 per year, while James Allen’s Girls’ School, catering exclusively to girls, costs £22,725 per year. Panny Kokkini, 67, owner of Thomas Schoolwear, which has been serving South London’s elite schools since 1938, revealed that the demand for uniforms surges during the weeks leading up to the new school year. He even sometimes struggles to keep enough vital items in store like blazers, shirts and ties. Parents from the affluent neighbourhood and beyond visit the shop, spending anywhere between £100 and £400 to ensure their children are impeccably dressed for school.  Kokkini, who has been in the school uniform business since 2006, offers personalised fittings and even delivers uniforms directly to schools and homes for last-minute shoppers. Dulwich College is the most well-known school in the area (Image: Getty) He said: “It sort of starts in July fairly slowly and then some people go away on holiday and there’s a big rush in August before the new terms start. There’s a risk of me running out of stock then. I can’t magic one item up because they have to make 12 at the factory. “The very important thing is for parents to bring children in. Parents are saying that they might grow, but if he’s four and he has got away with a five or six, it’s unlikely it’s going to be a seven to eight. Parents can go away on holiday and not worry about the last-minute rush.” The allure of elite schools like Dulwich College has fueled a thriving private tutoring industry, with parents willing to invest as much as £10,000 annually to secure a spot for their children.  Competition for places at these exclusive institutions is intense, with thousands of candidates vying for only a few hundred openings. For many, private tutoring has become an essential part of fighting for their children’s entry into a private school. The London Skyline from Dawson’s Heights in Dulwich (Image: Getty)