From September 2009, Duke of Kent School began offering local independent co-education from 3(+) to GCSE.
Why did the School take this step?
- Parental requests over many years
- Needed within the locality
- Existing facilities already appropriate for the new age-range
- Enables the School to attract pupils from a wider geographical radius
- Freedom from previous constitutional constriction
How has the School changed?
- Around 90 new pupils are expected over the period to 2012
- Ten new members of staff to be appointed
- New facilities for all pupils
- Upgraded boarding facilities
- The Board of Governors has been reconstituted and now comprises many more locally-based people
- New age-appropriate activities, including Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Mainly a day school, as now, but with the potential to maintain a strong senior boarding section
What has remained the same?
- Pre-Prep and Junior Schools remain central to our provision, but will benefit from new facilities
- We shall continue to prepare pupils for Common Entrance and Scholarships at other schools
- Small class sizes and accessibility of teachers
- Prep will substantially be done at school
- Confident, outgoing approach of pupils; strong pastoral care
When were the first Year 9 pupils admitted?
What will pupils study at GCSE?
- Core subjects will include English, Maths, Science and at least one modern language (French and/or Spanish)
- Further choices will be made from History, Geography, Art, Design Technology, Music, and PE
- Most candidates will sit 10 GCSEs
How have the School’s facilities changed and developed?
- Former boarding facilities for boys and girls are being converted into classrooms, a library, common rooms and cloakrooms; Years 9, 10 and 11 will have their own areas
- Art and DT have been brought together in a new central location
- A new Senior Science Lab will be added
- A new Junior Science and ICT area will be added
- Our current Assembly Hall will be upgraded into a more modern music, dance and drama centre
- Boarding has been relocated into areas that were occupied by staff flats, and are run by a Housemaster
- The swimming pool is being revamped and changing facilities altered and added. Phase I of the renovations are complete.
- Bunk style overnight accommodation has been created for Activity Weekends and to help develop our outward-bound educational programme
How will the School staff these developments?
- The first Year 9 ‘trail-blazers’ have a dedicated year-group tutor and a distinct identity
- A significant number of our current senior staff already has GCSE experience and training
- Ten new staff will be appointed in a variety of subjects in order to provide the necessary level of specialist tuition
At what level will fees be set, and how will the development be funded?
- In the first three years of the extension, the School will guarantee that fees for Years 9, 10 and 11 will be the same as those at Year 8; currently this would mean a charge of just under £4,300 per term
- A 10% ‘loyalty bursary’ will be awarded for Year 9 to those already within the School who take up places in 2009 and 2010
- Boarding fees will be set at an additional £2k per term for Years 7 – 11 inclusive and will rise only at the same rate as day fees
- Academic and all-rounder scholarships, and bursaries will remain available
What happens next?
- If you are a current Duke of Kent School parent who has already filled in a Register of Interest form, I shall be in touch shortly to organise an appointment for us to discuss the new provision
- For those visiting the School for the first time, click here to download and complete our
 Registration Form and call us to make an appointment for a more personal visit to the School
A D Cameron 8 February 2010 |
