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Our History

Duke of Kent School was founded in 1976 by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The School’s name honoured Prince George, the Duke of Kent, (1902-1942), who died in an air crash during the Second World War. The School was established primarily to educate the sons of former and serving RAF personnel. Many pupils were Foundationers, some of whom had lost fathers on active service. The School was formed by merging Vanbrugh Castle School with an existing School, Woolpit, at the Ewhurst site.

  • 1885

    Woolpit House was built

    Woolpit House was built by Sir Henry Doulton of the Doulton pottery family in 1885. Sir Henry’s biographer, Edmund Gosse, wrote that he had been ‘permanently bewitched’ by the beauty of the spot in which he chose to build his house. ‘He announced, with a conviction which he maintained to the last, that there was more beauty of scenery in the parish of Ewhurst than was to be found, equally composed and combined, in any other parish in England. When gently reminded that he had not seen all the English parishes, he admitted it, and said that, after seeing Ewhurst, one would not want to see them.’

    On this inspiring site, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund set out to create a new school with an enlightened approach to education. While scholarship was to be pursued, the School had an inclusive ethos from its earliest days and placed emphasis on personal and social, as well as academic, development. The job description for the first teachers stressed: ‘Music, Drama and Sport together with the rudiments of good manners, courtesy and sportsmanship will be the hallmark of the School.’

  • 1976

    Duke of Kent School was founded

    Duke of Kent School was founded in 1976 by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The School’s name honoured Prince George, the Duke of Kent, (1902-1942), who died in an air crash during the Second World War. The School was established primarily to educate the sons of former and serving RAF personnel. Many pupils were Foundationers, some of whom had lost fathers on active service. The School was formed by merging Vanbrugh Castle School with an existing School, Woolpit, at the Ewhurst site.

  • 1978

    Duke of Kent School became fully co-educational

    Duke of Kent School became fully co-educational in 1978. The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund equipped the School with a Performing Arts Hall and tennis courts.

  • 1995

    Opening of the new Sports Hall

    The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund equipped the School with a new Sports Hall.

  • 2006

    Opening of the Nursery

    Our Nursery School opened in 2006.

  • 2009

    Expansion to GCSE

    In 2009, in response to growing parental demand, the school made the bold decision to expand the age groups and move up to GCSE. The expansion of the school saw full use of the already impressive facilities at the school, and influx of experienced Senior School teachers. Science facilities were upgraded, the Learning Development took on a new form, and the development of some designated Senior areas completed the transformation. From the initial year group of nine students the school has expanded in numbers, year on year, ever since. 

  • 2011

    Introduction of Forest School to Pre-prep

    It was decided to introduce a Forest School as part of our Pre-prep experience. It was thought that inside the four walls of a school classroom there were limitations to the way pupils learn and developed. Being outdoors has huge benefits for pupils, both physically and mentally, and the Forest School aims to tap into those benefits by educating children in the fresh air. In fact there are untold benefits for the pupils. In order to do this thoroughly, staff were specially trained, and specific areas in our amazing woods were set aside for these activities. The success of this scheme has meant that we have extended the programme into our Prep School. 

  • 2013

    Pilot project of iPads

    Duke of Kent School was an early adopter of mobile technology with the introduction of iPads throughout the school.

  • 2018

    The Opening of the Pre-Prep Adventure Playground and All-Weather Sports Pitch

    Close on the heels of the All-weather pitch came the construction of the magnificent adventure playground for Pre-prep pupils. This incorporates many textured safe surfaces, climbing frames, educational water games, a sand pit and other areas where the pupils can explore the limits of their imagination in safety. This is a marvellous asset for those at the bottom end of the school.

    There had been a long standing desire within the school to construct an All-weather pitch to accommodate the ever increasing numbers at the school, to help preserve the grass pitches and to match facilities offered by other schools. This was started in the Autumn of 2017 and completed by the Summer of 2018. It was an enormous project that delivered such a stand out facility. The pitch transformed the sports life at the school. 

  • 2019

    The Launch of Chromebooks in the Senior School

    After reviewing technology trends and in consultation with students, staff and parents, Duke of Kent launched the use of Chromebooks in the Senior School. It coincided with the launch of Google’s Education suite to enable collaborative work, better working fluidity and cloud storage. 

  • 2020

    ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation

    Our Art Department was announced as the winner of the ISA award for “Excellence and Innovation”. The Art Department embraces visual innovation and processes from around the world and across the centuries. The department is set up as a multi-use space and this leads to a rich cross-fertilisation of ideas where students across the age range can draw mutual influence from each other’s artwork. Duke of Kent School’s establishment of an annual Artist in Residence post was also praised by the ISA judges for its focus on connecting pupils to their local community, inspired by accomplished artists. 

  • 2021

    New Science Labs

    During the 2021 Summer Holidays two of our Science laboratories have been fully refurbished. Both Higgs and Curie laboratories have been completely transformed; they look fantastic and will significantly improve the teaching and learning experience for both staff and pupils. Each room has been fitted with new science furniture, flooring, lighting, gas, water and electrical services and had a complete re-decoration. 

  • 2022

    Queen's Platinum Jubilee

    We marked HRH Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee with a wonderful day of celebration full of singing, maypole dancing and games. With a backdrop of bunting and the Union Jack fluttering in the wind, the perfect weather ensured we had a delightful day. We planted two fruit trees and enjoyed a delicious hamper crammed with victoria sponges, strawberries and cream and sausage rolls. It was a very special day as we celebrated our Queen's remarkable 70 year reign.

  • 2023

    The King's Coronation

    Amidst an atmosphere of joy and celebration, we commemorated King Charles III's Coronation. The School was transformed into a colourful spectacle as bunting adorned every nook and cranny.We dedicated a corner of the School grounds to create a beautiful Coronation garden for the children to tend in years to come. We were treated to the Coronation quiche and an amazing strawberry and clotted cream salad for lunch. We cherished the day together as a real moment in history.

  • 2024

    Outdoor Learning

    This year has seen a major effort across the school to make greater use of our beautiful grounds, linking the outdoors to the curriculum and promoting the benefits of learning outside.  A significant part of this drive was the school’s participation in the Wilder Schools programme, run by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. Throughout the year, we have planted trees, installed bird feeders, cleared the wildlife garden and built a pond which is now full of wildlife. We have also taken our learning outside. The entire Prep School took part in a Maths-themed scavenger hunt as part of NSPCC Numbers Day and our senior pupils used the outdoors to study  ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

  • 2025

    Awarded Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction

    Duke of Kent School is now officially an Eco School!

    In 2025, pupils on the sustainability committee had led the way in promoting sustainability and raising environmental awareness among their school community with their efforts being recognised with the prestigious, internationally recognised Eco-Schools Green Flag, with distinction accreditation. 

    The Eco-Schools programme, established in 1994, has been inspiring young environmentalists for over 30 years. It has grown into a global movement, with Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation awarded to schools in more than 100 countries. In England alone, the programme reaches over 1 million young people each year, empowering them to make a positive impact on our planet.

    Our sustainability committee embraced Eco-Schools' trusted seven-step framework, kicking things off by reviewing the school environment and curriculum from an environmental perspective. They then worked together to create a detailed Action Plan and Mission Statement that outlines who we are, and what we stand for. This year’s Action Plan focused on three key areas: litter, biodiversity and energy. The Eco-Committee undertook various initiatives to address these priorities, including organising a house litter pick competition, ensuring lights in classrooms were turned off, and looking after the biodiversity of our school site. 

    In particular, we were praised for the increase in wildlife activity across the school site such seeing deer, badgers, squirrels, and birds thriving in the nature pond, documented through our trail cams and the Earth Day ceramics created in PrePrep made from leaf prints collected on a nature walk.

  • 2026

    Duke of Kent School Celebrates its 50th Anniversary (1976-2026)

    We have had a fabulous year celebrating the School's 50th anniversary! As well as planting a school orchard and burying a time capsule to be opened in 2076, we have held sports matches, baking competitions, concerts, a song competition and a colouring competition won by William in Year 2. It has been wonderful to reflect on the rich history of our school, from the Victorian origins of Woolpit House in 1885 to the merger of Woolpit School and Vanbrugh Castle School in 1976, which created The Duke of Kent School we know today. Looking back has reminded us that generations of pupils, staff and families have helped shape our community, each leaving a lasting legacy. As we celebrate our past, we also look confidently to the future, building on those strong foundations for the next fifty years and beyond.  

    Drawing by William Fox who won the 50th Anniversary colouring competition.