Boys' Football: U16 A v. Box Hill
The U16 team travelled to Box Hill to play their first game of the season. Duke of Kent School started the game well with some positive play, although the long grass made it difficult to keep the ball moving as quickly as the U16 team would have liked. Chances were being created by the Duke of Kent School team but not taken. The breakthrough came from a good finish by Luke I. After the first goal was scored, Duke of Kent School dominated the game. A few errors from the opposition let our strikers in and suddenly the confidence and movement by the Duke of Kent School team increased significantly. Goals were being scored frequently with Tom H scoring six and one each for Charlie N and Leo H. With the score getting a little out of hand, the game was finished slightly early. This was a confidence building 11-0 victory. Well done to all who played.
Mr Herbert
Boys' Football: U14/15 v. Belmont
This Tuesday, the U14/15 B team played their first football match of the season against Belmont. The match was very evenly contested, in the first half with both teams having a few attacking opportunities. Duke of Kent School took the lead with a well finished goal from Henry Y on the counter-attack. Belmont played well after Duke of Kent School had scored and got a couple of goals just before half time. In the second half Duke of Kent School struggled to get going, James B showed fantastic energy throughout the match earning himself a merit. Well played to everyone involved.
Mr Orme
Boys' Football: U12/13 C v. Box Hill
On Wednesday 14th September, the U12/13 C team played Box Hill School at home in their opening game of the season. The boys got off to a flyer with a couple of goals within the first few minutes. The pressure on the opposition goal was constant, forcing the Box Hill goalkeeper into a number to brilliant saves. The Duke of Kent School team got their reward with another couple more goals just before half time. The team continued to play well in the second half, using both wings as their focus of attack. Another impressive half lead the team to a superb 8-0 win. Well done to the whole team
Mr Monk
Boys' Football: U12/13 v. Moon Hall
On Wednesday, the U12/13 E team played in their first football match all together against Moon Hall, with some of the team making their first sporting appearance for Duke of Kent School. It was a tough game for Duke of Kent School but the team worked hard throughout to do their best. On display there was some great goalkeeping from Robert S who made a countless number of important saves, Alex W who defended very well and helped to move the ball forward for the team and Harris H-H who was the workhorse in midfield helping the team in every way he could which was fantastic to see. Well played to everyone involved and keep up the hard working attitude.
Mr Orme
Boys' Football U12/13 D Team v. Moon Hall
This match was a magnificent show of grit and passion from our boys in Years 7 and 8. Up against strong opponents, Declan E was heroic in goal, time and again pulling off spectacular saves! The team kept their shape throughout, making it difficult for the opponents to break through and get a sight of goal. A shout out goes to Theo C for good sportsmanship as he explained to the unsighted referee that the ball had come off his leg last. Wilfred K, tireless in an advanced midfield position, followed up a shot that hit the post, rolled across the goal line before hitting the other post(!) with a terrific finish into the bottom corner from distance. I could name each and every player as I was so proud of them all. The opposition named Declan and Theo as their players of the match! Well done team!
Mr Allen
Boys' Football: U10/11 A, B and C v. Handcross Park
The U10/11 teams all travelled to Handcross Park on Wednesday afternoon. The C team played a triangular against the opposition's C & D team. The C team players worked extremely hard and were exhausted by the end of the afternoon. Unfortunately, they were not able to win either match but this was not for lack of trying. Alfie H played particularly well in goal with some good handling and positioning.
The B team played out an extremely exciting 0-0 draw and were unlucky not to gain their first victory. Henry W, playing his first game for Duke of Kent School, hit the post twice and was very unlucky not to score his first goal. All of the B team played well and showed an improvement in their positional awareness as the match progressed.
The A team won their first game of the season with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a first half strike by Henry O'B. All of the team showed great effort and energy throughout and should be proud of their performances. There were some excellent passages of play, good passing and some strong tackling from the Duke of Kent School team. Ben W made a couple of outstanding saves to keep his team in the match. This was a great start to the season! Well done to all three teams.
Mr Herbert
Boys' Football: U8/9 v Kingswood House
The U8/9 football teams travelled to Kingsword House for their first matches of the term. The boys were extremely excited and performed incredibly well. The C team narrowly lost 4-3 but showed some good skills and determination. Goals from Henry H (2) and Charlie S helped make the match extremely close. The B team won 2-1 with both goals from Alex W. This was a very exciting match with the winning goal coming in the last minute of the second half. The A team played a great game winning 7-1 with goals from Alex J (4) and Oliver T (3). The boys passed the ball well and found great positions when looking for space. Well done to all who played and thank you for the fantastic support from the Duke of Kent School parents!
Mr Herbert
Girls' Hockey: U12/13 B v. Moon Hall College
On Wednesday afternoon, the U12/13B team were extremely excited for their first match of the year! They welcomed Moon Hall College to our Wilsons' Pitch for a game of hockey. It was a fantastic display of effort and determination from both sides with end to end play. The U12/13B team managed to get the breakthrough goal as Willow weaved her way through the defence to score a brilliant goal for the team. Moon Hall College continued to fight and managed to get a goal past Poppy F (GK) after multiple saves! Towards the latter stages of the match, the U12/13B team scored again resulting in a 2-1 win for the girls. It was a great game and the first time that a lot of the girls had ever taken part in a hockey match! Well done to everyone involved for your great enthusiasm and effort throughout the afternoon.
Miss Vickers
Netball: U10/11 v. Ripley Court
On Wednesday afternoon our U10/11 team played their first Netball match of the year against Ripley Court. The sun was shining and the girls were excited and nervous for their match. It took some time to settle and start to work as a team to work the ball down the court and they started to use the space well. In the final quarter the girls found their rhythm and were moving well. It was a brilliant start to the season, well done to you all!
Mrs Woolgar
Netball: U8/9 v. Ripley Court
On Thursday afternoon, the Year 3 & 4 girls played their first netball match of the term. They were absolutely buzzing to play and put the skills they had learnt over the last week into practice! The year groups were mixed up and spilt into 2 teams. Both teams performed fantastically well and the girls really enjoyed playing whilst their parents cheered them on. Team Miss Vickers took an early lead and then just couldn't stop scoring with Layla B, Charlotte P, Norah C and Ivy B all scoring goals for the team. The best bit about the match was the calm, accurate and quality passing across the court, in particular Mila S and Layla B working brilliantly together to create goal scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, team Miss Arnold were also having great success and working as a team to attack and defend. Well done to Florence A for her wonderful movement and to Seren G for scoring two goals! A huge well done to everyone in Year 3 & 4 for managing to win both matches!
Miss Vickers
Our first full week back at school has been an extremely busy one with trips, activities, rehearsals and matches now well underway. I enjoyed meeting our new Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects as we started to talk about the year ahead and what they were each hoping to achieve. They had some great ideas and, to kick-start the year, have invited our Year 7s to a team building game of Capture the flag this lunchtime. Today, our Year 10s headed off on their Duke of Edinburgh hike and overnight camp with good cheer and good weather which bodes well for a positive experience. It was a pleasure meeting Prep and Pre-Prep parents last week and we look forward to welcoming Senior School parents next week for an introduction to the year. Our Book of Condolence is available to families in Old Hall if you wish to share a personal message. We have taken many opportunities this week during our assemblies and classes to talk about the Royal family with a number of moments of reflection. Monday 19th is being observed by the School as a Bank Holiday marking the final day of the period of national mourning, allowing us to pay our respects to Her Majesty and commemorate her reign. School resumes on Tuesday 20th.
Year 8 have begun this year's Art and Design Technology courses with a morning of investigative drawing of the architecture on Cranleigh High Street.
On Friday, Year 2 ventured down to Brighton's Sea Life Centre for a fun-packed day of exploring and learning! After we arrived in Brighton, we walked in the sun along the promenade, taking in the smells and sounds of the ocean.
On Thursday Year 1 went to Arundel Castle. We were greeted at the castle gates by our guide Jane. Olivia P was struck by how amazing the castle looked. We immediately went to the education room where the children were able to explore weapons and look at armour. The children enjoyed dressing up especially wearing the chain mail vests. Next we went for a tour around the castle, we started in the armoury, Harry S liked the shining armour, the children enjoyed finding the portcullis and spotting the arrow loops. We went to the keep and climbed the winding stairs to look out from the battlements, Josh B loved this part the most. We went for a walk around the castle along the dry moat before stopping for lunch. After lunch we went to the Barbican and we saw the dungeon and learnt about how the prisoners would be sent there. Finally, we went for a walk around gardens. Year 1 had a lovely day out, asked lots of questions and learnt so much about our topic Knights and Castles.
A very warm welcome back to School to all our Prep and Pre-prep pupils. Whilst it was decidedly gloomy outside during our first week back, the children ensured the corridors and classrooms were filled with sunny smiles, chatter and endeavour. A highlight for me was coaching football with the Year 5 and 6 boys last Wednesday afternoon when the heavens truly opened. Despite a few interruptions - we were initially forced to shelter under the trees and then, when it came down even harder, made a dash for the pavilion - the moment it subsided, the soggy boys sprinted back out onto the field eager to resume play. It seemed a rather fitting allegory for what our School is all about. So, as the academic year gets well underway, I do hope all our pupils will get back on the metaphorical pitch no matter the weather and face every challenge with enthusiasm and determination. It was really lovely to see so many parents at our Information Meetings last week; I do hope they were informative, and gave you the chance to meet other parents in your class. If there are any questions remaining - and there no doubt will be - please don't hesitate to contact your Form teacher, or the Office, who will be happy to help. Enjoy the weekend. 
