Pre-prep Sports Day

Last Thursday, we held our annual Pre-prep Sports Day and it was a wonderful morning full of sporting highlights! We began the event on the Wilsons Pitch with Year 2s throwing competition. It was brilliant to see the power of their throws – well done to all for showing such improved technique! Next up was long jump. We started with standing jumps from Nursery, with lots of pupils showing great height on their jump! It was brilliant to see all the pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 put their learning into practise when taking a run-up and then jumping from one foot to two! Finally, we moved over to the track for the obstacle and sprint races. Each pupil gave 100% effort in their races and showed great determination and effort throughout the morning. The obstacle race involved various skills, including balance, coordination, hopping and sprinting!

We finished the event with the sprints and it was amazing to see the speed on show!! At the end of the track races, the pupils who came 1st and 2nd in their race received an exciting shiny sticker! In true Pre-prep Sports Day fashion, we had our annual parents race. This time the theme was the Euros Football, so we saw some great dribbling skills and football celebrations!! To conclude, pupils who performed particularly well in their events on the day, and within lessons, by showing great determination and effort were awarded a medal. These awards went to: Annabelle S and Humphrey G in Reception, Gregory O and Ottilie H in Year 1 and Henry P and Maddie C in Year 2. Thank you to all the staff and parents for your wonderful support. What a brilliant morning with beautiful sunshine throughout!

Miss Vickers

Senior Sports Dinner

On Friday evening, pupils and parents from Years 7-11 were invited to the annual Senior Sports Dinner. The evening started with drinks and canapés in the Old Hall before a delicious meal of Mexican street food. A tricky sports quiz, constructed by Mr Clayton, awaited each table which the guests tackled during their meal. The traditional raffle followed the quiz, with sporting equipment as prizes. The evening was a chance to highlight some of the amazing sporting achievements of this academic year and to award pupils for their contributions. This was a very enjoyable evening and we hope that as many pupils and parents will be able to attend next year.

Congratulations to our award winners this year, who were:

U12 Sportswoman: Norah H

U12 Team Player: Lola C

U12 Sportsman: Thibaut J

U12 Team Player: Jordan V

U13 Sportswoman: Willow D

U13 Team Player: Isabella N

U13 Sportsman: Ollie K

U13 Team Player: Max S

U14 Sportswoman: Clara H-S

U14 Team Player: Isobel F

U14 Sportsman: Hugo S

U14 Team Player: Charlie L

U15 Sportswoman: Phoebe P

U15 Team Player: Jessica I

U15 Sportsman: Jamie P

U15 Team Player: Isaac P

U16 Sportswoman – Cranwell Trophy: Alex K

U16 Team Player: Frankie M

U16 Sportsman: Rufus B

U16 Team Player: Toby T

Mr Herbert

Year 2 Celebration of Learning Assembly

On Tuesday, Year 2 had their wondrous Celebration of Learning Assembly to mark the end of their time in Pre-prep. The event provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge what makes each of the children so special and to celebrate the incredible progress they've all made since starting School. The children received their certificates proudly and were honoured to have Mrs Knox there to congratulate them on their achievements. Mr Rye, our wonderful music man, led the children in their beautifully composed “End of Year” song, which they sang with such emotion and pride. To finish, the Pre-prep children joined together to make an arch before inviting their Year 2 peers to walk through it – a truly beautiful way to represent their journey from diddy Nursery pupils to confident, “ready to take on Prep School” Year 2s!

A wonderful, memorable celebration for a truly lovely group of children.

Thank you for the memories, Year 2! We wish you all the best as you venture into Prep School!

Mrs Salley and Miss Munro

Years 3 and 4 trip to Hever Castle

On Tuesday, Years 3 and 4 made their way to Hever Castle in Kent for our annual “Trips Day” adventure. Despite the grey clouds and chilly breeze, nothing dampened our spirits and we arrived, raring to go! We began by exploring the historic castle. It was fascinating to see the many different rooms which give a glimpse into Tudor life and what it might have been like for Anne Boleyn growing up there before she married Henry VIII. After lunch, we enjoyed walking around the beautiful Tudor Garden and lake. As the skies opened, we arrived at the Water Maze. Whether from the rain or the fountains, there were some soggy children, but everyone had a smile on their faces. The afternoon concluded with a trip to the shop and the impressive playground. It was a pleasure to take such an enthusiastic and well-behaved group of children. Hever Castle is definitely worth a trip!

Mrs Tuite

Year 6 Final Assembly

Wednesday morning saw Year 6 reminisce and celebrate their time in Prep School as they hosted their final class assembly.

Pupils thanked our fantastic catering, cleaning and maintenance teams before celebrating members of teaching staff with some personalised awards. The pupils then acknowledged the contribution they had made to each other’s experiences as well as sharing some heartfelt messages from parents.

Any tears that were being shed were quickly replaced by laughter as the pupils performed a song written during their music lessons with the wonderful Mr Rye. Several pupils then shared their personal “rose”, a highlight of their time in Prep School, and their “bud”, something that they’re most looking forward to about their senior school.

To close their assembly, the Year 6s offered some final words of wisdom for the upcoming Year 5s, before collecting their “Leavers” hoodie and photo book.

What a wonderful morning celebrating a fantastic group of individuals. It has been a pleasure and privilege to watch them grow throughout their time in Prep School. We wish them the very best of luck as they embark on their newest adventure and an exciting new milestone in September.

Mrs Green

Pre-prep Summer Dance Show

On Thursday, Pre-prep delighted family and friends to their unique version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the summer dance show.

The children in the Department worked collaboratively to retell the story in dance, led by our wonderful choreographer, Lisa Lee. Year 2 children were stunning in the main parts, including Josh as Willy Wonka, Jenson Br as Charlie and William as his patient and supportive Grandfather. The “naughty children” who wanted to eat all the sweets were duly escorted off stage and put behind bars by some very stern-looking police officers! The pupils from other classes performed some great routines as confectionery: Nursery as popcorn, Reception as lollipops and Year 1 as nuts and squirrels. Nursery also provided the workforce of Oompalumpas, who danced with incredible enthusiasm and had great stage presence for their tender years.

The whole show was a magical experience in dance, exuding fun, colour and humour. Every single cast member was amazing, and the applause raised the roof. What a wonderful and memorable way for Pre-prep to end their year!

Mrs Henry

Year 9 trip to Centre of the Cell

On Thursday, the Year 9s took a trip to Queen Mary University to visit the Centre of the Cell. Pupils had one session where they entered the STEM pod; a truly 360 immersive experience, where the "nucleus" opened and interactive games appeared. Pupils had many biology-themed tasks to attempt, such as looking after a sick baby, helping a person with asthma, fighting tumour cells and connecting nerve cells to get muscles to work.

The second session had five different stations featuring games linked to infection and immunity, the current topic they are studying. They got to model antibiotic resistance, herd immunity, test their knowledge with a quiz and meet an immunologist! The latter was a particular highlight and inspiring for many.

The pupils embraced all the activities, and really engaged with what they were asked to do. It was a lovely way to spend their last biology lessons of the year!

Mrs Vermeulen

Alumni v Staff Cricket Match

The second Alumni v Staff Cricket Match was played on Tuesday evening with the winners receiving the Felix Macdonald Trophy. The Alumni team won the toss and decided to field. The Alumni team bowled well against a strong opening partnership of Owen Bartlett and Lucas Watkins. A couple of the staff team fell foul to the local rule of six and out if the ball was hit over the green fence! Rachel Dann and Ben Monk kept the score, ticking along for the staff, but the final total of 112 in 15 overs was always going to be difficult to defend. The Alumni team batted well, with strong contributions from Will Potts and Archie Lodge. The Alumni team won with five balls to spare! This was a close match and a thoroughly enjoyable evening; it was fantastic to see some familiar faces who had previously played so many fixtures for the Duke of Kent School teams. Thanks also to Arthur Rogers and Martin Webb who umpired for the evening. We look forward to playing for the Felix Macdonald Trophy again next year.

Mr Herbert

Another academic year draws to a close, yet there has been as much energy and excitement about the place as if we'd just got started! In the last five days alone: the Year 3 and 4s enjoyed a day out at Hever Castle; Pre-prep have busily prepared for and then performed their amazing Summer Dance Show to a packed audience; Year 6 treated their parents and the Prep pupils to a touching Final Assembly to mark their move up to Senior School; Year 2 burned the house down, quite literally, delighting in setting ablaze their replica London buildings to conclude their studies of the Great Fire of London; and all of Prep School hosted a charitable fundraiser that raised several hundred pounds for Surrey Wildlife Trust, the Born Free Foundation and the School's own outdoor learning projects. These are all described in more detail elsewhere, but suffice to say I am hugely impressed by the pupils' (and staff's!) continued verve and determination to make the most of every opportunity this year has had to offer, right until the very last day.

We have sent home reports on your children's progress, and I do hope you find them an informative read. We strongly encourage you to share them with the children, themselves, so they can fully appreciate and take pride in all their successes, as well as reflect on some important areas for further development.

Lastly, I'd like to wish you and the children all a very enjoyable summer break.

Values certificates: Effort for Bea TR, George F and Rocket M; Kindness for Darcie S and Casey J; Responsibility for Henry H, Freddie G and Evelyn C

Reading certificates: Silver for Daisy W; Gold for Elsa H; Platinum for Hope M and Evelyn C

Mr Wright

On Monday, the Year 7 cohort went on a watersports adventure to Tilgate Park, where they thrived in a variety of water-based team-building exercises, overcoming some inclement weather and tricky activities. That evening, a skilled, fit and enthusiastic alumni cricket team came up against a staff team that did not quite meet the same criteria. Nonetheless, a competitive match ensued, with the alumni team coming out victorious, reaching their target with five balls to spare. Next year we will have our revenge.

On Tuesday evening, we celebrated our Year 11s at the Leavers’ Concert and Dinner, a truly joyful event where the achievements and positive impacts of the cohort were shared and discussed. They will be hugely missed at Duke of Kent School, and we wish them all the best. On Wednesday, the Year 10 drama cohort went to see a wonderfully funny and engaging rendition of The 39 Steps at Guildford Yvonne Arnaud theatre, whilst on Thursday the entire Year 9 went up to Queen Mary University in Whitechapel to take part in their interactive “Centre of the Cell” exhibition.

Celebration Snack was attended this week by the following, who have all earned a multiple of 25 Merit Points; Oliver D, Ethan G, Sam L, Alessandro S (Year 7), Poppy F, Ethan N, Penny N, Bob P, Max S (Year 8) and George C (Year 9). A special mention goes to Declan E, who has now reached 100 Merit Points and therefore received a blazer badge as well as his lunch fastpass and stationery prize. Congratulations to you all.

I do hope you all have a restful and fulfilling summer break and I look forward to seeing you again in September.

Mr Wilson

It has been another hugely busy year for the PA Department – well done to all the pupils who performed in everything from classroom concerts all the way through to full-scale productions!

Videos of the Pre-prep Dance Show, the Summer Concert and the Years 8 and 9 Production will all be available from next week. Have a restful summer and see you in the autumn.

The cast of next term's Senior Musical All Shook Up should keep an eye on the Google Classroom for the cast list, which will be released next week!

Pupil success

Our latest exam results are in and congratulations are due to the following pupils.

Daisy R Year 10 – Grade 5 Piano – 130/150 (Distinction)

Ben W in Year 6 – Grade 3 Piano – 121/150 (Merit)

Prep tests:

Barnes P (Violin)

Henry G(Piano)

Siena N(Piano)

Elsa Ha(Piano)

Alaska B (Piano)

Mr Rye

Years 9 and 10 House Rounders

On Tuesday afternoon, the rain came down just in time for the start of our House rounders matches!! Luckily, it soon cleared and the girls were ready to go! Despite not playing much rounders this term, it is always great to see the girls get stuck in and remember all the tactics and skills from many years ago! Each game was exceptionally close, with no more than two and a half rounders between any of the games – it was so exciting! After each team had played two matches, it was all to play for with multiple teams tied on points and so the final game was crucial! Peregrine played Kestrel, and it was a total thriller. It was brilliant to hear the enthusiasm of both teams with Peregrine winning the game by just one rounder! Meanwhile, Buzzard were playing Hawk and had an equally brilliant game with just one rounder between them. Buzzard took the win! Then, it was time for some complicated maths as three of the four teams had won two matches and lost one, leaving them on 11 points in total. The results went down to rounders scored, and the final results were as follows:

1st – Buzzard with 30.5 rounders

2nd – Peregrine with 29 rounders

3rd – Kestrel with 28.5 rounders

4th – Hawk with 28 rounders

What a brilliant afternoon of rounders! Particular shout-outs should go to Maggie B, Jess I, Isla B, Saoirse W, Grace S, Belles H, Florrie P, Annabelle O, Tildy C and Eva P-R for their standout performances for their Houses. They earned a merit (and sticker!) for their efforts!

Miss Vickers

Years 9 and 10 Boys' House Cricket final: Hawk v Kestrel

Hawk won the toss in the final and inserted Kestrel to bat on top pitch for the final of House cricket on Tuesday. Within their 14 overs Kestrel scored 82 for five with Felix C scoring 19, Moxon K 15 runs and Dante D with ten runs. Some very tight bowling from Hawk with Isaac P taking two wickets, Humph G and Arthur DK taking one wicket apiece.

Hawk started very quickly and chased the score down in 5.5 overs, with Hugo S scoring 30 from 15 and Isaac P scoring 31 from 13 balls. Matt A and Tom B then finished off the job scoring the winning runs. Well done to Hawk for winning the competition.

Mr Green

Years 9 and 10 Boys’ House Cricket: Buzzard v Peregrine

On the final Tuesday of the year, Buzzard and Peregrine faced off for third and fourth place in the boys’ House cricket. Buzzard won the toss and elected to bowl first. The opening pair of batters for Peregrine were Chester S and Jamie P, who both managed to hit a couple of boundaries within the first few overs of the game. They both continued this form throughout their time at the crease, with both of them reaching the retirement cap of runs which was 30 runs. The next batters in managed to see out the remaining overs without losing their wickets and scoring at a good rate with only one over not seeing a boundary be hit. This led to Peregrine putting up a strong total of 112 off ten overs.

Buzzard started their run chase with a bit of a rocky start, as Hector W picked up a wicket with the first ball of the innings and only conceded two runs off his first over. Wickets then also fell in the second and third over, leading Buzzard to be 13 for three after three overs. After that they managed to ease how quickly they lost their wickets, only losing two more wickets during the rest of their seven overs, however they did not manage to match the rate of scoring, only managing a few boundaries and some singles leading to their final total being 60 runs off ten overs. This meant that Peregrine finished in third place and Buzzard came in fourth, well done to all the boys that played!

Mr Clayton

Years 5 and 6 House tennis

On Wednesday afternoon, all pupils in Years 5 and 6 took part in House Tennis. On Tuesday morning, all pupils played against other members of their own House to decide the seedings in preparation for the matches on Wednesday. Then, each doubles pairing played against each House within their own seeded competition. It was great to see the enthusiasm and energy from all doubles pairings alongside great improvement in their tennis skills. After all the matches had been played, the results were combined from each competition. Peregrine won three of the four competitions and therefore came out as the overall winners, with Buzzard and Hawk joint 2nd and Kestrel in 4th. A huge well done to all the pupils for their efforts!

Miss Vickers

Throughout this academic year, we have journeyed through the dynamic realm of careers, employment and future prospects for our pupils. As college courses, apprenticeships, university placements and job opportunities grow increasingly competitive, it's evident that relying solely on academic qualifications is no longer sufficient to secure desired positions. Employers now place a premium on a diverse set of skills, known as employability skills, which extend beyond technical knowledge.

Employability skills encompass a spectrum of attributes and qualities that empower individuals to excel in the workplace and foster positive interactions with colleagues, clients and customers. These skills are highly prized by employers across various sectors and are integral to achieving career success. Examples of such skills include problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, time management, initiative, interpersonal skills and creativity.

To delve deeper into what potential employers or interviewers are specifically seeking, UNIFROG has curated a series of informative webinars covering various employability skills. These webinars provide valuable insights into the traits and competencies desired by employers, equipping pupils with the knowledge and tools necessary to stand out in the job market.

To access these webinars you will need to log into the platform. If you have any difficulty in logging in, please contact Mr Wyllie.

Leadership Skills

Communication and Presenting Skills

Problem Solving Skills

Mr Wyllie

On Thursday, the Prep School held a wildlife and sustainability-themed fundraising event to mark the end of their first year of Wilder Schools. There were lots of wonderful crafts and inventive fayre games, as well as a tombola and second hand shop to entice pupils and parents alike to part with their money! The event finished with an auction of items kindly donated from the School community and charities we have formed links with. All the money raised will be split between Born Free, Surrey Wildlife Trust, who donated prizes, and kept to fund exciting outdoor learning projects.

A huge well done to all the Prep School pupils. The event was a huge success and a testament to the hard work during their Endeavour and Forest School lessons.

Competition is still open for the new Duke of Kent School recycling logo that can go onto all of our recycling bins at School. Can you update the logo to be eye-catching and encourage pupils to recycle more? House points on offer for all entries, and prizes available for the winner! Open until September, entries should be no larger than A4 and handed into Mrs Wilkinson or Mr Gritton.

Sustainable summer tips:

This summer, there are a lot of ways you can get involved with the outdoors and even raise money for great causes. One fantastic local fundraising event for the WWF is the North Downs 50 Challenge on 27^th July. For more info click here.

WWF also have some great tips for making your outside space work for nature, as well as for you. For more info click here.

If you’re off to the beach or the park, take a spare bag and pick up rubbish to help prevent litter from entering our waterways and oceans and protect local wildlife.

Do you need the lights on? Turning off the lights when it’s bright outside can reduce your energy consumption and save you money as well as carbon.

Wishing you all a happy summer break. Get outside and enjoy the world around us!

Mrs Wilkinson and Mr Gritton

Mr Boden

As we reach the end of another academic year, I hope all the pupils are able to reflect on all they have achieved, possibly endured and also experienced this year. For some, it has been the last of many years at Duke of Kent School and for others the first of many more – either way, they will all have learnt more than they know and accumulated memories which will last them a lifetime.

Unsurprisingly, they will need to take time to reflect, rest, reset and get ready for the next stage before returning in September (or their new settings). I hope everybody is able to make the most of time with friends and family, indulging in hobbies, pursuits and adventures that they have been waiting for. Restoration time is so important for our wellbeing, as is change – the holidays are an opportunity for both.

I have finished sessions this week with some pupils and others I will catch up with again in September, but all continue to be able to access support independently via Open Door sessions which will continue next term.

For parents who are concerned about their children’s’ wellbeing during the holidays, these links offer helpful tips and support, as well as activities to engage children on less busy days.

Advice and links to activities:

Tips and support for the holidays – Place2Be

Take the stress out of summer – 6 tips for frazzled parents – BBC Bitesize

Tips for parents to support pupil wellbeing over school holidays

Mrs Douglas

We've reached the end of a jam-packed year, and the whole community deserves a relaxing summer holiday. Plenty of time to recharge the batteries and make some happy memories. Fingers crossed for some kind weather so we can all get outside and enjoy some fresh air and safe suntanning for those who like a summer glow!

Inevitably, the summer holiday will bring health developments for some pupils; both injury (trampolines and bikes are often involved!) and ill-health. If anything significant happens to pupils returning to Duke of Kent School in September, please keep us updated at School so that we can plan accordingly. It's also helpful to know of travel immunisations any pupils may have for more exotic travel plans. Although the nurses are also on holiday for the summer, Mrs Sarjant will be checking emails periodically for health updates in order to keep medical records at School up to date.

For pupils with long-term medical conditions, or recent significant injury, an update with news of any developments/changes at the end of the summer holidays would also be very helpful. Mrs Sarjant will be presenting pupil health updates to teaching staff at INSET day early on Tuesday 3^rd September, so please get in touch before then (csarjant@dokschool.org).

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and healthy summer. We will look forward to catching up with returning pupils in September to hear all their summer adventures.

The School Nurses

PADoK

Dear All

Another academic year comes to a close and it has been a busy one for the PADoK team. We are delighted to have been able to donate over £8,000 to Duke of Kent School for the purchase of eight VR Headsets, a telescope and much more for the benefit of all the children in the School. Thank you to all parents for your support at PADoK events.

A highlight must be the purchase and installation of our new Second Hand Uniform Shop. It has evolved over the years and I think the following quote, from the previous Chair of PADoK, says it all.

“From small acorns mighty oak trees grow.”

We have also raised funds for various charities throughout the year, culminating in our summer event, A Midsummer Night, where we were delighted to have raised £5,410 for Sarcoma UK.

My thanks go to the entire PADoK team, class reps, treasurer, secretary, Second Hand Uniform Shop and all those who run our popular PADoK clubs. A big thank you to the teams that led PADoK Quiz Night, Christmas Hamper Raffle, Macmillan Afternoon Tea, Après Ski and A Midsummer Night.

Thanks to Mrs Knox, Mrs Monk, Mrs Hopwood, Mrs Sangiorgio, Mr Stacey, the front office and the finance team for all your help.

I am delighted to announce that Mrs Horsburgh will be joining me as Co-chair for PADoK in 2024/25 and Mrs Lodge as PADoK Treasurer.

Farewell to Sarah Smith and Claire Newman. Thank you for all you have done over the years, you will both be missed.

Wishing you all a lovely summer.

Mrs Phillips

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Summer opening times:

Friday 12th July 10.30-12.30

Friday 23rd August 10.30-12.30

Wednesday 28th August 13.30-15.30

Strictly by appointment only. Please email Emma on emma.lowe74@sky.com to make those appointments, noting that during the holiday Emma may be away and in a different time zone, so please be patient whilst awaiting a response. Thank you!

Animal supply donations wanted

Duke of Kent school has an association with a wonderful charity called Ukraine Mission, who help the people there by providing food and essential supplies (in our old minibuses). What many people may not know is that they often also take food supplies for animals out to the Ukraine (dog, cat, horse food) with other charities. With the war still raging, there is still an urgent need for all animal supplies food/medicine/worming products etc.

I have been working with a lady called Rebecca, who collects for two charities- K9 Rescue Ukraine and DogsnHomes Ukraine.

A collection box will be placed in reception from Monday 24th June. If anyone would like to help, please drop off whatever you can - dog, cat, horse food (wet or dry)/treats/worming tablets/medicine (even out of date).

Mrs Browning

Senior School optional hoodie

The Senior School hoodies have been redesigned by members of the School Council and the finished product can be seen below. They have done a fantastic job at putting this design together and now finally getting to see the finished product.

This new hoodie is available from Stevenson's on their website: https://www.stevensons.co.uk/.  There is also the option to have your child's initials printed onto the front of the hoodie for a slight additional cost, something we would advise, to avoid mixing up tops with other pupils. This hoodie is not an essential item of School uniform, so there is no expectation for pupils to have it.

If you wish to see the sample, please pop into the Main Office and have a look.

School social media

At Duke of Kent School we have three social media platforms; Instagram (dukeofkentschool), Twitter (@DoKSchool) and Facebook (Duke of Kent School). All of our social media accounts are public.

We recommend following all three accounts to receive push notifications with news, updates, educational articles, interactions with other schools, communities and public figures.