Year 3 Trip to Wisley

On Tuesday, Year 3 visited Wisley Gardens to support their Topic work on rainforests. We had a fun morning exploring different parts of the gardens and in the afternoon took part in a 'Plant Hunters' workshop. The children sorted various pots of plants into those which they thought grew in deserts and those which might grow in tropical rainforests. They then learnt that the leaves of rainforest plants tend to have a large surface area, are often heart shaped with a drip tip and are likely to be a darker or vibrant colour. This was followed by a visit into the glasshouse and, despite it being a beautiful sunny day, we instantly felt the increase in humidity. We hunted for and found plenty of wonderful examples of rainforest trees and climbers. Our next activity was to go into the greenhouse to take cuttings of tradescantia plants and pot these up. We have brought these back as a lovely momento of a great day out.

Mrs Nicholson

Year 7 Geography Trip to Painshill Park

On Tuesday the Year 7 cohort went to Painshill Park full of excitement and ready to engage in the many Geographical challenges planned. As the morning drizzle was replaced by sunshine we arrived to be welcomed by Adam, one of the Painshill Park Education Team, who proceeded to teach the pupils about the different ways we can calculate compass directions using nature. Throughout the morning they got involved in 3d map-making, a blindfold disorientation challenge and various compass games so as to encourage them to have more confidence in their navigation skills, before their abilities were put to the test in the afternoon, with pupils navigating the site in small groups using map and compass directions only. (Un?)surprisingly all pupils were back at the allocated time! With the orienteering course complete, and a good level of teamwork and mapskills displayed, we proceeded to make our way home in time for the last lesson of the day. A number of members of the public commented on the pupils' good manners around the site and us staff could not have been more proud of their application, efforts and attitude. A prime vintage of exceptional Geographers in the making I'm sure.

Mr Wilson

Year 11 History pupils visit Guildford Crown Court

On Wednesday, the Year 11 historians visited Guildford Crown Court as part of learning about their topic of 'Equality, rights and diversity in Britain'. An introductory welcome by one of the court ushers ('no phones, no eating') involved learning about the 12-person jury system and who sits where in the court itself. Mr Seeley and I were placed in the dock - perhaps as a warning? The pupils were particularly keen to learn of the holding cells downstairs which, to their regret, they were not allowed to visit. We then enjoyed a fascinating Q&A discussion with 'Her Honour Judge Harden Frost' who answered questions ranging from why judges wear wigs (to encourage respect in the courtroom while also serving as a 'disguise' helping prevent recognition in, say, the supermarket) to how to become a judge (several ways and means), how long a typical case may last (5 days although there are retrials if Juries cannot agree on a verdict), and what to study at university ('do what you love and careers will unfold' - Judge Harden Frost studied History and thoroughly recommends it!). As a reminder judges are very human, she also recommended Pulp as the best band she has ever known, and remembering associated lyrics as an excellent technique for memory-based tests!

Mr Lodge

SATRO

12 students headed off to George Abbot School in Guildford to compete in the heats of the annual SATRO Problem Solving Competition. Our 2 teams worked well together in their groups, solving a problem with limited resources and trying to aim towards carbon zero with their solutions to the question posed. Although the teams both gained top marks for their design sheets and sustainable designs, competition was tough and unfortunately both teams were unsuccessful making it to the final this year, but had a great night regardless.

Mrs Wilkinson

The re-opening of Junior Jungle is always a highly exciting moment in our calendar, marking great hope for warmer and sunnier days! Huge numbers of Prep pupils rushed into the woods at lunch on Thursday and a whole new civilization was quickly born! There are bases aplenty and currency already flowing - how wonderful to see natural space and resources charging our pupils' imaginations in this way. Whilst not yet officially open, some of the Year 6s were lucky to be the first intrepid users of 'The Burrow' on Tuesday, as they reflected on the School's Outdoor Learning journey so far influenced, in large part, by their own efforts to establish us as a Wilder School. 

In our indoor classrooms, children in Nursery have transformed their role play corner into a pizzeria, and enjoyed their own culinary efforts on Friday. Year 2 have created some brilliant leopard drawings in Art, using step-by-step instructions, and also started their topic on plants, focusing on seeds and life cycles. In Maths, Year 1 learnt about fractions, splitting their digestive biscuit snacks into halves, and also making full, half and quarter crowns to wear down to lunch! In assembly this week, Mrs Knox stirred the Prep pupils' spirit of adventure recounting her exciting and unconventional family trek across Australia - a highly intrepid tale you must ask her about next time you see her. Lastly, we hosted Parent Meetings in Prep School, and we look forward to welcoming Pre-prep parents in for meetings with Form Teachers next Tuesday. Have a lovely weekend!

Stars of the Week

Nursery: Indie S or your fabulous attitude in class, great listening skills and self-regulation.

Felix B for his wonderful attitude, positivity and a ready smile. Great ordering and sorting skills.

Reception: Rory O'K for fantastic focus during phonics sessions and taking greater care with his letter formation on the whiteboard.

Dixie J for perseverance and determination in P.E. You are learning new skills and not giving up!

Year 1: Paul E for his perseverance and effort. Paul’s reading is going from strength to strength. Keep doing what you’re doing!

Year 2: Alex W for your superb effort in Art. You followed the step-by-step instructions carefully and produced a wonderful leopard.

Grace B for always demonstrating the school values.

Swimmer of the Week

Flynn H for demonstrating a great understanding of water safety. Flynn has improved his front crawl technique and is always keen to be in the water.

Mr Wright

ISA National U16 Rugby Sevens Tournament

Congratulations to the U16 rugby squad who played superbly at the ISA National Sevens Tournament hosted by Westonbirt School, Gloucestershire. Every player gave their absolute all and were rewarded by reaching the semi-final of this competition. The standard of play was excellent throughout the day and the teamwork / camaraderie between all of the players was amazing to witness. Well done to all the boys, this was a huge achievement!! Thank you also to the fantastic support from parents on the day.

Mr Herbert

The Prep School Regional ISA Cross Country

A huge well done to the 24 Prep School pupils who proudly represented Duke of Kent School at the Regional ISA Cross Country event held at Radnor House, Sevenoaks, on Monday. Facing a fiercely competitive field of over 90 runners per race, our students displayed remarkable determination and resilience throughout the event.

The challenging course featured a steep hill reminiscent of the Gladiators travelator, pushing our runners to dig deep and give their all. Despite tough competition, each pupil demonstrated incredible perseverance and true team spirit, with fantastic support and encouragement from one another.

We are immensely proud of all our runners for their dedication and effort. Huge congratulations to everyone involved!

Mr Green

Years 9 - 11 House Netball

On Tuesday afternoon, all girls in Years 9, 10 & 11 took part in House Netball. With no rain forecast, it was set to be a great afternoon of sport! Each game was 3 x 7 minutes and all houses played each other throughout the afternoon. It was brilliant to see each House work together and show great determination and effort, with all teams putting in some wonderful performances and scoring lots of goals. Peregrine had some closely fought matches but managed to remain unbeaten, scoring 44 goals throughout the afternoon crowning them winners! Buzzard came in a close second place, winning 2 of their 3 matches and scoring an impressive 28 goals in total. Kestrel beat Hawk giving Kestrel 3rd place with 21 goals whilst Hawk came 4th with 14 goals. A huge well done to all of the girls and it was lovely to see great team spirit and kindness throughout the afternoon. We are looking forward to the rest of the netball season! 

Mrs Monk

Year 3 and 4 House Hockey

On a lovely sunny Thursday afternoon, Year 3 and 4 took to the astro for an exciting House Hockey competition, competing in both the 'Duke' and 'Kent' tournaments. Throughout the afternoon, players showed great improvement, creating more space and passing with increasing confidence. Many of the matches were incredibly close, showcasing determination and teamwork. In the 'Duke' tournament, Kestrel emerged victorious, while Peregrine claimed the top spot in the 'Kent' tournament. Overall, Kestrel and Hawk both finished on 20 points, but Kestrel secured the overall victory with a goal difference of two. A massive well done to Peregrine who were only 2 points from the winners and Buzzard who were 4 behind. With close games all afternoon the results could have gone any way. Well done to everyone for their fantastic effort and sportsmanship! 

Miss Walters

Year 5 and 6 House Hockey

On Wednesday afternoon, Year 5 and 6 took to the astro for an exciting House Hockey tournament, showcasing fantastic skill, determination, and teamwork. The matches were filled with friendly competitiveness and plenty of fun as each team gave their all. After some closely contested games, Buzzard finished in 4th place, Hawk secured 3rd, and Kestrel claimed a well-earned 2nd place. However, it was Peregrine who secured the victory, taking 1st place with an outstanding performance. Well done to everyone who took part. What a fantastic afternoon of hockey!

Miss Walters

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Online Relationships & Dating Apps

Dating apps have grown rapidly in popularity since their introduction, transforming the way many of us meet new people and form relationships. While these platforms are typically restricted to an audience of over-18s, there are still children and young people attempting to make use of them and exposing themselves to their risks – from online harassment to outright abuse.

As a parent or educator, it can be daunting to navigate this complex and ever-evolving landscape, and to know how best we can support and protect youngsters who are accessing dating apps. This guide breaks down the risks associated with these platforms and offers expert advice on how to safeguard children from such online safety concerns.

Click the link to learn more about "Online Relationships & Dating Apps".

***Also, Internet Matters is a great website that can help you deal with online issues, give you advice for different age groups, and give you step-by-step guides for setting controls for various devices.***

Date for your diary: DOK School Parent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Webinar - Monday 17th March 2025 at 7 pm

Webinar link: https://meet.google.com/bpf-xzux-zqt

Things to note about the webinar:

• You will need a Google account to access the webinar.
• This event is exclusively for Duke of Kent School parents only.

Mr Boden

This week, during Eating Disorders Awareness week (24th-2nd of Feb), I wanted to focus on support for those either struggling or concerned for someone else in regard to their eating.

Unfortunately, eating disorders are on the rise and as the number of children and young people struggling with their mental health is statistically increasing so are the cases of diagnosed eating disorders.

The week is about shedding light on the complexities of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, ARFID and others. They hope to emphasize the importance of early intervention, access to treatment, and reducing the stigma associated with eating disorders. It provides a platform for individuals to share their stories, raise awareness, and offer support to those in need. For example, not all eating disorders are about body image and self esteem. Some are linked to other mental health conditions under the ‘neuro diverse umbrella’. 

It is also important to recognise that this is not a gendered issue and though there may be more cases of eating disorders diagnosed in girls and women, it is an issue that affects boys and men too.

The effects of eating disorders are often physically obvious but the mental health struggles that have exacerbated someone’s disordered way of eating and the struggles in trying to ‘normalise’ their eating habits are not always readily apparent. Sadly, it is not as simple as encouraging them ‘just do this instead’ when they are struggling with disordered eating, rather it is important to try to empathise and understand the difficulties that a sufferer is facing before true recovery can happen. In the midst of these conditions they are often not able to change their mindset and behaviours without focused intervention from specialised external agencies.

If you have significant concerns about your child’s eating habits, the first port of call would be to speak to the GP about a possible referral to a specialist eating disorders service where they will be able to assess and then tailor an appropriate treatment plan.

These support sites may also be of use.

Eating disorders - NHS

Beat Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders and Problems | Parent Guide | YoungMinds

Get help - free, 24/7, confidential mental health text support service | Shout 85258

Mrs Douglas

We now have been notified of two cases of Chickenpox in Pre Prep.  Please see the NHS website for advice:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/

This week, Year 10 pupils have had PSHE lessons about cancer, learning about signs, symptoms, risk factors and the importance of self-examination and early reporting of symptoms.  You may spot some of them sporting pin badges on their uniform during the next few weeks raising awareness of this important topic.  

The following sites are useful resources for our senior school pupils and parents alike:

https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/

https://coppafeel.org/

https://www.yourprivates.org.uk/

As a School we support the Sarcoma UK charity as it has particular significance for two Duke of Kent School families.  All donations welcome:

https://sarcoma.org.uk/

The School Nurses

PADoK News

PADoK Quiz Night - Friday 7^th March 8pm in PA Hall

Rise to the Challenge!  Who will be crowned the ultimate quiz champions?  Prizes to be won.

Join us at PADoK Quiz Night.  Secure your team a table at the quiz.  Still time to book.

Up to 8 per team.  BYO drinks and snacks (no nuts please).

£10 per head.  £5 of every ticket sold will go to Cranleigh Foodbank.

Please book at padok@dokschool.org

PADoK Clubs:

PADoK Book Club

The book we will be reading this term is Graham Norton’s Holding.  Here is a brief summary of the book:

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel.

As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

We will meet at the end of term to discuss the book or at the beginning of the Summer Term.

PADoK Walk – Friday 7^th March 08.30am

We meet at Pitch Hill car park (Hurtwood Car Park 3) all welcome.

Duke of Kent School Flyers – Netball training 

Monday at 5:45 – 6:30pm & Wednesday morning 08.20 – 09.30 – weather-dependent/Ness Hall availability.

Duke of Kent School Flyers are looking for new players to join in for lots of laughter, exercise and fun.  No experience necessary, everyone welcome!   Please do come along if you would like to play netball.  All welcome.

Duke of Kent School Singers

Thursday at 08:20 – 09:00am

Calling all Singers Great & Small!

A brilliant session with Mr Rye following half term. We enjoyed a couple of warm ups, singing about a proper cup of coffee in a proper copper coffee pot and a burst of energy with Mary, Mary, ‘Shackles’. Great for warming up the vocal cords on such a chilly morning and, of course, a good laugh too! 

On to Bill Withers, ‘Lean on Me’, such a beautiful arrangement with some warm, rich harmonies. Coming together beautifully, it’s one we all know so please feel free to come along any time and join in… you’re so warmly welcome as a one off drop in or if you’re interested in coming more regularly. Every Thursday morning from 8:30-9:00am in the Meeting Room off Old Hall.

Thanks to Mr Rye and Mrs Williams for leading the Duke of Kent School Singers.

Any queries or to express an interest please don’t hesitate to drop me a note. Hope to see some new faces! Email: rhodricathy@sky.com

Important Note: please always park at the bottom of the site and walk up to Old Hall.

PADoK Core Control

Strengthen your body, improve your health with our Physio-Led Stability Group. Friday morning at 08.30 in Ness Hall  From this term there will be a £5 fee for each week.

Do you have new fitness goals or want to build on what you are already doing?  Julia is a physio who will help build your core strength and help your fitness training.  

Please contact Julia direct to complete a medical form.

Julia Rowe (julia@therunningspecialists.com)

Phillips and Mrs Horsburgh

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), X (@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.