ISA Regional Athletics – Prep School Success
On Friday, 30 Prep School pupils travelled to the Xcel Centre in Walton to take part in the ISA Regional Athletics competition. Competing against 15 other schools from the region, our pupils participated in a wide range of track and field events, demonstrating outstanding effort, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the day.
The event began with the traditional parade, where our team captains, George S and Elsa H, proudly led the Duke of Kent School team while holding the School banner – a great moment of School spirit and pride!
This high-energy day provided an exciting opportunity for our young athletes to test their skills and aim for selection to represent London South at the ISA National Championships.
Special congratulations to our medal winners:
Evelyn C – Bronze in high jump
Seren G – Bronze in shot put
Elsa H and Sonny C – Silver in the vortex howler throw
Well done to all the pupils who took part – we are incredibly proud of your achievements and the way you represented Duke of Kent School!
Mr Green
Years 7 & 8 Hardball Cricket Report
This week’s Years 7 and 8 hardball cricket matches were full of excitement and determination as the houses faced off in thrilling contests on the Top and Front Pitches at Duke of Kent School.
On the Top Pitch, Kestrel emerged victorious over Peregrine in a well-contested game. Kestrel’s strong batting lineup laid the foundation for their win, with Harry L and Hubert S stepping up to score key runs. Improved bowling throughout the match helped keep Peregrine at bay, despite their valiant efforts to chase the target.
Meanwhile, on the Front Pitch, Hawk claimed a win over Buzzard in another entertaining fixture. Hawk impressed with a balanced team performance — sharp fielding and disciplined bowling backed up their batting efforts, while Buzzard showed great spirit and sportsmanship throughout.
Despite some threatening clouds and the rumble of distant thunder, we narrowly avoided the storms, allowing both matches to conclude without interruption. Across both games, there were signs of excellent progress — with brave fielding, strong batting, and notable improvement in bowling from all teams.
Well done to all players involved for their enthusiasm and teamwork. We look forward to more exciting house matches at the end of the season!
Mr Herbert
Years 9 & 10 House Cricket Match Report:
It was a close contest at Top Pitch, where Peregrine edged out Buzzard in a tight, low-scoring game that went right down to the wire.
Peregrin batted first after winning the toss and got off to a solid start, with Hector W top scoring with 25 and Chester S and Matt S both chipping in with 16 apiece. However, the middle and lower order struggled to keep the momentum going, as wickets tumbled quickly. Buzzard’s bowlers kept things tight, with Sam H picking up two wickets and support coming from the other bowlers. Peregrine finished on 83 from their 13 overs.
In response, Buzzard didn’t have it all their own way. They lost Monty L early, a strong stand from 2 and 3 steadied the ship. Rupert H and Olly K made handy contributions in the middle, Buzzard's batters fought back to keep the game in the balance. In the end, the Peregrine bowlers won the tight batter giving their side a 6 run win.
Well played to all the boys, with some great cricket on show and the sun out it made a great afternoon for all.
Mr Hewitt
Hawk vs Kestrel
Hawk and Kestrel faced off in an exhilarating semi-final House cricket match that went right down to the wire. With both teams showcasing skill, determination, and sportsmanship.
Batting first, Hawk made a steady start, building their innings patiently while keeping the scoreboard ticking. The standout performance came from Hugo S, who retired after a classy knock, anchoring the innings with composure and control. Despite some tight bowling from Kestrel, Hawk managed to post a competitive total of 97 runs.
Kestrel’s reply began cautiously, and they found themselves slightly behind the required run rate as the innings progressed. However, they rallied late in the game, needing 16 runs from the final over. The tension was palpable as they scored 9 runs off the first three balls, bringing the equation down to 7 from 3 balls.
With 6 needed off the final delivery to win, the crowd held its breath. A clean strike sent the ball racing toward the boundary, but it fell just short—a four instead of the match-winning six. Hawk emerged victorious by a slender margin of 2 runs, but it was a contest that could have gone either way.
Final Result:
Hawk: 97 runs
Kestrel: 95 runs
Hawk won by 2 runs
Despite the narrow loss, Kestrel played brilliantly and fought hard until the very end. The game was a fantastic display of house spirit and teamwork, with players from both sides showing great enthusiasm and camaraderie. It was a day of cricket to remember, with everyone involved having a great time. Well played to all!
Mr Green
Year 7 & 8 softball House Cricket semi-finals
The cricketing spirit was alive and well at Duke of Kent School on Wednesday as the Year 7 & 8 mixed softball house teams took to the field for the eagerly awaited semi-finals. With the finals and third-place playoff scheduled for the final week of term, all four houses—Kestrel, Peregrine, Buzzard, and Hawk—were determined to put in strong performances and secure their place in the final.
Kestrel v. Peregrine
The first semi-final saw Kestrel play Peregrine in a closely fought contest. Kestrel batted first and made a strong start, thanks to a dynamic opening partnership from Archie B and Noah J, who racked up an impressive 35 runs off the first four overs. However, Peregrine’s bowlers soon found their rhythm. Will M and Penny A each took key wickets to stall Kestrel’s momentum and bring the game back into balance. With the match finely poised after the first two batting pairs, it was George S who swung the game decisively in Peregrine’s favour. His powerful hitting and boundary-laden innings lifted Peregrine’s total, ultimately guiding them to a well-earned victory and a place in the final.
Buzzard v. Hawk
On the neighbouring pitch, Buzzard took on Hawk in what turned out to be another thrilling encounter. Hawk's batting was bolstered by some explosive performances, particularly from Matthew C and Ethan G, who sent the ball flying to all corners with their aggressive stroke play. But Buzzard refused to be overawed. George R led the charge with a disciplined bowling spell, keeping the pressure on Hawk's batters. The highlight of the match came from Alessandro S, who took an absolutely stunning catch in the field. Hawk capitalised on their momentum and went on to win the match, securing their place in the final against Peregrine.
Both matches were filled with excitement and a brilliant display of team spirit and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Peregrine and Hawk on making it through to the final, and well played to Kestrel and Buzzard, who will contest the 3rd/4th playoff.
Mrs Monk
Year 9 & 10 Girls House Cricket
On a gloriously sunny Tuesday afternoon, we enjoyed a great Year 9 & 10 Girls House Cricket competition, showcasing both effort and teamwork in equal measure. The event began with two highly competitive semi-finals: Buzzard v. Peregrine and Kestrel v. Hawk.
The first semi-final saw Buzzard take on Peregrine in what turned out to be a cracking game of cricket. Buzzard emerged victorious by 24 runs, thanks in large part to a sensational batting display from Willow with an incredible 22 runs in a single over. Despite the loss, Peregrine's Josie M impressed with her superbly accurate bowling, making it a tough contest throughout.
In the other semi-final, Kestrel faced Hawk in a closely fought match. Tildy C led the way with some elegant shots, while Kestrel's bowlers and fielders worked cohesively, with Alice B notably taking key wickets to swing the game in their favour. Kestrel secured their place in the final, setting up a much-anticipated clash against Buzzard.
Meanwhile, Peregrine and Hawk battled it out for third place. Hawk batted first, with Rose S delivering some powerful hits to set a competitive tone. However, Peregrine's fielding was outstanding, particularly Mercy M and Josie M who took brilliant catches in a single over. Eva PR and Molly F bowled consistently for Hawk, but Peregrine held their nerve to claim third place – well done to them!
The final between Buzzard and Kestrel did not disappoint. Both teams showcased their best cricket, with skill and determination on full display. Clara H-S and Edie H were standout performers with the ball, delivering great spells that kept the match finely poised. Kestrel’s batting line-up proved formidable, putting 159 runs on the board – a total Buzzard, despite their best efforts, couldn't quite chase down.
Congratulations to Kestrel, our champions for the day! And well done to all the girls who took part - a super afternoon of cricket!
Mrs Monk
Years 3 and 4 House Cricket
On Thursday, we had a wonderful afternoon of Year 3 and 4 house cricket, full of fun, energy, and brilliant encouragement from all involved. The semi-finals saw Peregrine take on Kestrel and Buzzard face off against Hawk, with some fantastic cricket on show. Kestrel and Hawk came out on top in their matches, setting up an exciting final. The final was extremely close, with Kestrel just edging ahead to take the win by only 2 runs! The enthusiasm, effort, and sportsmanship from all players made it a real joy to watch and a great afternoon of cricket.
Miss Walters
Huge congratulations to all of our pupils during exams week. They demonstrated great determination and strength of character and we are very proud of them all. I thoroughly enjoyed House Cricket this week and it was wonderful watching pupils from Years 3- 10 giving it their all. Well done to Kestrel for winning the Years 3 and 4 House match. A real highlight and great fun. I hope you enjoy a well-deserved half-term break which has come around very quickly. See you on the 2nd June for a fabulous (and busy) Summer Term programme of events and activities. 
We had a fantastic day out at Bocketts Farm, full of animal encounters, tractor rides, and outdoor fun!
Duke of Kent School – Summer Sports Camp 
Camp Times: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Location: Duke of Kent School
Week 1: Monday 18th – Friday 22nd August
Activities include:
Costs:
To book a place, email Graham Herbert at:
Over the past two years, we’ve raised over £3,500 for Sarcoma UK 
