Duke of Kent School

The Duke of Kent School is composed of three interlocking departments - our Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior Schools. We use the National Curriculum as the basis for what we deliver, but in range and in depth we are able to go well beyond it.

We offer a far broader range of subjects than is specified nationally and, crucially, our pupils have specialist teachers in many subjects from an early age. For example, in terms of range of subjects not only is there a specialist art teacher for all pupils from aged 6 upwards, but there is also a DT specialist for ages 9 -16 .  French is taught standardly at aged 7 and Spanish at age 11. The general health and wellbeing of our pupils are insured through the extensive weekly games programme.

The Pre-Prep department was set up in 1993 to cater for children between the ages of 4 and 7, Monday to Friday. From September 2006 we have expanded our provision and have a beautiful new Nursery classroom for children aged 3-4. We accept local authority nursery vouchers.

In this key age-group, literacy and numeracy continue to take precedence. In Year 3, the form teacher plays the key role in delivering these crucial parts of the curriculum. At this age too, our curriculum starts to expand. Science, History, Geography, French, Religious Studies and ICT now have a more formal part to play, along with Music and Art. From Year 4 more subjects are taught by specialist teachers and children get used to varying teaching styles and environments.

PE, including swimming, takes advantage of our extensive facilities. Children are involved in matches at house level and may start to represent the school in inter school fixtures. Regular debates and assemblies give opportunities for out pupils to gain confidence in a supportive environment. Pupils find and develop their strengths as well as tackling their weaknesses, in a supportive atmosphere in which progress is encouraged and applauded.

For many pupils this is the most exciting and rewarding part of their time with us. As senior pupils they have the opportunity to play an increasingly influential role in school life and very often to be role models for the younger children. Academic development gathers pace and in Years 6, 7 and 8 pupils start getting prepared for Common Entrance examinations. Years 9,10 and 11 see our pupils undertake the increasingly demanding work needed to ensure good grades at GCSE. For more details on the academic curriculum please select the 'Academic' section of this website.

The breadth of opportunities outside the classroom is maintained to ensure that pupils are inspired to take on new challenges such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards and outward bound activities. The breadth of the curriculum is maintained and the Common Entrance syllabus offers the opportunity to study more deeply, in a wide range of subjects - English, French, Geography, History, Maths, Religious Studies and Science.

From September 2009, Duke of Kent School began offering local independent co-education from 3(+) to GCSE.

Why did the School take this step?

• Parental requests over many years
• Needed within the locality
• Existing facilities already appropriate for the new age-range
• Enables the School to attract pupils from a wider geographical radius
• Freedom from previous constitutional constriction