Beyond the Classroom

Activities Programme

Duke of Kent School is proud of its broad programme of extra-curricular activities which gives students the opportunity to explore and develop their individual talents and passions. After-school activities offered may be artistic, dramatic, creative, sporting, musical or cultural in nature and are led by our energetic and committed teaching staff. Occasionally, our programme may be supported by outside experts in which case a charge is made to parents; otherwise all our after-school activities are offered as an integral part of the Duke of Kent School experience.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme

We encourage all our students to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh programme during their GCSE years. Initial training in outdoor pursuits takes place in our woodland camping ground. Students gain confidence through developing new skills and serving in the School or wider community. All Senior pupils are encouraged to take their Bronze award during Year 9 and 10, with Silver award available to for those ready for even greater challenge.

Educational and Cultural Visits

Throughout the school year, students take part in excursions, visits and residential trips which enhance their learning experience and encourage them to develop as thoughtful, independent and confident individuals. Teaching staff regularly organise visits related to their areas of study, both locally and abroad; to theatres, galleries; to university departments and historical buildings; to Barcelona, Paris, Geneva, Sorrento and the Somme Battlefields, for example. Team-building activities on water, up trees and underground, unashamedly celebrate the joy of sharing exciting experiences with friends.

There are also regular optional trips in areas off the curriculum: we want our pupils to explore and enjoy the world for the sheer love of it and not just because 'it might come up on the GCSE exam'. Whether this means a trip to the Old Vic to see a play that is not on the syllabus, or a visit to the Horse of the Year Show, or to hear a celebrated historian discuss his latest book, or to watch the England basketball team, or to the High Courts, our teachers love to introduce their students to new and exciting experiences.

Guest Speakers

We are delighted to welcome the wide range of inspiring and accomplished visitors who accept our invitation to speak to our pupils each year. Without exception, speakers comment on the engagement of our students and the quality of their questions. We believe that the intellectual stimulation of the events is just part of the story: here the seeds of future careers and lifelong passions are planted.

Our speakers have included:

Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE
Sir Anthony Seldon
Marcus Alexander, author of the Keeper of the Realms Series
Ruth Barnett, Kindertransport survivor
Debra Craine, Times Ballet Critic
Giles Duley, humanitarian photographer
Matt Dickinson, author and explorer
David Cornthwaite, Adventurer and filmmaker. Duke of Kent School Alumni
Ben Fogle, explorer and presenter
Chemmy Alcott, British World Cup alpine ski racer
Izzy Atkin, Olympic Bronze Medalist, ski slopestyle
Ann Milton, Member of Parliament
Kriss Akabusi, Olympic Gold Medalist, track and field
Jason Robinson OBE, former England rugby player
Tessa Sanderson CBE, Olympic gold medallist
Jeremy Strong, children's author
Sally Gardner, Author, Carnegie Medal for Maggot Moon
Simon Weston, Falklands veteran
Simon Mayo, author and Radio 2 DJ
Jack Donnelly, actor, BBC series Atlantis, in which he played the role of Jason
Dan Smith, author

Charities

Every year we have a number of charity fundraising events and assemblies designed to raise awareness of causes pupils might want to support. Prep pupils plan and run a Christmas Fair as part of their Creative Curriculum, as well as numerous cake sales throughout the year and a Valentines Disco.