Girls' Cricket: U14/15 v. Frensham Heights
On Tuesday afternoon, the U14/15 A team played their first hardball match of the season against Frensham Heights. It was a beautifully sunny afternoon on Front Pitch and it was brilliant to see all the girls enjoying their cricket. It was a close game throughout with both teams producing some excellent displays when bowling and batting. Frensham Heights batted first with their opener retiring on 30 runs. The U14/15 A team maintained their focus and managed to get 4 wickets with 2 brilliant catches from Phoebe P! The girls were alert in the field and managed to keep Frensham's final score to 82 runs. Next it was Duke of Kent School's turn to bat, some highlights include Alex K retiring on 30 runs not out with some fantastic strikes and Phoebe P scoring multiple 4s for the team. It was an thriller end as the U14/15 A team needed 1 run to win off the last over, Emily B and Helena K were in to bat and Emily managed to hit a 4 off the last ball of the over to win it for the team! What a brilliant result and most importantly a fantastic introduction to hardball cricket. A huge well done to everyone involved and I look forward to some more hardball matches this term!
Miss Vickers
Girls' Cricket: U14/15 B v. Moon Hall
On Tuesday the Girls U14/15 C team had a match against Moon Hall School. We fielded first and the girls were so switched on and working brilliantly as a team. Fleur S took catch after catch and when in bowl took a wicket followed by a superb catch. There was so super bowling Eva L and Annabelle which helped keep Moon Hall's total 193. We then went into bat, lots of 6's and 4's were scored and well timed risks were taken to build on their total. The final score was 193 to Moon Hall and Duke of Kent School taking a well deserved win with 208 runs. Well done team!
Mrs Woolgar
Girls' Cricket: U14/15 C v. Moon Hall
On Tuesday the Girls U14/15 C team had a match against Moon Hall School. We were up to bat first with many 4s being scored against some tough bowling. We ended the inning on 191 runs a hard total to beat! Next up we were bowling. The standard of bowling was phenomenal with very few wide and no balls, meaning less runs given away. Sophie R, Ariane L, and Belles H took wickets, losing the opposing team 15 runs! It was a great game in the sunshine and well done girls for the win!
Miss Arnold
Girls' Cricket: U12/13 A v. Dorset House
On Wednesday after the U12/13 A girls’ cricket team headed to Dorset House for their first hard ball cricket match. In order to give all the girls a go at batting and bowling we played a pairs format. Dorset House opened the bowling and each Duke of Kent School pair came in for two overs each. Some particles highlights came from Clara H-S scoring multiple boundaries, Erin C hit confidently and Iona led her pair well with take risks in order to score runs for the team. Edie H took two wickets back to back in one over and Izzy F took a fantastic wicket in the penultimate over. The U12/13 A team fielded brilliantly considering this was their first time fielding with a hard ball. Dorset House narrowly took the win by 18 runs, what a great introduction to hard ball cricket, well played everyone!
Miss Vickers and Mrs Woolgar
Girls' Cricket: U8/9 v. Cottesmore
On Thursday the U8/9s faced Cottesmore at home. The girls were so excited, sadly we lost the toss so started the match batting first. Violet W and Mila S opened the batting and scored some super 4s, after a little reminder, they started to take some risks with running offno balls and managed to get a good number of runs on the board to start. Next was Beth F and Norah C, they really tooted for one another and went for every ball coming their way, a great second pair. Next was Lottie O and Charlotte L and what a pair they were, there were 6s being scored left, right and centre! Finally, Charlotte L batted again with Elisabeth S, they had a super final innings and secured a total of 213 runs.
It was now Cottesmore's turn to chase our score. Violet W and Mila S opened the bowling and after they found their flow managed to not give away too many runs off no balls. Strong bowling also came from Beth F, Charlotte L and Lottie O. Our fielding was great, Violet W and Elisabeth S sprinted time and time again to make sure crucial 4s weren't scored and the teamwork was superb.
The final score was 184 to Cottesmore and 213 to Duke of Kent School. Well done girls, this was a very deserved win.
Mrs Woolgar
Boys' Cricket: U15 A v. Frensham Heights
Duke of Kent School bowled first on Tuesday afternoon against Frensham Heights. The opposition openers got off to a good start with a handful of boundaries in the first 2 overs. However, Duke of Kent School bowlers started to find their rhythm and wickets began to tumble. Well done to Rufus B, Isaac P, Zac L and Harry F as they blasted their way through the middle order to restrict Frensham Heights to 101 from their 16 overs.
Rufus B and George P opened the batting and showed their skills by picking gaps in the field and dispatching the bad ball to the boundaries. They reduced the target down to needing 25 from the last 5 overs before Rufus B retired bringing in Toby T to finish off the job with 2 overs remaining.
Well done to all those boys involved as it was great to watch.
Mr Green
Years 9 and 10 Boys' House Tennis
On Tuesday, the Years 9 and 10 Boys' House Tennis competition took place. The competition was a doubles tournament and started with inter house seeding matches to then match up the best players from each house against each other, after this had been completed then the knockout tournament began. During the knockout stage of the tournament all pupils played against equal seeds from another house. These matches were all tightly contested and led to a lot of games going to deuce, which was great to see all the doubles pairs working together and competing for their house in every game. Well played to everyone involved and congratulations to the winners Buzzard, showing some good strength in depth through their different seeds.
1st - Buzzard
2nd - Peregrine
3rd - Hawk
4th - Kestrel
Mr Orme
Boys' Cricket: U12/13 A v. Frensham Heights
On Wednesday the U13A Cricket team played Frensham Heights on top pitch in their first home match of the season. After losing the toss, the boys were put into bat. After a shaky start, the ship was steadied by Chester S, who scored 30 runs before retiring. Some late striking from Sam R brought Duke of Kent School up to a competitive total of 104 runs off 15 overs.
The boys started well with the ball with Felix C and Theo C each picking up a wicket in their opening overs. This set the standard for the rest of the innings, with wickets regularly falling including 3 in one over from the leg spin of Monty L. A brilliant bowling and fielding display all round resulted in the team winning by 52 runs. Well done to everyone!
Mr Monk
Years 7 and 8 Boys' House Tennis
On Wednesday, the Year 7 and 8 Boys House Tennis competition took place. The competition was a doubles tournament and started with inter house seeding matches to then match up the best players from each house against each other, this was played with good team spirit on display and lots of matches that ended in close scores. The seeding was completed on Wednesday and then the knockout stages was completed Thursday morning. During the knockout stage of the tournament all pupils played against equal seeds from another house. The knockout stages saw pupils all play in a semi final and then final or 3rd and 4th playoff, all of these games were exciting to watch with some great winning shots being played. All pupils were giving their all throughout all of their matches, so very well played to everyone involved and Congratulations to Buzzard on winning this year's house tennis competition for year 7 and 8.
1st - Buzzard
2nd - Hawk
3rd - Peregrine
4th - Kestrel
Mr Orme
Next week, we launch our inaugural Community Week in the Senior School with all pupils participating in a wide variety of community projects such as at Horsham Foodbank, Riding for the Disabled and Cherry Trees, who provide specialist respite care for young people with complex needs. We also have projects happening at School which will see our Willow Deers restored and Bird Boxes built. I am sure the pupils and accompanying staff will find the experience both immensely rewarding and humbling. I am pleased to advise that Mr Matt Green has been appointed as our Charity Coordinator and, on Monday, will begin the process of working with the student committee to select the charity we will support next academic year. Again, an incredibly important part of giving back. I know Years 5 and 6 have had the best time ever at their residential camps this week and Pre-prep thoroughly enjoyed their trip to see Pippi Longstocking at the theatre. A super week! Have a lovely (warm and sunny) weekend. 
On Monday 5th June a hardy group of runners undertook the annual Three Peaks Challenge. In almost perfect conditions we were dropped at Coldharbour Car Park at 5pm to commence our beautiful run through the Surrey Hills. Whilst constantly having to reign in the youthful exuberance of our Year 8 boys (Sam R, Daniel S and Oscar V), who make such a run look a thing of ease, our three rugged staff members struggled to keep up at times but managed to potter along at the back, acting in a sweeper capacity more out of necessity than choice. 
On Thursday we were joined by Ellie, Alex and Drew from Everyone's Invited to run workshops for staff, SLT and Years 9 and 10. First of all, staff were briefed about the culture of misogyny and the negative impacts of various areas of the media - including distinct 'gaslighting' behaviours in Love Island.
One of the highlights of my week has been hearing children tell me about things they've noticed outside. There's so much happening in gardens and woodland in June, and I was thrilled to hear from several children that the tadpoles in the Forum Garden pond have begun to develop into froglets. There, too, Mrs Lock's after school gardening club has been excited by the growth of their seedlings - courgettes and lettuces, so far, with many others yet to come! Mila Rose-S has been so proactive in her own garden that she earned a much coveted Blue Peter badge and letter for her troubles - what a star! On the subject of notable correspondence, Year 1 pupils could barely contain themselves when word reached them that an envelope had arrived from HRH King Charles III. He was most thankful for the children's kindness in sending him letters of congratulation and the portraits they had drawn on him last month. 
Prep corridor was rather quieter than usual for most of this week with Years 5 and 6 out on their 3-day residentials, and we look forward to hearing all about their adventures when they return. Year 4 were recalling their own residential fun in their Class Assembly, with a special episode of Dukeversity Challenge - about which you can read more elsewhere in this Bulletin. Well done, Year 4! Pre-prep children were treated to an equally entertaining show on Thursday afternoon, having been invited to the Cranleigh Arts Centre preview of the new Pippi Longstocking show, soon to be touring the UK. From start to finish the pupils were wrapt, hanging on every word and movement of our story-teller, Sophie. Next week, we are looking forward to, amongst much else: the House Chess tournaments reaching their final stages; the start of the House Table-tennis competition; Familiarisation Day on Thursday when pupils - and incoming children - will spend the day with their new teachers; and the Pre-prep Fathers' Day Forest School party up in the woods. I can't wait.
An important week to start the half term as classes have undertaken numerous feedback sessions, analysing what went well in the summer exams as well as what could be improved. I have been very impressed by the attitude of the pupils, especially those who have stumbled during these tests. Whilst we cannot underestimate the hard work and endeavour that goes into achieving the high marks, we must ensure we do not gloss over those who perhaps have not done so well but whose effort levels remain high and are determined to learn from the experience and keep improving. Resilience cannot be learnt overnight but is a vital life skill that needs to be celebrated and developed to truly become an inherent behaviour.
The week also saw a wonderful celebration of grit and determination in Monday's Three Peaks running challenge, with an intrepid group taking on the three highest peaks of the Surrey Hills and clocking up nearly 12km of running in the process. Tuesday saw representatives from the group 'Everyone's Invited' visit to address the staff, SLT and the older years separately, regarding some difficult but vitally important topics including rape culture and being an active upstander. With the influence of the Internet being so ingrained in our society it is impossible not to be influenced by the media we are bombarded with. It is therefore more important than ever to be able to recognise when something is not acceptable and know how to deal with it.
