Surrey Schools Cross Country Championships
Congratulations to all seven Duke of Kent School runners who represented Waverley at the Surrey Schools Cross Country Championships at Reigate last Saturday. The weather was very cold and the course was frozen solid. Henry O'B, Thibaut J and Rommy B ran in the Year 7 race and all produced great performances against some excellent opposition. Ollie K and Ollie C ran brilliantly in the Year 8 and 9 race and have now qualified to take part in the Inter Counties Championships later this term!! Rose S and Isaac P produced fantastic performances in the older races. We now look forward to hosting the ISA London South Senior Cross Country Regionals at Duke of Kent School on the last day of this half-term. Well done to all who took part.
Mr Herbert
Girls’ netball: U16 B Team v Moon Hall School
On Tuesday afternoon, the U16 B Team travelled to Moon Hall School for their first netball match of the term after a busy few weeks of mock exams. The team were excited to get started, and it was clear it was going to be a close game. The team showed determination in defence with Helena K and Josie B linking well together to intercept the balls coming into the circle from Moon Hall. After the first two quarters, it was 4-3 to Moon Hall School. The girls listened well at the half-time team talk and came out a little more focused and remembering to take their time when making decisions on when and where to pass. Annabelle R worked tirelessly in C and was supported well by our wings of Emily B, Sophie R and Fleur S. After the third quarter, the score was 4-4 and the team were determined to bring their A game in the final quarter, and they did! Ariane L and Eva L both rose to the challenge and scored some fantastic goals with the score finishing 7-6 to Duke of Kent School. A huge well done to all the girls for showing great perseverance and a brilliant can-do attitude.
Miss Vickers
Girls’ netball: U15/16 A Team and U14/15 A & B Teams v Farlington School
On Tuesday, everyone was happy to be back on the netball court after a busy start to the term with mocks and cross-country. Sadly, the rain forced us inside leading to significantly shorter games than normal. The U15/16 A Team started well against Farlington School, their passing was fluent and the defence made a number of impressive interceptions. By half-time Duke of Kent School had a decent lead, but the team lost their rhythm in the shooting circle in the second half and finished one goal behind; with more time the team could definitely have turned the game around.
The U14/15 A Team followed and displayed some stylish play through the centre court and by half-time Duke of Kent School were only one goal behind. However, Farlington made the shooters' lives difficult in the second half resulting in a narrow loss by full time.
The U14/15 B Team had a fantastic first game back. It was a joy to watch them connect so well as a team and great to see some super interceptions and shooting skills. The final score was 12-1! A great result. Well done to everyone involved!
Mrs Dann
U15 Rugby v Frensham Heights School
This was the U15 Team’s first contact match of the season and all the boys played their part in a comprehensive victory over Frensham Heights. There was some strong tackling, good control at the ruck and fantastic support play demonstrated throughout the afternoon. Matt A led the team very well and was pretty much unstoppable when in possession of the ball. Charlie H scored a great try after a great dummy pass and Leo T-R scored after collecting the ball from Oscar H following a great run. Moxon K was also on the score sheet finishing off a good team move. Well done to all who played.
Mr Herbert
Girls’ netball: U12/13 B and C Teams v Farlington School
On Wednesday afternoon, the U12/13 B and C Team made the short journey to Farlington School for their first netball match of the term after House cross-country last week. Both teams warmed up well and were raring to go! The U12/13 B team started brilliantly, and it was great to see them gel as a team so quickly. Poppy F captained the team with confidence, playing in a mixture of positions and communicating well with her team. Holly B and Lola C worked well as a shooting pair and scored 16 goals between them throughout the afternoon! Well done to all the B team for a great win, and in particular to Esme W, for being awarded player of the game.
Meanwhile, the U12/13 C Team were battling it out against Farlington on the adjacent court. Isla W did a great job of captaining her team and made some great interceptions when playing in GD/GK. Lois M showed some great movement skills and controlled the game well in centre. The C Team showed great improvement throughout the afternoon and lost their second match very narrowly, 3-2. Congratulations to Molly F for being awarded player of the game for some great movement and shooting as GA. Well done to everyone for a great afternoon of netball!
Miss Vickers
Girls’ netball: U12/13 A Team v Farlington School
On Wednesday, the U12/13 A Team popped down the road to play their first netball match of the term after opening up their lungs on the cross-country track last week. The team got off to a fine start with some good shooting from Norah H and Issy N resulting in 4-1 lead after the first quarter. Fewer goals from Duke of Kent School in the second and third quarter, but some lovely interceptions by Holly R and Willow D worked tirelessly and effectively both in attack and defence. It was great to welcome Myrtle M to the team, she had a brilliant game at WA showing off her speed, agility and accuracy of passing. The last quarter the team really began to gel and scored four super goals to take the final score to 10-8. Well done!
Mrs Dann
Boys’ rugby: U13 Tag Rugby Tournament
Our Year 8 boys were fantastic at the tournament hosted by St Edmund's this week. Following two very contrasting group games – a resounding win and a rather chastening defeat – the team finished second and found itself through to the Silver Medal semi-finals. In the semi-final against St Edmund's, it became apparent just how much the boys had warmed to their task, showing fantastic adaptation to the lessons learnt in the group games. Where before we were a little tentative with our decision-making and slow in distribution, the boys took the game by the scruff of the neck and overpowered the opposition 4-1. The best was yet to come, however; in the Silver Medal final against a very strong Aldro side, we raised our game even higher still. Harvey R, Theo C and Alex W's strong running were rewarded with some super tries; Arthur M and Ben J moved the ball quickly from the breakdown; Ollie K kept a close eye on defence from full-back whilst also using his pace to break the line; Orson showed excellent organisation and leadership with his vocal support; and Paddy was a ball of aggressive energy, making tackle after tackle, as we edged a hugely entertaining and tense Silver Medal Final, 5-4. Huge congratulations, boys – you did yourselves proud.
Mr Wright
Boys’ rugby: U12/13 VIII Boys Touch Rugby v Handcross Park School
On Wednesday afternoon, our U12/13 VIII boys played touch rugby against Handcross Park School. There were three teams of Duke of Kent School’s boys playing against Handcross Park School’s three teams. All nine games (each team playing three times) were very close contests with some excellent play from all Duke of Kent School teams. Great moves from Ethan N, Elliott S and Jasper T all ended in good tries and all the boys showed great awareness defensively to keep the opposition from scoring many tries with some key touches forcing turnovers in play. An overall exciting afternoon with a great show of rugby on display.
Mr Clayton
Boys’ rugby: U12 Rugby v Handcross Park School
The U12 Contact Rugby Team played their first fixture of the season against a strong Handcross Park team. This was an opportunity for those playing to start to understand the tactics and skills required within a contact match. This was some boys first ever contact game and they really rose to the challenge! Although we did not win this match, there were some really positive performances and all the boys should be proud of their effort, determination and improvement as the game progressed. Well done to all who played.
Mr Herbert
Mixed hockey: U16 mixed hockey v Frensham Heights School
On Thursday afternoon, some selected pupils from Years 10 and 11 were involved in a bonus hockey match after School against Frensham Heights. It was a quick turn out after lessons but both teams got stuck into the game straight away. It was played in great spirits with some quality hockey on show! Frensham had some very strong players running through our defence but Josh W-D played a fantastic game at centre back, making tackle after tackle! Kai G played in goal, he used all his skills from football goal keeping to make some epic saves, in particular a diving save to his right at the end of the first half. Frankie M worked tirelessly to get the ball in to our forwards and it was great to see all the girls stepping up their game in preparation for their GCSE assessment. A huge well done to the whole team for a great match and most important it was brilliant to see everyone enjoying themselves!
Miss Vickers
This week has just flown by! I have been keeping an eye on the construction of the mountain bike pump track near the Astro and must congratulate our parents Drew and Zoe Poulter for the speed with which this is taking shape. The pupils are also getting very excited with many wanting to lend a hand! More information in due course about the mountain biking programmes on offer from the Trail Academy. Congratulations to the U14 and U16 teams who travelled to Nottingham on Thursday to the ISA Football Tournament. They played brilliantly against a huge number of talented teams from across the country with the U16 team coming in third in the Shield. A great result. Finally, thank you to PADoK (and all of the many bakers) for the fantastic Macmillan Afternoon Tea today with a scrumptious array of cakes and treats enabling us to raise money for this important charity. Have a lovely weekend.
This week, after several months of careful discussions, Pupil Council members wrote to Mrs Knox about their idea of creating a playground for the Prep School. Top of their wishlist are a trim trail and a “flying fox”, and they have also proposed potential locations. They're very excited to be meeting with Mrs Knox soon to see what may be possible! Year 2 were focused on our School grounds too, this week, conducting an observational study of human features such as Ness Hall, Prep and Pre-prep and the Astroturf, and then analysed an aerial photograph and labelled the specific features. This will stand them in good stead for when they have to navigate the School grounds more independently in Prep School. 
Monday represented Wellbeing Day at Duke of Kent School, with various events taking place. This included a visit from AnimalsUK, who talked through various animals and their place in the world, as well as a presentation from Nigel Grimes, a holistic health mentor who focuses on how best to combat anxiety and breathing techniques in particular. On Tuesday and Wednesday the milder weather allowed more matches to go ahead, with hockey, netball and rugby matches taking place across multiple venues. A special mention going to the U14/U15 hockey teams who battled both the elements and a very strong set of teams from Frensham Heights to achieve some great results.
Scales, shells, skunks and spiders were the order of the day on Monday when all pupils enjoyed some extra visitors on our Wellbeing Day. Pupils are often talking about the calming effect of their own pets and how our animal friends are amazing at helping us connect with our emotions, allowing us time to process these feelings. Something they have requested on a number of occasions is an animal visit to brighten their school day.
Happily, Rob from AnimalsUK did not disappoint with the range of animals he brought with him all the way from Lincolnshire (though originally and indigenously from much further). Pupils from Nursery to Year 11 were introduced to amazing facts and anecdotes about the animals that Rob works with. From the naughtiest animals, Hooligan and Daisy, the Sulcata tortoises to the most well-behaved, Charlotte the tarantula, pupils had the opportunity to touch, hold and interact with the animals and were impeccably respectful and sensitive toward them.
Rob helped us to understand that sometimes the animals that many people are afraid of are actually the gentlest, least dangerous and most beneficial to humans, encouraging us all to question our prejudices. They were joined by a bearded dragon, an albino python and the “cute-factor” favourites, of Angus, the tenrec (not a hedgehog!) and Jasmine, the skunk. There were some amazingly rapt and happy faces during and after the workshops and hopefully all the pupils thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet some incredible animals.
