Graham Oliver

We are sad to announce the death of an ex-Duke of Kent School Governor - Graham Oliver.  Graham was local solicitor and was brought onto the board in the early 2000s.  He was highly valued for his legal expertise and, together with his fellow board members, was instrumental in the transformational transition of Duke of Kent School from a Prep School to the successful Senior School that we are today.

He was a loyal Aldershot Town supporter and a passionate Alfa Romeo owner and driver.

Mrs Hopwood

Year 10 Mock Interview Afternoon - Help required

On Monday, 28th April 2025, from 13:45 to 15:30, our Year 10 students will be participating in mock interviews. We are grateful to the members of our school community who have already volunteered to assist with these interviews. However, we are still in need of a few more individuals who can spare some time to conduct interviews.

If you are available during this time and would like to contribute, please reach out to me via email at awyllie@dokschool.org.

Your support would be invaluable in providing a meaningful experience for our Year 10 students as they continue their academic journey.

Mr Wyllie

World Book Day

Yesterday, Duke of Kent School celebrated its annual World Book Day festivities - it was a fantastic day as all staff and pupils embraced dressing up as their favourite literary characters to mark this event. World Book Day is such an important occasion for the whole school, as it is a wonderful opportunity for the Duke of Kent community to join together and celebrate a love for books and reading.

The day started with the usual procession of the pupils’ costumes. There were Harry Potters, Ratatouille chefs, and even a couple of dinosaurs! The staff excelled again this year in their themes and ideas: the Science department were from ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Learning Development Department were from ‘Watership Down’ and the Performing Arts Department were a gorgeous range of characters from Beatrix Potter’s, ‘Peter Rabbit’. A special mention has to go to Mr Wyllie, who tottered around in his sparkly red shoes, trying to escape the harsh stares of his Head of Department, Mrs Tattan-Robb as the Wicked Witch of the West!

The Performing Arts Hall, during assembly, was transformed into the Mastermind stage, hosted by Dobby (aka Mr Southee). Staff and pupils alike were put through their paces to see who knew their chosen topics the best. The winning house was Kestrel, headed by Mrs Southee, Edie H and Henry S, who just pipped Peregrine at the post by one point.

Throughout the day, pupils participated in activities within their English lessons which celebrated books and the love of reading. Year 10 devised their own podcasts based around debates such as: ‘Is Reading Still Relevant’ and ‘Books vs Films’. Year 7 created a ‘Story in a Jar’ and Year 8 started reading journeys, creatively demonstrating their own reading from the age of 4 to the present day.

During lunchtime, Annabel O, Mercy M, Edie H and Josie M ran crafty book activities with the Prep School, where pupils created origami creatures, beautiful book marks and funny stories using a lucky dip of characters and themes. There was also the opportunity to grab a new read in our book swap, run by Will B, Jamie C, Mattie R, Lucy M and Rose S.

In the afternoon, Year 11 participated in paired reading with the Year 5 and 6 pupils, where they not only read to each other, but chatted about their own personal favourites.

During the whole of this week, Year 9 have taken a special trip to Pre-prep to read the children’s literature books they had written and created in English and Computer Science. It was a brilliant experience for the children to become published authors! Seeing them read their stories to the Pre-Prep pupils in action was both heartening and endearing - the Pre-prep staff were so complimentary about both the books and how engaging and animated the Year 9 pupils were with the Pre-prep children.

As always, there was an immense buzz throughout the School as the pupils relished in letting their love for books and creativity free. Thank you to the amazing Duke of Kent School staff for taking the time to dress up and promote a love of reading across the School!

World Book Day Photo Gallery

Mrs Punter, Mrs Southee, Mrs Rowley and Miss Allsop

Year 8 trip to Nower Wood

Last Friday, Year 8 ventured into the lush greenery of Nower Wood, a hidden gem cared for by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. Upon arrival, we met Emma and the rest of the Nower Wood team, who set us off to work straight away with the filling and setting of mammal traps. The pupils diligently filled their traps with bedding and food in the hope of attracting a sleepy mouse or dozy shrew, learning along the way about the nutritional benefits of mealworms and apple chunks to small mammals. We carefully placed marker flags beside each trap to help us find our way back amongst the mazes of undergrowth. 

Eventually, the time came to return to our traps. On tenterhooks, each pupil tiptoed through the foliage, full of anticipation... And then, a shout of success! Full of joy, Lois, Holly, Elfie and Penny rushed to show the group our latest furry friend, a pygmy shrew who earned the grand title of Sir Shrewy Biggy-Cheese. Emma explained to us that insectivores like pygmy shrews are vital to keeping our ecosystem balanced, alongside detritivores such as earthworms. After we each had a chance to see Sir Shrewy up close, the girls returned him to their marker flag for his release. 

We then made our way to the pond dipping session, using nets and magnifying glasses to identify a range of critters found in the water. The hard work and perseverance of the group resulted in not one, not two, not three, but FOUR newts joining our jar of finds! The surprises didn't end there, however, as Emma explained to us that three of the newts were pregnant females, preparing to bring the next generation into the pond. She also taught us how to distinguish male and female newts by their markings and colouring, showing us how the male newt had a bright orange belly whilst the females were a duller brown shade. We also observed the bizarre cased caddisfly larvae, which use debris such as leaves and twigs to build a protective shell; Emma explained that some larvae, the boldest of the bunch, shunned these disguises altogether, roaming the waters exposed.

From the solitary shrew to the secretive newts and the brilliant beetles, Year 8 discovered that even the tiniest of creatures have their importance within our forests. Perhaps this adventure has even sparked a passion for conservation among our budding environmentalists!

Miss Allsopp

Year 5 Game Workshop

During the Year 5 Game Development workshop, pupils were introduced to the world of game development and were taught the basics of coding and design thinking. The session started with an overview of the key concepts of game design, including game mechanics and character design. Pupils then began to explore MakeCode, a visual programming language, and learned how to create animations and simple games. They also learned about loops, conditionals, and variables, which they used to add complexity to their projects. Throughout the session, the pupils were encouraged to experiment and collaborate, leading to the creation of some impressive and creative games. Thank you to Longacre, Wonersh and Shamley Green and St Cuthbert Mayne schools for attending the event.

Mr Boden

The Wildlife Trust is inviting you all to join The Hedgehog Walk challenge this spring. If you follow the link below it will take you directly to the sign up webpage where you can read all about it! It’s a 3km walk challenge to raise money for wildlife along the way. It’s happening between 31^st March to 13^th April.

You can sign up as a family or individual. When you sign up you will get a fundraising pack, including posters, factsheets and activity sheets. Now the weather is warmer, and the days are longer, it is the perfect excuse to get those legs out for a walk!

Hedgehog Walk | Surrey Wildlife Trust

Mr Gritton

This week, Year 6 did some learning in the sunshine, in Geography, as they measured various landmarks on site to inform the scale they will use to draw maps of the School. Reception also took their learning outside, as they continued to look at professions. On Thursday, they met with Kelly to hear about her role as Head Groundswoman, and planted sunflower seeds and beans in the Forum garden. They also talked to the school chef and made pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, along with Nursery! Year 4 were also thinking about jobs, but focusing more specifically on the horrible ones Victorian children had to do, instead of going to school. Year 5's historical studies took them further into WWII; to deepen their understanding of rationing, they were challenged to complete an exciting scavenger hunt in the Prep corridor. 

Congratulations to all the pupils for their wonderful performances in House Music and, of course, the fantastic costumes on World Book Day. Our visiting author, Iona Rangeley, who ran workshops for all Prep pupils very much enjoyed her visit and said the array of outfits was the best she had ever seen of all the schools she has visited. Next week, amongst many other things, we have the Book Fair and GLive to look forward to - exciting times! 

Rising Readers: Harry S (3N); Arthur M (4G); Siena N (4R); Alfie (5T); Fin C (6G); Sonny C (6N)

Reading Certificates: Bronze for Fin C; Silver for Siena dPL & Jenson Bo

Stars of the Week

Nursery: Rupert G for his resilience during World Book Day and all the admiring comments on his wonderful costume.

Reception: Cooper C for great focus and perseverance in independent writing tasks. 

Angus T for improved willingness to tackle a greater range of skills, you are displaying a great attitude.

Year 1: Sofia T for her enthusiasm on World Book Day, Sofia stood in front of the whole class and confidently spoke about her book and her character.

William F for working so hard, especially when it is difficult. You have a wonderful attitude to your learning!

Year 2: Ali S for the careful application of spelling rules in everyday writing tasks. You should be so proud of how you’ve approached spelling unfamiliar words this week!

Swimmer of the Week

Alex W for listening in class; his technique on his backstroke has improved significantly. He is able to achieve a fast leg kick and his body positioning is streamlined.

Mr Wright

ISA Hockey Tournament

Last Friday’s ISA Hockey Tournament was played under sunny skies, and everyone was in great spirits. It was an afternoon full of hard work, determination, and some tough competition. One of the highlights was seeing the Duke of Kent teams play against each other, it was great to watch the friendly competitiveness and sportsmanship on display. A huge well done to the Year 6 Blue team for their silver medals and a big congratulations to the Year 7 Blue team for winning their tournament and getting the trophy! A special shout out to the White teams, who never gave up, even when up against really tough opponents. And well done to the goalkeepers, some of whom stepped into the position for the first time–what a brave effort! Overall, it was a fantastic afternoon of hockey, and everyone should be really proud of themselves.

Miss Walters

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about WhatsApp

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps available and, as of 2024, has been made accessible to users as young as thirteen. With end-to-end encryption preventing even the platform itself from viewing any messages that users send on it, this app has been regularly utilised by those looking to keep their conversations private.

Unfortunately, the service poses several risks to its younger users – from misinformation and bullying to potential criminal exploitation – and it’s vital that parents and educators understand these concerns and how to address them. This free guide delves into the online safety risks of WhatsApp and offers expert advice on how to safeguard any young people who use the platform.

Click the link to learn more about "What Parents & Educators Need to Know about WhatsApp".

***Also, Internet Matters is a great website that can help you deal with online issues, give you advice for different age groups, and give you step-by-step guides for setting controls for various devices.***

Date for your diary: DOK School Parent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Webinar - Monday 17th March 2025 at 7 pm

Webinar link: https://meet.google.com/bpf-xzux-zqt

Things to note about the webinar:

• You will need a Google account to access the webinar.
• This event is exclusively for Duke of Kent School parents only.

Mr Boden

This week, pupils have had the opportunity to join together in shared experiences of fun, connection and belonging. They have celebrated World Book Day with enthusiasm, embracing the opportunity along with their teachers and support staff, to dress up as favourite real or fictional characters and by so doing, connecting as part of their wider school community in a shared experience. Though our Pre-prep, Prep and Senior School pupils may have very different life experience, school timetables, hobbies and interests, they were able to identify as belonging to one group, engaging in the same experience of expression. Reading is often a quite solitary and mindful experience, yet they also have the opportunity to share in the fun of reading as pupils read to one another in pairs, as classes and in workshops.

Pupils also came together today during our House Music competition. Whilst they collectively shared an experience as an audience to various performances supporting those who performed, they were also able to express their affiliation to their particular house and come together to represent either Hawk, Peregrine, Kestrel or Buzzard. The wellbeing and self-esteem benefits of acceptance and fellowship within a group are well documented, not least in Borba’s (1989) theories on the building blocks of self-esteem, where affiliation counts as one of these blocks along with security, selfhood, competence and mission.

Indeed, she talks of the importance of affiliation in child development.

Affiliation - Pupil:

•  feels good about their social experiences, generally feels connected to others and accepted

• has a sense of belonging - in a relationship - family, classmates, peers, friends

•  is able to maintain friendships 

•  is able to co-operate and share and show compassion to others

It has been wonderful this week to witness pupils being given fantastic opportunities to strengthen their affiliations to school, houses and their friendship groups, whilst having a thoroughly memorable and fun time.

Mrs Douglas

This week Chickenpox has made its way from Pre-prep into Prep School.  We also have some vomiting bugs and fatigue and sore throat bugs doing the rounds in Senior School.  Please remind your children to wash hands regularly to help reduce spread.

Next Thursday we are sending well over a hundred pupils to GLive for what's sure to be another musical spectacular.  The children will leave school in the middle of the day to head to GLive for rehearsals.  Please note we will not plan to administer any travel nausea medication to pupils for the short journey to Guildford. However, if you feel your child should have a tablet given at morning break, please contact Mrs Sarjant ASAP and preferably by the end of Wednesday (csarjant@dokschool.org).

Can all remaining medical forms for the Year 10 and Year 11 residentials be delivered to school ASAP so we can finalise planning.  Ski trip medications should also be delivered in the next two weeks if possible.  

Finally, Mrs Sarjant is working towards her three yearly revalidation with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to retain her Nursing Registration.  There is a requirement for feedback from "customers".  If any parents would be happy to write a couple of lines on an email (good or bad!), she would be very grateful!  Thank you.

The School Nurses

PADoK News

Macmillan Afternoon Tea – Friday 14^th March

3:00pm – 5pm – Old Hall

PADoK are delighted to be hosting our annual Macmillan Afternoon Tea next week to support this worthy charity.  There will be a variety of delicious treats to enjoy with a well earned cup of tea or coffee.  Do please come along and why not bring extended family too.

We would welcome any bakers who would like to donate a cake, biscuits or something savoury, please get in touch with your class rep to organise.  Thank you in advance.

All we ask is you give a donation to this amazing charity.

Thank you.

PADoK Clubs:

PADoK Book Club

The book we will be reading this term is Graham Norton’s Holding.  Here is a brief summary of the book:

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel.

As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

We will meet at the end of term to discuss the book or at the beginning of the Summer Term.

Duke of Kent Flyers – Netball training 

Monday at 5:45 – 6:30pm & Wednesday morning 08.20 – 09.30 – weather dependent/Ness Hall availability.

DOK Flyers are looking for new players to join in, lots of laughter, exercise & fun.  No experience necessary, everyone welcome!   Please do come along if you would like to play netball.  All welcome. Contact Tara on 07734 888326.

Duke of Kent School Singers

Thursday at 08:20 – 09:00am

Calling all Singers Great & Small!

No singing this week due to World Book Day.  We are looking forward to having a sing together next week.

You’re so warmly welcome as a one off drop in or if you’re interested in coming more regularly. Every Thursday morning from 8:30-9am in the Meeting Room off Old Hall.

Thanks to Mr Rye and Mrs Williams for leading the DoK Singers.

Any queries or to express an interest, please don’t hesitate to drop me a note. Hope to see some new faces!

Email Cathy: rhodricathy@sky.com

Important Note: please always park at the bottom of the site and walk up to Old Hall.

PADoK Core Control

Strengthen your body, improve your health with our Physio-Led Stability Group. Friday morning at 08.30 in Ness Hall.

From this term there will be a £5 fee for each week.

Do you have new fitness goals or want to build on what you are already doing?  Julia is a physio who will help build your core strength and help your fitness training.  

Please contact Julia direct to complete a medical form.

Julia Rowe (julia@therunningspecialists.com)

Phillips and Mrs Horsburgh

Senior School optional hoodie

The Senior School hoodies have been redesigned by members of the School Council and the finished product can be seen below. They have done a fantastic job at putting this design together and now finally getting to see the finished product.

This new hoodie is available from Stevenson's on their website: https://www.stevensons.co.uk/.  There is also the option to have your child's initials printed onto the front of the hoodie for a slight additional cost, something we would advise, to avoid mixing up tops with other pupils. This hoodie is not an essential item of School uniform, so there is no expectation for pupils to have it.

If you wish to see the sample, please pop into the Main Office and have a look.

School social media

At Duke of Kent School we have three social media platforms; Instagram (dukeofkentschool), X (@DoKSchool) and Facebook (Duke of Kent School). All of our social media accounts are public.

We recommend following all three accounts to receive push notifications with news, updates, educational articles, interactions with other schools, communities and public figures.