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A message from Mrs Knox
 The opening of The Burrow on Wednesday was an extremely joyful event. Our brand new Outdoor Learning classroom will provide a unique and engaging environment for our pupils to learn and explore. The Burrow serves as the next step in the School's progression in developing outstanding outdoor learning provision. We could not be more delighted with the opportunities it now affords us a School. The classroom is now already fully in use with lessons and our Governing Board meeting next week!
Duke of Kent School's performance at G Live last night was an absolute triumph. What a pure joy watching the pupils having the best time ever on stage, performing with real conviction and spark. We have received so many emails from parents and grandparents to say they were "blown away" by our talented pupils and loved the imaginative set, self-confidence as well as self-belief on stage. The Duke of Kent School effect was very much in evidence. A huge thank you to Mr Rye for orchestrating our performance and, of course, his team of fabulous music teachers and staff who looked after the children all day. I could not have been more proud!
Mrs Knox
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Prep School Production
The Prep Production is now fully booked on both Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th. The children are very excited to be performing in just over a week's time!
Mrs Tuite
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Year 10 trip to Macbeth
On Tuesday 11th March, the Year 10s took a trip to the Odeon Cinema in Guildford to watch a recorded screening of ‘Macbeth’, with David Tennant and Cush Jumbo. After the initial excitement of buying popcorn and sitting in a screen, completely dedicated to us, we were all treated to an incredibly powerful adaptation of the Scottish play.
With the use of surround sound, the Witches were constantly with us, showing their control and manipulation of Macbeth. Together with the use of live musicians and phenomenal performances, it was a production that will stay with us. For those students who are taking Drama GCSE, there were a plethora of ideas that they could adapt and utilise for their own devised pieces which they have just started.
A huge thank you goes to Mrs Southee, Mrs Honey and Miss Allsop for your help and support and to Barrie, Paul, Owen and Mr Charlton for being our drivers.
Mrs Punter
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GLive
 Every year we are lucky enough to be invited by the Guildford Rotary Club to perform in a joint schools’ concert with three other schools (Prior's Field, Christ's College and, for the first time this year, Ash Manor) and it is undoubtedly one of the musical highlights of our year. This year we took 113 pupils, and 11 staff to the G Live venue in Guildford, with a 30 minute set ready to go and a table for 124 booked at Zizzi's for the annual pizza! As always, our pupils were outstanding. Their behaviour and professionalism on the stage during the technical rehearsal was excellent, and then in the restaurant they were spirited but respectful, and as always drew positive comments from the staff working both in the theatre and the restaurant.
Our set in the evening was eclectic and entertaining, and I was so proud of our wonderful pupils who rose to the occasion as only they can! They learn so much from the experience. The thrill of performing on a big, professional stage to approximately 1,000 people is something that will stay with them for a long time, I am sure. Well done to The Ukes of Kent, Stomp, the Junior Chamber Choir, the Senior Choir, the DoK Big Band featuring Jess, The Dukes (Herb, George and Sonny), the Year 10 GCSE Music pupils (Lucy, Tildy, Humphrey, Edie, Harris, George and Ethan with of course Eddie in Year 9's wonderful Tenor Horn skills), Miss Barnes' amazing mini-choir, Harvey and Humph for their incredible Piano Man, Poppy, Mercy, George, Isaac, Eddie and Henry in the finale. I must mention the gorgeous Year 11s as well, who put together a special performance of Story of my Life – a moment I shall certainly cherish. A massive thank you is also due to the Music Department staff Mr Forrester, Miss Barnes, Mr Gunter, Mr Baker and Mr Wilson – and to all the other staff who gave up their time to chaperone or drive a bus – thank you all!
Please check back next week for a link to the professional photos.
Mr Rye
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House Music
 Last Friday saw our annual House Music Finals, held all afternoon in the Performing Arts Hall and involving the whole of Prep and Senior School. We opened with the finalists' concert, followed by the House Song competition and then a performance from our guest judge Charlotte Plank. It was an afternoon filled with music, laughter and joyful group singing!
With over 100 entries into the solo and group competition, it was a tricky process to whittle the entrants down to just a handful per category, and Charlotte found it incredibly hard to judge between the finalists. However, there has to be a winner, so congratulations to Rocket M who won the Beginners Category, Sonny C who won the Intermediate Category and to Charlie H who won the Advanced Category. Charlotte also awarded an extra judge's award to Herb M for multi-media and multi-instrumentalism!
 In the group's category, there was a tie in the Prep School between Ivy B and Layla B's duet and The Dukes (Herb M, Sonny C and George S) and then the Senior Group Category was won by Humphrey G and Ethan K.
In the House Song category, it was first place to Hawk with their fab rendition of 'It Must Be Love' and then the overall winners of the whole competition were Kestrel. Huge congratulations to all the winners!
Charlotte herself was a delight all day, with a wonderful Q&A with our GCSE Music pupils in the morning and some lovely comments to the competitors in the afternoon. She then gave us an exclusive sneak preview of her new single 'Little Miss Sunshine', singing it live to the Prep and Senior School.
The afternoon was a wonderful celebration of the music in the school! Big thanks are due to all the staff who helped with House Songs, but especially Mrs Honey, Miss Barnes, Mrs Hudson and Mr Forrester.
Mr Rye
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 It was wonderful to see Prep and Pre-prep pupils excitedly perusing the shelves at the Book Fair this week; we hope they're pleased with their new books, which I will be getting to them as soon as possible. Thanks to parents, too, for supporting the event; each year it allows us to buy between 50 and 70 brand new books for the library, creating further excitement about the children's reading experiences.
On the topic of literature, Year 1 read 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' this week and then acted it out, whilst Reception read Jack and the Beanstalk and planted some beans. Year 2 were delighted to see their bean plants, sewn just a few days ago, have already germinated, studying the seed coat in great detail. At their request, Year 2 celebrated filling up their marble jar with a teddy disco, which was a joy to see!
 Nursery spent time in the woods, furthering their knowledge of Spring, and returned to make some beautiful daffodil paintings. Year 6 were honoured to be invited to the opening of The Burrow, and did a great job reading some of their creative writing, inspired by nature. Prep School pupils also marked British Science Week with special investigations into axolotls, magnetism, rock durability and evaporation.
Lastly, huge congratulations to all the performers at GLive this week - to quote Che..."Oh what a circus, oh what a show!" Have a great weekend everyone.
Stars of the Week
Nursery: Ollie S for showing such lovely progress with listening and understanding of his own needs and the needs of others.
Reception: Athena dPl for wonderful cutting skills and careful sequencing to retell a story, this activity took focus, care and perseverance!
Year 1: Hector E for using his Maths knowledge to create exciting word problems using dinosaurs.
Year 2: Greg O for being a wonderfully helpful member of the form. Thank you for always offering to wipe down the board after lessons and tidy up the classroom!
Mattie F for having a wonderful enthusiasm about plants and for sharing this knowledge with the class.
Swimmer of the Week
Fliss F for confidently submerging her face and blowing bubbles in a streamlined position and for having such a positive attitude when in the water.
Mr Wright
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 This week has flown by, and it is hard to believe we are just a couple of weeks away from the end of term. Our Year 11 pupils are now reaching the final stages of content in some of their GCSE courses, and their focus, determination, and resilience have been outstanding. They should be incredibly proud of themselves as they continue working steadily towards their summer exams. A huge well done to them for their ongoing efforts, and I am sure they would join me in extending a big thank you to their class teachers and form tutors, whose guidance, structure, and support are invaluable in preparing them for success.
Year 10 had an enriching experience on Tuesday when they attended a performance of Macbeth as part of their English GCSE course. Meanwhile, the Charity Committee met to finalise their plans for next Friday’s Charity Assembly in support of Comic Relief. This event is always a highlight, filled with fun and laughter while raising money for important causes.
 On Thursday, a large number of pupils took part in the G Live performance, having been invited by the Guildford Rotary Club to participate in a joint school concert. Every pupil was exceptional, and it was wonderful to witness such a diverse range of performances. A massive well done to them for their dedication, the hours of practice they put in, and the confidence, maturity, and skill they displayed in performing in front of such a large audience.
Amid all the activities, I would like to extend a big congratulations to the following pupils who have reached the milestone of 25 merit points:
Ben B, Archie B, Will M, Hubert S, Mac Y, Ethan G, Jay J, Freddie P, Theo C, Poppy F, Annie B, Kit B, Oliver C, Benedict L, Jack M, Henry R, Chester S, Henry C.
A special mention goes to Bea T-R, George R and Henry M, who have surpassed 100 merit points and received their recognition badges. Even more impressively, Tansy B-T, Monty L, Francesca R and Saoirse W have exceeded 200 merit points and were awarded their well deserved badges. Finally a huge well done to Mattie R who has gained over 300 merit points and has been awarded their badge!
What an achievement by all.
Mr Wyllie
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U16 ISA Netball Tournament
 On Tuesday, the U16 A netball team made the epic journey to Nottingham University to take part in the U16 ISA national netball tournament. The venue was incredible at the David Ross Sports Village with 4 indoor courts amongst lots of other amazing sporting facilities. The team played 7 matches throughout the afternoon and gave each game their absolute all. It was a big step up from the girls regularly weekly fixtures against local schools and it was fantastic to see the whole team rise to the challenge! Issy F led the team superbly as captain and took the time to impart her knowledge with other members of the team which was lovely to see. The girls were brilliantly behaved throughout the day and we hope they enjoyed the experience! A huge well done to Maggie B, Saoirse W, Isla B, Issy F, Phoebe P, Daisy R, Jess I and Clara H-S for their superb efforts throughout the day!
Mrs Monk
Senior ISA Cross Country Championships
 On Sunday, The Duke of Kent School Senior Cross Country Squad travelled to Mallory Park in Leicestershire for the ISA National Cross Country Championships. Well done to Oscar V, Sam R, Ollie K, Thibaut J, Elfie G, Lola C, James N and Freddie G who gave their absolute best on a hot day. The course was very difficult with plenty of slopes, hills and some very wet areas; this was a true test for all the runners and everyone who represented Duke of Kent school should be very proud of the achievements on the day!! Well done to all!
Mr Herbert
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What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is a highly popular multiplayer shooter that pits iconic superheroes against formidable villains. The game is free –to play on PC and current-generation consoles but does feature microtransactions that allow players to spend real money on cosmetic items for their characters.
While Marvel Rivals has been deemed suitable for children aged 12 and over, there are several risks associated with the title that parents and educators should be aware of. This free guide offers more information on these safety concerns and lets you know how to ensure that children playing the game can have a fun and age-appropriate experience.
Click the link to learn more about "What Parents & Educators Need to Know about Marvel Rivals".
***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: Duke of Kent 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
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Next week marks Neurodiversity Celebration week 17th-23rd of March, billed as ‘a worldwide opportunity to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences’. Indeed it seeks to recognise the many skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals.
Neurodiversity diagnoses are becoming more common as individuals and parents seek to best support and understand themselves/ their children. As a school we encourage pupils to all see themselves as individuals with their own unique ways of experiencing and learning about the world they inhabit. As well as displaying empathy and acceptance of everyone in all their diverse glory.
Pupils are also welcome to attend the Diversity Forum on Monday the 17th at lunchtime with Miss Allsop, which provides an opportunity to advocate and discuss all aspects of diversity within our school community.
A diagnoses should be seen as a route to best meet an individual’s needs rather than a ‘negative label’. An opportunity to encourage pupils to recognise their amazing strengths whilst acknowledging that we ALL have areas where we may struggle or need support.
Our Learning Development Department are incredibly skilled in identifying and tailoring means to access the curriculum and school life in all its variety. Please do get in contact with Mrs Instone and her team if you feel your child is struggling in these contexts.
If you would like to learn more about any aspect of neurodiversity, please do follow the link to the free online events and discussions running on the Neurodiversity celebration website. From sessions on ‘Parents and Carers: Supporting children through times of transition’, ‘Neurodiversity and Nutrion: Food for thought’ and ‘Celebrating Different Minds: an introduction to Neurodiversity’ amongst many.
https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/events
Mrs Douglas
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It's been a busy week! We have had more cases of Chickenpox in Pre-prep and Prep School, Head Lice in the Senior School, also there are sore throats, fevers and tummy problems generally in circulation. We have also been notified today of a case of ringworm in Prep School. This not actually a worm, but a fungal infection which can be easily treated. Please see the link below for more information:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ringworm/
Some pupils with hayfever are also starting to experience symptoms, with tree pollen starting to circulate. We would advise a daily antihistamine tablet before School to get ahead of symptoms for those who are struggling.
Please can we ask that girls who have commenced their menstrual cycle, carry their own supply of sanitary products at School. We encourage them to learn to be responsible and practise self-care with their menstrual needs in readiness for life in the real world. For those who are caught short, there are supplies available at School in the Senior Girls' loos, the Medical Room and also the Front Office, but these are only for emergency use. Thank you for helping your daughters to be appropriately prepared.
Please can all remaining ski trip medications be delivered to School next week if at all possible. Year 9 Battlefields trip medications should also be delivered to school by the end of term.
Residential trip medical forms (3,4,5,6,10,11) should also be completed and returned to School at your earliest convenience.
Finally, a reminder to Year 8 pupils having their HPV Immunisation at School next Friday 21st March; please come to school in a short sleeved school shirt/blouse or games top
The School Nurses
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PADoK News
PADoK Summer Event - Save The Date
***Saturday 14th June***
PADoK are putting on a summer party so please do put the date in your diary.
PADoK Quiz Night
On Friday night a collection of teams gathered to pit their wits against each other to see who would be crowned the champions.
Congratulations to the winners, “We Make The Rules”,who were in fact the teachers team!!! Thank you to all of those who supported this event. We will be donating £5 of each ticket sold to the Cranleigh Food Bank.
Thank you to Mr Forrester for being a brilliant Quiz Master and to Polly Horsburgh and her team for putting together a really fun and enjoyable evening.
PADoK Clubs:
PADoK Walk – Friday 21st March 08.30.
We will meet for our walk at Hurtwood Control Car Park 3, Pitch Hill. All welcome.
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!
A great session this morning, nailing down the last few lines of ‘Lean on Me’ and having a lot of fun with it. Beautiful harmonies and some wonderful, positive energy. Not everyone 100% today but feeling all the better after our time together, such a wonderful group. Please do join us whenever you're in the need of some tlc and time for you. Gearing up for our performance at the Ensembles Concert next Friday. Do come along to enjoy the music and listen to Duke of Kent’s brilliant and super brave children, role models for us all!
Please feel free to come along any time and join in… you’re so warmly welcome as a one off drop in or if you’re interested in coming more regularly. Drop me a message any time (Cathy Williams - 07813 282910) or turn up on the day. 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: 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
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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.
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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.
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