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Duke of Kent School is a small independent day school for boys and girls aged 3–16 in Ewhurst, Surrey, comprising a pre-prep, prep and senior school. Duke of Kent School provides a happy, safe and nurturing environment for children to grow into confident and compassionate young adults.
While academic qualifications are important, Duke of Kent School puts as much focus on developing attributes including resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence and curiosity. The school’s small size is one of its greatest strengths, ensuring that every child is known and appreciated and able to benefit from excellent pastoral care. The most recent ISI Inspection Report in 2017 pays tribute to the ‘school’s strong sense of family, which permeates the whole school community’.
Traditional approaches to learning are blended with the latest technology; all students in the senior school have an allocated iPad to use in the classroom and to facilitate independent learning. A learning development team is on hand to help pupils who need additional support, while a stretch and challenge programme encourages a growth mindset and extends learners to reach their full potential. Pupils have a huge number of sixth form destinations available when they reach the end of their GCSE years, including top Surrey independent schools and boarding schools further afield, such as Gordonstoun and Winchester College.
Beyond the classroom, there are plenty of opportunities for pupils at Duke of Kent School to explore their interests and find new talents. There’s a broad programme of after-school extra-curricular activities in the arts, drama, sports, music and culture, while all pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.
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Key information for Duke of Kent School
Head: Mrs Sue Knox
Address: Duke of Kent School, Peaslake Road, Ewhurst, Surrey, GU6 7NS
County: Surrey
Admissions contact: Jane Hopwood – [email protected], 01483 722313
Age range and gender: 3–16, co-educational
Number of pupils: 314
Open day date: Thursday 23rd February and Thursday 11th May 2023 – book a visit online
Overview of selection procedure: CAT4 assessment and interview
Registration closes: undisclosed
Assessment date: November in Year 6
Duke of Kent School fees and financial assistance
The current senior school fees for pupils in Years 7–8 at Duke of Kent School are £6,605 per term. Fees rise to £6,870 per term for pupils in Years 9–11. Termly fees include the cost of all food and refreshments (including snacks, breakfast, lunch and tea), curriculum-based school trips and textbooks, extra-curricular activities and Chromebooks for senior school pupils.
The Board of Governors at Duke of Kent School are committed to broadening access to the school by offering eligible parents means-tested financial support, known as bursaries. Bursary awards can be in place for as short as one term, or for several years, depending on the family’s need. Awards can range upwards from 10% upwards of the day fees. For more information, contact the finance manager at Duke of Kent School.
There is a small but broad scholarship programme in place at the school. Candidates applying for entry to the senior school may apply for an academic, art, computer science, music, performing arts, sports, or all-rounder scholarship. The financial value of scholarship awards is confidential between parents and the school; any discount offered is applied to the school fees. Further information about scholarships can be obtained from the registrar.
Duke of Kent School offers sibling discounts to the third child, and subsequent children, who are enrolled at the school at the same time.
Duke of Kent School term dates
The term dates at Duke of Kent School for 2022–23 are:
Autumn term: 7th September – 9th December 2022
Half term: 15th–30th October 2022
Spring term: 4th January –24th March 2023
Half term: 11th–19th February 2023
Summer term: 18th April – 8th July 2023
Half term: 27th May – 4th June 2023
The confirmed term dates at Duke of Kent School for 2023–24 are:
Autumn term: 5th September – 8th December 2023
Half term: 14th–29th October 2023
Admissions process for Year 7 entry to Duke of Kent School
The admissions process for Year 7 entry to Duke of Kent School in 2023 is now closed. The next admissions cycle for Year 7 entry to Duke of Kent School is for 2024.
To put your child’s name down for a place at Duke of Kent School, you will need to complete the registration form and pay a non-refundable registration fee of £100.
All children who have been registered for Year 7 entry will be invited to an assessment day at the school in November of Year 6. They will have interviews with members of staff at Duke of Kent School and will sit the CAT4 Assessment (see more details about this below).
Children who are applying for a scholarship will have additional assessments:
Academic scholarships: candidates will sit extension papers in English and maths following the general assessment morning
All-rounder scholarships: candidates will sit extension papers in English and maths following the general assessment morning, and have an interview with the head. They will also need to present a personal portfolio showing significant talent and potential in at least two of the following areas: academia, art, computer science, music, performing arts, and sport.
Art scholarships: candidates should provide a portfolio of artistic work. They will be invited to an informal interview with the head of art and design, and they will be assessed on their sketchbooks, completed drawings/paintings/sculptures, and examples of photographic work.
Computer science scholarships: candidates will have a 30-minute programming task and a 10-15 minute interview with the head of department. They will need to bring examples of completed programmes to their assessment.
Music scholarships: candidates should be able to demonstrate musical ability of at least Grade 3 standard and should be working towards Grade 4-5 standard on their first instrument. They will be asked to play two contrasting pieces on their first instrument (and an additional piece, if a second instrument is offered), and they will need to write a paragraph of two about their passion for music and their musical background. They will also have an interview with the director of music.
Performing arts scholarships: candidates will be invited to an interview with the head of performing arts and will have an audition. This will consist of a performance (either of two contrasting monologues or one monologue and one dance/movement performance and an improvisation task.
Sports scholarships: candidates should be performing at a high level of performance in at least two sports and demonstrate a very good level of fitness. They will be invited to sports-based assessments, which will include small-sided matches, and interviews with either the director of sport or the head of girls’ games.
The 11 plus exam at Duke of Kent School
Children who are registered for Year 7 entry to Duke of Kent School will take the CAT4 assessment in early November of Year 6. This test, set by GL Assessment, is one of the UK’s leading providers of formative exams and is designed to measure a child’s natural ability.
The test is taken online and lasts 72 minutes. Children are assessed in four ‘batteries’ across three main sections:
Non-verbal reasoning: children will be tested on their critical thinking and ability to solve problems and identify patterns using pictures and diagrams. There will be questions on figure classification and figure matrices.
Verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning: children will be assessed on their ability to solve problems using words and numbers. In the verbal reasoning section, children will need to answer questions on verbal classification and verbal analogies. In the numerical reasoning section, children will see questions on number analogies and number series.
Spatial ability: spatial reasoning involves transforming visual images in the mind. Children will have questions on figure analysis and figure recognition.
How to prepare for entry to Duke of Kent School
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