Duke of Kent School 11+ guide

Considering Duke of Kent School for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about 11+ entry. Learn how to apply, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

Key information for Duke of Kent School

• Address: Duke of Kent School, Peaslake Road, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7NS
• Age range and gender: boys and girls aged 3–16
• Type of school: independent day
• Number of students: 300+
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 11+ open days: throughout the year
• 11+ selection criteria: CAT4 test and interview
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
• 11+ scholarships: academic, art, music, performing arts, computer science, sport, all-rounder

About Duke of Kent School

Duke of Kent School is a small independent day school in Surrey for boys and girls aged 3–16. It was founded in 1976 by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. Since then it has continued to provide excellent education for its pupils.

Academic success is consistent at the school. Pupils regularly score highly in examination results across the board. A carefully planned curriculum offers a wide and varied range of subjects and activities.

The school day at Duke of Kent School is an extended one: the campus is open from 7.30am to 7.30pm. Pupils can opt to stay for the extended day if they wish to take advantage of the extra-curricular activities on offer. The school is situated amongst a large area of land, providing ample space for sport. An inspiring performing arts programme is also on offer.

Pupils’ wellbeing is a high priority for governors and school leaders. This includes both physical and mental provision. Duke of Kent School has a ‘growth mindset, operating on the principle that all learners can, when properly challenged and supported, achieve extraordinary progress.’

According to the 2024 ISI inspection, ‘the school’s values, such as kindness and respect, are ‘front and centre’ and permeate all aspects of school life.’ Duke of Kent School values diversity and pursues equal opportunities. It encourages pupils to exercise the values of tolerance, kindness, respect and empathy throughout their school life.

Dates for your diary

• Entrance exam: November in Year 6
• Interviews: November in Year 6

Duke of Kent School 11+ entrance exam

Children applying for 11+ entry to Duke of Kent School take an online cognitive abilities test, known by its abbreviated name CAT4.

The CAT4 is a non-adaptive test taken on a computer. It is designed to measure a child’s natural ability and gives schools a rounded view of their potential. Children applying to selective senior schools commonly sit a Level D CAT4 test, which is aimed at 11 year olds.

The test takes a little over an hour to complete. There are three parts, each with their own individually-timed sections:

• Part 1: non-verbal reasoning (20 minutes). Questions cover figure classification and figure matrices.
• Part 2: verbal and quantitative reasoning (26 minutes). Questions cover verbal classification, verbal analogies and number analogies.
• Part 3: quantitative and spatial reasoning (26 minutes). Questions cover number series, figure analysis and figure recognition.

Children applying to Duke of Kent School also have an interview with a member of staff. For more top tips and free interview resources, take a look at our guide to senior school interviews.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Duke of Kent School

Duke of Kent School is a selective school, and competition for places can be high. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the selection process.

Bitesize learning

It’s important to build a good knowledge base before school entrance exams. Your child should have a good understanding of the content they’ve been taught at school before testing their knowledge with practice tests.

Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

With Atom Home, you don’t need to worry about creating a study schedule. When you enter your target schools, you’ll get a bespoke learning plan tailored to your schools’ entrance exams. Know exactly what your child needs to do each week to confidently pass.

Read widely

Entrance exams test children’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list.

Hone curiosity

Selective schools are often looking for children who are interested in learning. You can help by supporting your child’s broader learning, their intellectual curiosity, and their passion for developing an understanding of the world.

Talk to your child about the world we live in and inspire an interest in current affairs with age-appropriate journalism. It’s also a good idea to make sure they’re benefitting from a rich variety of experiences, such as visiting libraries, museums and galleries.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with their knowledge of the exam topics, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Mock tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and refine exam technique. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning, while highlighting any knowledge gaps they might want to tackle before exam day.

When you set Duke of Kent School as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get CAT4 mock tests as part of their learning plan. Know what to expect on exam day.

Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.