Information for Applicants
Duke of Kent School is a co-educational 3 – 16 School set in beautiful grounds in the
Surrey Hills. There are currently 216 pupils, the largest number in its history, made
up of boys and girls in an approximate split of 70% to 30%. For much of its history,
the School has been essentially a prep boarding school, first as Woolpit School and
then, from 1976, as the RAF Prep School, owned and governed by the RAF
Benevolent Fund.
However, since the mid 1990s it has changed over to becoming predominantly a day
school, drawing the vast majority of its pupils from a catchment area of around 20
miles, encompassing Cranleigh, Guildford, Dorking, Horsham and Godalming, as
well as a number of smaller villages, including very locally, Peaslake and Ewhurst.
While the School retains a small, high quality boarding provision, which is
administered and run by a dedicated Housemaster and House Parent team, it is as a
day school that it is now prospering – particularly so since the expansion in the older
age-range which was launched with our first Year 9 in September 2009.
The School is governed by a Board that is made up of very well qualified local
people, chaired by Mr Nicholas Ashman, who has been associated with Duke of
Kent School for more than ten years. The premises are owned by the Alexander
Duckham Memorial Trust Fund, to whom the School pays an annual commercial rent.
The School made a solid operating surplus in 2009 – 2010, which is expected to rise
significantly this year. A good deal of work has also been undertaken and completed
on many different areas of the School within that time period, confirming that the
School has a very solid financial base on which to build for the future.
The School is divided into a number of sections. The Nursery and Pre-Prep
(through to and including Year 2) has its own Head, Mrs Kathryn Macdonald and is
currently situated within the main teaching block. There have been discussions and
consideration given to the possibility of moving at least part of this provision into a
self-contained unit within the school grounds and the new Head will clearly have a
major input into decision making in this area. Currently the Nursery and Pre-Prep are
both single stream entry.
The Junior School (Years 3 – 5) is also currently single stream, but there is every
prospect of expansion in this age range, partly fuelled by the radical increase in
interest in the School following the older age-range being admitted. The Head of the
Junior School is Mrs Cathy Wilson, who is also Head of Girls’ Games. It is a
particularly smart and well-appointed part of the School, with its own library and
computer area – each of which offer good potential for further development.
The Senior School currently comprises Years 6 to 11, and the current Head
recommends, but does not prescribe (!) that it should be divided in two – Years 6 – 8,
and 9 – 11, so that the current importance of Year 8, in terms of CE and general
development and responsibility is retained, whilst allowing the oldest pupils to be
looked after separately as befits both their seniority and the challenge of public
examinations which they face. Currently responsibility for looking after the Senior
School is with Mr Felix Macdonald, as Head of Senior School and Mrs Jane Ives,
Deputy Head.
Responsibility for planning the curriculum and constructing the timetable is with the
Assistant Head, Mr Rob Eastment, who has played a very important role in helping
to launch the new Senior School. The Boarding Village is run by Housemaster, Mr
Nick Andrade, who lives in attached accommodation and who is ably supported both
by his wife, Laura.
Pupils at the School are generally above national average in their ability range. A
Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator, and a very well regarded Special Needs department
look after the needs of children with particular educational requirements. The School
has energetic and high quality sports, music and art departments, alongside the
potential to develop very strongly in drama. A wide variety of activities, and
supervised prep sessions for years 6 – 11 inclusive help to make up a busy and
productive curriculum which includes a standard day that runs from 8.20am until
7.30pm, when the last of the senior activities finish. In addition, there is a strong
programme of out of school visits and a number of weekend activities, including
camping on school grounds during the Summer Term. The School is planning to
enter senior pupils for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
The School is administered by a well-qualified and experienced Bursar, Chris Finill,
supported by an excellent works team, led by Site Manager, Niall Lucas. The
School Office is also very well served by the School Secretary, Mrs Jenny Monk,
and by the Registrar, Mrs Jane Hopwood, who also take joint responsibility for the
running of a very busy and successful part of the School.
It is worth emphasising that the recent ISI Inspection commented very favourably on
the commitment and high morale of all staff; going the extra mile for the pupils is a
standard part of the way in which the School operates.
What kind of Head is the School seeking?
Parameters are obviously only intended to give rough guidance, however the
successful applicant will certainly be high energy and well-qualified. Experience with
the full age-range is desirable, but it is true to say that catering for and developing the
academic and pastoral requirements of the older pupils currently presents the most
important new challenge.
Duke of Kent School is an exceptionally friendly and happy School and, even with
expanding numbers, a Head who gets to know all the pupils is required to ensure
continuity and to maintain the very good relations with parents which have been
established.
The extended school day requires a high level of commitment from the Head, and
some experience of boarding may be helpful – but is not essential. The Head will not
be required to run the boarding on a day-to-day basis. Nor will the Head be required
to live on site; personal and family requirements will be taken into account, and will
be reflected accordingly in any remuneration package. Whether living on or off site,
however, the successful candidate will be required to work long hours during term
and to lead and support the School in its wide-ranging educational objectives. In
return, the School offers an outstanding opportunity to develop and consolidate its
recent successes and to ensure a very bright future for all connected with it.