Front Cover: Elian’s British School of La Nucía, Spain
TOGETHER WE’RE EXTRAORDINARY
Aatif Hassan Founder & Chairman
Aatif Hassan founded Dukes Education in 2015 and holds positions as Chairman of Cavendish Education and trustee of St James Independent Schools. He holds a British Army officer commission and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2019 for his contributions to education. He is also Chair of Dukes Foundation, trustee of the British Asian Trust and founding trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room.
CELEBRATING A DECADE OF
2025: EXCELLENCE
A 10th anniversary is a moment to reflect on the journey so far and to look ahead to the opportunities yet to come. In 2025, Dukes Education celebrates its first decade—a milestone that once felt like a distant dream.
I am deeply moved and grateful to everyone who has contributed to this extraordinary story. Together, we’ve built something remarkable: a community driven by the purpose of enabling young people to lead extraordinary lives through education.
To mark this significant anniversary, we wanted to celebrate not ourselves, but the people who make Dukes what it is—our students, staff,
families, and communities. This year, we will host the Dukes Festival of the Arts at the Royal Festival Hall, where over 950 students from across the Dukes family will showcase their talent on an iconic stage. Highlights include a 750-voice massed choir, chamber ensembles, soloists, and a full orchestra. It will be a truly unforgettable celebration of creativity, collaboration, and excellence.
Our second act of celebration is the launch of the Dukes Foundation’s bold new initiative to become the largest provider of transformational bursaries in the UK. By supporting 500 children from low-income families, the Foundation will give young people access to the opportunities, mentorship, and education that can transform their lives. This is more than a goal—it’s a moral imperative for a group committed to leading with heart.
A Decade of Resilience and Innovation
Over the past ten years, Dukes has grown from an ambitious vision into a trusted name in premium education. From Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic to global economic shocks and the introduction of VAT on school fees, the challenges have been significant. Yet, through it all, Dukes has not only endured but thrived. This is a testament to our exceptional teams, whose expertise and dedication continue to drive our success.
In 2024, we planned extensively for the UK government’s VAT legislation. Under Tim Fish’s leadership as CEO for the UK and Ireland, we have been able to absorb a proportion of these costs to support families. Meanwhile, David Fitzgerald, our new CEO for Europe, is spearheading our
expansion across the continent, with 10 settings joining our family, in Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Portugal and Romania during 2024. These appointments reflect our commitment to sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Innovation remains at the heart of our strategy. From hybrid schools offering flexible learning models, to pioneering the use of AI in the classroom, we are embracing opportunities to enhance teaching, improve the workload for educators, and accelerate learning outcomes for students. Leading this charge is our AI taskforce, under the guidance of David Goodhew, ensuring Dukes remains at the forefront of educational innovation.
The Heart of What We Do
While systems, processes, and policies provide the foundation for our work, our purpose is defined
by the quality of education we deliver. Education is the ‘poetry’ that animates the ‘plumbing’ of our organisation. In September, we are promoting Libby Nicholas to Group Education Director to drive quality across all our schools and colleges. Libby’s focus will be on sharing best practice, raising standards, and ensuring that every student benefits from an exceptional learning experience.
In an increasingly digital world, we remain steadfast in our belief in the power of human connection. Great teaching - rooted in passion, knowledge, and care - creates the transformative moments where children’s eyes light up with understanding. This is something AI cannot replicate, and it is where we will continue to invest our energy and resources.
Three Priorities for the Next Decade
As we look ahead, my vision for the next decade is focused on three core priorities: building an enduring brand, further developing our sustainable business model, and continuing to enhance the quality of education.
1. Building an Enduring Brand
From the beginning, Dukes was conceived as more than a schools group - it was built to embody a meaningful purpose. Over the past decade, we have established our brand as a trusted mark of excellence, not only for our schools but also for the communities we serve. Through professional development, cultural events, and staff awards, we embody ambition, compassion, and quality. A strong brand is one that inspires trust, and I am proud that Dukes is recognised for its integrity and impact.
Looking Ahead
As I reflect on the past decade, I am filled with gratitude for the resilience, creativity, and dedication of everyone who has shaped Dukes Education. I am equally excited about the road ahead. The challenges we face are real, but our commitment to delivering excellence in education is unwavering. I look forward to the next chapter of this incredible journey and thank all our stakeholders for their trust and belief in what we do.
Together, we will continue to enable young people to lead extraordinary lives.
2. Developing a Sustainable Business Model
Resilience has been the foundation of our growth. By implementing robust systems and processes, we have ensured that Dukes can adapt to challenges while continuing to thrive. Our ability to absorb external shocks (like VAT legislation in the UK) and support families reflects our prudent, sustainable approach. As we expand across Europe, these principles will remain central to our strategy, ensuring that our growth is both responsible and enduring.
3. Enhancing the Quality of Education
The quality of teaching remains the defining measure of our success. At the heart of our approach is the delivery unit, which unifies the sharing of knowledge and drives higher standards across all our schools. By focusing on collaboration and continuous improvement, we strengthen the very aspects of education that AI cannot replace: the personal connections, the inspiration, and the transformative power of great teaching.
Aatif Hassan Founder & Chairman
Scan to see... Dukes Education highlights from the past two years
It’s been 10 extraordinary years. The dedication, teamwork, and commitment of the whole Dukes family has shaped countless lives and created lasting memories. This milestone reflects our passion and perseverance. Here’s to celebrating the journey and embracing a future filled with growth, inspiration, and even greater achievements.
SEPTEMBER 2019
The inaugural Dukes Schools Conference
MARCH 2015
Dukes Education formally launched
SEPTEMBER 2019
Sancton Wood moves into new Bateman Street building. Eaton Square Prep moves into new building
OCTOBER 2019
Hopes and Dreams
Montessori Nursery School joins the Dukes family
NOVEMBER 2019
Radnor House School Twickenham joins the Dukes family
Summer Boarding Courses and Fine Arts College join Oxbridge Applications as part of the ‘Dukes’ organisation, US university application support is added to our consultancy offering 2015
AUGUST 2019
Broomfield House School, Kew Montessori and St Margarets Montessori join the Dukes family
CHRISTMAS 2019
The family, 1,000 people strong, sits down to Christmas dinner together
JULY 2019
Heathside School, Reflections Nursery, and Bright Beginnings join the Dukes family
JANUARY 2020
Bassett House, Orchard House, and Prospect House join the Dukes family 2020
Rochester Independent College joins the Dukes family 2016
Building the Crown, our culture book, is published
JUNE 2019
A-List UK joins the Dukes family
5
Cardiff Sixth Form College and Earlscliffe join the Dukes family 2017
MAY 2019
Active Education Group joins the Dukes family
The Dukes Publications series is launched: three market-leading titles on university admissions
APRIL 2019
The Lyceum moves into new building 2019
MARCH 2020
First Senior Leaders’ Conference
Knightsbridge School, Miss Daisy’s Nursery, Eaton Square, The Lyceum, Sancton Wood, and Twickenham Park Day Nursery join the Dukes family 2018
The Career Portal joins the Dukes family 2021
JANUARY 2021
FEBRUARY 2021
Chiswick & Bedford Park and St Andrew’s College join the Dukes family
MARCH 2021
Hampton Court House joins the Dukes family
DUKES TURNS
JUNE 2021
Eaton House Schools join the Dukes family
SEPTEMBER 2021
Broomwood Hall Lower, Broomwood Hall Upper, Northcote Lodge, Northwood Senior and The Kindergartens group join the Dukes family
SEPTEMBER 2021
Dukes completes purchase of Kneller Hall and announces that it will be the new home of an expanded Radnor House School
NOVEMBER 2021
Duchess of Cornwall attends Dukes Poetry Together event at Royal Geographical Society
JULY 2023
Notting Hill Prep and The Acorn Nursery join the Dukes family
JUNE 2023
Colégio Júlio Dinis, Porto, joins the Dukes family
MAY 2023
International Sharing School, Taguspark, Lisbon joins the Dukes family
APRIL 2023
The Institute of Education, Dublin, joins the Dukes family
AUGUST 2023
Her Majesty Queen Camilla attends Poetry Together Showcase
NOVEMBER 2023
IEP Group joins the Dukes family
JANUARY 2024
Pippa Pop-ins nursery schools and Bruce College, Cork join the Dukes family
MARCH 2024
Consilium joins the Dukes family
MAY 2024
International School of Athens joins the Dukes family
MARCH 2022
Devonshire House School joins the Dukes family 2022
MARCH 2022
Inaugural Dukes sustainable careers week
APRIL 2022
InvestIN Education & JK Educate join the Dukes family
MAY 2022
Dukes Club launches
JUNE 2022
The Pointer School in Blackheath joins the Dukes family
FEBRUARY 2023
Copperfield International School, Verbier, joins the Dukes family
JANUARY 2023
The family, 2,500 strong, gathers at Wembley Stadium for the Dukes Education conference
NOVEMBER 2022
United Lisbon
International School joins Dukes as first international member
SEPTEMBER 2022
CSFC opens new campus in Cambridge, and Eaton Square opens new Sixth Form college
SEPTEMBER 2024
Verita International School joins the Dukes family
JANUARY 2025
The second Dukes conference is held at Wembley Stadium, united under the theme ‘The Heart of Education’
JANUARY 2025
Colégio Luso Internacional de Braga joins the Dukes family
Ten years ago, our story began with a question...
“What
your sing?”
makes heart
Our story is remarkable, and it’s only just begun...
Scan to see... the Dukes journey over the last 10 years
WHAT DOES DUKES STAND FOR?
Leadership expands our purpose & values
LEADERSHIP
Inspiring self-leadership, presence and collaboration in ourselves and our children.
HIGH -PERFORMANCE ADVENTURE&INNOVATION
SERVICE
An innate sense of the greater good. Facilitating the success of others.
Being the best in your own terms – fulfilling potential at an individual level.
Cultivating curiosity, fun and discovery – making education be more than just exam results.
PURPOSE:
To empower our children to live an extraordinary life through education.
VALUES:
We lead with heart.
We love learning.
We’re a team.
We do it well.
MISSION: Leadership Service
High-performance Adventure & Innovation
VISION:
– Leader in Premium K12 and education services
– Operating in Western economies
– Thriving charitable Foundation offering transformational bursaries
– Thought leaders
– Best place to work in Education
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: Quality of Education Sustainable Business Model Brand
Doing
it well
So how will we measure whether it’s working?
Pupil numbers
Happiness
How many are coming to us?
How many are staying?
For how long?
Are our parents and pupils reporting that they are happy?
Educational outcomes
Are our academic programmes delivering?
Staff retention & satisfaction
Compliance
Financial stability
Do people love working with us?
Are we upholding rigorous standards of care?
Are we looking healthy enough to ensure we can provide quality education for our children in the coming years?
Dukes UK & Ireland
We started 2024 with Bruce College joining the Dukes family in late January, meaning that the best schools of their type in both Dublin - with the Institute of Educationand Cork, Ireland’s second city and home to Bruce, are now our most
Tim Fish, Dukes UK & Ireland CEO
westerly members. The geography does not preclude full involvement in all our activities and initiatives, and our 6th Dukes Renaissance Scholars Symposium will take place in Dublin in late March 2025.
The announcement by the new UK government in July 2024 that Value Added Tax (VAT) would be introduced on school fees from 1st January 2025 brought forward undeniably the single biggest challenge to private education in living memory. However, the independent sector has proved itself remarkably resilient to all types of threat over the years, most recently with Covid. Regrettably, small, individual schools are the ones most at risk in the current climate, and we are fortunate that the Dukes umbrella offers cover to our schools through scale and size. Of course, our families deserve the fullest of praise for their commitment and sacrifice
UNITED KINGDOM
IRELAND
to ensure continuity of education for their children in our care. In turn, we vow to do all we can to deliver an all-round offer of the highest quality.
With prep school leavers’ destination senior school lists the envy of many, and GCSE, A-level and Irish Leaving Certificate results in 2024 leading the way, we aim to improve continuously the academic outcomes for all. Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC) once again topped the A-level results UK league table, closely followed by its sister school in Cambridge.
CSFC’s sustained excellence over many years is truly remarkable.
The coming year will see us focus on how we can maximise the power of the collective through both the ‘village strategy’ and wider access to our Dukes Plus activities across our UK portfolio, with greater collaboration and improved opportunities for our pupils. As we work with our Dukes Europe colleagues, we will see stimulating professional development through teacher exchange, and exciting learning initiatives for
children through shared global themes across our curricula. Dukes Education’s 10th year promises much, and if we’ve learnt anything from the previous nine - it will deliver...!
With thanks for your muchvalued support.
Tim Fish Dukes UK & Ireland CEO
Dukes Europe
2024 was a transformative year for the European division of Dukes, as we expanded from 10 schools in Spain and Portugal to a thriving family of 22 schools spanning Spain, Portugal, Greece, Czechia, Croatia, Romania and Switzerland. This remarkable growth has unlocked new opportunities for collaboration on an unprecedented scale, enabling us to build strong networks both within and across countries. Collaboration will remain a cornerstone of our operations in Europe as we harness the benefits of our economies of scale, particularly in areas such as professional expertise, student engagement, and teacher exchange programmes.
In tandem with our growing number of schools, we have also expanded our European leadership structure. We now have a full complement of Managing Directors overseeing operations in Spain, Portugal, and Central Europe, supported by a Director of People, Chief Financial Officer, and Directors of Admissions and Marketing, Learning, and Property. High-performing school support teams are based in Spain and Czechia. At Dukes,
David Fitzgerald, Europe CEO
CROATIA
ROMANIA
GREECE
CZECHIA
PORTUGAL SPAIN
we firmly believe that our ability to innovate and thrive hinges on the quality of our people. I am thrilled with the outstanding leadership teams we have established across Europe and their dedication to delivering excellence.
The focus for 2024 has been threefold: welcoming our school communities into the Dukes family, building strong relationships, and gaining a deep understanding of the unique contexts of each
school. Alongside this, we have worked to embed Dukes Education’s processes and values and identify opportunities for future growth. As we look to 2025, our priorities will include further embedding highquality teaching and learning, strengthening the Dukes approach to safeguarding across all schools, and investing in the development of middle and senior leaders.
premium, independent education provider across Europe. Together, we are building on the outstanding foundations laid by our UK colleagues over the past decade and charting an ambitious course for the future.
David Fitzgerald Dukes Europe CEO
This is a truly exciting time for Dukes as we strive to become the leading
Meet the Family
Founded in 2015, Dukes brings together a carefully curated group of nurseries, schools, colleges, education consultancies and student experience organisations.
Our central teams are based in London and Madrid. From here, we serve our settings in the UK, Ireland and Europe, providing administrative support and training, whilst promoting high-performance, leadership, and well-being.
Colegio Internacional de Valladolid
Colégio Luso Internacional de Braga
Colégio Júlio Dinis
IRELAND Institute of Education Bruce College PORTUGAL
United Lisbon International School
Colegio Inglés English School of Asturias
UNITED KINGDOM
International Sharing School
Colegio Inglés Zaragoza
Engage International School Colegio Joyfe
International English School of Castellón
Elian’s British School of La Nucía
SPAIN
8 boarding schools 22 international schools
Prague Humanities Grammar School š.po
Beehive Square Primary School
American Academy in Prague
American Academy in Brno
JK Education
Copperfield International School SWITZERLAND
Verita International School 7 nursery brands 19 prep schools 14 senior schools 9 all through schools 7 Dukes Plus services
American Academy in Zagreb
International School of Athens
CROATIA
ROMANIA
GREECE
CZECHIA
Bambíno
United Kingdom
Ireland Wales Institute of Education
Cardiff Sixth Form College Bruce College
KEY:
Educational Setting: Nursery School
Preparatory School Senior School
Sixth Form College
Dukes Plus:
Ultimate Activity Camps
Summer Boarding Courses
InvestIN Education
* Opening soon
Sancton Wood Nursery, Cambridge
Sancton Wood School, Cambridge
St. Andrew’s College, Cambridge
Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cambridge Campus
Rochester Independent College
Reflections Day Nursery & Forest School
Hove Village Nurseries
Broomfield House School
Riverside Nursery Schools KEW MONTESSORI
Riverside Nursery Schools RICHMOND
Riverside Nursery Schools ST MARGARETS MONTESSORI
Riverside Nursery Schools TWICKENHAM PARK
Kneller Hall School*
Radnor House School
Radnor House Prep
Riverside Nursery Schools GROSVENOR HOUSE
Hampton Court House School
LONDON
Earlscliffe
Heathside School Hampstead
Devonshire House School
Bassett House School
Notting Hill Preparatory School
Pippa Pop-ins The Acorn Nursery
Hampstead Fine Arts College
Montessori Nursery School OLD STREET
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery School
Miss Daisy’s Nursery HYDE PARK
London Park School Mayfair
ANGEL Hopes and Dreams
Orchard House School The Lyceum School
Kindergartens POOH CORNER Miss Daisy’s Nursery CHELSEA
Knightsbridge School
Miss Daisy’s Nursery BROOK GREEN Miss Daisy’s Nursery KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Pippa Pop-ins
Prospect House School
Kindergartens MOUSE HOUSE
Kindergartens MOUSE HOLE
Broomwood Prep BOYS
Kindergartens CRESCENT II
Dukes Education DUKES HOUSE, BUCKINGHAM GATE
Eaton House Belgravia School
Eaton Square Prep School
Miss Daisy’s Nursery BELGRAVIA
London Park School Sixth
Kindergartens THE PARK
Eaton House THE MANOR GIRLS SCHOOL THE MANOR BOYS SCHOOL
Broomwood Prep GIRLS
London Park School Clapham
Broomwood Pre-prep
Kindergartens THE PARK
The Pointer School
Our Highlights: Little Dukes
Hopes and Dreams
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nurseries teamed up with the Dukes Club for a family fun day brimming with learning and exploration—from bringing beloved stories to life to encountering exotic creatures. It was a fantastic way to fully introduce the nursery’s nurturing environment to Dukes Club parents
The Kindergartens
There has been a big focus on the outdoor areas at The Kindergartens over the past year. Several of the nurseries have transformed their outdoor spaces to create calm, inviting environments which greatly enhance the children’s ability to explore and engage with nature, this, coupled with a brand-new Forest School lead, means that The Kindergartens are leading the way in sustainable outdoor education.
who might consider Hopes and Dreams for their younger children.
“In September, Hopes and Dreams celebrated 27 years of serving children and families, nurturing a lifelong love of learning through Montessori.”
Hove Village
With a fourth Hove Village Nursery now thriving on Brighton’s seafront, 2024 saw the team and children deepen their ties to the local community. Bloomsbury on the Beach’s beach school flourished, keeping their stretch of the shore litter-free and having plenty of fun along the way. Meanwhile, the New Church Road setting sponsored Lagoon Fest in Hove, demonstrating how Hove Village Nurseries are truly making their mark.
This year has been a period of exciting change at The Kindergartens with Natalie Atkins taking up a new post as Principal, two of the settings have completed their first full year of full time education with record numbers of children attending and Park 11 achieved a 10/10 score from the daynurseries.co.uk awards and now ranks among the top 30 nurseries in London.
Miss Daisy’s Nursery Schools
Miss Daisy’s celebrated the festive season with two exciting events: a wonderful private visit to Hamleys on Regent Street and a fun-filled Christmas fair for all of their families at Chelsea Town Hall. The children visited Hamleys before the store opened so they could engage in festive games and activities. The Christmas fair was a magical event with lots of traditional activities such as face painting, hook a duck, a snowball alley and of course, a visit from Santa!
Reflections
The annual Reflections Summer Fun Day, held to celebrate and thank our wonderful children and families, was bigger and better this year. Parents were encouraged to bring friends along, creating a welcoming, community-focused atmosphere. The entire day revolved around the fantastic learning opportunities our garden offers— providing children with handson experiences in exploration, creativity, and discovery, and fostering deeper connections with nature. It was a truly memorable day that highlighted the joy and growth our outdoor space inspires.
Pippa Pop-ins
We were delighted to welcome Pippa Pop-ins into the Little Dukes family in January 2024. These four well-established and much-loved nursery schools, recognised in West London for their traditional approach to Early Years education and their long-standing relationships with Dukes prep
schools, merged seamlessly into the group. The highlight of their year so far has most definitely been the long-standing sports day in South Park where parents, children, and staff team alike enjoyed races, celebrations and a wonderful array of home-cooked afternoon treats.
Riverside
Among the many exciting events and celebrations held throughout the year, the Halloween fun day was one of the biggest hits. The children loved exploring new things and had lots of fun with creepy crawlies and pumpkins.
Our Highlights: Prep & Senior
Bassett House
At Bassett House, the focus has been on the importance of remembrance in the community. Pupils learned about the sacrifice made by the North Kensington community 100 years ago and explored the history of Kensington Memorial Park, which was offered as a public space in 1926. This space, which is used daily for breaks and lunchtimes by Bassett pupils, was created to honour those who lost their lives during the Great War.
To mark the occasion, each pupil and member of staff gathered around the park’s memorial garden for the first time in Bassett’s history and observed a poignant two-
Broomfield House
minute silence. This act of collective reflection served as a moving reminder of the importance of remembrance and the legacy of
community sacrifice. Taking part in this tribute deepened Bassett pupils’ understanding of their local area, and the power of community.
Rewilding is transforming Broomfield House School as part of a growing global movement to restore biodiversity. We are proud
of our sustainability strategy, which includes planting a tree in the Scottish Highlands for every new pupil joining the school.
Perhaps the most noticeable recent change has been the transformation of a concrete car park into a wonderful outdoor learning space, now a peaceful, nature-filled area designed for all children to enjoy. Backed by research showing that spending time in nature reduces stress and enhances mental wellbeing, this development project is part of a broader vision to nurture well-rounded individuals who understand the importance of sustainability. The transition from concrete to nature is not just about restoring wildlife; it is also about creating a space that offers enriching educational opportunities for our children.
Broomwood
The Broomwood Bear is a familiar character who welcomes our youngest children into school at the start of the year and accompanies them to community events, festivals, and celebrations. This year he made a guest appearance on the Dukes Education stand at the Independent Schools Show, where he was a popular figure with adults and youngsters alike.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase the school’s warmth and humour, whilst talking more seriously about its unique approach to education and its outstanding results.”
Staff at Broomwood are keen to make new families and pupils welcome and they want every child to feel cherished from the moment they apply. The smallest children get to know the bear in the build-up to starting school. Every prospective child for pre-school and Reception is sent a specially designed storybook about going to school Little Bear goes to Broomwood which features Broomwood classrooms and pupils. Children joining also receive a Broomwood Bear birthday card and teddy, as well as being invited to a Teddy Bear’s Picnic in advance of the first day.
Copperfield
Copperfield International School launched its new Mountain Leadership Programme (MLP), designed specifically for secondary students. The programme emphasises teamwork, resilience, and leadership development through a series of outdoor expeditions. Despite varying weather conditions, students have successfully completed challenging hikes to stunning alpine destinations like Le Grammont and Rogneux.
The energy and enthusiasm during these events have been incredible, creating unforgettable experiences for everyone involved. These weekend expeditions play a key role in building lasting friendships among students and creating a supportive community. Through a series of expeditions and challenges across the year, students will develop essential outdoor
skills, whilst building confidence and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie. This programme marks a bold step forward in the school’s commitment to experiential learning and personal growth.
“The sense of achievement, overcoming and sharing challenges with my friends has felt amazing especially when you are rewarded by a great view from the summits.”
Devonshire House
Devonshire House School spearheaded a gathering of young scientific minds, hosting a Year 7 Science Fair for participants from local state and independent schools. The event saw over 100 pupils from 20 schools from the Hampstead area, with each pupil bringing their unique project and an eagerness to learn from one another. The event was sponsored by local favourite, Daunt Books, adding a layer of community involvement in this inaugural event.
Students presented their projects, which ranged from perfecting biscuit-dunking techniques to proposing new sustainable energy solutions, to other students, science teachers, and visiting parents. The variety of projects on display was a testament to the creativity within our local schools. Highlighting the intersection of science and popular culture, TikTok sensation and TV personality Francis Bourgeois kindly supported the event, engaging with students, offering words of encouragement, and picking the ultimate competition winners and overseeing the separate teambased engineering challengerailway bridge-building competition.
Eaton House Belgravia
Eaton House Belgravia has fasttracked many changes in the last six months, creating the ‘Eaton House Belgravia Edge’, working closely with parents and fitting the school even more to be a superhighway to 7+ and 8+ exams.
For children from age 2, compound learning has been implemented in an accumulative and responsible manner, alongside rich and meaningful learning experiences, building an even stronger foundation for 7+ and 8+ examination success.
Early morning, targeted support sessions have been introduced, designed to support all children in achieving high attainment and to challenge those who are gifted and talented across the curriculum. To support pupils’ well-being, outdoor play and games sessions have been extended and each class participates in Outdoor Learning every week. All these changes taken together ensure that the children’s school experience is balanced, broad and unrivalled.
Eaton House The Manor
In June, the Eaton House The Manor community gathered to celebrate 30 glorious years of Eaton House The Manor at St Luke’s church, Battersea. Principal, Mrs Segrave, gave an inspirational speech, recalling what a privilege it had been to serve as a teacher at Eaton House The Manor for such a long time. A wonderful event featuring hymns, music and poems followed, with thanks for all the blessings that life at Eaton House offered.
Dukes Chairman and Founder, Aatif Hassan, gave the closing remarks. With Sarah Segrave, Sebastian Hepher and Jeremy Edwards, all the former EHTM Prep heads attended
and were joined by two other exEaton House heads, Lucy Watts, the former Headmistress of Eaton House Belgravia and Philippa Cawthorne, former Headmistress of Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep and current Head of Well-being for Eaton House Schools. This made it a celebration of Eaton House The Manor life, past and present, and represented all the generations of the schools’ success.
Eaton Square Prep
Eaton Square Prep celebrates the recognition they received during the January 2024 ISI EQI inspection. The visiting inspection team found excellence across all areas of the school, but the school was especially proud to have been awarded the highly coveted, but rarely given, Significant Strength for their inclusion practices. This recognition highlighted the exceptional support provided for a wide range of pupils, including the more able, those with English as an Additional Language, and children with additional needs.
The inspection team praised the amazing progress and development made by these groups. This was evidenced by comprehensive data on each child, including senior school offers and academic awards, demonstrating the remarkable strides
that pupils have made, and continue to make, from their individual starting points. Eaton Square Prep is proud to
Hampton Court House School
The Hampton Court House School’s Community Garden achieved the Royal Horticultural Society’s
Level 5 School Garden Award, the highest award-level possible. This remarkable achievement comes just
be recognised as a shining example for other schools in this vital area.
two years after the garden was first conceived. The garden is a shared space for parents, children, and teachers, offering a mix of fruit, vegetables, and pollinator-friendly plants. Sustainable practice is at the heart of its maintenance and much of the garden is crafted from reused materials.
The thriving garden is used for outdoor lessons and is maintained by a dedicated team of parents and teachers. The garden also serves as a quiet sanctuary for students accessing counselling services, offering a tranquil space for reflection. Additionally, it has become a haven for wildlife. This thriving ecosystem reflects the school’s commitment to sustainability and community well-being.
Heathside School Hampstead
This year, Heathside has thrived with remarkable academic achievements and creative endeavours. Students have truly flourished, and the school community has grown stronger than ever.
As the end of this fruitful year drew near, the school entered into the festive spirit with Year 5 and the Chamber Choir carol singing outside the Royal Free Hospital in
Knightsbridge School
This year, Knightsbridge invited Junior School students from Years 3 - 6 to explore the exciting world of the Senior School in a whole new way. Each participant received their Night at Knightsbridge Passport, stamped with pride as they journeyed through each activity, just like true adventurers.
GCSE Art students attended an unforgettable time of their own – a workshop with shoe design icon, Jimmy Choo. Along with their families, the children attended an inspiring workshop at the London Fashion Academy in Mayfair. After creating some incredible designs, students benefited from Mr Choo’s creative wisdom and learnt the fundamentals of shoe design. The event culminated in an inspiring talk about his professional career and notable designs, before signing one of his designs for Knightsbridge School.
Hampstead in aid of the Royal Free Charity, the NHS charity partner of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Selected by the children as the school’s charity of the year, the Royal Free Charity is a cause close to the entire Heathside community’s heart, and the children were proud to share the joy of the season while giving back to such an important organisation.
London Park School Clapham
The last year has been one of pride and celebration at London Park School Clapham. The school achieved several significant milestones that highlight the dedication and hard work of students, staff, and the entire school community. A significant change was the relocation to the new building. This move was a monumental task but everyone adapted quickly to the new environment. In June, Ofsted inspectors were welcomed into the school, resulting in an ‘Outstanding’ rating in all areas - a remarkable achievement that is testament to the dedication and excellence demonstrated by students and staff.
During the inspection, the school community showcased the school’s nurturing and dynamic learning environment we have cultivated. The inspectors were particularly impressed with student engagement, staff dedication and the schools’ culture. Notably, the inspection concluded with no recommendations for improvement, underscoring the exceptional standards that had been achieved.
“The school was excited to continue working together to provide an enriching and supportive environment for all students.”
London Park School Mayfair
Brave London Park School Mayfair
Year 7 students took centre stage for a spine-chilling promenadestyle Haunted House performance that left parents both wowed and wonderfully spooked. Set across different areas of the school, transformed with eerie cobwebs, creepy spiders, and lurking skeletons, the play wove together spooky tales that kept the audience on edge.
What made this experience truly remarkable was the enthusiastic participation of every student, regardless of their acting experience. Their ability to put on a remarkable show less than a term into their senior school journey, made both staff and parents immensely proud.
Orchard House School
In September, Orchard House School and Chiswick and Bedford Park Prep came together to form the new Orchard House School. On the first day, our pupils arrived in their newly-designed red and navy uniforms, excited to see not only their old classmates, but to meet new ones too. With the merger came a full school refurbishment, and new state-of-the-art facilities. The Parent’s Association helped
Notting Hill Prep
The NHP Foundation has proudly supported 54 pupils with fullyfunded bursaries over the last 15 years, transforming lives through education. Currently, nine pupils in Years 4 to 8 benefit from our 110% bursary programme.
To mark NHP’s 20th anniversary last year, we launched an ambitious fundraising drive that exceeded all expectations. The Bursary Bonanza raised a phenomenal £137,000, far surpassing our £100,000 target and funding five pupils for
two years. Meanwhile, our ‘20 for 20’ challenge saw students raise an impressive £8,000 for Radius, our impactful Community Partnerships Programme. Radius continues to strengthen ties with local schools through initiatives like the Notting Hill Children’s Community Choir, STEM roadshows, and interschool competitions. With these achievements as a foundation, we’re setting our sights even higher; expanding Radius and reaching our goal of supporting 15 bursary pupils by 2030.
to put together an amazing Team Building day for students who spent a day off site with their new peers. In small teams, the children worked together to overcome a number of different challenges, designed to encourage communication and teamwork. The day was a great success, allowing our staff and pupils to grow and strengthen the OHS community.
Prospect House
With pastoral care and well-being at the very heart of Prospect House’s core values, it was a special week when Children’s Mental Health Week was combined with the highly anticipated annual ‘Book Week’, where life in and beyond the classroom got even more exciting. Dressed to express themselves, the children wrote speeches, read and walked with their ‘buddies’, engaged with a therapy dog, and made hot chocolate and s’mores in The Hollow. Carrying out creative activities in The Hollow was certainly no one-off; weekly Forest School sessions take place in this on-site outdoor learning
Radnor House Twickenham
area. In addition to this, with the vast expanses of Putney Heath and Wimbledon Common just on the doorstep, the children often venture here for both well-being walks and outdoor learning lessons. Map reading, lighting fires, and scavenger hunts are just a few examples of the ways in which the children develop their problem-solving, communication skills and teamwork whilst enjoying the fresh air and nature; a sure way of encouraging children to engage with a space that feels calm, inviting, and connected to the world around them.
Pupils in Years 7 to 9 undertake an innovative, interdisciplinary mini-curriculum called Konnections, focused on creativity, accountability and collaboration. In November, Year 7 pupils had a trip to Twickenham Stadium as part of the programme where they focussed on the impact the stadium has on the local community. Konnections helps pupils to develop an appreciation of skills that are transferable across the curriculum and encourages them to see through the confines of classroom walls, into our local community and beyond. A week later, it was the turn
of the Sixth Form students to make their mark beyond the classroom as thirteen students attended the Peter Jones Foundation Awards Ceremony at The Pelligon, Canary Wharf. The event was a celebration of the Tycoon Enterprise Competition and the launch of the next round. Participating teams write a business plan and acquire a good will loan of £3,000 from Peter Jones to start a business. Students compete nationally through a kick-starter style platform in a controlled environment. One of our students courageously pitched her initial idea to Peter Jones himself.
Radnor House Prep
In March, pupils of Radnor House Prep spent a very chilly night in the playground under cardboard dwellings they had created themselves. The pupils were aged 7 - 11 and, despite the cold, they all said it was one of the best events of the year.
“Over
£3,000 was raised for the local charity, SPEAR, who support people experiencing homelessness in southwest London.”
Sancton Wood
In October, we held our annual Careers Day at the Senior School, providing older students with a unique opportunity to hear from professionals across various industries. This event is designed to help students explore potential career paths and identify those that might suit their interests and skills. An inspiring session hosted by career specialist and Dukes partner, InvestIN, set the tone of exploration and discovery. Students could then choose from an impressive array of 24 different career talks, from animal behaviour to theoretical physics.
Careers Day is a key component of Sancton Wood’s Post16 programme, which was recognised as a finalist in last year’s Independent School of the Year Awards. Careers Day plays a crucial role in this programme, bringing abstract concepts to life and potentially sparking interest in future academic or professional pursuits.
The Lyceum
Broadening the provision at The Lyceum has been the school’s focus in 2024, achieved by successfully embedding STEAM within the school curriculum and introducing AR and AI within the children’s lessons. All the children now receive one traditional computing lesson per week and one topic-based STEAM lesson which has proved highly popular and has helped provide them with the skills they may require in their future careers.
The Lyceum held their very first STEAM fair in the autumn term where the children in Reception showcased their coding and programming skills through
The Pointer School
Students starting back at Pointers in September were amazed to see the familiar figure of the Coldstream guard who stands in the entrance, springs to life and greets them to celebrate the launch of the redeveloped ground floor. The excitement didn’t stop there - with plenty of inspiring new things to see inside the building, from a table made of over 20,000 pencils to a telephone box that reads stories when pupils answer the phone.
It’s not all about the new, though: in the spirit of sustainability, important items from the school’s history have been given a new lease of life, from the antique toy planes that now zoom overhead in the school office to the old stained-glass door that stands proudly framed in the hallway. Even the classrooms have been upgraded, with custommade antique-style teaching walls installed to blend the latest
“STEAM sits perfectly within The Lyceum’s new vision of providing an education for today, tomorrow and the future.”
homemade rockets while the Year 5 and 6 children displayed their AR presentations on book reviews of their merge cubes.
technology with the Pointers vintage aesthetic. Who knew the first day back to school could be so exciting?!
Our Highlights: College & Sixth Form
Bruce College
In the first year as part of the Dukes family, Bruce College students achieved outstanding Leaving certificate results. Thirtynine students achieved perfect to near-perfect scores of 600
points or higher. Overall results were exceptional and well ahead of national average. Students are now dispersed across all the top universities in Ireland including Trinity College, Queens university,
UCC, and the Royal College of Surgeons. Students from the 2024 cohort have also accepted places in Cambridge University, Kings College London, Dundee University, Queen Mary, Ulster University and Teesside.
Cardiff Sixth Form College
Cardiff Sixth Form College’s annual Cultural Event celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the college and is the highlight of the school year. Music, dance, speeches and prizes all form part of the occasion. The strong House system, which is core to the college’s identity, is also celebrated when the winning house is named in the fiercely competitive annual House Cup competition. There are performance opportunities aplenty at CSFC, which hosts two annual music recitals: an Eisteddfod festival and even an annual TEDx event. The performances at the Cultural
Event embody the vibrant nature of the college and this year we were treated to Indian dance, Chinese
traditional music, Vaughan-Williams and even Bruno Mars!
“For the second year running, Cardiff has been named as a finalist in the ISA Boarding School of the Year competition and the Independent Schools of the Year competition, for ‘International Student Experience’. Our Cultural Event embodies exactly why this is.”
Cardiff Sixth Form College Cambridge
The first cohort of students graduated from start-up college, CSFC Cambridge, this year. The college was launched in 2022 as the first sister school of CSFC with the aim of bringing the Cardiff academic excellence to Cambridge. The college was opened with a small cohort of students who have gone on to incredible academic
Earlscliffe
The Earlscliffe Basketball Academy continues to grow and excel. Players are competing in the national league with an impressive winning streak. University scholarship offers are now being received for the most ambitious of the squad. The Earlscliffe Basketball Academy provides a full training programme for both male and female players that adapts to the individual aims of the student. Some students are attending different team or skills sessions almost every day whilst others are mixing in occasionally only for some social fun.
achievements; their A-level results placed the college as third in the UK for A* grades. As the first group of students at the college, they played a central role in founding our college culture and ethos, not to mention helping us to create The Cambridge Edge™ super-curricular programme of lectures, academic department visits, mentoring
with Cambridge undergraduates and project work with university academics. As they begin the next stage of education at universities including Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Toronto and Edinburgh they leave behind a strong legacy and a rather unusual EPQ project creation, a nuclear fusor, handbuilt by former student Cesare.
Hampstead Fine Arts College
The Summer Exhibition in June was the highlight of the year, with students and parents gathered to celebrate everyone’s achievements. The College took over a local cinema to show the A-level students’ films on the big screen, followed by canapés and drinks with musical performances, in our flower-filled courtyard, from students across all the year groups. An exhibition of remarkable Photography, Graphics and Fine Art pieces was displayed throughout the College and prizes were awarded for academic and artistic excellence plus wider contributions to college life. The finale of the afternoon was the much-anticipated red-
carpet fashion show of beautifully creative and inventive clothing and accessories made in our Fashion/ Textiles classes, modelled by students and some brave staff.
Rochester Independent College
It’s been a momentous year for Rochester Independent College. In June, the college celebrated its 40th anniversary and former students, friends and fans of the college were invited to celebrate this milestone event at a garden party at the Star Hill site. The afternoon entailed a variety of showcases, from a RIC rock band, the recent cohort’s array of artwork, to the signature
celebratory berry cocktail, and an impressive firework display which topped off the day. Over 600 guests came to celebrate 40 fantastic years of Rochester Independent College, demonstrating the strength of the RIC community and the high esteem the college is held in.
During the autumn term, RIC’s brand-new facility opened.
“All-in-all a fabulous party, a tremendous tribute to everyone’s hard work over the year and a great send-off for our leavers.”
Northbank is an innovative space that redefines student accommodation and expands RIC’s boarding capacity to 180 students. The new building has 47 single, en-suite, study bedrooms, communal spaces, and classrooms designed to enhance the student experience. A standout feature is The Gowers Visual Arts Centre, named after a beloved RIC art teacher, which is dedicated to exploring A-level art subjects. The Northbank campus includes a landscaped well-being garden in the courtyard quadrangle, promoting health and wellness.
Northbank marks a significant milestone in RIC’s history, underscoring the College’s dedication to educational excellence while preserving its historic environment.
St Andrew’s College
In 2024, St Andrew’s celebrated an outstanding milestone in student achievement and well-being. Our Foundation Programme recorded its highest-ever results, showcasing the exceptional dedication of our students and the commitment of our
The Institute of Education
In addition to incredible results in the Leaving Certificate, the students at the Institute of Education, Dublin, continue to distinguish themselves. The Institute of Education was one of the few schools selected to represent the Ireland in the Oxford and Cambridge schools’ debates, held in the prestigious universities. Nare Paronyan and Lina Hassan travelled on consecutive weekends to tackle compelling and complex topics in the iconic and historic halls of the universities. Not only do we foster powerful speakers but powerful writers as 5th Year Clodagh Creedon came third in The Young Journalist of the Year Awards 2024 for her feature piece I Want to Live and Die Sober. Over 10,000 students take part in the programme ever year which is run by News Brands Ireland.
teaching staff. Similarly, our A-level students achieved excellent grades, paving the way for almost all of them to secure places at their firstchoice universities - a testament to the high academic standards and personalised support we provide.
Beyond academics, 2024 marked a transformative year for student happiness and well-being at St Andrew’s. We implemented targeted initiatives to foster a supportive and engaging school environment, prioritising mental health, inclusivity, and student voice. The results were evident in our significantly improved student retention rates, reflecting higher levels of satisfaction and belonging among our students.
These successes underscore St Andrews’ holistic approach to education, where academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with nurturing confident, resilient, and well-rounded individuals.
Scan to read... our Academic Highlights 2024
Our Highlights: Europe Portugal
Colégio Júlio Dinis
In 2024, Colégio Júlio Dinis proudly celebrated its 90th anniversary, making it one of the oldest educational institutions in the city of Porto. Over nearly a
International Sharing School
International Sharing School students, and 150 students from other international schools across Lisbon, took part in a university fair in October. In a series of insightful workshops and sessions, they covered crucial topics such as how to write a personal statement, how to choose a degree, tips on creating portfolios, and subjectspecific sessions in different fields including engineering, business, arts, psychology, humanities, and computer science. The fair
century, the school has embraced change, adopted innovative learning methods and enhanced its facilities to transform students’ educational experiences. The
newly-designed spaces are not only equipped with essential resources but also encourage a culture of engagement, creativity, and collaboration among students.
Colégio Júlio Dinis is committed to fostering a vibrant learning environment that nurtures wellrounded individuals. By equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world, they are prepared for future challenges. CJD remains dedicated to its mission of excellence in education, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential and make a positive impact in society.
featured representatives from around 25 UK universities, including the Universities of Bath, Warwick, Bristol, Birmingham and St Andrews.
The feedback from the students and parents who attended was overwhelmingly positive. They left the event with fresh ideas, valuable insights, and clear goals for their future academic and professional journeys. It was an enriching experience for everyone involved, and the
school is proud to have provided such a valuable opportunity for students and their families.
United Lisbon International School
This year, United Lisbon International School celebrated its inaugural cohort of IB graduates, an exceptional class of 47 students who have now gone on to prestigious universities worldwide, including the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Brown University, King’s College London, and the University
of Toronto. This milestone, and the impressive university destinations, reflect the hard work and dedication of both the graduates and the incredible efforts of the staff and faculty. It underscores the passion that the school has embodied since its opening four years ago, with these graduates holding
Spain
Colegio Inglés English School of Asturias
In June, 40 Year 9 students and four members of staff from The English School of Asturias took part in an exciting expedition to the Asturian mountains as part of the school’s ‘Asturian Adventures’ project. This year-long initiative is designed to
cultivate outdoor leadership skills while challenging students to develop a business plan for an adventure tourism venture. The trip involved navigating the hiking route, pitching tents at the campsite and an evening nature walk, deepening students’ appreciation for
a special place in its history as pioneers of the IB program.
United Lisbon has also welcomed its new Executive Director, Martin Harris, who brings valuable experience as an educator and leader from the UK. He aims to build upon the school’s excellent work while planning exciting developments for the future. Alongside this leadership transition, United Lisbon has opened a new building for secondary students and is set to further expand its campus with additional sports fields, classrooms, and a new auditorium. These enhancements promise to create an even more enriching educational environment for students, from Early Years to Grade 12.
the natural world and highlighted the importance of conservation.
The trip focuses on the practical skills such as first aid that prepare students for real-life, outdoor scenarios, instilling confidence and a sense of responsibility. Back at school, the students presented their business plans to a panel of ‘investors’ illustrating the project’s goal of blending education with practical experience.
“The
Asturian Adventures
project exemplifies the school’s commitment to experiential learning, equipping students with valuable skills for their future.”
Colegio Inglés Zaragoza
A significant achievement this year has been the outstanding result of the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) report, marking the school’s first official inspection of the British Curriculum in Early Years. The evaluation not only highlights the school’s commitment to maintaining high standards akin to those of prestigious British institutions but also underscores its unique position as the only school in Aragon implementing this curriculum.
The report praised the exceptional English proficiency of the students, showcasing their confidence and fluency from a young age. It also noted the enthusiastic engagement of students in their classes, attributing this to the teachers’ dedication to fostering a love of learning. The report commended
the highly qualified and experienced staff, many of whom have been with the school for many years, ensuring a consistent level of excellence. The school has secured approval for four more years without the need for further inspections, a testament
Colegio Internacional de Valladolid
Colegio Internacional de Valladolid is proud to have been included in the prestigious FORBES list of the 100 best schools in Spain and in the
list of the Best Schools 2024 of the search platform Mi Cole. Vallalodid is the only school in Castilla y León that offers real immersion in English
to the hard work and commitment of the Early Years team. The positive relationships between staff and students were emphasised, with the report simply stating, “Students are happy to be in school.”
at all stages, thanks to its bilingual education. Early Years and Primary follow the British Curriculum System. In the secondary years, the British methodology is combined with the national curriculum, allowing students to obtain a double qualification at the end of the stage: ESO + IGCSE. A bilingual Baccalaureate model, unique in our community, is also provided.
In addition, the school has been recognised as a Google Reference School by Google for Education in recognition of the effort of the entire educational community to facilitate student learning and its work for academic innovation.
Elian’s British School of La Nucía
In 2024, the school achieved a remarkable milestone; they now host students of no fewer than 41 different nationalities. In percentage terms, more than 50% of the student body is now international. This incredible diversity is a testament to the strength of the community and the trust families place in the school. Most of new students join the school after recommendations from friends, showcasing how families are truly the school’s greatest ambassadors.
Engage International School
Engage School unveiled its new 4 Cs educational programme: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Communication. This forwardthinking initiative incorporates active learning methodologies such as project-based learning, computational thinking, public speaking, and global learning.
As part of its strategic plan for infrastructure improvement, Engage International School has made a significant investment in transforming its Early Years facilities,
re-imagining learning spaces to meet the needs of young learners and support the development of 21st-century skills. The environment plays a key role in inspiring pupils and nurturing their growth and creativity. Walls and floors have been redesigned, natural light floods in and materials have been carefully chosen to reflect, and connect with, nature. Standout features include tree-like columns and beautifullycrafted wooden bleachers, creating a harmonious and inspiring space where young learners can thrive.
International English School of Castellón
During this academic year the school reached a special milestone – the proud celebration of the graduation of a group of students who have been at the school since they were just one-year-old. This
moment was not only significant for them as students but also deeply meaningful for the school to have seen them through their education from Early Years through to Year 13. Over these years, we prepared
them not just academically but also professionally, equipping them for their next chapter in life. The original group was joined by new students during the secondary years and all of the students successfully completed their baccalaureate studies, excelling in both A-levels and Spanish Certificate examinations.
To celebrate this incredible journey, the students walked through the school’s main hall, cheered on and waved goodbye by the entire school.
Colegio
For the fourth consecutive year, Colegio Joyfe students took part in the final of the international competition for high school students International Space Settlement
Design Competition (ISSDC) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The competition is for students to design projects on the colonisation and development of space settlements. It challenges
Rest of Europe
Consilium: American Academy in Brno
The inaugural Student Film Festival was held in June, showcasing the creativity and collaboration of the American Academy in Brno students. Throughout the week-long project, students were challenged to write, direct, and star in their own short films. This hands-on experience allowed them to explore storytelling, teamwork, and technical filmmaking skills, all while enhancing their confidence and creativity.
The festival concluded with a grand event—a red carpet welcome and cinema-style screening of all the films. The range of topics explored
by the students was impressive, from light-hearted comedies to thought-provoking dramas, with beloved teacher cameos adding an extra layer of fun. Following the screenings, students participated in an awards ceremony, where they voted in categories including Best Director, Best Soundtrack and Best Actor, adding an exciting element of peer recognition, fostering a sense of community and support among the students. This project not only developed practical skills in film production but also encouraged students to
young people to think creatively and collaborate as a team to face the issues related to life in space, such as settlement construction, sustainability, space engineering and resource management.
The Colegio Joyfe students were the only Spanish contingent in the Grand Final of the competition, demonstrating the level of excellence and dedication of the students and their teachers. Taking part in the final is the result of the students’ work in the NASA Project, a subject unique to Colegio Joyfe, where students have to put into practice scientific and mathematical knowledge and social and marketing skills. All of this takes place in an atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork, where the role of each person is essential to achieve a common goal.
express themselves, think critically, and collaborate in new ways.
Consilium: American Academy in Prague
In May, the school hosted an unforgettable production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by the talented freshmen. Through their hard work and dedication, the students transported their audience to fair Verona, where the timeless story of star-crossed lovers unfolded with passion, tragedy, and romance.
The play was the culmination of weeks spent studying Romeo and Juliet in the classroom, where students delved into the text’s themes, language, and characters. They then worked together to adapt the play according to their own perspectives, bringing fresh interpretations and personal insights to the classic story. This creative process allowed them to explore the play’s relevance to their own lives while developing a deeper
appreciation for Shakespeare’s work
The performance was more than just a display of creativity; it showcased the perseverance, teamwork, and commitment to excellence that our
Consilium: American Academy in Zagreb
The American Academy in Zagreb uses every day as an opportunity to celebrate the rich tapestry of diversity that makes the school community unique. This year marked a significant milestone as the school hosted its inaugural International Day, a vibrant
showcase of global cultures and community spirit. The event was a colourful display of the various backgrounds represented at our school, with students enthusiastically sharing their heritage from over 20 different countries. From mouth-watering
students brought to the stage. It was a true testament to their love for the arts and their desire to bring a classic to life in a way that resonates with audiences today.
cuisines that tantalised taste buds to captivating traditions that educated and entertained, the day was a true celebration of our international community.
The American Academy in Zagreb takes immense pride in the supportive environment that has been cultivated, where every member, from students to faculty, plays a crucial role. A special thanks goes to the incredible Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), whose collaboration and dedication were instrumental in bringing this event to life. The community looks forward to many more events in the future that honour the diversity, foster connections, and enrich the educational experience.
Bambíno Nurseries and Kindergartens in Prague had many highlights during the last school year, but none more special than their exciting ‘School in Nature’ trips. Twice a year, in both autumn and spring, children as young as four embark on a delightful three-day adventure, living and learning on a real working farm in the beautiful Moravian region of Czechia. Being away from home, some for the first time, didn’t daunt the young explorers, who eagerly immersed themselves in farm life, learning about sheep, cows, rabbits, and hens, as well as discovering how all those busy little bees make their honey.
These trips are more than just an opportunity to experience life in the countryside - each adventure is themed around a special subject. The last two were magical woodland creatures and a beloved children’s book character. The children are given tasks connected with these themes, working together toward a final goal, which is always rewarded in recognition of their hard work. The children have fun while embracing teamwork and gaining hands-on experiences that make these trips unforgettable. These adventures are a treasured part of the Bambíno experience, fostering curiosity and joy while introducing children to the beauty of the natural world.
Consilium: Pražské humanitní gymnasium
The school’s project on mental health started in January 2024. Pražské humanitní gymnasium was offered the opportunity to work on the topic by the organisation Rada
dětí a mládeže (Czech Council of Children and Youth) which later sponsored the idea. The focus was on the connection between mental health and well-being with the goal of educating as many people as possible through something familiar to many people – plants and herbs. Students discovered that there is a long and deep connection between mental health and plants and so it was decided to create a raised flowerbed to grow herbs that improve and support mental health and well-being.
Consilium: Beehive
Diversity and multicultural educational experiences are celebrated at Beehive. Students enjoy learning about and celebrating different holidays throughout the year with the help of our diverse teaching staff and family community. In the autumn, students learn about Diwali, Dušičky (a Czech day of remembrance and celebration of those who have passed), Thanksgiving, and Halloween.
The Halloween party is always eagerly anticipated. Students and their families enjoy using their creativity to assemble unique costumes for the costume competition, which students take very seriously. Spooky games, chilling music, and laughter fill the garden and warm up the chilly October night.
Along with this flowerbed, an information banner about herbs, well-being, and their relationship was created and the project has an Instagram profile that is active and growing. The group posts updates about the project, as well as information about herbs, wellbeing, and helpful tips for improving mental health. There are plans to expand the project by installing another flowerbed in the school garden to educate the students at our school.
Consilium: Bambíno Nurseries
Consilium: Square
Every year, ZŠ Square, is filled with kindness and a spirit of giving. This year, students raised funds at a Christmas market where they sold handmade crafts. The school council then decided where the collected money would go. As the students enjoy the relaxation that comes with practising yoga, they wanted to share these precious moments with children undergoing treatment for cancer. They contributed 35,000 CZK to Malá Jóga, an organisation which supports specially trained instructors to visit sick children in their homes. The chairwoman of this project, who collaborates with the Rehabilitation Clinic and the Hematology-Oncology Clinic of Motol University Hospital, also visited the school to personally thank students for making this possible.
International School of Athens
The International School of Athens (ISA), a longtime member of UNESCO’s Associated Schools Network, has fostered a twinning programme with the Sukaina bint Alhusain Girls School in Oman. Supported by the Greek Ministry of Education, Grade 9 and 10 students collaborated throughout the school year on creative, educational activities designed to promote the exchange of cultural heritage. Through this initiative, students deepened their understanding of cultural diversity, strengthened their sense of international-mindedness, and formed meaningful crosscultural bonds. The programme has enriched participants with broader global perspectives, improved
Verita
As part of the Verita 2.0 strategic plan for this year, six areas of growth have been identified: Teaching and Learning, Student Learning and Well-being, Curriculum and Assessment, Community and Home Partnership, Premises and Facilities, Finance and Resources. Changes that have been implemented include
communication and collaboration skills, and an enduring appreciation for cultural differences.
switching to GL Assessment, introducing workbooks and Century Platform, transitioning from 2 semesters to 3 terms and having 3 term report cards and 2 progress report cards for parents and adding academic workshops for Math, English and Science after school. In addition, uniform has been introduced for the first time in Verita and parents have been invited to workshops about social and emotional learning in school.
Verita joined the Dukes family of schools during its 10th year anniversary and an event was in November for parents, students and staff to celebrate the new partnership and the 10th anniversary. Kindness remains at the heart of everything at Verita and the school was proud that the celebration event also raised funds for an education charity project in Romania.
STUDENT SHOWCASE
Frank Maher Classical Music Award
Ai Lin Sun, Institute of Education, won the Frank Maher Classical Music award with tourde-force performances of Beethoven and Rachmaninoff.
Summer exhibition, Hampstead Fine Arts College
Maddie Whittaker, Hampstead Fine Arts College
Paria Khademi Kalantari, Hampstead Fine Arts College
Yichen Zhao, Institute of Education
Amelija Morkunaite, Rochester Independent College
Kimmy Yan, Rochester Independent College
Sourena Soroya, Rochester Independent College
Press Pass Award
Clodagh Creedon, Institute of Education, won the Press Pass Award, NewBrands Ireland’s Transition Year program Features Writing category with her story I Want to Live and Die Sober
Exceptional Results
Big Folkstone Sleep-out
Earlscliffe Interact Club President, Jayden and other Earlscliffe students took part in the Big
Folkestone Sleep-out raising over £7,500 for projects in the local community.
Cathy Lou, Cardiff Sixth Form College, achieved an astonishing 7 A*s in her A-levels including a phenomenal EPQ submission on the deleterious impacts of sleep deprivation. Cathy was offered a full scholarship to the University of Hong King to read Medicine.
I am really happy with my results. It’s not about working hard, it’s about enjoying your lessons and I had really supportive teachers.
COP29
A-Level Geography and Politics students from Earlscliffe joined forces with students from local Harvey Grammar School to take part in an immersive COP29 simulation enabling them to
grapple with some of the most pressing global environmental challenges. Tony Vaughan, Labour MP for Folkestone & Hythe officially opened the day with an insightful speech.
Zihan He, Institute of Education, is a finalist in The National Gallery of Ireland’s AIB Portrait Prize exhibition
Growing Green
Nathan Baker, Sancton Wood School, submitted his project on Hydroponics to TED-X and has produced a vertical hydroponics planting station in school to grow a variety of herbs.
Carla Mularkey, Institute of Education
George Moore, Rochester Independent College
Kanat Saulebayev, Rochester Independent College
DUKES ALUMNI
Dukes Connects
Earlscliffe Alumni Week
Following the hugely successful alumni event held in October 2023, Earlscliffe wanted to maintain regular contact with the members of their community who have now moved onto university and careers. In Alumni Week in May, the Earlscliffe team invited former students to an informal catch-up in St Pancras, London. Not only did London-based alumni attend, but students travelled from across the country to spend time reminiscing and enjoying each other’s company.
The highlight of the week was an Earlscliffe students versus ‘Old
2024 saw the launch of the Dukes Connects alumni platform. Five colleges are using the system, and Rochester Independent College and Hampstead Fine Arts College plan to go live in 2025. We are excited to be engaging with our alumni from across Dukes, building strong foundations for this network. Over time, the alumni association will become a platform for the exchange of ideas, creation of opportunities, mentoring and connecting with like-minded people who share a background in academic excellence.
Boys’ Alumni football match at the Folkestone Football Stadium. The current Earlscliffe football squad was challenged by ex-students from the previous 11 years. The final score was 7-5 to the current students.
Notting Hill Prep
NHP supports two Alumni events each year, a 16th and 18th birthday, led by class reps and supported by the school. Former student Emmanuelle (NHP Bursary Award 2013-2015) went on to attend Rugby School and the University of Bristol and now works in Culture Marketing at Red Bull.
Mentoring at CSFC Cambridge
Cardiff Sixth Form College alumni, now studying at prestigious institutions including Cambridge University and top London universities, are actively giving back to their alma mater. The thriving mentorship programme, now in its
Where are they now?
Iulia and Irina Lambrino
Iulia and Irina Lambrino, both former students at Earlscliffe, are closely involved in the Rotoract Club. Iulia is the current President of the Westminster International club and is in her final year at Queen Mary University of London studying
International Relations and Politics. Former Earlscliffe Head Girl, Irina, was made a Rotoract member at a recent club meeting and is now at Goldsmiths, University of London studying a Bachelor of Arts degree.
third year, fosters academic and personal growth. This year has been extra special as it is the first year that students who studied at CSFC Cambridge have come back to mentor the current students –a very special full-circle moment.
Vasilisa Korganova
Vasilisa joined Rochester Independent College from Moscow Central Arts School. Vasilisa produced a range of digital products through experimenting with new ideas and developing her existing creative strengths. Vasilisa is now a prize-winning animator who is currently exploring the fusion of traditional ink drawings with the digital format of webcomics.
Where are they now?
Ilva Gjuzi
A former student at St Andrew’s College, Ilva now works in the Office of the Albanian Prime Minister. After gaining outstanding A-level results, she studied Architecture at Cambridge University before returning to Albania and leading projects at the forefront of Albania’s development initiatives.
Kit Moore
Radnor House student Kit Moore’s interest in animals has come full circle. As a student, he discovered his passion for veterinary medicine during a 2018 Make a Difference Day at school, when he joined a group of peers on a visit to the Mayhew Animal Shelter and witnessed an operation. This experience inspired him to study Veterinary Medicine at the
Myles Ng
Myles Ng attended Cardiff Sixth Form College from 2019-2021, where he studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and completed an EPQ on cybersecurity. Myles recently completed the undergraduate Mathematics Tripos at the University of Cambridge, and is now working towards a Master’s degree in Astrophysics there.
University of Surrey. Recently, he returned to the shelter as a qualified vet to perform an operation himself, mirroring the moment that first sparked his ambition. Kit hopes that other students will find similar inspiration through hands-on learning, demonstrating how a single day can be the beginning of a lifechanging journey.
Former student from the Institute of Education, Eve McMahon, proudly represented Ireland in Sailing at the 2024 Summer Olympics, showcasing her
Louise Shanahan
Louise Shanahan, a former Bruce College student and Olympian, successfully defended her national senior 800m indoor title, showcasing her determination and continuing her impressive track and field legacy.
exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. As a rising star in competitive sailing, Eve’s remarkable journey exemplifies hard work, perseverance.
Sara Byrne
In September, former Bruce College student and now professional golfer, Sara Byrne, was the star of the GB & IRL win in the Curtis Cup.
Bruno Hawkins
Lily, a former student at the Institute of Education, made history at Gangwon 2024 as Ireland’s first athlete to compete in luge at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Former pupil at Broomwood Prep Boys (formerly Northcote Lodge), Gus Atkinson made his record-breaking cricket debut for England this summer.
Bruno Hawkins, former student at Hampton Court House School, is studying Medical Engineering at UCL. Bruno presented his work on the integration of computer vision on endoscopic spinal surgery at the IDEAL conference in April 2024. His abstract has been accepted for publication by the BMJ interventional, and health technologies section.
Eve McMahon
Lily Cooke
Gus Atkinson
Little Dukes continues to provide high-quality, innovative, industryleading childcare and had over 1,600 children in our care in 2024.
The Little Dukes brand has been consolidated across the settings and best practice and learning continues to be shared among the brands and individual settings. The consistent policies in place across the groups provide a common approach to care, ensuring that children receive high-quality early education with highly qualified educators. The common systems, Salesforce, Famly and bob that cover admissions, communication with parents and carers, and staff communications ensure that families and staff receive a high-quality experience when joining or on-boarding at a Little Dukes nursery.
The nursery admissions team works across the group and provides a swift and responsive service for potential new joiners.
Our People
Despite the nationwide recruitment crisis in Early Years, we have welcomed over 260 new members of staff to Little Dukes settings in 2024. We have worked hard to establish and deliver the Little Dukes training modules this year and nearly 40 courses have been delivered in-house and over 500 participants from the Nursery and School Early Years teams have attended. Feedback on the modules has been hugely positive with participants feeling that the training was engaging, tailored and relevant to their own unique settings.
The second Little Dukes Leaders’ Development Day took place in May. Over 50 Early Years Headteachers and curriculum leads attended the event which was themed around building a truly engaging and inspiring curriculum. Experts from across the industry shared their vision for pedagogical and focused learning areas (from Montessori and Reggia, through storytelling and STEM). It really was an inspiring day and participants left with some great ideas to reinvigorate their curriculum. The inaugural Little Dukes Forest School qualification took place for educators from across Dukes nurseries and schools. Facilitated by external trainers Under the
Hazels, the week was highly successful and was followed by a weekend course in the grounds of Kneller Hall.
Participants’ feedback was incredibly positive:
“I really appreciate the opportunity to have been on such an amazing course. I learnt a great deal and am now keen to continue my learning, put it into practice and watch the children thrive in our forest school sessions.”
“I really enjoyed the learning experience in the open environment and very excited to start this practice in my setting.”
“The course was well structured and engaging. The practitioners supported me through the whole training while practising and gaining strong practical and professional skills.” Scan to watch... the Little Dukes Leader’s Development Day film
Little Learners
Little Dukes Little Learners, our Early Years introduction to the Dukes Young Leaders Award, has been established in all settings. This year, we worked closely with the team at Famly to incorporate Little Dukes Little Learners into our nursery management app making it easier to link the Little Learners’ dispositions with the daily learning experiences, creating a family and team-friendly approach. With support from Dukes Sustainability Manager, Sally Cornelius, this year we incorporated sustainability actions into each of our dispositions
Feedback from parents has been very positive.
“As parents receiving the Little Dukes Little Learners report and seeing our 3-year-old helping other friends to zip their coats and helping them with gloves and hats was so emotional, the best thing we received so far. This is definitely worth celebrating as it’s promoting humility, compassion and humanity. Thank you”.
Staff have responded very positively to this shared curriculum element saying it feels “real and meaningful”. Each disposition is unique and carries statements which
are based not only on what children can do but also why they are doing it. This discovery of ‘why’ in each statement is effective when equipping children with skills for life which then enable them to be successful and confident when they move on to school.
Naz Usman, Principal of Hopes and Dreams who has been leading on the project said,
“The Little Dukes Little Learners curriculum and programme allows the children in our nurseries to progress through different stages (Starting My Journey, Building My Skills, Celebrating My Success) to celebrate their success by building upon their existing skills as well as learning new skills. The children are set objectives in areas such as Humility, Courage, Happiness, Honour, Compassion and Curiosity, demonstrating service to others and their communities.
Children are encouraged to achieve certain skills in developing self-awareness and practical skills which nurture their personal interests and talents.”
New Locations
Riverside Richmond opened its doors in February 2024 bringing a warm and welcoming Montessori nursery school to the area. Its beautiful, serene design, sensitively in keeping with the 114-year-old listed building has been a hit with parents and children alike, so much so that a third classroom and additional garden space has been developed and opened for January 2025.
Work has continued to develop the new Pippa Pop-ins site in Holland Park. Set to open in September 2025, the waiting list is already filling up and the team are excited to get into their new home and start teaching
The Hopes and Dreams team are preparing for the relocation of the Old Street nursery to The Lyceum School. The move will enable Hopes and Dreams to build on the strengths of our all-through model from nursery to prep school. There has been huge demand for the new space and plenty of families confirmed to start in the new year.
New Appointment
Natalie Atkins was promoted to Principal of The Kindergartens Nursery Schools after more than a decade of experience in the group. Natalie has overseen two of the nursery schools moving from term time to a yearround model that better suits the families in the local areas and is an exciting next step in the 30-year history of The Kindergartens. Crescent II and Mouse House SW18 nurseries continue to see waiting lists until 2026 with great word of mouth recommendations in the local communities.
Dukes Village
The team at Miss Daisy’s has been building the Dukes Village concept with children from two Miss Daisy’s nurseries visiting their local Dukes school, Eaton Square Prep, and enjoying a trial day at ‘big school. The children cooked, took part in an amazing science experiment wearing full lab coats and enjoyed the wonders of the STEAM room.
The team were delighted with the start to this academic year and have implemented vertical learning across all of Miss Daisy’s Nursery Schools. Children are now in mixedaged groups between two and four years old for part of the day, which has helped to build confidence for the younger ones, and a sense of responsibility with the older children in the same way that an older sibling would have. As a result, the children have settled well and the change is showing a positive effect on their readiness for school.
High-Quality Food
We continued to have a strong focus on providing nutritious and interesting menus for the children to enjoy. Emphasis is put on inspiring children to enjoy new food and to learn about what they eat and where it comes from. Our Little Dukes’ chefs attended a summer course though the London Early Years Foundation focusing on nutrition and innovation in Early Years mealtimes.
Dukes Plus is a family of specialised consultancy services and educational experience providers with the vision: To empower young people to live a happy and successful life. Made up of consultancy and experience provider organisations, Dukes Plus reaches over 1,500
We are here, so you can get there.
schools, over 5 million users and has over 100 corporate partners. 2024 has been a year of exciting developments and excellent growth for Dukes Plus. More students have been reached and positively impacted than ever before.
Integrated into Dukes Schools & Colleges
Dukes Plus has become a central feature in the offering to many of our own schools and colleges over the last year. Examples include:
Dukes Career School: Around 1,000 students from across Dukes completed this unique 21st-century skills focused programme, which culminated in assessment centres where students were challenged and assessed across multiple key disciplines.
Consultancy
A-List
US University specialist. Providing specialist support to international students since 2005.
The Medic Portal
The ‘Get into Medicine’ experts with millions of users. Trusted by over 50% of the Top 100 UK Schools.
The Lawyer Portal
Get into Law. Award-winning resources. In official partnership with the Law Society of England and Wales.
Dukes Tutoring
Bespoke private tutoring from 5+. Hand-picked tutors and proven results. 97.4% 11+ success rate.
Oxbridge Applications
Established in 1999, the unequivocal leader in Oxbridge admissions. 20% of all applicants use OA.
Summer Boarding Courses, welcoming 50+ nationalities to summer residential programmes, run out of several of our colleges.
11+ tuition support for our prep schools.
GCSE and A-level support for senior schools and colleges
University expert courses, on the key aptitude tests required for Oxbridge, Medicine and the US, for our schools and colleges.
Experience Providers
InvestIN
World class immersive experiences in London. The first UCAS accredited summer school. 15 industries, 50,000+ students attended. Aged 15-18 years.
Summer Boarding Courses
The UK’s number one multi-campus summer school at premier locations including Eton College, Oxford and Cambridge for students aged 6-17 years. 150+ nationalities attended.
Ultimate Activity Camps
Outstanding activity holiday childcare at renowned independent schools for children aged 4-14 years. Used by 17,000+ children each year.
Dukesplus.com
The platform, launched in 2023, provides clients with a onestop-shop, high-quality, premium suite of education services, focused on the education journey outside the classroom for children and young people from 4-18 years.
The site houses unique e-learning pathways - for example, aspiring medical students can work their way through a series of online modules building the key learnings needed from start to finish on their application journey.
Scan to visit... the new Dukes Plus platform
International expansion
Moving forward, our vision of creating unique educational opportunities for children aged 4-18 years old will increasingly be taken out to the international arena. This can be reflected through our brands successfully establishing enhanced connections with well over 500 international educational consultants and schools.
Integrated consultancy
The three Higher Education consultancies (A-List, Oxbridge Applications, The Careers Portal) have been integrated behind the scenes to create a more resilient operation driven by premium product, customer retention, lead generation and world-class conversion. The Consultancy division will also be joined by Dukes Tutoring.
Consultancy
Dukes Tutoring, formerly known as JK Educate, has continued to successfully provide individual, personalised tuition to students in EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3, GCSE, A-level and IB, as well as those seeking entrance exam support. Client feedback has shown that additional services such as individual assessments, mock exams, workshops and interview preparation have been extremely beneficial and well received.
This year, Dukes Tutoring is proud to have worked with several Dukes schools, providing bespoke tailor-made
Students successfully sat for 4+, 7+ 10+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ entrance exams
Global reach increased to include families in China, India, Canada, USA, Thailand and Europe as well as the UK
Outstanding progress was made by 30 GCSE students who began tutoring with grades of 5 and 6 and achieved a grade 7, 8 or 9 in their final exams
Hand-picked tutors supported a Year 9 student with home-schooling, using their subject knowledge and mentoring skills to integrate the student successfully back into school
What our clients say:
JK provides an incredible bespoke service for all things 11+…the service has been exceptional.”
We entrusted JK with our child’s GCSE preparation for two years, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. We’ve just received the GCSE results, and our child has truly excelled.”
I highly recommend JK Educate to any parent seeking exceptional support for their child’s academic development.”
projects. The team led 11+ and 13+ talks and individual mock interviews, supported groups with entrance exam preparation, as well as providing specialist teaching in a range of subjects from Latin, computer science, business studies, sociology and maths.
In 2025, Dukes Tutoring is looking forward to continuing working in partnership with Dukes schools and providing expert support to help all students to achieve their potential.
14,000+ hours of tuition to 500+ students
100%
of GCSE and A-level students who received tutoring support achieved or exceeded their predicted grades in 2023 - 2024
98% of 11+ students were offered places at one or more of their chosen independent schools
Trust Pilot rating
12 A-level students who began tutoring with grades C and B achieved a grade A or A* at A-level
Students who used support programmes from Oxbridge Applications for the most recent application cycle had triple the offer rate of average applicants for their course.
Schools also saw the impact of using Oxbridge Applications: University College School in Hampstead had its third-best year ever for Oxbridge acceptances following a year of support, and Tonbridge and Wellington had exceptional years, with 24 and 22 offers respectively. New school clients included Claremont FC, Royal Russell, North London Collegiate and the Mulberry Academy Trust.
Feedback for OA from customers continues to be exceptional; the residential interview prep weekend in November was a particular success in terms of positive feedback from parents and applicants.
A-List Education, which supports student’s applications to the top universities in the US, has had a transformational year. Its new website has more than doubled visits compared to 2023, and e-commerce now allows for direct website purchases. Product innovation has led to the creation of new products including one-day courses, essay masterclasses and interview workshops.
Acceptance rates continue to be industry-leading, with around 70% of clients receiving offers for their first-choice university. In total, A-List had nearly 300 acceptances, with all eight Ivy Leagues represented, including half of MIT’s UK student offers and a third of Stanford’s.
The majority of A-List students improve their SAT scores by 200 points or more, versus competitor average of 55 points:
The Lawyer Portal helps aspiring lawyers achieve their ambitions. An award-winning platform, its partners include law firms Clifford Chance, Milbank and RPC, as well as The University of Law and The Law Society of England & Wales.
The Medic Portal is the most recognised resource for supporting applicants to study medicine. It has taught over 50,000 students and worked with over 100 schools this year, including Eton, City of London and Haberdashers’. The Medic Portal’s recommend rate is over 90%.
Leading medical schools continue to work with The Medic Portal to source applicants for their courses from our audience: among them the universities of Swansea, Buckingham and Worcester.
In 2024 The Medic Portal became the first Dukes Plus brand to embed an AI-powered chatbot into its website. The bot is designed to provide customer support and guide on product suitability; adoption by customers has been positive and usage continues to grow.
Scan to try... the Medic Portal chatbot
Experience Providers
In 2024, InvestIN delivered transformative summer experiences to nearly 2,400 students from over 80 countries, supported by 240 industry professionals across more than 80 venues in London. This marked another successful year, with participant feedback averaging 8.5/10 and 100% of students in the final wave of programmes stating they would recommend InvestIN to a friend.
This year, InvestIN expanded its global footprint through an international roadshow, visiting around 30 countries and holding close to 750 meetings with schools worldwide. These efforts significantly increased international student participation and strengthened global partnerships.
A landmark achievement for 2024 was InvestIN’s accreditation, enabling students to gain a Level 3 Award in Work Experience, equivalent to eight UCAS points. This made InvestIN the world’s first summer school where students could earn UCAS points for work experience and receive a formal qualification.
InvestIN also continued to develop the Dukes Careers School, providing a comprehensive careers curriculum for students in Years 10–12. This programme equipped students with essential skills and knowledge to prepare them for their future careers.
Looking Ahead
InvestIN will build on the achievements of 2024 by continuing its focus on international growth, enhancing student experiences, and further expanding the Dukes Careers School to provide exceptional careerfocused opportunities for students worldwide.
This year, Ultimate Activity Camps implemented innovation and expansion across its programmes, with the successful trial of a new four-day Performance Academy, a bespoke programme at the prestigious Dragon School, Oxford, and our technology-based programme expanded to seven new locations, with the addition of our innovative online game-building workshops for children aged 8-14 years.
Collaboration with Summer Boarding Courses has been strengthened to provide a wider range of day camp experiences for visiting international students.
Amid this expansion, Ultimate Activity Camps proudly completed 18 Ofsted inspections, all of which met the required standards - an achievement unmatched by any other school holiday camp provider.
In addition to this, UAC has been working hard to raise funds for Helen & Douglas House Children’s Hospice with a charity staff skydive, sponsored art activities, clothing donations, bake sales and parent contributions.
Their new all-electric van is helping slice emissions along with a new 100% green-energy tariff, which is contributing to their target of becoming a net-zero company.
Looking ahead to 2025, UAC are excited to introduce their multi-activity and survival-based camps at six new independent schools (including some Dukes schools), plus a further rollout of the performance and technology-based camps. UAC is also looking forward to trialling a new Ultimate Cookery programme during the summer of 2025.
614 summer staff members
86,177 child days provided
46 locations used
£8,000+ raised for charity
16,392 bookings made
2024 has been an extraordinary year for SBC, as they continue to set the benchmark for excellence in summer education.
Global reach
This year SBC welcomed over 2,500 students to programmes from an impressive 105+ countries worldwide. It was particularly exciting to include the first students from East Timor, Afghanistan, and Sudan, further enhancing the diverse and vibrant international community and taking SBC to 155 nationalities represented to date.
Empowering futures through scholarships
SBC supported 43 talented students with fully-funded or partial scholarships, enabling them to participate in SBC’s world-class courses. This initiative reflects the unwavering commitment to making outstanding education accessible to students from all backgrounds.
Seven years at the top
For the seventh consecutive year, EL Gazette has honoured SBC as the UK’s number-one multi-campus summer school. This recognition underscores our continued dedication to providing an unparalleled educational experience.
Pioneering new programmes
Building on the strong partnership with the Dragon School in Oxford, SBC successfully launched an exciting new programme for young learners aged 8-12 years. This programme emphasises English learning through interactive, hands-on activities in core subjects such as maths, history, science, English, and art. It received outstanding feedback from students and parents, showcasing the demand for innovative, engaging educational experiences.
Exceptional staff and delivery
To deliver world-class programmes, over 300 temporary staff members were recruited and trained over the summer, who delivered inspiring programmes to students. Over 100 returning staff members were welcomed back, reflecting the strong connections and dedication within the SBC team.
Excursions
This year, SBC organised over 150 excursions to some of the UK’s most popular destinations, including London, Oxford, Thorpe Park, and Legoland, providing students with unforgettable cultural and recreational experiences, enriching their time.
CSFC CARDIFF
90.6%
A*-A grades A*-A
Six students gained at least five A*grades and one achieved six A*s
95 nationalities across the Dukes family with students coming from all over the world
ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE
31%
A*-A grades, pass rate 93%. Students gained places at top universities including Universities of Bath, Bristol, Edinburgh and LSE
HAMPSTEAD FINE ARTS COLLEGE
Record numbers of students accepted at top art schools including the Slade, Central St Martins, and Chelsea
849 international students in our colleges There are
106 new international day students
EARLSCLIFFE
Top UK Universities
Students gained places at top UK universities including King’s College, London, UCL and the Universities of Exeter, Newcastle, and Reading
CSFC CAMBRIDGE
92% of students earned places at Russell Group Universities
42% at the G5 Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College and UCL
ROCHESTER INDEPENDENT COLLEGE
57%
A*-B grades. Students gained places at top UK universities including Universities of Manchester and York
Russian-speaking markets & Eastern Europe
Ireland Switzerland Asia & Europe
West Africa
China & SE Asia
International Agents
Two special events were held in June at the new Dukes House. We welcomed UK education consultants, and international consultants representing international families, to visit our new home and meet senior leaders. The guests heard short talks from Heads and Principals about their schools and the Dukes Plus team about the education services they provide.
Jonathan Cuff Managing Director, Colleges
Henrietta Lightwood
David Ball
Sharon Ehimwenma
Zack Abdulhamid
Florence Chow
Eden Zhang
Tony Blignaut
Yasmin Lestari
Jasmine Nie
Matthew McLarty
Gianluca Polidori Musab Angudi
Richard Lawless Shu Han Chang Willow Herold
Callum Wiltshire
Hannah Leggett
Vickie Li
Jenny Seed Janine Funsch
Andrew Wood
Natalia Volchugova Svetlana Osipova
Scott Giles Group Sales & Marketing Director
NEW ADDITIONS
12
new family members in 2024
Pippa Pop-ins Nursery Schools
Fulham, London
Pippa Pop-ins, a group of four London nursery schools, joined the Dukes family in January. Established in 1992, it provides a values-based approach and a nurturing yet academically challenging environment. The partnership ensures continuity of the top-level care and education Pippa Pop-ins is renowned for.
Bruce College Cork, Ireland
One of the best-known schools in the Munster region, Bruce College is a co-educational school founded in 1990. The college joined the Dukes family in February and provides senior cycle tuition and exam preparation courses in 26 Leaving Certificate subjects to over 270 fulltime students and many thousands of part time students annually.
The Dukes family continued to grow in 2024.
The Dukes family grew in 2024 with new settings joining from Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, and the UK.
Consilium Czechia and Croatia
Founded in 2012, Consilium is an education group operating seven schools and services across Czechia and Croatia, with 250 staff serving over 1,500 students. Its portfolio includes three American Academies, a local curriculum school, three bilingual nursery/junior schools, an educational consultancy. Consilium joined the Dukes family in March.
International School of Athens Athens, Greece
The International School of Athens (ISA) joined the Dukes family in June. ISA serves 700 students and is the only international school in Greece to be an IB Continuum World School offering the three IB programmes, covering Kindergarten to grade 12. ISA is known for its sense of family and is the school is dedicated to fostering a love of learning, selfdiscipline and self-knowledge.
Verita Bucharest, Romania
Founded in 1982, Verita serves 600 children from Kindergarten to grade 12 in three locations in Bucharest. The school focuses on inquiry, emotional intelligence, and self-mastery—values that align closely with Dukes. Verita fosters a joyful learning culture that celebrates hard work and inspires extraordinary outcomes.
Colégio Luso Internacional de Braga Braga, Portugal
Established in 1999, Colégio Luso Internacional de Braga (CLIB) now serves over 370 students aged 3 to 18, providing a balanced, highquality education for the Portuguese and international community. CLIB nurtures curiosity, fosters academic excellence, and builds a community grounded in respect, service, and intercultural understanding.
Thank you to all those who made the Dukes Conference such a special day.
Scan to watch... highlights of the Dukes Conference
Scan to see... photos of our incredible 2025 award winners
Dukes External Awards
Schools
BROOMFIELD HOUSE
Listed in Spear’s Top 15 UK Prep Schools, Spear’s Schools Index
Listed in 100 leading private schools globally
BROOMWOOD
WINNER, Independent School of the Year – Well-being
EATON HOUSE BELGRAVIA
SHORTLISTED, Independent Schools of the Year
EATON HOUSE THE MANOR
SHORTLISTED, Independent Schools of the Year
HAMPTON COURT HOUSE
SHORTLISTED, Independent School of the Year
RHS Level 5 Award for School Community Garden
HEATHSIDE SCHOOL HAMPSTEAD
WINNER, inclusive SEN provision, Education Choices Magazine Awards
KNIGHTSBRIDGE SCHOOL
WINNER, Great for Community, Best of Best Preps Awards, The Week Independent Schools Guide
SHORTLISTED for London Independent Schools of the Year by Independent School Parent.
HIGHLY COMMENDED, most Creative Learning through Play category, Muddy Stilettos Awards 2024
FINALIST in the Education Choice Awards 2024 for Diversity and Inclusion in Sport
SHORTLISTED for the Chelsea Award by Sloane Square Magazine/Cadogan in Community Collaboration category
NOTTING HILL PREP
FINALIST, Tatler Schools Awards, Best Prep School
Re-accredited, Advanced Thinking School and remains the only one in the Primary category
ORCHARD HOUSE
WINNER, British Council International School Award
PROSPECT HOUSE
HIGHLY COMMENDED, Passionate about Sport, Muddy Stilettos
RADNOR HOUSE TWICKENHAM
Accredited Thinking School Status
SANCTON WOOD
SHORTLISTED, Independent Schools of the Year
THE LYCEUM
SHORTLISTED, Independent Schools of the Year
Colleges Little Dukes
CARDIFF SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
Independent Schools of the Year Awards – Independent School of the Year for International Student Experience
Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide, Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence, Wales
WINNER, ISA Boarding School of the Year
WINNER, ISA National Debate Competition – KS4–5 Category
WINNER, ISA National Art Competition – KS5 Drawing Category
EARLSCLIFFE
WINNER, Well-being Initiative, Kent Mental Health Well-being Awards
WINNER, Best All Rounder, Education Choices Magazine Awards
EUROPE
COLEGIO JOYFE WINNER of Professionalisation of an admissions department for improving recruitment and conversion, Club Excelencia en Gestión.
Dukes Inter School Events
Dukes Chess Championship: The Pointer School’s boys’ team
Dukes Swimming Gala, Winner: Eaton Square Prep
Dukes Athletics, Winner: Orchard House School
Dukes Netball Tournament, Winner: Orchard House School
MISS DAISY’S NURSERY SCHOOLS
Safeguarding, Compliance & Inspections
Inspections
A total of five schools, 16 nurseries have had successful, formal ISI and Ofsted inspections over the last academic year with two newly acquired nurseries also having good Ofsted outcomes prior to joining Dukes Education during 2024.
Radnor Prep School had a successful Ofsted routine inspection as a new school.
Name Change Approvals
Eaton Square Senior and Northwood Senior school received Ofsted approval for their name change to London Park School Mayfair and London Park School Sixth Form.
Chiswick and Bedford Park School became part of Orchard House School after successful material change approval.
Guidance and support
A total of 123 days of formal support has been provided from the Dukes Central team which has included live inspection support, health and safety audits, SCR / HR records administration, staff training workshops, telephone advice, and compliance support visits.
In addition, new, robust safeguarding audits and health and safety support and compliance visits have been undertaken across Little Dukes nurseries.
Minibus licensing
Blue Flag Transport Consultancy Ltd and Dukes Central team have continued to provide support to ensure legal regulatory compliance with our PSV minibus operations.
schools
5 have had successful, formal ISI and Ofsted inspections.
schools
3 had successful material change inspections.
nurseries
had successful Ofsted inspections prior to joining Dukes Education, had successful, formal Ofsted inspections.
DSL Development Day
This year’s DSL development day was held in May for safeguarding staff from all sectors of the Dukes family. Sessions were led by external speakers, including leading safeguarding lawyers and a former victim of sexual abuse, each giving a unique perspective from their experiences. The event was well received and positive feedback was given by staff from the schools, colleges and Dukes Plus organisations attending.
Safer Recruitment Training
This year, Dukes has delivered Safer Recruitment Consortium training for 72 staff from colleges, schools, nurseries and Dukes Plus. This face-to-face, high-level safer recruitment training is in addition to the online training also delivered.
Annual Safeguarding Reviews
A successful programme of annual safeguarding reviews of Dukes organisations ran through the year. All schools and colleges hold an Annual Safeguarding Review with their governors, in which there is an opportunity to reflect on trends from the past year and how this will then inform the provision going forward.
Dukes Plus
The Dukes Plus Safeguarding Advisory Board, made up of key staff in Dukes to advise Dukes Plus companies’ leadership and safeguarding staff, has been active to help companies prioritise safeguarding across their businesses. All companies hold an Annual Safeguarding Review with board members and the board’s safeguarding advisor is on hand to support with training, policy development and live safeguarding issues throughout the year.
UKVI
The Immigration Team has now completed two full seasons. The team, made up of an immigration manager, student immigration officers and authorising officer for all licenses, is supported by an external legal advisor.
909 international students are sponsored across Dukes schools and colleges
All Basic Compliance Assessments have been successful
Eaton House school was inspected by UKVI (Home Office) in June and successfully passed with no concerns raised by the UKVI team
Currently Dukes 11 schools and colleges hold UKVI student sponsorship licences across seven licences
We are currently working with colleges and schools on five new licences
653 CAS were issued this year, a 9.5% increase
Cluster Groups
Additional cluster groups were established this year, including a group of the nurses employed in schools and colleges. These join established groups for Designated Safeguarding Leads in schools and Heads of Boarding modelling the sharing of good practice already in place for colleges.
Key pillars of safeguarding
Consistent, robust policies and procedures
Delivered by regularly trained staff, monitored and reviewed by Governors, Senior Leadership Teams and Designated Safeguarding Leads.
Effective use of technology to track data and assess trends includes
Including:
SCR Tracker for safer recruitment
CPOMS – timely reporting and actioning of any concerns or allegations including low-level concerns
The Dukes Board are responsible as Safeguarding Governors and take ultimate responsibility for safeguarding
Consistent and continuous monitoring and review
Weekly safeguarding reports to Safeguarding Governor/ Managing Director
Termly safeguarding report to the Governors
On-site safeguarding and compliance audits at all settings
Annual safeguarding reviews at settings to review effectiveness
External advice and guidance sought in line with KCSIE guidance
Annual DSL Development/ training days
Bassett House School AGES 2-11
The Acorn Nursery AGES 2-5
Notting Hill Preparatory School AGES 4-13
Pippa Pop-ins AGES 2-5
Kindergartens POOH CORNER • AGES 2-5
Miss Daisy’s Nursery BROOK GREEN • AGES 2-5
Miss Daisy’s Nursery CHELSEA • AGES 2-5
Pippa Pop-ins AGES 2-5
Prospect House School AGES 3-11
Miss Daisy’s Nursery HYDE PARK • AGES 2-5
London Park School Mayfair AGES 11-16
Knightsbridge School AGES 3-16
Miss Daisy’s Nursery KNIGHTSBRIDGE • AGES 2-5
Broomwood Prep BOYS • AGES 8-13
Dukes
Kindergartens CRESCENT II • AGES 0-5
Villages
Dukes deliberately creates clusters of nurseries and schools in ‘village settings’ to ensure that families can enjoy an allthrough education within the same area.
Riverside Nursery Schools ST MARGARETS MONTESSORI • AGES 2-5
Riverside Nursery Schools TWICKENHAM PARK • AGES 0-5
Kneller Hall School* AGES 11-18
Radnor House School • AGES 11-18
Radnor House Prep • AGES 2-11
Riverside Nursery Schools RIVERSIDE, GROSVENOR HOUSE • AGES 0-5
Hampton Court House School AGES 2-18
* Opening soon
Hampstead AGES 2-13
Devonshire House School AGES 2-13
Heathside School
Hampstead AGES 2-11
Devonshire House School AGES 2-13
Heathside School
Bassett House School AGES 2-11
Hampstead AGES 2-13
The Acorn Nursery AGES 2-5
Hampstead Fine Arts College AGES 13-18
Dukes North London Village
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery School OLD STREET • AGES 0-5
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery School CITY ROAD • AGES 0-5
Hampstead Fine Arts College AGES 13-18
Devonshire House School AGES 2-13
Pippa Pop-ins AGES 2-5
Kindergartens POOH CORNER • AGES 2-5
Miss Daisy’s Nursery HYDE PARK • AGES 2-5
Hopes and Dreams
The Lyceum School AGES 4-11
Montessori Nursery School OLD STREET • AGES 0-5
Hopes and Dreams
Montessori Nursery School ANGEL • AGES 0-5
Knightsbridge School AGES 3-16
London Park School Mayfair AGES 11-18
Hampstead Fine Arts College AGES 13-18
The Lyceum School AGES 4-11
Dukes Education BUCKINGHAM GATE OFFICE
Hopes and Dreams
Montessori Nursery School
OLD STREET • AGES 0-5
Orchard House School AGES 3-11
Orchard House School AGES 3-11
Dukes South-West
Bassett House School AGES 2-11
The Acorn Nursery AGES 2-5
Miss Daisy’s Nursery KNIGHTSBRIDGE • AGES 2-5
Miss Daisy’s Nursery BROOK GREEN • AGES 2-5
Notting Hill Preparatory School AGES 4-13
Miss Daisy’s Nursery CHELSEA • AGES 2-5
London Village
Miss Daisy’s Nursery KNIGHTSBRIDGE • AGES 2-5
Pippa Pop-ins AGES 2-5
Prospect House School AGES 3-11
House
AGES 2-11
Dukes
Clapham Village
Broomwood Prep BOYS • AGES 8-13
Kindergartens
MOUSE HOUSE • AGES 2-5
Kindergartens CRESCENT II • AGES 0-5
Broomwood Prep BOYS • AGES 8-13
Kindergartens MOUSE HOUSE • AGES 2-5
Kindergartens
Prospect House School AGES 3-11
CRESCENT II • AGES 0-5
Broomwood Prep BOYS • AGES 8-13
Eaton House Belgravia School • AGES 3-11
Hopes and Dreams
Montessori Nursery School CITY ROAD • AGES 0-5
Eaton Square Prep School • AGES 2-11
KEY:
Miss Daisy’s Nursery HYDE PARK • AGES 2-5
Miss Daisy’s Nursery BELGRAVIA • AGES 2-5
The Lyceum School AGES 4-11
Educational Setting:
London Park School Sixth • AGES 15-18
Nursery School
Eaton Square Prep School • AGES 2-11
Preparatory School
Senior School
Miss Daisy’s Nursery BELGRAVIA • AGES 2-5
Sixth Form College
London Park School Sixth • AGES 15-18
London Park School, Clapham • AGES 11-18
Kindergartens MOUSE HOLE AGES 2-5
Kindergartens THE PARK • AGES 2-5
London Park School, Clapham • AGES 11-18
Eaton House THE MANOR GIRLS SCHOOL • AGES 2-11 THE MANOR BOYS SCHOOL • AGES 2-13
Broomwood Prep GIRLS • AGES 8-13
London Park School, Clapham • AGES 11-16
Broomwood Pre-prep AGES 3-7
Kindergartens CRESCENT II • AGES 0-5
Kindergartens THE PARK • AGES 2-5
DUKES BY
Dukes brands
81 NUMBERS Pupils
colleagues attended Dukes ‘The Heart of Education’ conference
62 members of Dukes Club
10,945
Dukes settings
4,250
21,400
Staff
4,342
1,900 employees
4,250 children attended Poetry Together celebration event ~1,000 resources viewed on the Dukes Club website
Cardiff Sixth Form College A-level results
Dukes staff by numbers Dukes Plus Schools & Colleges Central Team Nurseries
~25% of all Oxbridge applicants use our services or resources
4,000+
3,000+ mock interviews and hours of admissions test preparation
All 8 94%
1 million+
#1 ranked summer school provider
87%
86,177 98%
Ivy League schools extended offers to Dukes Consultancy students of students would recommend to a friend of customers received one or more offer of students were accepted to at least one of their 11+ choices, with many receiving offers from them all
users each year access The Lawyer Portal’s law guides and resources
child days provided
Tim Fish UK/IRE CEO
David Fitzgerald Europe CEO
Board of Directors
UK Board
UK CEO
Mike Giffin CFO
Mike Giffin CFO
OUR PEOPLE
Libby Nicholas Managing Director Professor
Damian Quinn Group Property Director
David Goodhew Managing Director
Jonathan Cuff Managing Director, Colleges
Dukes Senior Leaders
Gareth Collier Executive Director HPL
Geoff Marston Group Compliance Director
Sally Cornelius Sustainability Manager
Bailey Managing Director
Scott Giles Group Sales & Marketing Director
Europe Board
David Fitzgerald Europe CEO
Liza Humphrey Marketing & Admissions Director
Philippe Grosskot Managing Director, Central Europe
Juan Casteres Finance Director Europe Claire Little Director of People
Matthew Tompkins Managing Director, Portugal
Chris Eversden Managing Director, Spain
Dossa Divisional Finance Director
Rik McShane Director, Little Dukes Catherine Robertson Divisional Finance Director
Glen Fendley Chief Executive Dukes Foundation
Chris Skulte Finance Director, Dukes Plus
Fletcher Director of Performance
Stewart Director of People
Golia IT Director
Dr Ricardo Tavares Director, Dukes Plus
Humphreys Divisional Finance Director
Whittington Finance Director, Little Dukes
Isaac
Enrico
Richard
Suzie Longstaff Principal of London Park Schools
Rob
Marcelle
Tracey
Tim Fish
Aatif Hassan Founder & Chairman
Business Development Team
Will Bedford Director
Dr Glenn Hawkins Director Raj Prasad Director
Jon Pickles Director
Tim Moss General Counsel
Education Advisory Board Executive Support
Jenny Aviss Senior Advisor and Governor
Pam Mundy Senior Advisor and Governor
Central Teams
FINANCE & IT
Mike Giffin Chief Financial Officer
HR COMPLIANCE & LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Marcelle Stewart Director of People
Roskilly Senior Advisor and Governor
Katherine Almeida Group Financial Controller
Catherine Robertson Divisional Finance Director
Hannah Simons Group Finance Manager
Enrico Golia IT Director
Peter Holl Head of IT Colleges and Cyber Security
Richard Fletcher Director of Performance
Stacey Smith HR Manager
Lee Tattum UKVI Manager
Hannah Boddy Legal Counsel
EA to the Chairman
Isaac Dossa Divisional Finance Director
Chris Skulte Finance Director, Dukes Plus
Nicola Bradley Group Head of Tax
Kevin Chung Head of IT, Outer London Schools
Thomas Earl IT & Data Manager
Olivia Campbell L&D Project Manager
Geoff Marston Group Compliance Director
Rob Humphreys Finance Director, Colleges
Tracey Whittington Finance Director, Little Dukes
Gerrad Gole IT Engineer
Ronak Mehta IT Technical Project Manager
Lauren Huntley HR Manager
Paul Ludlow Compliance Director Colleges
Neil
Charlotte Pereira PA to the UK Board
Higinia Lopez EA to the Europe Board
Vivienne Melville
Central Teams
SALES & MARKETING
Scott Giles Group Sales & Marketing Director
Anna Aston Director of Communications
Thea Phillips
Marketing & Admissions Director (mat cover)
Chris Hennessy Director of Digital
Louis Scott Digital Marketing and E-commerce Manager
Dr Ricardo Tavares Director, Dukes Plus Dukes Plus
HEROES BEHIND THE CROWN
In every successful organisation there will be a team of people working behind the scenes; these are the people out of the limelight, the ones that work diligently, quietly and with humility, sometimes without wider recognition. As well as the many finalists and winners of Dukes Awards, there are many unsung heroes in the Dukes Family that colleagues want to recognise and thank. The Dukes Heroes Behind the Crown Awards are given to these extraordinary people.
In December, we were delighted to welcome staff from across the UK and Ireland to our second Heroes Behind the Crown dinner, the first to be held at Dukes House. It was an opportunity to celebrate these people, the ones who always go the extra mile, who clean up when everyone else has gone home, who notice the shy child on their own and make them laugh, the ones who keep schools open in freezing weather, or serve fresh, tasty food day in day out. The four Dukes values remind us why we do what we do every day: We lead with Heart, We love learning, We are a team, We do it well. Our Heroes Behind the Crown are the embodiment of these values.
“There are many unsung heroes in the Dukes Family that colleagues want to recognise and thank.”
Aatif Hassan Founder and Chairman of Dukes Education
Aatif Hassan, Tim Fish and Director of People, Claire Little, gave opening speeches to thank our Heroes for the positive impact they have on colleagues, parents and children throughout the Dukes family. The winners were presented with a certificate and a brochure of commendation has been made in their honour. We know that there are many people within the organisation who are deserving of this recognition and look forward to celebrating with them too in the future. European colleagues will also be recognised during 2025.
Community Coordinators
Being part of the Dukes family means we can come together to share ideas, expertise and support each other. One way we do this is through our Community Coordinators whose role is critical to the success of the Dukes Hub, to lead engagement through Teach Meets and support forums across key subjects. Coordinators now cover various disciplines in both primary and secondary education and are now in place across many subjects.
Each Community Coordinator received training on the Dukes Hub and now serves as a point of contact for best practices and peer support. The coordinators hosted the first round of Teach Meets in November, aiming to foster a stronger sense of community and cross-institutional collaboration.
2024 highlights
Primary English Teach Meet - 20 English teachers collaborate on the theme, ‘alone we can do so little, together we can do so much’, to really draw on the sense of community and promote the use of the hub
Primary Maths - 10 teachers got together to discuss the gender gap in maths. Guest speaker Dr Valentina Tonei from the University of Southampton presented data and findings on gender gaps in attainment and choice, focusing on the underlying determinants and potential solutions
10 office administrators met to discuss best practice in holding open days
30 SEND teachers participated in a Development Day
Meet ups were also held for Primary PSHE, Secondary English, Secondary Maths, Secondary Biology and Secondary Physics
Who are the Community Coordinators?
PRIMARY
SUBJECT COORDINATORS
English James Gillick, Lauren Carver Williams
PE Jack Hallas
Science/STEM Emilia Angelilo
Maths Donal O’Sullivan
PSHE Russell Friese
SEND Kerry Nicols
Art & Design Sabrina Tabuchi
Computing Dee Edwards
Librarian Nicole Ferreira
SECONDARY
SUBJECT COORDINATORS
English Chris Firth
Physics Gareth Jenkins
PE Edward Payne
Maths Stephanie Richards
Biology Matthew Sison
PSHE Mark Young
SEND Esther Haworth
French Nadège Gandemer
Photography Michael Daks
1,700 copies distributed to Dukes settings and education agents around the world.
Insight
Based upon serious journals such as the Harvard Business Review, the Dukes Education Insight journal is our opportunity to be thought-leaders in the education sector.
160 articles written to date
Articles are written by members of staff from across the group and printed copies are sent to all Dukes settings and education agents around the world.
Editor, Tim Fish, sets a theme for each issue and this high-quality publication helps position Dukes as a premium, intelligent and progressive organisation.
You can view past copies by visiting the Dukes Hub and Dukes website. Previous editions are now archived in the British Library.
Writers wanted!
If you would like to contribute to the Insight journal in 2025, please get in touch: marketing@dukeseducation.com
Scan to read... the latest copy of Insight
During 2024, ‘bob’, a cloud-based HR database, has been integrated into all UK settings. In total, 2,926 members of staff have logged into bob.
Employee engagement and communications
bob is now established as the primary source of staff information in Dukes. Shoutouts on bob’s homepage keep staff up to date with news and updates from individual settings and from Dukes. This year, a regular Quote of the Week post has been established. A member of staff from any Dukes setting can share a favourite quotewise, funny or profound words to inspire colleagues across the group and the half-termly Dukes staff newsletter is published there.
Invaluable staff benefits
Staff can receive tasks via bob, for example, keeping up to date with training, reading updated staff policies and updating personal data. Details of how to action tasks will be published on the Dukes Hub.
Self-service
Employees can take control of their personal and job-related information. Personal details such as a change of address can be updated easily using the self-service functionality.
Connect & Collaborate
The group directory and organisation charts mean that it is easy to contact other people around Dukes. With the option to list hobbies in your profile, employees can even break the ice by finding common interests.
One-stop-shop
bob provided quick access to workrelated systems, including PayCircle, Dukes Hub & Dukes Club.
The Employee Assistance Programme is available to all staff in the Dukes Family. It is a totally confidential and professional lifemanagement service.
WELL-BEING
The L&D team has placed significant emphasis on mental health, with workshops like Address Your Stress and Raising Resilience.
These sessions have been well-received, with an average effectiveness score of 9.5/10, and provide practical strategies to support staff in managing stress and fostering resilience. Additionally, the Suicide First Aid Youth Lite online course has been particularly impactful in equipping staff with crisis intervention skills.
This year, a pilot programme, Positive Psychology: Thriving Classrooms has been launched. The
Health assured
Employee Assistance Programme
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is available to all staff and provides a confidential telephone service with trained counsellors available 24/7, 365 days a year. The telephone calls are 100% confidential and can support staff in dealing with personal and professional problems that could be affecting home or work life, health or general well-being.
In addition, Health Assured also offers a virtual library of well-being articles, self-help guides, and assessment tools, including:
transformative course is tailored for primary and secondary classroom teachers, seeking to cultivate a positive and supportive learning environment for both them and their students. The programme is designed to enhance classroom well-being through innovative approaches rooted in positive psychology principles creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
Four-week self-help programmes
Mini health checks
Interactive health assessment providing tailor-made dietary tips and fitness plans
Fitness and lifestyle advice, such as detoxing methods
Financial well-being articles
SUSTAINABILITY
In
2024, Dukes Education furthered its commitment to being a responsible organisation and reducing its carbon footprint to carbon net zero by 2050.
Key actions:
Employment of a full-time Group Sustainability Manager
Development of a clear strategy and plan for the group
Working towards making sustainability a whole-school approach
Embedding a greener infrastructure
Central to reducing the group’s carbon footprint has been switching the UK-based organisation to a green energy tariff which was completed by switching 247 electricity and gas meters in August 2024. This has enabled managers to better measure, monitor and manage energy consumption resulting in the reduction of consumption and improved efficiencies. In addition, it has prompted positive changes in the behaviour and approach of communities with many schools raising awareness of energy consumption through energy switch off days and pupil energy monitor roles.
Journey to Net Zero
We completed our third year of carbon foot printing for Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 with Planet Mark. For 2023/2024, we have worked with a carbon management provider to plot Scopes 1 and 2 and have also begun the data collection processes and supply chain management for Scope 3.
based scope 1 and 2 Independently validated
Waste management
The ambition to be ‘zero to landfill’ by 2030, and compliance with the UK government’s new Simpler Recycling legislation coming into effect in March 2025, have both driven the focus on better waste management. Along with reviewing the waste supply chain, improved bin labelling and taking steps towards a circular economy approach, we are engaging all our stakeholders in this process.
A Dukes Education recycling hub has been created which enables our communities to share and reuse materials and furniture. There are also local examples of recycling and reusing activities taking place across the group, from swapping unwanted uniform and books, to pupil-led community litter picks and the reuse of materials within art and creative lessons and projects.
Water efficiency
Water efficiency is also under review and a target to reduce usage by 5% by 2027 has been set. This will be achieved by understanding the settings’ current measurement and use and then creating a central portal for improved water management. Technology such as water sensors, flush controls, improved pipe lagging and water harvesting opportunities will be used where possible.
Habitat creation
Dukes is committed to becoming nature positive and joined the National Education Nature Park initiative, part of the Department of Education’s Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy. This involves mapping outdoor spaces, monitoring contributions to biodiversity through student-led activities. Outdoor learning time for students has continued to grow through, forest schools, gardening clubs, nature-based activities as well as work within community gardens and local parks and allotments.
Flourish model
This year, a number of settings began to examine the principles of the Flourish model and how nature inspired learning environments can be created within school buildings that mimic nature and create a more sensory and natural approach to teaching.
CASE STUDY: London Park School Mayfair has engaged with Clare Bowman, a leading expert on biophilia in education to create a sustainable design code for schools, and to monitor and measure the impact of nature within classrooms on learning and achievement.
Creating a sustainable workforce
Key to the success of the Dukes sustainability plan is ensuring that all staff have an understanding of carbon literacy. A Sustainability Foundations e-learning module has been created and will be undertaken by all UK-based staff by February 2025. Aiming to inform and inspire, the short module is intended to ensure that all staff have a general understanding of what sustainability means to Dukes. This is supported by the network of Sustainability Champions that operates across 97% of the Dukes settings, and the Sustainability Community Hub, which provides a shared space for resources, learning and networking.
Sharing the story
All settings have a dedicated sustainability webpage and aim to regularly post sustainability-related stories. This is supported with internal communications, workshops and events that incorporate sustainability into school agendas. A Dukes-wide resource calendar enables all to recognise significant national and global environmental and social awareness days throughout the school year and these are celebrated at schools through assembles, lessons and out-of-school activities.
Dukes Sustainability Week 2024 involved a range of activities across settings including; an assembly for students that highlighted the sustainability pledges made by a range of sports organisations, clubs and players, and the whole Dukes community was encouraged to make a sustainability pledge. Through our ambition to collaborate, we are working with the wider Dukes group to develop our common threads, learn and share and have a global impact through our communities.
External collaboration and partnerships
Dukes Education has joined the UN Global Compact network and the Group Sustainability Manager has engaged throughout the year with the Department of Education’s Sustainability Group, other independent school groups and a range of sustainability working groups across a variety of sectors. This engagement is to ensure that Dukes is fully equipped with the latest insights and knowledge, resources, and legal requirements and further demonstrate our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2024:
56 settings achieved an internationally recognised Eco Schools Green Flag award 10 settings received other eco awards
37 settings have achieved Transport for London STARS awards
Embedding sustainability into the curriculum and culture
Engagement of students is critical to the success of the Dukes sustainability strategy. This is being achieved through the Dukes Difference, those parts of the Dukes Education offering that set it apart from other school groups, such as the Dukes Young Leaders Award and the range of sustainability focused activities, clubs and initiatives.
Currently... 82% of settings have an Eco Club or committee 42% of settings have a student Eco Champion or prefect
Throughout the autumn term we have consulted internally and externally to understand different educational approaches to sustainability and sustainable thinking within the curriculum. Through the group, we embrace the principles of Forest School, the Harmony Project, UNSDG’s framework and the UN Model Nations and this year we will share best practice in the drive to further develop sustainable thinking into the curriculum.
As a result of this consultation, we recognise the growing importance of green skills and are striving to ensure that students are equipped with these for the future. Beginning in Early Years with a connection to nature, this develops into the ability to share and debate environmental and social issues by KS3 and 4, as well the ability to design and create innovative technological solutions.
Goals for 2025
Hold student-led activities and Earth Summit
Review purchasing and operational requirements including stationery, electronic devices, catering and transport in order to build a more sustainable supply chain that will ensure compliance, avoid corporate risk and help to build our growing sustainable mindset
Ensure all settings have robust sustainability plans incorporating operational (decarbonisation) and engagement (educational) initiatives
Adding Value
Dukes Careers School
Dukes careers school
Dukes Club talks Dukes debating festival + Dukes Young Leaders programme
Giving back + Interschool sports clinics and competitions
Members of the Dukes Education family of schools and educators are brought together by a common purpose: to give children the foundations for an extraordinary life.
Why are we part of Dukes Education?
Parents ask why schools join Dukes Education, and what it means for their child’s daily experience. The answer is simple: by being part of a network of over 50 schools across the UK and Europe, we benefit from shared expertise, innovation, and good practice.
Dukes also ensures our financial stability and provides ongoing capital investment, allowing us to enhance our facilities continually and offer exceptional learning opportunities for each child.
University Prep Career Experiences
Tutoring
Summer Schools
Social impact through giving
Nurturing leadership, inspiring change
Exclusive opportunities for families
Plus...
Unparalleled learning and development opportunities for staff
Extraordinary experiences for our community
Learning & Development
2024 in review:
Number of courses increased by e-learning courses on Dukes Hub
50%
54 participants attended Foundations of Leadership
300 this year 9/10
Forest School Certification training facilitation rated
Teaching Assistants rated their Development Day 10/10
Relevance and facilitation scores both averaged over for relevance and usefulness 9/10
The Dukes L&D programme expanded to offer 150 courses for the 20242025 academic year, covering essential areas such as leadership, teaching practices, pastoral care and operational skills.
The Foundations of Leadership Workshop, the bedrock of the Dukes culture of leadership has now been attended by a total of 500 participants.
Scan to read... the Learning & Development brochure
Dukes Plus works increasingly closely with Dukes schools and colleges to support students at all stages of their education and in many different ways.
In 2024, as well as holding events in the UK, Dukes Plus delivered talks to the parents at Dukes schools in Portugal for the first time. In partnership with Hampstead Fine Arts College, Dukes Plus launched their first ever art competition for children from ages 4 to 16.
Dukes Careers School and Consultancy at Cardiff Sixth Form College
Dukes Plus offers a range of consultancy and experiences to Cardiff Sixth Form students throughout the academic year that includes ‘Aspiring to Oxbridge’ parent talk, US Universities parent talk, The Lawyer Portal Mock Trial experience for students and admissions test courses as well as consultations and mock interviews. All Year 10 and 12 students are enrolled in the Dukes Careers School.
“As our fantastic students have shown, the support we receive from Dukes Plus goes a long way to help them navigate the complexities of applying to leading universities in the UK and the USA.” Tom Arrand, Principal, Cardiff Sixth Form College. Scan to hear from... the Devonshire House School Head
11+ Tuition Support at Devonshire House School
At Devonshire House School, the Dukes Tutoring team worked on interview preparation for 11+ and provided feedback reports for each child.
“Dukes Tutoring delivered lots of fantastic tips and advice to our pupils as they prepared for their senior school interviews. With expert guidance on tackling tough questions and presenting their best self, children completed the sessions ready to make a lasting impression.” Henry Keighley-Elstubb, Head, Devonshire House School
11+ Advice for Parents at Heathside School Hampstead
Supporting parents through the senior school applications is a vital part of Dukes Plus service. At Heathside, Dukes Tutoring held a talk for parents of Year 5 children, providing insight into the process, and reiterating the Head’s point that the best school for any child is where they will be happy and where they will reach their full potential.
Leading with heart
As every good student of Latin knows, “Dukes” derives from the Latin verb “ducere” – “to lead”.
Our approach focuses on leadership not just of others but of self, involving high performance, innovation and adventure. We want our students to lead with their hearts and embrace service. This is why the Dukes Young Leaders’ Award seeks to instil the dispositions of humility, honour, courage and compassion. As we look around the world today, whatever our differences, we can all agree that if more people had those dispositions – especially those in leadership positions – the world would be a better place.
This year it has been wonderful to see children of all ages throwing themselves whole-heartedly into the DYLA: a true education is about so much more than what happens in the classroom. It is about experiences gained and life lessons learned at the most formative time in our lives.
We celebrate the achievements of all our Young Leaders this year and, although it is all about the experiences not the qualifications, we especially congratulate the following pupils:
Eaton Square Senior: Platinum Award (33) Diamond (5) Crown (3)
Radnor House: Platinum Award (15)
Rochester Independent College: Gold Award (13)
Hampton Court House: Silver Award (18)
Dukes Club was created to bring together Dukes Education’s extraordinary community of families, staff and alumni and use the power of the collective to offer elevated, unique experiences and expert advice in areas that matter to them the most.
We know how important family time is, so we wanted to create special opportunities for families to learn new things and experience magical moments together.
Events
This summer, 60 campers spent quality time in the great outdoors of Kneller Hall, learning how to survive in the wilderness from the Bear Grylls Survival Academy instructors. Inspired by Bear Grylls, we learned skills utilised by inspirational adventurers; we built shelters, applied camouflage, prepared for a bear attack and much more. Families left having learnt lifesaving skills and made lasting memories.
In October, 90 Dukes Club members spent the night at a VIP sleepover at London’s Science Museum. We explored the museum after dark and slept amongst its wonders in the medicine gallery and took part in demonstrations and activities.
Dukes Club also collaborated with schools to deliver events to our members, whilst providing the opportunity to showcase the school to new audiences. At Broomwood school, children were invited to join the Broomwood Bear Hunt, a morning of fun where children were able to create masterpieces in the art studio, discover slime in the lab, bake biscuits and play garden games. The event wrapped-up with a picnic, story time and meeting Broomwood Bear in his lair.
As well as providing exciting experiences for our families, Dukes Club supports extraordinary co-curricular experiences for our schools to extend to their students. This year students were given the opportunity to attend Poetry Together. Here they received engaging and inspirational workshops from top poets and had the chance to perform in the prestigious Great Hall of Central Hall Westminster.
Families shared joyful moments with the Broomwood Bear
Support and advice
Dukes Club also aims to provide our members with support and advice on real-time issues that impact their children and families. Last year we offered a neurodiversity series of webinars with leading expert Sarah Warley and marked Mental Health week with Julie Wilkinson offering a sustainable, life-skills training workshop to help combat issues with friendships, anger, anxiety, and stress.
We also commission articles written just for our members with recommendations of the best things to see and do when they’re looking for things to keep them entertained.
Scan to watch... the Dukes Club’s Night at the Science Museum
Plans for 2025
Dukes Club has plans to extend our co-curricular offering to schools with our first ever Dukes Championships in the home of champions, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Budding sports stars will compete against other schools in the group in a range of sports at this inspirational venue with families able to come along and enjoy the festivities of the day.
Dukes Club is for every member of the Dukes family. We are always open to feedback and suggestions. If you would like to share this with us, please contact laura.skinner@dukeseducation.com.
Scan to join the club... You are warmly invited to join our extraordinary community and enjoy its exciting benefits
Adventurers in training as a Bear Grylls instructor guides campers through the art of knot-tying
Young explorers’ faces shimmer through the kaleidoscope during their magical Science Museum sleepover
Immersed in a 3D adventure, students don their glasses and explore cinematic wonders at the Science Museum
In October 2024, we announced that Dukes Foundation is embarking on a ground-breaking initiative to become the largest provider of transformational bursaries in the UK.
Sadly, children from low-income backgrounds are statistically less likely to do well at school and advance into further education, affecting their career opportunities and life chances. The educational gap is widening. At present, persistently disadvantaged pupils are predicted to leave school, on average, 22.9 months behind their most affluent peers. Research from PISA, the globally recognised educational benchmarking project, shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend ‘advantaged’ schools, gain an educational dividend equal to around 31 months of schooling.
Through our shared commitment to leading with heart, the Foundation will leverage Dukes Education’s position as the UK’s leading premium education group, its expertise and drive, to close the educational attainment gap. Our aim is to support 500 children from low-income backgrounds by enabling them to access the extraordinary opportunities Dukes schools and colleges offer.
Education serves as a powerful catalyst to break the cycle of unequal opportunities, empower individuals and create socially diverse environments in our settings where everyone can benefit from being part of a deeper and wider talent pool. We hope that these young people go on to be the leaders of tomorrow and make an impact on social mobility in the future.
The Foundation’s leadership: Aatif Hassan, Founder and Chairman of Dukes Education, Dukes Foundation’s CEO, Glen Fendley and Dukes Foundation’s Managing Director, David Goodhew, all experienced the transformative power of independent education and want to share this opportunity with other young people.
The team is in the process of devising funding mechanisms, meeting with pipeline sources and identifying potential donors, some of whom will come from the Dukes parent body, who know firsthand the value of an independent education.
A Heads’ Advisory Board will lead an on-boarding and monitoring programme to ensure the transition for these children into our schools will be smooth and that they are fully supported. In recognition of the importance of student voice, a Youth Advisory Board has been formed made up of students aged 11-18, representing 12 Dukes settings who will provide guidance on the issues that matter to them most and hold us accountable in our work.
Scan to find out... what a bursary means to a student at The Pointer School
I felt proud and also humbled to be chosen, as I think the work of the Dukes Foundation will transform some children’s lives. I hope that I can add to Youth Board discussions and be mindful. This is a great experience for me too and I will always remember how much my life was changed by an educational decision and how privileged I have been to have the support of my parents and school.”
– Isla, Year 10, Sancton Wood School
Grant making
After a rigorous selection process, the Dukes Foundation supports charitable or voluntary organisations that work to advance the Foundation’s overall mission and strategic goals with commitments to: Mental Health, Education, Our Planet and Children’s Healthcare.
PAPYRUS
Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK. The national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide believes many of those suicides are preventable. The charity aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour. PAPYRUS offers a confidential helpline service - HOPELINE 247 and provides suicide prevention projects in communities across the UK.
papyrus-uk.org
The Bridge
For 29 years, The Bridge has worked to prevent and reduce homelessness in Leicestershire. Their vision is resilient, compassionate communities where people thrive in safe, secure homes. They address the root causes of homelessness and family breakdown, with award-winning mediators supporting young people aged 11–19 and their families facing home or relationship issues. Over the past two years, 100% of Talk2Sort clients reported that The Bridge prevented or overcame their homelessness.
thebridge-eastmidlands.org.uk
The Mix
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people, and the Foundation’s grant helped raise awareness of their offerings nationwide. The Mix engaged diverse young people in creating materials distributed to 200 schools and youth centres to promote well-being, reduce stigma, and help secondary students make positive choices while providing access to crisis and counselling support. Video content created by young people offered self-care tips and encouraged help-seeking behaviour, which can be shared on digital platforms, during school assemblies, and in classroom discussions to spark meaningful conversations.
themix.org.uk
Embrace Badjao
The Badjao are an indigenous tribe living above the shoreline in Davao, Philippines. The Badjao live in extreme poverty marginalised by Philippine society and they receive minimal support from their government. They have no running water or sanitation and Badjao children receive very little education and as a result do not attempt to break the cycle of poverty. Many Badjao children are forced to beg, increasing society’s negative view of the tribe. Embrace Badjao was founded with the aim of helping Badjao children access education that is too often denied to them.
embracebadjao.com
Foundation and Dukes Education
The Dukes Foundation supports Poetry Together, founded by Gyles Brandreth, run by Dukes Education and supported by Her Majesty Queen Camilla. The initiative promotes intergenerational connection through the joy of poetry. Younger and older communities get together all over the country with wonderful outcomes and stories of connection.
Dukes Foundation is backing the Dukes Festival of Arts in Celebration of Dukes Education’s 10th anniversary. The festival will showcase talent from over 950 students across our schools and colleges at the Royal Festival Hall. As well as creating an extraordinary experience for students, any proceeds from the evening will go to the Dukes Foundation.
Impact in 2024
London Youth
London Youth is a charity on a mission to champion and strengthen London’s youth organisations and empower young people with the opportunities and skills they need to succeed, particularly in areas of high deprivation. With support from the Dukes Foundation, their Good for Girls programme is helping to transform the mental health landscape for young women by reducing the need for specialist referrals through proactive, early intervention.
In 2024, the programme engaged over 144 girls and young women from Black, Asian, and/or ethnic minority communities. Over 100 young girls benefited from weekly sports, arts, and movement activities, while others developed their leadership skills through youth-led social action projects centred on mindfulness and mental health. 44 young women were trained to become peer mentors, sharing their skills with their youth organisations to uplift others and 29 youth practitioners gained new skills through workshops to support young women’s mental health across the capital.
Rwanda Action
As part of its VISION 2050, the government of Rwanda set the target of achieving equal access to quality education, and job opportunities for all its citizens. In pursuit of this, and with the support of the Duke’s Foundation, Rwanda Action is trialling a framework for inclusion in Rusizi District. They are providing training for parents of children with disabilities and appointing and training Special Needs Education Coordinators in each of the eighteen sectors of the district. They are also creating one School of Excellence for Special Needs and Inclusive Education in each of the sectors. It is their aim to halve the number of children with disabilities not attending school within three years. Having seen the suffering and isolation resulting from the misunderstanding of disability, and from the stigma attached to it, it is heartening to see the wholehearted enthusiasm with which the local community is embracing this initiative.
Scan to learn more... about the Dukes Foundation
Poetry Together was founded by Gyles Brandreth, is run by Dukes Education, funded by Dukes Foundation and wonderfully supported by Her Majesty
the Queen Camilla.
It aims to connect younger and older generations through the joy of poetry. 2024 has been the initiative’s biggest year yet.
“There is a lot of research on the benefits to young and old by reciting poetry but marry that with the value of intergenerational connection and it’s really quite special.”
– Gyles Brandreth
Poetry
Together launch
Poetry Together held a special event at Central Hall Westminster in November where 1,000 people, young and old, joined together to celebrate all things poetry. Guests enjoyed workshops and performances from top poets such as former Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, Steven Camden aka polarbear and Laura Mucha. The Poetry Society and the Forward Arts Foundation joined us to offer interactive activities.
Guests representing Dukes schools, state schools, grandparents and older communities were also given the opportunity to perform in the Great Hall. This iconic stage has been shared with incredible speakers such as Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and the Prince of Wales in the past.
Attendees left feeling inspired and motivated, with a reinvigorated love of poetry. One school commented that “it was the best school trip ever”, and another wrote that “it was wonderful to bear witness to the enthusiasm for and love of poetry by so many people of all ages.”
Performance for Her Majesty The Queen
The Queen received 2024’s Poetry Together competition winners Colin Hinton, 92, and Avi Goel, 9, at Buckingham Palace to hear their Poetry Together winning poems. They were introduced by Gyles Brandreth and joined by Chairman and Founder, Aatif Hassan.
Her Majesty talked with Colin and Avi about their Poetry Together experience before listening to them perform their poems. Colin commented, “I was struck by how gracious Queen Camilla was, she made sure everyone felt special.”
Avi said, “It’s been the best day. Queen Camilla was so warm and welcoming, and the biscuits were really good.”
Colin and Avi met last year when Avi’s School, Buckingham Primary School, took part in the Poetry Together Project. His class wrote their own poems based on last year’s theme of ‘happiness’ and connected with their local care home, Clarendon House Care Home, where Colin was staying at the time. Here, they shared their poems at a Poetry Together tea party. Their local ITV news station came to cover their inspirational story. As winners, Colin and Avi were also invited to ITV’s This Morning to perform their poems live on air. Runners up received £250 worth of book vouchers.
Avi's poem (8 at the time of writing):
Happiness is one of a kind
Happiness is easy to find
With your loved ones or when you're having a good time
You should always know happiness is deep inside
Happiness is scattered everywhere
Like atoms flying in the air
Happiness can make your life better
Happiness brings people together
Even if you feel sad and lonely
Just look deep inside your heart
Happiness is always looking for somewhere new to start
Focus on friendship
The theme of this year’s Poetry Together competition is ‘friendship’ and younger and older communities are getting together all over the country to share their poems over tea and cake, with incredible outcomes.
We have people writing to tell us their stories of connection all the time: we were told of an ex-teacher with dementia whose ‘spark was reignited’ when the children came to visit their care home, a young boy from a school for early childhood trauma who bonded with his newly adoptive grandfather through the poetry competition, even neighbours connecting. Many go on to continue their relationships, we’re told of ‘profound meaningful connections’. The poem a lady created with a pupil meant so much to her, that her family wrote to tell us that her granddaughter read it at her funeral. Recently, 120 children visited a community living home and the organiser commented, ‘what struck me was watching both residents and children arrive quietly but leave smiling and laughing. Hearing my residents excitedly chatting afterwards reinforced how valuable intergenerational activities are’.
Benefits of poetry
Support of literacy is particularly prevalent following a recent report by the National Literacy Trust which noted a decline in children reading for pleasure at home. Jonathan Douglas, the charity’s Chief Executive commented, “the futures of a generation are at risk”. Promoting the benefits of literacy is a cause The Queen, Gyles, Dukes Education and Dukes Foundation share and will continue to address though initiatives such as Poetry Together.
Studies have shown that learning poetry by heart improves performance academically at school, improving concentration, and even supporting better sleep.
For older people, evidence shows that learning poetry by heart can give you a happier and more successful life. It improves the ability to communicate and strengthen relationships, improves memory, increases brain capacity and can help keep dementia at bay. It’s amazing stuff really. Learning poetry together changes lives!
Poetry Together adds a further dimension - the well-documented benefit of younger and older generations working together. Gyles said, “There is something quite special about people from two ends of the generational spectrum, connecting and having a chat over a cup of tea. It is a wonderful way to being communities closer together.”
05 2025 AND BEYOND
QUALITY OF TEACHING
Educational initiatives and strategies are in place across Dukes to share good practice and to improve the quality of education in our schools.
School Educational Quality Review
The main approach to driving improvement is through the School Educational Quality Review (SEQR) visits to schools. These ‘critical friend’ reviews focus on a particular aspect of a school’s education, identified by the school itself. SEQR visits can range from a full mock-inspection at some schools, or a close look at pastoral systems in another, to targeting the content and quality of STEAM education at another.
All Dukes settings have been subject to an SEQR and are revisited every two years at least. They present an excellent opportunity to share good practice, to develop
the skills of senior leaders, to showcase the specialist knowledge of staff, and to improve the quality of education in all our schools and colleges.
We are increasing the frequency of our ‘critical friend’ visits to each school and college to once every two years: either to make an inspection-style visit to help schools prepare for a forthcoming inspection or to help the school in its focus on one specialist aspect of provision.
In 2024 there were ten SEQR visits, involving 29 different people representing 22 separate Dukes settings.
Collaboration
Staff communities have been created on the new Dukes Hub to share good practice. The Hub is an online resource for all staff providing access to training and a forum for sharing resources. Experienced educators are heading up new Key Stage 2 and Key Stages 3 and 4 Teaching and Learning Forums. Resources for the Dukes Young Leaders Award and advice for teachers managing the programme are collected and freely available to Dukes staff on the Hub.
Sustainability
Education has a pivotal role in embedding a mindset that understands the inter-connectivity between human society and the negative impacts it creates on the environment, and that innovates and takes action to address that. By providing and pooling curriculum resources and advice for our schools, which can be used at different age groups, we will embed knowledge and understanding about sustainability in staff and students.
DSL Training
Every school has a Designated Safeguarding Lead, and this year we have created forums where they can share experiences and resources and introduced wide-ranging Dukes training for DSLs. These have included updates from sector leaders on evolving guidance, and group work on anonymised case studies to develop good practice when handling complex, sensitive and fast-moving incidents involving children.
Upskilling Teaching Assistants
A pilot training scheme for Teaching Assistants ran in 2024 to help enhance teaching and learning skills. A Development Day for all Teaching Assistants was held in March providing them with skills and knowledge to enhance their ability to support students. Bringing Teaching Assistants together for the first time, they were able to discuss and share ideas and create a support network.
Deputy Heads Conference
Building on the first Deputy Heads Conference held in January 2024, a second such event will be held in early 2025 with particular attention on topics such as EDI, self-care, data management, assessment, and separate sessions for prep and senior deputies. The conference will also explore the use of podcasts and online forums to maintain engagement post-event.
Teacher career progression
We continue to look at ways in which we can further develop learning and teaching within our schools, including how we can tighten our framework for Career Progression throughout Dukes, by exploring initiatives such as sabbaticals, secondments to European schools, and bespoke teacher training that enrich our staff’s experience and expertise.
Dukes Young Leaders Award
Since September 2024, all settings have a programme of co-curricular activities and curriculum to develop leadership, service and a sense of adventure among our pupils, which can be accredited as part of the Dukes Young Leaders Award.
Global curriculum
Heads and Principals are working together to identify what elements of a global curriculum for the 21st century should be common threads within Dukes schools - in the UK and abroad - in the future, with a view to piloting schemes in 2025-26.
An AI Strategy Group, led by a Dukes MD, is focusing on developing policy, curriculum, as well as tools and training for teachers to ensure a cohesive and impactful integration of AI across our educational offerings.
New Developments
CapEx projects continue across the Dukes estate. Despite some headwinds with local planning permission, new developments continue at pace. 26 major projects were completed in 2024 £70m+
total CapEx in the year
Completed in 2024
Broomfield House
Creation of new library and outdoor play space.
Broomwood Girls Prep
Creation of new classrooms and library.
Colégio Júlio Dinis
Expansion of teaching space and sports facilities.
Copperfield International School
Creation of new art and science labs.
Devonshire House General refurbishment.
Eaton House Belgravia Refurbishment with technology focus.
Eaton House The Manor
Creation of Well-being Hub, drama space and SEN rooms.
Engage International School
Early Years refurbishment.
Hampton Court House General refurbishment.
Hove Village Nurseries
Refurbishment of New Church Road Nursery.
Institute of Education
Expansion of teaching facilities.
International Sharing School Expanded sports facilities.
London Park School Clapham New school opened.
Notting Hill Prep
Refurbishment to create new classrooms and offices.
Orchard House
Creation of STEAM centre and library.
Pippa Pop-ins
Construction of new nursery.
Prospect House Early Years refurbishment.
Radnor House Twickenham
Improvement to school entrance.
Radnor House Prep
Upgrading external sports pitch.
Sancton Wood School Refurbishment of nursery.
The Lyceum School
Creation of new nursery space.
The Pointer School General refurbishment.
Riverside Nursery Schools New nursery in Richmond.
Rochester International College New boarding house.
United Lisbon
International School
Expansion - new teaching block. Refurbishment of existing facilities.
58 Buckingham Gate
Dukes Education office and training centre.
RIC
OHS Nursery RIC
58 Buckingham Gate
Cardiff Sixth Form College
RIC
OHS Nursery
58 Buckingham Gate
Due for completion in 2025
The Lyceum School New STEAM space. Ongoing major CapEx projects:
Broomfield House
Refurbishment including stage, flooring and technology upgrade and playground improvements.
Broomwood Girls Prep New classrooms.
Eaton House Belgravia Re-roofing works.
Hampton Court House
Structural repairs, Early Years and science lab upgrade.
Hove Village Nurseries
General refurbishment at Hove Library and New Church Road.
Kindergarten Nurseries
New Mallinson Road nursery.
Notting Hill Prep Playground refurbishment.
Orchard House General refurbishment.
Pippa Pop-ins
Completion of new Princedale Road nursery.
Prospect House General refurbishment.
Radnor House School
Renovations to the external facade.
Princedale Road Kneller Hall
Launched new partner portal for international B2B
DIGITAL INNOVATION
Ran digital marketing campaigns in-house
Grew our social media reach
ENGAGING EVENTS
Exhibited at the Independent Schools Show
Attended British Embassy Event in Lisbon
and organised Dukes Education’s Festival of the Arts
Launched new websites
Launched new features on DukesPlus.com
Rolled out parent survey tool
Hosted multiple Agent events at Dukes House
Held Alumni events and Cambridge Uni mentoring days
Attended dozens of international exhibitions
Instrumental in planning and delivering the Dukes Conference and annual awards
overnight Dukes Club events
Heroes Behind The Crown
Dukes in the News
Teen builds his own nuclear fusion reactor at college as part of his A* grade in his A-levels.
Labour’s VAT raid is lazy politics, says private school kingpin.
Aatif Hassan, the investor who founded Dukes Education, claims Keir Starmer’s policy will drive inequality.
The boom in home schooling
Seizing a growing market opportunity, education providers have enhanced their offerings. In central London, not far from the Ritz hotel, is the London Park School Mayfair, which is participating in an educational experiment by its owner Dukes Education.
Scan to watch...
Aatif’s interview with BBC World News
Dukes Hub
“When you bring people together who share a common purpose and set of principles, extraordinary things really do happen.”
– Aatif Hassan
The new Dukes Hub combines the core pillars of Dukes L&D - Courses and Communities. With its intuitive search capabilities, navigating through resources and courses is both efficient and user-friendly.
Through the Courses section, the Hub acts as the central portal for accessing, booking, and certificating training opportunities.
Tapping into the wealth of knowledge across our network, the Communities section of the Hub leverages the expertise held in the Dukes family. It enables collaboration through forums and allows communities to form and share ideas. Our nurseries, schools, colleges and the Dukes Plus organisation can share best practices and collaborate beyond face-to-face interactions. Through its library of assets, users can search for what they need as well as share materials with colleagues. The Hub will be the store of the best educational material and content across the group.
Dates for your Diary
Spring
February March
4th February: Dukes Festival of the Arts at the Royal Festival Hall
6th February: Deputy Heads’ Conference
13th - 21st February: Half term
Summer
14th March: Senior Leaders’ Development Day ExCom meetings
22nd - 23rd March: The Renaissance Scholars’ Symposium at the Institute of Education
April May June
Annual Safeguarding Reviews
27th March - 30th April: Easter holidays
1st - 2nd May: ExCom meetings
2nd May: Little Dukes Leaders’ Day
14th May: DSL Development Day
21st May: Sustainability Champions’ Day
26th - 30th May: Half term
Autumn
3rd July - 3rd September: Summer holidays Governors’ meetings
20th - 31st October: Half term
2nd - 6th June: Dukes Sustainability Week
3rd June: Little Dukes DSL Development Day
5th - 13th June: Governors’ meetings
11th June: Bursars and Finance Managers’ Development Day
20th June: Senior Leaders’ Development Day
20th June: ExCom meetings
September October November December
Deadline to apply for 2025 LAMS course
Senior Leaders’ Development Day Deadline to apply for 2025 SLP course ExCom meeting
5th December: Dukes festive dinner and annual awards
11th December - 6th January: Christmas holidays
The special event was hosted by a friend of Dukes, broadcaster and author, Gyles Brandreth. Guests enjoyed acts and a range of ensembles from chamber choirs, solo instrumentalists, monologues and an orchestra. A massed choir of 750 students performed an Aretha Franklin medley and Musical Medley, accompanied by West End stars as part of their repertoire.
On 4th February, 950 students performed in the iconic Royal Festival Hall as part of the Dukes Festival of Arts. This showcased talent from across the family, to a sellout audience in celebration of Dukes Education’s 10th anniversary.
Scan to watch... highlights of the Dukes Festival of the Arts
The night hosted the finals of the first Dukes Young Musician of the Year Award. Judges, Managing Director, David Goodhew and Head of Basset House School, Chris Woodward were accompanied by external judges and drew on their musical expertise to crown the winner.
The evening also featured an art exhibition in a further display of artistic talent from across the group.
The Royal Festival Hall is home to London’s Philharmonic Orchestra. Performing on such a stage offered a truly memorable experience to all who took part. Proceeds from the Dukes Festival of Arts will go to the good work of the Dukes Foundation.
Scan to see... a selection of photos from this prestigious event
