NOS – #WakeUpWednesday

19th January 2023Louise Gatti
Although it’s since been expanded to 280, Twitter’s initial 140-character restriction (the limit imposed because Twitter was originally conceived as an SMS platform, trivia fans) was designed to make posts short and punchy. Counter-intuitively, however, these bite-size injections of information and opinion can drive users to engage with Twitter for hours at a time.

There are a mind-boggling 6,000 tweets sent every second, for example, while around 250 million people (roughly two-thirds of its total user base) go on Twitter every single day. For young people, there is clearly a risk of compulsive use – and, as today’s #WakeUpWednesday guide explains, that’s not the only pitfall on Twitter that trusted adults need to stay aware of.

Duke’s Alumni Assembly

17th January 2023Louise Gatti
Big thankyou to Alex Brown (former student) who gave advice to Y11 students on revision and planning tips at Duke’s last week. Alex is an inspirational role model and embodies our 80/20 💯 motto.
Hope this inspires you for your mocks Y11!

Mocks Starting on 16 January !

13th January 2023Louise Gatti


Dear Parent,

The Year 11 Mock Examination Period will take place from the 16th to the 27th January 2023. During this period students will sit exams in the vast majority of their subjects in order to reflect the demands of the final summer GCSE examination period.
Although mock examinations do not count towards the overall grade of a GCSE they are very important preparation for the summer examination period and students should take them seriously. Mock exams support students in three main areas:
:
Improve subject knowledge and understanding
Help develop examination skills
Support resilience and students’ ability to deal with intense examination periods

The more preparation that students put into these mock exams then the more beneficial they will be as preparation for the actual GCSE exams in the summer. Statistically, students who do well in the mocks go on to perform better in the summer.
The link for accessing the full mock exam timetable on our website is at the bottom of this letter. Please support your child to prepare as carefully as possible. Teaching staff will be placing a range of revision resources on Google Classroom or through other learning platforms to help them prepare and our website contains a number of revision guides to support students in their preparation. There are also a number of tips on how parents can support their children in the revision process. The link to access these documents is below.

Student Exam Timetables

Revision Tips and Ideas | Duke’s School (ncea.org.uk)

May I take this opportunity to wish your child well over the mock examination period.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Line
Deputy Principal

National Online Safety – World of Warcraft

11th January 2023Louise Gatti

A sprawling fantasy epic of wizards and warriors, World of Warcraft has raked in an estimated $9 billion plus in revenue, mainly through monthly subscription fees and in-game purchases. It’s this lucrative seam which has helped guarantee the game’s incredible lifespan: Warcraft continues to receive developer support and expansion packs almost 20 years after its initial release.

World of Warcraft originally launched way back in 2004, and since then the game has blossomed into a major entertainment property. It’s spawned spin-off novels, merchandise and even a Hollywood movie adaptation … but why are we still talking about it in 2023? World of Warcraft’s most recent iteration, Dragonflight, launched last November and marks the game’s ninth major expansion. This latest addition has attracted a whole host of lapsed players back to the game – as well as newcomers jumping into the realm of Azeroth for the first time.

The game’s longevity is matched by its immersive – and often addictive – nature. There are frequent reports of players eating meals at their keyboard, guzzling energy drinks to prolong marathon gaming sessions late into the night. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights this and other potential pitfalls that parents of young Warcraft fans should be aware of.

In the guide, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as the potential for online addiction, in-game purchases and simulated violence.

REMINDER ! Y11 Mock in the New Year

22nd December 2022Louise Gatti


Dear Parent,

The Year 11 Mock Examination Period will take place from the 16th to the 27th January 2023. During this period students will sit exams in the vast majority of their subjects in order to reflect the demands of the final summer GCSE examination period.
Although mock examinations do not count towards the overall grade of a GCSE they are very important preparation for the summer examination period and students should take them seriously. Mock exams support students in three main areas:
:
Improve subject knowledge and understanding
Help develop examination skills
Support resilience and students’ ability to deal with intense examination periods

The more preparation that students put into these mock exams then the more beneficial they will be as preparation for the actual GCSE exams in the summer. Statistically, students who do well in the mocks go on to perform better in the summer.
The link for accessing the full mock exam timetable on our website is at the bottom of this letter. Please support your child to prepare as carefully as possible. Teaching staff will be placing a range of revision resources on Google Classroom or through other learning platforms to help them prepare and our website contains a number of revision guides to support students in their preparation. There are also a number of tips on how parents can support their children in the revision process. The link to access these documents is below.

Student Exam Timetables

Revision Tips and Ideas | Duke’s School (ncea.org.uk)

May I take this opportunity to wish your child well over the mock examination period.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Line
Deputy Principal

Tech-Free Christmas – National Online Safety

21st December 2022Louise Gatti

In a seasonal survey of parents and carers by the e-commerce platform Groupon, more than half (55%) reported having Christmas dinner interrupted by someone’s phone or other device – while almost two-thirds (64%) said that there’s invariably at least one family member who can’t bring themselves to put their phone down or switch their console off over the festive break.

Of course, smartphones and suchlike can be invaluable for Christmas catch-ups with friends and family or for coordinating Yuletide gatherings – but that doesn’t mean they have to dominate the rest of the holiday! Our #WakeUpWednesday guide has expert tips for keeping screen-time under control so your family can get on with making wonderful Christmas memories together.

You might have read the above and assumed we meant parents being frustrated about children going online over Christmas … but actually, grown-ups are just as reliant on their devices. In fact, the survey found 72% of parents check their phone before a single present’s been opened on Christmas morning; more than half admit to using social media more frequently over the holiday.

So modelling healthy behaviour around your phone and laptop during the festive season is essential, too. With winter walks, classic family story time and making your own decorations among the tech-dodging tips in this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide, we hope you’ll find some inspiration for reducing the amount of screen-time in your household this Christmas!