Junior Duke

At Anstey, pupils will have the opportunity to register for the Junior Duke, usually in September. Junior Duke is aimed at increasing children’s independence, confidence and resilience whilst giving them a good feeling of achievement on completion. 

Pupils who wish to take part receive their booklets in early October and have until the end of the summer term to work their way through it. For each year, there is a booklet with ten challenges from which just seven need to be completed in order that the child finishes that level. Some of our pupils work their way through it at break-neck speed and finish their seven challenges in a matter of weeks. Others take the full year and may need some encouragement that can be provided at one of our after school clubs.

There are seventy, age-appropriate challenges in total from Reception to Year 6. These involve a whole array of life skills. These challenges are split into seven progressive booklets (one for each school year) and, as we all know that the curriculum is fit to burst, it is intended that children complete the tasks at home with the help of parents and family. We find that the parents’ comments are very positive and nearly all mention how much they have enjoyed seeing their children learn and manage new skills. Once a challenge has been completed, many of them require a teacher to assess them – this is a quick read of his or her self-reflection, a look at the photos and maybe a taste of the food he or she has created.

The challenges range from First Aid, eco, exercise, domestic challenges, budgeting for packed lunches, fixing a puncture, building a fire, baking, cooking, washing sheets, making PowerPoints and public speaking, knitting, litter-picking….all manner of things!

It is aimed at increasing children’s independence, confidence and resilience whilst giving them a good feeling of achievement on completion.