Mini Duke
Mini Duke at Market Field School
Developing Respect, Excellence and Friendship (Years 5–9)
At Market Field School, pupils on Pathway 3 take part in Mini Duke sessions from Year 5 through to the end of Year 9. Mini Duke is a structured personal development programme that supports our commitment to educating the whole child and enables pupils to live out our values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship in meaningful, practical ways.
What is Mini Duke?
Mini Duke is a progressive life‑skills and character development award that encourages pupils to develop independence, confidence and responsibility through a range of age‑appropriate challenges. These activities complement the curriculum by giving pupils opportunities to apply learning in real-life contexts and to grow personally as they move through key transition points in their schooling.
How Mini Duke reflects our school values
Respect
Mini Duke encourages pupils to show respect for:
- Themselves, by taking responsibility for their actions and recognising their own strengths
- Others, by working cooperatively, listening, and supporting peers
- The wider community and environment, through responsible behaviour and positive contribution
Through practical challenges, pupils learn that effort, patience and consideration for others are essential parts of personal growth and citizenship.
Excellence
Mini Duke supports pupils to strive for excellence by:
- Setting personal goals and seeing them through
- Persevering when tasks are challenging
- Reflecting on progress and learning from experience
The programme values growth and commitment rather than perfection, helping pupils understand that excellence comes from sustained effort, resilience and pride in achievement.
Friendship
Many Mini Duke activities involve teamwork, shared responsibility and collaboration. Pupils learn to:
- Communicate effectively and respectfully
- Support one another through challenge
- Build trust and positive relationships
These shared experiences strengthen friendships and contribute to a positive, inclusive school culture where pupils feel valued and supported.
How Mini Duke benefits your child
Through participation in Mini Duke, pupils at Market Field School:
- Develop confidence, independence and resilience
- Gain essential life skills that support future learning and adulthood
- Strengthen social skills, teamwork and empathy
- Experience success beyond academic outcomes
- Build a strong foundation for later enrichment opportunities, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The sustained delivery of Mini Duke from Year 5 to Year 9 allows pupils time to revisit, practise and embed these skills as they mature.
Supporting Ofsted priorities
Mini Duke makes a strong contribution to the Personal Development and Behaviour and Attitudes strands of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework. It supports pupils to:
- Develop character, resilience and self-confidence
- Take responsibility for their choices and behaviour
- Demonstrate respect, cooperation and positive relationships
- Be well-prepared for life beyond school
By offering Mini Duke over several years, Market Field School ensures that personal development is planned, progressive and impactful, rather than a one-off experience.
Our commitment at Market Field School
We believe that achievement is about more than academic success alone. Mini Duke is part of our wider commitment to developing pupils who:
- Treat others with Respect
- Strive for Excellence in all they do
- Build strong friendships and contribute positively to the school community.
We are proud to offer the Mini Duke as an integral part of our personal development provision at Market Field School.