Getting Started

To get started with the Junior Duke Award, you first need to let us know who you are: a teacher in a school, or a parent. While the Award can be completed independently of a school, it’s most effective when there’s whole-school involvement. Engaging the entire school community fosters a collaborative environment, making the experience more enriching for students.

Whether you're bringing the program to your classroom or supporting your child at home, identifying your role helps us provide the right resources and guidance to ensure a successful Junior Duke journey.

Please select the option that best describes you to proceed:

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my login details work to log into the Portal?

Only one portal account can exist per school.

This means one “Lead Teacher” will have access to the teacher resources and can invite staff members to the CPD training as well as to give feedback to children for their online work.

The first teacher from your school to register for the “Getting Started” webpage will receive an email inviting them to create the school’s portal account. 

No other teacher registering from your school will receive an invite.

That means only one portal account invitation will be sent to an email ending the same as yours. 

Some exceptions exist.  

Please contact us if this causes problems for you.

Why won't the login I created last year work?

The start of the 2024-2025 session saw the release of a completely new Junior Duke website. Unfortunately, this means new logins are needed - but the new login will have more powers! Create your login and you'll see new training and resources.

Am I able to request an invoice as that is what my school requires?

Yes. If you go through the ordering process, there is the option to pay by card, PayPal or Bank Deposit. If you click the Bank deposit option, and see the ordering process through to the end by clicking ‘Pay now’, you shall be emailed an invoice. There is a PDF leaflet to show you how to order in the Password protected Resources page.

Which level should I start my new pupils on?

No level states which age it is for. Therefore, you may choose the one that is right for the child. If you look in 'The Awards' you will see the intended suggestion. The levels are well-researched and appropriately designed so that children work on suitable skills.

There are many schools where teachers have chosen earlier levels for their students with Additional Learning Needs. It is up to the teacher.

Do the booklets say which year group they are for?

No.

If you are not in a mainstream school and would like to discuss the various levels, please get in touch with dawn@juniorduke.com

When will I receive my school's materials?

Once payment has been received, we shall ship your order. We use DHL and you will be emailed the tracking number.

How long does it take to complete a level?

If the challenges are being worked on at home, they may be completed in as little as a couple of months! It all depends on the child and their parent.

Some children can take a whole year and require a bit of a push towards the end!

If a child finishes quickly, can they do more than one level in a year?

No.

To avoid over-competitive parenting, the levels are deliberately designed to be age-appropriate. One level may be completed each year.

When should my school begin the Award?

It is up to you.

Ideally, if the children are going to be given the freedom to work on the challenges at home, it works best to give them as much of the academic year as possible.

However, if you plan to run the Award as an Extra Curricular Activity or such-like, the teacher will be leading the children through, week-by-week.

In this case, one term will suffice as the children can work on one challenge per week for a ten-week term.

Can my children's parents do the assessing at home to save time by involving teachers in school?

I wouldn't suggest this is a good idea. Teacher assessment adds a level of authority and gravitas to the job and children have to step up to the plate to make sure that they complete each challenge as best as they can.

Can I run the Award on my own in my school (other teachers are busy)?

You could. However, I don't suggest you do.

Utilising every member of staff in a school can be super-helpful and means everyone has a tiny role and gets to know children throughout the school well.

Discussions in the corridors, lunchrooms and playgrounds become pretty interesting and entertaining...and it means that you won't be rushed off your feet being the only person having to fit in assessments.