Benenden

Focus

Inspiring leaders

Day fees 2024/25  

$50,200 (incl. VAT)

Boarding fees 2024/25 

$70,000 (incl. VAT)

Pupils

550 

Ages

11–18

Spear’s Review

Benenden aims to guide its pupils into becoming ambitious, confident and caring young women. Academic results are outstanding, supporting the school’s approach of creating a less pressured atmosphere than traditional London day schools.

Their strategy sets out five pillars of child development with an emphasis on responsibility, creativity and innovation. Boarding is full-time, with long breaks at home to encourage independence with an underpinning of security.

Since the school’s founding in 1923, more than 5,000 girls have been educated under the Benenden philosophy: to become ‘a responsible and considerate citizen’ who plays an active part in society. 

Academics

84 per cent of GCSE results are grades 7–9.

71 per cent of results at A-Level are A* or A.

School Profile 

Benenden School is one of the leading boarding schools in the world, offering girls aged 11 to 18 ‘A Complete Education’. Founded in 1923, the school is situated in 250 acres of attractive parkland in Kent, just an hour from London. Ninety-five per cent of the 550 students are boarders, and a large number of the 440 staff live on-site.

Benenden School students relish everything that life in a busy boarding school has to offer and challenge themselves to achieve their very best. As well as offering state-of-the art facilities and generating top academic results, Benenden inspires future thinkers by fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and encouraging each individual to make a difference.

Benenden’s unique academic programme aims to encourage a lifelong enthusiasm for learning and discovery. The outstanding curriculum blends the very best of educational tradition with an innovative, enquiry-based cross-curricular approach that allows students to make connections, synthesise knowledge and develop advanced research skills.

The co-curricular programme is a key pillar of the Complete Education provided at Benenden. With more than 100 different activities to choose from, the provision is extensive. There are plenty of ways for pupils to try something new, extend their enthusiasms and develop lifelong interests.

By the time a student leaves Benenden, she will have achieved her very best possible grades at GCSE and A-Level, but also have a love for learning and a set of aptitudes that fit her to meet the challenges of both her professional and personal life in the years ahead.

Parents tell us that they simply ‘got a feeling’ when they visited Benenden that they knew it was the right school for their daughter. We would be delighted to welcome you to visit us to see Benenden for yourself.

Feeder schools

Students come from schools including Saint Ronan’s, Dulwich Cranbrook and Thomas’s London day schools.

University and college destinations

In 2024, 7 per cent of leavers gained places at Oxford and Cambridge.

Head teacher

Rachel Bailey was educated at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and the University of York, where she read economics. Having graduated, she joined John Hampden Grammar School in Buckinghamshire and served a successful 20-year tenure. Her next post was as deputy head and then head of senior school at The Royal Masonic School for Girls. Bailey joined Benenden as head in August 2024. 

Admissions

According to the school, Benenden greatly values its relationship with parents, from parents’ first exploratory contact with the school, throughout their daughter’s school career and often beyond. A personal visit, where parents speak with members of staff and with students, helps parents to appreciate the school’s unique character. Prospective pupils and parents are encouraged to visit Benenden as soon as they feel ready to begin looking at senior schools and as many times as they like during the admissions process.

Normal entry is in September at 11+, 12+ or 13+, as a result of the ISEB Common Pre-Tests or through Benenden’s own entrance or scholarship examinations. In addition, there is also a small 14+ and 16+ competitive entry into Year 10 and the Sixth Form. Benenden enjoys a thriving programme for scholars including academic awards and scholarships for accomplished musicians, artists, actresses, designers and sportswomen.

Accessibility

Gatwick Airport: 1 hour  

Location

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