Benenden School

Benenden is regarded as one of the leading boarding schools in Britain. Founded in 1923, it is situated in 250 acres of attractive parkland in Kent, the Garden of England, just an hour from London. There are 560 girls in the School, aged 11-18.

Benenden aims to give each girl A Complete Education in which she realises her academic potential, grows as an individual and is well prepared for life beyond school. A Complete Education combines the focus on academic achievement, personal development and engendering a firm understanding of the world in which we live.

This is achieved through an outstanding academic offering which will help your daughter to achieve her very best, together with unrivalled co-curricular opportunities and a dedicated focus on developing every girl's personal and professional skills.

Above all, we want girls to relish all that life in a boarding school has to offer, to enjoy her learning, develop intellectual curiosity and be ambitious, whilst learning to achieve balance in her life.

Benenden's unique academic programme aims to encourage a lifelong enthusiasm for learning and discovery. We have a curriculum that 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.

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.

Our boarding model is central to this Complete Education, as it builds a strong partnership between School and home. Benenden boarding brings enormous benefits for your daughter: she has the time and space to try new activities, she develops great social and emotional skills, and makes friends for life. All pupils are able to go home every Saturday night, although the outstanding Weekend Programme means that on any given weekend, two-thirds of pupils choose to remain in School.

Boarding is a partnership between School and family, and parents are always welcome to join their daughter at weekends or throughout the week to cheer her on in matches, have a catch-up, take her out to lunch or enjoy the food at School – Sunday brunch here in the Café is particularly popular with parents!

Our day students play a full part in every area of school life: leaving at the end of the day will not prevent your daughter from benefiting from the Benenden experience!

Day students are fully immersed in the academic, co-curricular and personal and professional elements of our Complete Education. We have carefully planned their role in the boarding side of School life: being affiliated with a Boarding House means they benefit from the pastoral care and close friendships that are hallmarks of the boarding programme.

We are proud to consistently hear that the girls at Benenden are happy and relaxed, and that there is a culture of 'stretch without stress'. 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.