Benenden
Overview
The Good Schools Guide called the school "Everyone's idea of a traditional, up-market, girls' boarding school though not remotely hidebound by tradition; cutting-edge and unconventional in multiple ways, in a stunning setting and underpinned with common sense." The school occupies a Victorian mansion, set in 250 acres (1.0 km2) of pastoral grounds in the Weald of Kent. Living, learning, sporting and leisure facilities are clustered around the original 19th century mansion, which adds to Benenden's sense of close community. There have been, and continue to be, many improvements to the site. There is a Sports Centre (known as "SPLASH"), a humanities building ("Leelands"), a Design Technology centre, Study Centre ("SCN") and a Theatre and drama teaching complex (finished Summer 2007)at the cost of £2.3 million. The Study Centre consists of the Eugenia Leung library and new-age classrooms featuring interactive whiteboard technology and an IT cluster known as "break-out". The School's most recent enhancement has been the construction of a new Science Centre, once of the most advanced centres of scientific learning available in the independent sector. The centre was opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 10 October 2012.
Unique Points
Benenden is the host of an annual Model United Nations conference each December, attracting over 250 delegates each year. Benenden participates in a large programme of conference hosted by other UK schools and attends international conferences in Washington DC, Paris and The Hague. The 75th anniversary of the School was celebrated in 1998-1999 with a service at St Paul's Cathedral, a programme of special events for Seniors at Benenden, St James's Palace and other London venues. The book Benenden: A Great Company by David Souden was published. The School play, written for the occasion, A Great Company was performed at Haymarket.
Entry Requirements
Normal entry is through Common Entrance at 13 plus but there is also a small 16 plus competitive entry into the sixth form. Occasionally a fifth form place may become competitive and entry to this is also competitive.
