Benenden School
Benenden School is a girls boarding and day school in Cranbrook, Kent, educating pupils aged 11 - 18 and founded in 1923. Boarding fees are £19,738 - £21,711 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Girls boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 11 - 18
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Benenden
The story, ethos and character of Benenden.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Head
- Ms Rachel Bailey
Benenden, identified by Spear's as one of the world's leading boarding schools for the third consecutive year, offers girls aged 11-18 A Complete Education. Founded in 1923 and set in 250 acres of Kent parkland, just an hour from London, it has 550 students, 90% of whom are boarders, with many staff living on site.
Life at Benenden ensures every student embraces the opportunities of a busy boarding environment and strives to achieve their best. Alongside outstanding pastoral provision, state-of-the-art facilities and excellent academic results, Benenden fosters intellectual curiosity and shapes future generations of successful, visionary women.
At the heart of Benenden's ethos lies a culture grounded in the values of confidence, compassion, courage and courtesy, fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among students and staff alike. Set in a stunning rural location, the School occupies 250 acres of beautiful Kentish parkland, with an iconic Grade II listed main building that provides an inspiring backdrop for learning and personal growth.
Benenden offers an outstanding range of facilities, including a state-of-the-art Science Centre, extensive sports pitches, a modern theatre and a concert hall, ensuring every student has the opportunity to explore and excel in her chosen interests.
Read the full Benenden profile
Enter your email to unlock academics, boarding life, admissions, fees & funding, location and photos — free, and for every school on this site.
- Full academics, boarding, admissions & fees detail
- Photo galleries and location guides
- Independent, free advice — no spam, ever
Academics at Benenden
What pupils study at Benenden — and where it takes them.
to study for GCSE alongside English, Maths, the three Sciences and a Language. They will also continue with Sport and Academic Extension. Benenden girls can expect to have gained on average ten or 11 GCSEs and a huge range of extra experiences and aptitudes.
Students choose 3 or 4 A Levels to study from a range of interesting courses. Benenden offers a traditional A Level pathway, alongside an exciting Professional Skills Programme, which includes inclusive leadership, volunteering and enterprise, and our progressive Electives Programme.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
2025 Leavers' Destinations Results and Destinations 85% gained First Choice Institution72% Russell group Institution10% International destination38% Top 10 UK University*18% Top 10 World University***THES University tables 2025,**QS World University rankings 2025 +1 photos
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Benenden
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Benenden.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 10, Boys 0, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
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. It's a traditional model thoughtfully adapted to meet the needs of modern family life.
Extended weekdays and Saturday morning lessons allow us to dedicate time to delivering the exceptional all-round education for which we are renowned. All students benefit from this, regardless of whether they are a boarder or day pupil. Almost 90% of our students are boarders and more than two thirds will stay in School on a Saturday night while others take advantage of our more flexible boarding model.
A genuine home away from home
All students, whether boarding or day, live or are based in five Middle School Houses for the 13 to 16-year-olds, four Sixth Form Houses (Founders) and a Lower School house dedicated to our Fourths and Upper Fourths (11-12-year-olds). The Houses are managed by a Housemistress/master (Hm), a Deputy (DHm) and an experienced pastoral team of Matrons and Tutors.
House staff are in regular contact with parents in order to their daughters' boarding lives. The Boarders are encouraged to find the right balance between staying in, making the most of the Weekend Programme or taking an Exeat. Students may return on Sunday night in time for House Time at 8.00pm or for roll call on Monday morning by 8.10am.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Benenden admissions
How children join Benenden, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Normal entry to Benenden is in September at 11+, 12+ or 13+, as a result of the ISEB Common Pre-test 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.
Special notes to agents about entry to the school Application procedure and entrance tests All 11+, 12+ and 13+ candidates are asked to take the ISEB Common Pre-test during the Autumn Term of Year 6. The test can be taken at the candidate's current school or a recognised testing centre (such as a local British Council Office), between 1 October and 31 January.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Benenden fees & funding
What Benenden costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Benenden.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Benenden against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Benenden location & travel
Where Benenden is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4AA, England Airport transfer At the beginning and end of term, and for half terms, the School provides an airport transfer coach service and a private shuttle service to London. Travel time to London by train Less than 1 hour Telephone +44 (0)1580 240 592 Website https://www.
benenden. school/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. London Gatwick 54 70 2. London Heathrow 76 95 3. London City 55 80 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Staplehurst 7 15 2.
Inside Benenden
Benenden — frequently asked questions
Where is Benenden?
How much are Benenden boarding fees?
What ages does Benenden take?
Is Benenden co-educational?
When was Benenden founded?
Does Benenden require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Benenden?
What qualifications does Benenden offer?
Does Benenden support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Benenden have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Benenden?
Does Benenden have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Benenden?
Does Benenden accept international students?
How much does Benenden cost?
What's included in Benenden's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Benenden?
Considering Benenden for your child?
We've visited the schools and know the staff. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll guide you — our advice is always free.
Ask us about Benenden