Benenden School
Founded in 1923, Benenden is a fully boarding girls' school set in the Kent countryside near Cranbrook, taking pupils from age 11 through to 18. With around 550 girls and an exceptional pupil-to-teacher ratio, it offers a level of individual attention that few schools can match. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'excellent' for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Its thoughtful, age-graded approach to mobile phones - tightly limited in the early years and gradually relaxed as girls build healthy digital habits - reflects a school that takes pastoral life as seriously as the classroom.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
78%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
68%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
88%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 7 October 2025
Teaching & academics
Results are strong, particularly at A-level, where 68% of grades reach A*-A and 88% reach A*-B; at GCSE, 78% of grades fall in the 9-7 range. The sixth form is sizeable, with 200 pupils, and the academic offer extends from GCSE and A-level to the EPQ. Popular A-level choices span the sciences, mathematics, humanities and economics, while the curriculum has a notable language strand, with French, Spanish and Chinese all taught. Just over a quarter of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting the school is geared to support a range of learning needs.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmistress · Ms Rachel Bailey
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 200
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Breadth is reflected in the scholarship programme, which rewards talent in music, art, sport, drama and design and technology alongside academic ability. Drama, music and art feature prominently among GCSE choices, pointing to a lively creative and performing arts culture across the school.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1923
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 27.82%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Year 7 pupils have phones for one hour per day in house evenings. Gradually increased access through school, with sixth form developing healthy digital habits to keep phones throughout the day. No devices out around school or in lessons
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £42,495
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £59,214
Schools nearby
The Dulwich School Cranbrook
CRANBROOK, South East
Little Acorns School
Tenterden, South East
Bethany School
Cranbrook, South East
Bricklehurst Manor School
Wadhurst, South East
The Quest School
Paddock Wood, South East
Battle Abbey School
East Sussex, South East
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A close-knit, all-boarding girls' school with the staffing and resources to nurture each pupil individually. Fees run up to £59,214 for boarding, so it suits families seeking a premium, immersive education with strong A-level outcomes.
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Benenden School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.