GirlsIndependentBoarding

Benenden School

Cranbrook, Kent, South East · TN17 4AA

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.

550

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£42,495

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Girls
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 11-18
Pupils: 550
Pupil:teacher ratio: 1
Location: Cranbrook, Kent, South East
Website: http://www.benenden.school
Telephone: 01580 240592

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Headmistress Ms Rachel Bailey

Latest results

Attainment 8

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

78%

A-level A*-A

68%

A-level A*-B

88%

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.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 200

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsGeographyHistoryEnglish LiteratureEconomicsPsychologyDrama and Theatre Studies

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 27.82%
EHC plans: 0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicMusicArtSportDramaDesign and Technology

Languages

FrenchSpanishChinese

Popular GCSE subjects

SpanishFrenchChineseLatinDrama & Theatre StudiesMusicPhysical Education/Sports StudiesArt & DesignReligious Studies

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.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1923
Boarding: Yes

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

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £42,495
Boarding fees (per year): £59,214

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 7 October 2025

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

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.

The Passmate verdict