Day Students at Benenden
Your questions answered
A welcome from the Headmistress
I am delighted to welcome you and your daughter to Benenden as part of our Day Student community. While your daughter will return home at the end of each day, she is every bit as much a part of the life and spirit of the School as our boarders, and we are committed to ensuring that she enjoys the full breadth of the Benenden experience.
This booklet has been designed to answer many of the practical questions you may have as your daughter settles in, from daily routines to co-curricular opportunities and everything in between. I hope you find it a helpful reference as your family becomes part of our community.
If there is anything further you need, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your daughter’s Housemistress/master or our dedicated Head of Day Students, Heidi Smith – we are always happy to help.
With very best wishes
Rachel Bailey
Helpful Contact Information:
Heidi Smith, Head of Day Students: Heidi is always on hand to help with any queries you may have. Please do email her at hrs@benenden.school
School Office
Tel: 01580 240592
Email: schooloffice@benenden.school
Travel Team
Tel: 01580 240592
Email: travel@benenden.school
Frequently Asked Questions
Arrival,DepartureandDailyRoutine
What time should my daughter arrive and leave each day?
Students should ideally not arrive before 7.30am. They must register in House between 7.30am and 8.00am (8.30am on Saturday). Students may leave after lessons finish at the end of the School day (5.10pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 4.25pm on Wednesdays and 10.45am on Saturdays). Once a parent arrives, your daughter should sign out from House and meet you at the agreed time.
How early can she arrive and how late can she leave?
Students may arrive from 7.30am and should leave by 8.30pm. If she needs to stay later, we can certainly accommodate this; please liaise with House staff.
What happens if I am late collecting my daughter?
Please contact your daughter’s House team to let them know (contact details are available on the Portal under ‘Boarding – Boarding House Contact Information’). In the meantime, she is welcome to wait in House where the team will make sure she’s well looked after until collection.
Where does she go on her first day?
She should report directly to her House on Tuesday 2 September. New Fourths and Upper Fourths should arrive by midday. All Six Ones should arrive by midday. New Lower Fifth and new Fifth should arrive by 4.00pm. The team will be happy to welcome her in her home clothes, but she will need to have her uniform ready for the New Pupils’ Service, which will take place at 2.00pm for Fourth and Upper Fourth, and 5.00pm for Lower Fifth and Fifth. Following their service, Fourth and Upper Fourth pupils will take part in some induction activities, but will be available for collection from 5.30pm. Lower Fifth and Fifth pupils will be available for collection after their service has concluded, which is scheduled for 6.00pm. Students are however very welcome to stay later and enjoy supper in School if they would like.
Isthereanemergencycontactifparentsneedtoreachherduringtheday?
The School Office (see contact information on page 03) is staffed throughout the day and is the best point of contact. They can ensure messages reach your daughter
How
do parents access the School site by car?
A number plate recognition system is in place and is currently being updated – more information about registering your vehicles will be sent to parents by the end of August. Between the hours of 9.00pm and 6.00am, the gates will lock – if parents need to access the site between these times they should phone their daughter’s boarding house (contact information is available on the Portal under ‘Boarding – Boarding House Contact Information’) who will be able to grant you access.
Is my daughter allowed home early during internal School exam week?
No, all students (excluding those in public exam years during study leave) are expected to stay for the whole School day
What happens on snow days?
Benenden remains open and operating come rain or shine! If your daughter is unable to come into School due to snow, please notify us through the absence procedures (outlined on page 06) and we will either organise her to join lessons remotely or to be sent work to complete. In the unlikely event that we need to ask Day Girls not to come into School for any reason, the School would alert parents via email and text message.
Timetables,ActivitiesandTransport
How do I find out about my daughter’s timetable and activities?
Details of the optional paid extras available to your daughter are viewable on the Parent Portal, under ‘Co-Curricular – Start an Extra’. New joiners will not be able to see their academic timetables until they start with us in September, at which time they are issued with a login. An overview of all the available clubs and activities will be uploaded to the Parent Portal by the end of the summer holidays. All parents will be emailed to alert you when this is ready. All students will be able to explore different activities at the co-curricular fair on the first Thursday of term. They can sign up for these clubs at the fair or are very welcome to turn up to try out a club at any stage when it’s running. You can sign up for any paid extras through the Parent Portal (the process is outlined above – the overview mentioned above will indicate which activities are paid extras).
How
doDayStudentssignupforthe
WeekendProgramme?
Sign-up is done through House each week for the coming weekend’s programme. There is no limit on the number of activities Day Students can attend. Fourth to Lower Fifth boarders are required to take part in weekend activities, but participation is optional for Day Students.
When areteam sheets published for sports fixtures?
Sport team sheets are always uploaded to the Parent Portal by midnight on a Monday. You can access your daughter’s sporting fixtures on the Portal via ‘ACE Calendar – Calendar’, where the team sheet is also displayed.
Can Sixth Form Day Students drive to school?
Yes. Once your daughter has passed her driving test, she may drive to school with permission from the First Deputy’s Office.
How do I access the bus service? Can I book for specific days, or do I have to book for the whole term?
All day parents have been invited to book onto our buses. Details are shown on the Parent Portal under ‘Travel’, where there is also a link to the Vectare booking system. Booking for the next Academic Year will be available from 28 July
What do Day Families do on Exeats when the School closes early?
Day Students should arrive by 8.00am (lessons commence at 8.30am) and be collected at 12.30pm. Exeat dates are published in advance (in the Benenden Bulletin and the School website) to support family arrangements.
CanmydaughterwearhomeclothesonanExeat,HalfTermand
EndofTerm?
She may wear home clothes (with practical footwear) on Exeats and Half Terms if she is happy to donate £2 to our School charity fund. Full School uniform, including blazers, should be worn at the beginning and end of every term.
Health and Medical Arrangements
Who should I contact if my daughter is unwell and cannot attend School?
All parents are asked to use the form located under ‘Contact – Report an Absence’ on the Portal. We also advise emailing the Hm, DHm and Matron teams to ensure the message is picked up promptly. Contact information is available on the Portal under ‘Boarding – Boarding House Contact Information’.
What happens if my daughter feels unwell during the day?
She should go to the Medical Centre. Either the Medical Centre staff or House staff will contact parents to arrange collection as needed. We ask that parents please wait until they are contacted by staff before collecting their children.
What if she is well enough to attend S chool but unfit for Sport?
Please drop her at House. Staff will liaise with the Medical Centre, who will advise whether she should take part in physical activity.
What if she needs medication during the day?
Parents should inform the House Matron. Medication must be handed to the Matron at drop-off.
Meals and School Life
Can she come in for breakfast or stay for supper?
Yes, Day Students are welcome at both meals at no extra cost.
Does she need to sign in for supper?
No, but she will need to sign in and out of School each day with her House team, so once she has finished her meal she will need to return to House before leaving the School site.
Are Day Students allowed mobile phones?
Yes. In Lower and Middle School houses phones should be handed in to House on arrival and can be collected either when they sign out of School at the end of the day, or if they stay later into the evening, during their year group’s phone time. On normal School days, Fourths’ phone time is 7.20pm-8.00pm, Upper Fourths’ is 7.30pm-8.15pm, Lower Fifths’ is 7.30pm-8.30pm, Fifths’ is from the end of lessons until 9.00pm and Upper Fifths’ is from the end of lessons until 10.00pm. Sixth Form students are allowed to keep their phones throughout the day – but we don’t expect to see them! Wifi access times are controlled by the School. We are currently reviewing our mobile phone policy and collecting feedback so please note that these timings may be subject to change in September.
How are Day Students integrated with boarders?
In Medway, pupils are encouraged to spend time together in shared social spaces. House staff ensure that all students are involved in various fun, relationship-building activities. In Middle School Houses, Day Students share dorms with their peers. In the Sixth Form, all students are encouraged to spend time together in shared social spaces. Day Students may also visit their boarding friends in dorms.
Uniform, Equipment and Storage
Does she need the full School uniform list?
Day students typically need fewer items than boarders. For example, three shirts may be sufficient, although more can help ease laundry demands at home. The same applies to skirts. The key is to ensure a clean uniform is worn each day.
Where can she store her belongings during the day?
Each student is given a locker in House to store personal belongings. She may return to House during break or lunch to access her belongings.
Where does she get changed for sport and store her kit?
Day Students change and store kit in their House, both in Middle School Houses and the Sixth Form. In Medway, students have a locker and a dedicated private place to change.
Boarding and Overnight Stays
Can she board occasionally if needed?
Occasional overnight stays can be arranged if there is space. There is a cost associated, of £70 per night. Please liaise with your daughter’s Hm.
How many overnight stays is she allowed per term or year?
Overnight stays are intended for occasional use to make day parents’ logistics easier on occasion. We do not offer a flexi boarding option so are not able to accept regular stays on a particular night, for example. As a general guide, we are unlikely to be able to accommodate more than one sleepover per week.
Are Day Students expected to attend Closed Weekends?
Day Students are expected to take part in Closed Weekend activities, as these are important opportunities for bonding and inclusion. These dates are published in the Benenden Bulletin and the School website. We will give timings for activities ahead of time to allow families to plan – our Head of Day Students, Heidi Smith, will be in regular contact with you about such arrangements.
