Welcome
Welcome to the second Centenary Edition of the Benenden Society Newsletter, which updates our community on the School’s recent and future Development priorities.
Following the launch of the Centenary Campaign – the fourth and final phase of the Headmistress’s Centenary Vision – in October 2023, pledges towards our fundraising target of £10 million have already surpassed £1.3 million. Parents, Seniors and Friends of the School have chosen to support all four aspects of the initiative, whether to help with the restoration of our iconic Grade II listed main building, the modernisation of our Middle School Boarding Houses, material improvements to SPLASH, or to support our ongoing Be the Change bursary programme. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported thus far.
In this edition we are delighted to have a Spotlight on Bursaries, featuring Alana Masters, a Be the Change beneficiary in Six Two. Alana and her mother, Ruth Filipo, have been wonderful champions of Be the Change, and we are pleased to highlight some of the insights Alana has shared at our Centenary Campaign briefings over the past year.
This is also an important time of year for our Founders Scholarship, which forms part of Be the Change. Alastair Clarke, a VI1 parent, makes an impassioned case for bursary support and for the Founders Scholarship. We hope parents of the Class of 2024, our Centenary Year, will match or exceed the generosity of previous year groups. Equally, if you are the parent of a pupil lower down the School, you will see details of how you can pledge your support in advance to this life changing, parent-led initiative.
Continuing our focus on the pupils themselves, we have included some students’ reflections on the very popular modernisation of the Echyngham House Study. Their enthusiasm for this welcoming new space illustrates the importance of making the Boarding Houses inviting, practical and cosy for those living in them: a true Home from Home.
We report on the array of events we have held in order to engage, inspire and entertain members of our community, including several in-person and online briefings to update all Benenden Society members on our Rejuvenating an Icon, Home from Home, Future Fit and Be the Change plans. We have been delighted with the attendance at these informative and convivial Headmistress Dinners, at the Lansdowne Club and House of Lords receptions, and with the number of Society members around the world who joined our online briefings. Heartfelt thanks to all those who took time out of their busy schedules to find out more about this important strategic initiative and, in turn, how they can support.
We invited Patrons and Benenden Angels, our legacy gift pledgers, to receptions during the year at St Peter’s Eaton Square, the Coliseum and Canterbury Cathedral, and we were also thrilled to hold inaugural Parent Dinners in Shanghai and Beijing. Turn to the Benenden Society Events section (p12) to see photographs from these occasions and of the Centenary Dinners.
It has been fun looking back at the variety of people who inspired the House and Dorm names at Benenden. We hope you enjoy reading about them. We would love to hear from Seniors and Honorary Seniors who remember and would like to share anecdotes about those Benenden ‘legends’.
The School’s Digital Archive is now live with more content added periodically and can be accessed via our online home, Benenden Connects.
Warmest thanks to our generous Patrons, Supporters and Angels for everything you do to ensure that Benenden continues to provide all that the students need to learn and thrive in a fantastic environment both now and in the future.
If you would like to support us or would like more information regarding a particular project, or sponsorship and naming opportunities, please contact Kyle Johnson, Director of Development, at kaj@benenden.school or on 01580 236742.
Samantha Price, Headmistress
Kyle Johnson, Director of Development
The Centenary Campaign Progress Update
The School’s Centenary Campaign launched in the Autumn term. This exciting campaign marks the final stage of our ambitious Centenary Vision and seeks to secure Benenden’s position as a leading girls’ school, as it enters its second century.
The four elements of the Centenary Campaign are:
£5m
Rejuvenating an Icon Restoration and Boarding House modernisation, Hemsted
£2.5m
Be the Change Bursary and Partnerships programme
£2m
Home from Home Boarding House modernisation, Echyngham and Guldeford
£0.5m
Future Fit
SPLASH upgrade
To find out more about these projects, view our webpage at benenden.school/the-centenarycampaign or use the QR code.
SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Since launching, we have been able to provide a variety of opportunities for our community to come together and find out more about the investments that make up the Centenary Campaign. These occasions have enabled us to convey the significant impact these projects will have for current and future Benenden pupils.
In November, Parents and Patrons were invited to the Lansdowne Club for the very first Campaign Briefing event. Headmistress, Samantha Price, and Chairman of Governing Council, Anna Birkett, welcomed guests and Director of Estates Capital Projects, Kirsty Leslie, presented on the plans, with a focus on the building projects. Sarah Wood, Assistant Head of Boarding, then joined a staff panel to take questions from the audience about all four aspects of the Campaign. ➽
Lansdowne Club Briefing
In February this year, we were delighted to hold a second briefing event held at the House of Lords where we welcomed Parents, Former Parents, Seniors, Honorary Seniors, Friends and guests.
Our gracious event host, The Baroness Shackleton, spoke about the vision of the School, from the Founders to the current day, and how successive Headmistresses have further developed the School campus therefore shaping the School’s success. Samantha Price then hosted a panel Q&A. Kirsty Leslie and First Deputy, Steve Miller spoke about the capital project aspects of the Campaign, describing the impact of work already completed in Guldeford, Echyngham and Norris, the vital need for the restoration of Hemsted, improvements to the gym in SPLASH and the plans to modernise the remaining Boarding Houses. Attendees heard from bursary recipient, Alana Masters, and her mother, Ruth Filipo. Alana spoke about the huge difference a Benenden education had made to her and why Be the Change is so important, and Ruth described the impact that new opportunities had made on her daughter’s future.
Our Benenden community is global in nature. We therefore took the opportunity in March to run two Live Online Briefings for those unable to attend events in person. It was great to see so many people from across the world join these sessions.
It has been wonderful to have had the opportunity to speak to so many people at these occasions, and we look forward to meeting with more potential supporters in the coming months.
Already, generous members of our community have pledged over £1.3 million towards the new Campaign, and momentum is building. We have been particularly delighted to see that people are coming together at a whole variety of levels to do what they can, either to support a particular project, or to donate where need is greatest. Every gift truly does count, and the Centenary Campaign as a whole will only be a success with members of our community joining together to support the School.
Hannah Thackwray Head of Philanthropy
£1.3m has already been pledged by members of our community
If you would like to support us or would like more information regarding a particular Centenary Campaign project, or sponsorship and naming opportunities, please contact either:
Hannah
Thackwray
Head of Philanthropy hth@benenden.school
or
Kyle Johnson Director of Development kaj@benenden.school
Samantha Price with Steve Miller
House of Lords Briefing Panel
Rejuvenating an Icon
The School’s main building – which houses our historic Entrance Hall, the Maridor, Cameron and Terrace rooms and of course Hemsted Boarding House, is in need of investment to restore and secure it for the future.
Work to the roof of Hemsted is central to the Centenary Campaign. The fabric of the building needs significant work with the brickwork, chimneys and parapets all in pressing need of attention. Whilst the School has undertaken maintenance over the preceding years, the roof is at a point in its life where comprehensive works are required. Timing is important, and it is vital that restoration of the fabric of the building takes place now. This will not only create the improvements we need, but prevent greater costs in the future, while ensuring there are another 50 years before any further comprehensive restoration work should be needed.
Whilst this work is being undertaken, the School can focus on improving the way the building performs; this is of great importance in the face of global climate change. New insulation to the building would mean that rooms and other spaces become cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, therefore reducing energy consumption. With increasingly heavy rainfall affecting the building, plans also include the introduction of larger gutters and new spouts. These would be key interventions that would help protect the elevations of the building from the elements.
As custodians of our Grade II listed building, it is essential that we invest in Hemsted now to secure its longevity and ensure it remains a central symbol of the School for future generations.
The School’s Be the Change initiative remains a central part of our fundraising efforts and a key element of the Centenary Campaign. Since its launch in 2022, over £2.6 million has generously been donated to transform the lives of girls through a bursary.
The numbers of Benenden pupils on 110% bursaries has increased from eight to 18. The target is to raise an additional £2.4 million through the new Campaign, to increase this number to 24 by the end of 2024 and beyond.
Our target is to increase the number of pupils on 110% bursaries to 24 by the end of 2024 and beyond
The Centenary Campaign
Goal: £10,000,000
£1,300,000
Find out more at benenden.school/ development/ be-the-change/
The skylight and dormer windows clearly convey the pressing need for investment.
Home from Home
Echyngham and
Guldeford
House Study Refurbishments
Grace Wills, Echyngham V was interviewed by Katie Tyler, Philanthropy Officer, regarding the improvement to life in House following the upgrades to House Studies in Echyngham and Guldeford, part of the School’s ongoing programme to modernise the Middle School Boarding Houses.
“The House Study creates a sense of community between years and the house as a whole due to the fact it has many different zones and games where you can meet in groups or relax. The bond between layers has definitely strengthened since last year when most year groups would stick together and not really socialise between layers. This has improved the sense of community in Echyngham and allowed many people to make new friendships.
It is a new place to socialise and many of our older years have recognised this. Our Sixth Formers put together many activities for the whole house such as cookie decorating and a game of Kahoot about Echyngham and its members.
In the House Study there are many different activities you can do. My personal favourites are Just Dance, board games and on weekends watching films with other people. It is a very flexible space with many different activities.
It has definitely increased the sense of community between layers and gives everyone a separate space from their dorms so people can unwind or work. If I need to do revision, I normally use the House Study as it is away from any noise in the dorms. It especially benefits revision for exams as it eliminates distractions or gives you a place to revise with friends which can be very beneficial. And if you need a particularly quiet place to focus there is a small room behind the House Study.”
Echyngham House Study
“The updated common room has changed my boarding experience as now we can all mix in year groups. I have noticed a change especially with UIV and LV. It’s nice because we talk, and sometimes we’ll play Just Dance together. I believe it has impacted my study habits in a good way as now I can go to a peaceful environment if my dorm is noisy, and it has a whiteboard where you can create mind maps.”
Alicia Fullarton Echyngham LV
Sponsor a Space
The plans for the modernisation of Echyngham, Guldeford and Hemsted, as well as the upgrade of our SPLASH sports complex, include opportunities for rooms to be sponsored by members of our community. The spaces range from one bed dorm rooms, to the fitness suite, to the beautiful new House Studies. Several spaces require naming, whilst for others, sponsors will appear alongside the much-beloved room names.
By sponsoring a space and supporting the Centenary Campaign, you and your family can sustain your connection with the School for generations to come, using your own name, or by honouring a family member, friend or organisation.
For more details on the opportunities available, email development@benenden.school
Echyngham House Study
Guldeford House Study
Home from Home Benenden House and Dorm Names
When the School opened in its temporary accommodation at Bickley, the Founders created three Houses each denoted by a colour and with a Founder as Housemistress.
On moving to Hemsted Place in January 1924, names were given to these Houses from a list and allocated by drawing lots. Orange became Guldeford, Red Echyngham and Yellow Hemsted. Hemsted Park, although of the right proportions for a boarding school, was inappropriate in many ways and early modifications in the Houses included removing an alabaster sink with gold taps and a sunken bath! Work started immediately, with plans for new buildings to accommodate the expanding numbers of students and the creation of two more Houses, Medway and Norris in 1925. Innovations established in the Houses over the years have included heating and curtains – a far cry from the recent renovations in Medway/Marshall and the new House Studies for Echyngham and Guldeford.
The names given to the Houses were chosen for historical connections to Hemsted Park and the School. Hemsted, the most obvious example, is after the first named owner of the estate, Robert of Hemsted. James Echyngham acquired the estate in 1377. The Guldeford family lived at Hemsted from 1388 until Sir John Norris, Admiral of the Fleet, bought the estate in the 1700s. Known as Foul-weather Jack, for a propensity for finding bad weather at sea, he has also given his nickname to a dorm. A later owner of the house, Lord Cranbrook, had a subsidiary title, Lord Medway. Finally, Marshall is named for a supporter of the Founders and generous donor, John Maitland Marshall, Chairman of Governing Council in the 1930s.
Dormitory names too, have grown out of history and notable places in the vicinity of the School such as Camber. Besides Medway House, we have Cranbrook, Hardy and Gathorne which also all refer to Lord Cranbrook. Lord Roth is named after Lord Rothermere founder of the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror, the last private owner of the house. The notorious wife of Sir John Norris’ grandson, Kitty Fisher, lends her name, liked locally for her charitable generosity. Hallet-Hodges was a High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant of Kent who owned the estate after the Norris family. Before New House was finished, Medway students stayed at the Vicarage which explains why we have a Vicarage dorm. Dove is for Dame Frances Dove, founder of Wycombe Abbey, who supported the Founders,
Lord Cranbrook
and staff inherited with the house are also remembered with rooms named for Busby, the butler and Purver, the head gardener.
Long-serving Housemistresses and Housemasters are immortalised in dorm names (as one former Housemaster, Jonathan Watts, has said, they are Benenden’s equivalent of a blue plaque!) so we have Sheldon (first Headmistress, Founder and Hm), Wilkins, Shand, Mona, Hindle (Founder and Hm), Langton, Corfe, Brinky, Sommerhayes, Bennet, Parker and Miss Gee – for Cynthia who was Guldeford Hm when HRH The Princess Royal was at School.
Students have named rooms after favourite staff. Nightwatch is for Edgar a former night watchman who railed against ‘village yobbos’, and one for
Bridie (Lee) a member of the catering staff from the 1940s until a time within the memory of some current members of staff and Seniors. Wartime evacuation is commemorated with Newquay, Porth, Polzeath, Bedruthen, Crantock and Watergate which would have been familiar places to the students returning in 1946.
Lifelong memories for generations of Seniors have been formed in these dormitories and Houses and, through the Centenary Campaign, we look forward to lovingly restoring and modernising them, while ensuring these important spaces retain both their names and their character.
With reference to A Great Company, David Souden 1998 and the Benenden Archives
Sir John Norris
Kitty Fisher
Miss Gee (left) and Brinky (right)
Bridie Lee
Spotlight on Bursaries
Alana Masters VI2, current Bursary recipient
During our Centenary Campaign Online Briefings, Samantha Price spoke to Alana Masters about joining Benenden after applying for a bursary place.
“The Be the Change campaign launch was attended by HRH The Princess Royal, who is a strong advocate of the School’s aspiration to increase the number of fully funded places offered to students. The deadline is fast approaching for our target of 24 students by the end of 2024, and Alana is absolutely the sort of pupil we want to bring to the School. She has made the most of absolutely everything on offer to her at Benenden.”
Samantha Price
Alana joined Benenden in the V and is now one of our VI2 Leavers this year. Her mother, Ruth Filipo, who has also been a wonderful spokesperson for our Bursary Programme, attending the Be the Change launch and joining our panel at the House of Lords, says that the decision to apply to Benenden was taken solely by Alana herself.
“Sending Alana to Benenden was a huge thing as a parent. Her essentially leaving home at 14 was not easy. But I know I can say wholeheartedly that it was the right decision. Benenden has been able to offer her a fuller and more diverse education than she would ever have received in a state school. She has blossomed in so many areas, especially sport and music, which again were not encouraged in her previous school.
It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. Benenden has been Alana’s village, and I could not be more proud of the wonderful, independent, and strong young woman she has become.” Ruth Filipo
Alana found the School online and worked hard for her entrance exam. The whole family was relieved when her offer arrived at the door. Alana has participated in sports including rugby, CCF, and music – delighting audiences with her singing with the Lime Avenue Jazz band and joining the Chamber Choir.
“I wanted to be sure I could make the most of being in education. Education may be a right, but it is also a privilege. For me that is really important to remember. I thought that is what I want, a school that can provide me with everything I need not just in education but in sports, music, and extra-curricular activities which were not offered by my previous school. Having the facility to do these options was really important to me.
I had a window into a whole other world where I can work as hard as I can and see the repercussions of that hard work. I have made very good friends. I have already had some offers through for university which is really exciting.” Alana Masters Hemsted/Limes VI2
Alana singing with Lime Ave Jazz at the 606 Club
Why We Give The Founders Scholarship
Alastair Clarke: A Moving Call to Action for The Founders Scholarship 2024
At the Headmistress’s Dinner in April, VI1 parent Alastair Clarke spoke movingly about his commitment to bursary provision. He put a particular focus on The Founders Scholarship, our parent-led deposit donation initiative, emphasising its importance as part of the Be the Change campaign.
“One initiative all parents can consider is The Founders Scholarship; donating back your deposits or a portion of them to support a girl through the Sixth Form. My wife Louise and I were at the Benenden ball a few years back and chatting with other parents on this very topic and, bearing in mind we’d been at the school just four years, and it was still early in the evening, none of us could remember how much our deposit was when we joined. Good financial discipline? – not really. Frivolous? – potentially. Could that money make a difference to the life of young person? – absolutely.
If every family each year returned their deposit, six girls could study on a 110% bursary. That is meaningful.
I am just one parent here, but I think about how our daughter has grown up, matured, become aware and appreciative of her surroundings whilst looking at the world in greater context. Our daughters are just brilliant, and we must thank the School for a portion of that.”
Pledge in Advance
Deposit donations to help fund a Sixth Form bursary form an important part of Be the Change as we progress towards our 24 by ’24 target. Parents can indicate their willingness to donate via a simple form, accessible via the QR code below, or using this link: https://bit.ly/4b64Seq
“I think that living in Founders is so special… I definitely feel a lot more comfortable here I think purely because I just love my independence and I love having control over how I do my day-to-day life a little bit more. It's definitely a really good transition to university.”
Ava
Charlton Beeches VI1, and Bursary Recipient
Watch Ava Charlton's message for all those considering a donation to Be the Change using the QR code on the right or this link: https://bit.ly/3VG8uQ4
Give a Student the Experience you had at Benenden
“I am keen to support Benenden firstly because it provides girls with the best possible education and training for life. I am also keen that the opportunities which Benenden provides should not just be determined by financial considerations. I believe that what Benenden has to offer should be open to all and that its future lies with the expansion of the Bursary programme. As a former member of staff, I am immensely grateful for what the School has given me and would like to give something back.”
Jonathan Watts Honorary Senior
Help
“If you can give one girl the opportunity to excel and thrive and see what they can achieve in turn, then that is a way that I can give back to make a real difference to someone else’s life in such a way as Benenden made an important difference to mine.”
Nicola Takada Wood
H/B1998
Restore the Spaces where the Best Memories are made
“It is vitally important to give something back to School which gave so much to me, not only my education but a set of values and the best friends for life… When I was at School in the 1970s, everything revolved around our Houses and the House Study was the heart of our lives. The Dorms were very spartan without carpets or curtains but we still had a lot of fun. When our daughter was at School things had moved on… to do well in any area…our basic needs must be satisfied and we must be happy. The Houses have to be regularly updated and refurbished which is why this programme matters so much.”
Caroline (Mathias)
Johnstone H1978 Chair of Benenden School Seniors’ Association (BSSA)
“It’s fantastic to see Benenden breathe new life into Hemsted by making it deliver for the girls’ needs in a safe, comfortable and sustainable way. The ultimate sustainability in housing is to rejuvenate old buildings. We were delighted to play a part in sustainable improvements to Hemsted with the added bonus that companies such as ours financially match personal contributions. This ensured that our company also played a part in contributing to the School community.”
Brenda
O’Leary
Current Parent
Benenden Society Events
Headmistress’s Centenary Dinners
We have been delighted to hold three Centenary Dinners in November, January and April for Current Parents. Guests were treated to a wonderful meal served in the Centenary Hall, music from our talented students and, during the dinner in November, Samantha Price launched The Centenary Campaign. Anne Wakefield, Deputy Head Boarding and Pastoral, and Alastair Clarke, VI1 parent gave speeches supporting the Campaign and we were pleased to welcome Rachel Bailey to her first Benenden Society Dinner.
Patrons’ Receptions
Seniors who are Patrons and Angels were treated to drinks and canapés ahead of the marvellous London Advent Service which is always a fabulous start to the festive season. Over 300 Seniors attended the Service with some of the parents of the Chapel Choir members. This event was again kindly sponsored by Jeroboams.
Two further Patrons’ Receptions invited those attending the Centenary Show at the Coliseum and the Centenary Service at Canterbury Cathedral to join us for drinks and refreshments. There was an excited atmosphere at the Coliseum as anticipation built ahead of the performance among Parents, Former Parents and Seniors alike.
HRH The Princess Royal, Founders’ Patron and President of the Benenden Society, met with Patrons and Angels following the most uplifting Service at Canterbury Cathedral. It was a relaxed and friendly event. We are grateful to The Princess Royal for her kind attention to our supporters.
Parent Dinners in Shanghai and Beijing
In March 2024, Samantha Price, Headmistress and Kyle Johnson, Director of Development met with current and prospective parents in China. Both events were very enjoyable and we look forward to holding more such events in the future.
The Broader Impact of Past Development Projects
The All-Weather Pitch and Theatre –Primary School Partnerships
We are looking forward to welcoming Rolvenden Primary to Benenden to celebrate their annual school production, using the Theatre for the first time. This means that the school will be able to perform in front of their whole school community and will be supported by the Benenden in-house technical team.
Earlier in the year we were very pleased to host the third Primary Shakespeare Festival, with Benenden and Goudhurst Primaries taking part. It is such a valuable experience for the pupils, to perform in front of their families –we are able to offer something which is unique within the local area.
Rolvenden Primary will join us for a second visit in July, when they are very excited to be using the All-Weather Pitch to enable their entire community to attend their annual Sports Day.
Our partnerships with the local community and schools continue to grow – we have real value in what we can offer, from forest schools to theatre, sports pitches to concerts, it is a wide spectrum which helps us build the strong links and be a leading school in collaborating with our partner schools.
Nick Rendall Director of Partnerships
Centenary Buildings Shortlisted for the RIBA South East Awards
Benenden's Centenary Buildings were shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA South East Awards. 16 projects were considered for the award and will go on to be judged for other RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Special Awards including Sustainability and Building of the Year with the winners going on to the RIBA National Award.
In the submission the Centenary Hall itself was described as: “a musical instrument in its own right, made to give life to music and the cultural education of both Benenden's pupils and the local community”.
English National Opera Takeover: Benenden students and those from several local schools enjoyed workshops with the ENO ending with a fantastic performance in the Centenary Hall.
Our Benenden Society Patrons and Angels
We are incredibly grateful to all our Patrons who have generously supported the Centenary Vision.
Unlike our equivalent boys’ schools, which often have significant endowment funds, Benenden School does not benefit from having this degree of financial security nor the investment income it generates. The generosity of our community of Patrons, Supporters and Angels is therefore essential to the short and longer-term success of our School, while every donation helps us realise our plans and we remain able to retain our position at the forefront of girls’ education globally.
To inform, inspire and demonstrate our appreciation, we host invitationonly events for Benenden Society Patrons and Angels, with many of these taking place at different locations throughout the calendar year. At some of these we are delighted to be joined by the President of the Benenden Society, HRH The Princess Royal, who is herself a donor to Benenden and who is committed to ensuring Benenden’s future success.
“Charitable fundraising relies on the value of something and the power of many. This principle suggests that any amount given has equal value, and that if we all give, we will collectively achieve our goal.”
Nick Addyman Benenden Parent
“We chose Benenden because we knew the School would do whatever was best for our daughters, supporting them in whatever direction they wanted to take. We are thrilled to have contributed to successive Benenden campaigns, a development that will help ensure the School continues to lead the way at the very forefront of education.”
Andrew and Tembe Gibbs Benenden Parents
Centenary Vision Patron Levels
In response to the generous donations we have been receiving, we have revised our Centenary Vision Patron Levels. Introducing the new level of Bronze Patron has enabled us to give further recognition to our Patrons of differing levels.
The President’s Circle Giving of £100,000 or more
Gold Patrons
Silver Patrons
Bronze Patrons
Patrons
Supporters
Giving of £50,000 or more
Giving of £25,000 or more
Giving of £10,000 or more
Giving of £2,000 or more
Giving up to £2,000
We look forward to celebrating our Patrons in our next Impact Report to be published in the autumn. If you would like your name to appear and have yet to give us your naming permission, please contact Melanie Sullivan on ms@benenden.school
Benenden Angels Legacy Giving
Our Benenden Angels have generously pledged to leave a gift to Benenden in their wills. These members of our community have undertaken to help secure the future of the School, and ensure Benenden remains a leading girls’ school.
If you would like more information on leaving a legacy gift to Benenden, please contact Hannah Thackwray, Head of Philanthropy, on hth@benenden.school
Calendar of Events
Save the Date
New Parent Drinks Party
Wednesday 25 September 2024
The Cavalry and Guards Club, London
Seniors’ 5 Year Reunion for 2019 Seniors
Thursday 10 October 2024
Beaufort House, London
Seniors’ London Advent Service
Monday 2 December 2024
St Peter’s Eaton Square, London
Lower and Senior School Carol Services
Sunday 8 December 2024
Benenden School
New Parents’ Dinner
Wednesday 15 January 2025
Ironmongers’ Hall, London
Seniors’ 25th Reunion for 2000 Seniors
Saturday 8 March 2025
Benenden School
Recommended Video: VI2 Music Scholars’ Farewell Concert
Watch the fabulous Farewell Concert from our VI2 Scholars with amazing performances from Octavia Dawson – voice, Subomi Ajibola – trombone, Theodora Simkin – piano, Nicola Tsang – clarinet and double Bass and Victoria Tsang – clarinet and double bass using the QR code or link: https://bit.ly/45o7GSW
We are always sad to say goodbye to our Music Scholars many of whom delight us with performances at our Patron Events.
Data Privacy
You are receiving this newsletter because you are a valued member of our community – a current or past Benenden parent, Senior, Honorary Senior, member of staff or Friend of the School. Unless you have told us otherwise, we therefore regard you as someone keen to be kept informed about the School, as well as being a possible supporter of the fundraising appeals that we from time to time run which enable us to improve Benenden’s facilities for the benefit of future generations and offer bursaries to talented girls who would otherwise miss out on the benefits of a Benenden education.
To secure the donations that we use to improve our School, the Development Office collects and uses personal data of members of our community so that we can manage our relationships with them, whilst better understanding how we can meet and exceed their expectations. This allows us to fundraise more efficiently and effectively to ultimately help us reach our goal to provide the best possible all-round education to every single Benenden pupil. It also enables us to ensure that we are fully compliant with laws and regulations that govern the acceptance of charitable donations.
The sort of information we hold will vary from person to person. It might be that we have made a note that you expressed a preference to support our Bursary Award Programme rather than new buildings or other facilities. It might be that you hold a certain role at a specific company and that you are willing to mentor Benenden Seniors so that they can succeed in your shared profession. We might have found and made a note of an online biography of you that says you are an active philanthropist and a passionate supporter of extending access to independent education.
It could be that you have told us you do or don’t like attending certain types of events. It may even be you have told us that you are not in a position to support the School with a donation; a piece of information that will enable us to adapt our communications with you in the future. All such information helps us to tailor our approach as best we can to every individual; something that is essential for any Development Office with limited resources.
Before any fundraising appeal or communication is sent out we always give careful consideration to our approach. We also strive to give members of our community complete control over the communications they receive and how we send them. Accordingly, you always have the right to withdraw consent, where given, or otherwise object to marketing or fundraising. However, the School is nonetheless likely to retain some of your details (not least to ensure that no more communications are sent to that particular address, email or telephone number). At the same time, you also have the right to ask us to stop processing your personal information.
Seniors’ and Parent Events now booking on Benenden Connects: www.benendenconnects.com
Hemsted Park: Find out more about our events by using the QR Code
As always, in accordance with our values, we are committed to being as transparent as possible. So, if you would like further information, please contact Kyle Johnson, Director of Development, in writing or at kaj@benenden.school. You might also like to review our Privacy Statement, which is updated on a regular basis and which also confirms how seriously we take our responsibilities as a controller and processor of data: benenden.school/privacy
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BACS Transfer: Benenden School (Kent) Ltd GBP
Account: 05509343 Sort Code: 18-00-02
IBAN: GB16 COUT 1800 0205 5093 43 BIC/SWIFT Code: COUTGB22 Coutts & Co, 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS
Via Benenden School Hong Kong Trust HKD
Account: 015-514-40-39232-4
The Bank of East Asia Ltd, 10 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong
Direct Debit (separate form)
Cheque to Benenden School (Kent) Ltd
Recognition Permission
I am happy to be named in publications and other types of recognition Y N Seniors are usually: Name (Former Surname) Surname House/Year; Parents: John and Jane Jones or The Jones Family.
Publish name as:
Please return this form to: Benenden School (Kent) Ltd Cranbrook Kent TN17 4AA
Telephone: 01580 240592 Email: development@benenden.school Registered Charity No: 307854
To view our Privacy Notice visit: www.benenden.school/privacy
GIFT AID FOR UK TAXPAYERS ONLY
Please Gift Aid your donation to make it worth an extra 25% to the School at no extra cost to yourself.
I am a UK taxpayer, and I would like this charity to claim Gift Aid on my behalf. I understand they will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 I've given, including this gift and all future gifts. I also understand that if the Gift Aid claimed on this donation is more than my income tax, capital gains tax, or both, I am responsible for paying the difference.
Yes, I confirm I’m a UK taxpayer, and I’d like Benenden School (Kent) Ltd to claim Gift Aid on my behalf. I understand this declaration will apply to this gift and all future gifts until I notify Benenden School of a change.
Signature:
Date:
For further information please contact Kyle Johnson
Director of Development
kaj@benenden.school
Development Office
Benenden School
Cranbrook
Kent TN17 4AA
01580 240592
development@benenden.school seniors@benenden.school