Benenden Society Newsletter
Inspiring Future Female Leaders
The Wealden Hub Benenden Retrospective: The Science Centre Ten Years and Counting!
Welcome
Welcome to the Spring 2025 edition of the Benenden Society Newsletter in which we are pleased to update you on our Development and Community Engagement activities and priorities, as well as the impact of our recent successes.
I am delighted to be writing my first such welcome message. These newsletters are particularly relevant as they not only illustrate how we are positively transforming many lives, and how we are improving our campus to maintain our position at the forefront of girls’ education, but they also show how our incredible community plays such a key part in our School’s success. As ever, there is much to celebrate, all of which has been made possible through the support and generosity of the Benenden Society, of which you are all members.
We are continuing to push forwards with our Centenary Campaign – with an incredible £1.5million of pledges already made. I am committed to putting our plans for Hemsted and SPLASH into action, and you will find an update on these and other projects in this newsletter. In particular, Hemsted and its roof are a focus for the coming months, and it is essential that its restoration begins soon in order to prevent longer and more expensive works in the future. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this or our other projects so far. We have £2million to raise for Hemsted and hope your continued and collective support will enable work to begin this summer.
We are excited to be able to showcase many successful projects, both those which have been completed and our ongoing initiatives. You can read about the incredible work we are doing with state schools via our partnerships programme, as well as the targets we have reached in the provision of bursaries through the Be the Change campaign. There is a report on our Science Centre and Eco Classroom ten years on, and an update on the beautiful fleet of Yamaha pianos so generously donated by members of our community.
Rachel Bailey, Headmistress
Last summer saw the community come together for a special evening in Hemsted to celebrate the House and learn more about the work needed to secure the future of the building. More recently, I had the pleasure of meeting with families whose daughters have just joined the School at drinks and dinner events for new parents.
In the autumn, I was grateful to have my first opportunity to meet families and Seniors in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. We were delighted with the attendance at the receptions we held, and I look forward to returning in the near future. As part of this commitment to nurture and strengthen the wonderful relationships we have with our key communities overseas, in the Easter holiday, we will also be visiting Bangkok, while further visits to New York, Nigeria and Kuala Lumpur are planned for later on in 2025.
Benenden would not be the wonderful School it is today without the philanthropic support of successive generations. Our continued thanks to all our generous Patrons, Supporters and Angels. Your collective generosity truly makes an enormous difference to the lives of our current and future students.
Rachel Bailey Headmistress
Community Events
Hemsted Soirée
On 11 June 2024, we welcomed 59 Seniors, Honorary Seniors and Parents to a Hemsted Soirée, to celebrate the history of our wonderful Grade II listed building. Guests were entertained by music and readings from our Hemsted students and tours of the House highlighted the need to restore this historic space. There was further excitement in the Cameron Room where there was an interesting display of materials curated by our Archivist, Abegail Morley. All the guests had a connection to Hemsted whether it was their boarding house while at School, the House they worked in, or as parents of current Hemsted students.
A delicious Benenden barbecue dinner was served despite the inclement weather, while speeches including from Nick Lee Evans, our Hemsted Project Architect, further explained our plans and the urgent need to renew the roof of Hemsted House.
London Advent Service Pre-Reception
We held a Drinks Reception for our Seniors who are Patrons and Angels to thank them for their generosity to the School before the London Advent Service at St Peter's Eaton Square.
New Parents’ Dinners
More than 50 parents of students new to Benenden were welcomed to Ironmongers' Hall in London for the New Parents’ Dinner in January. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to meet and spend time with fellow parents, House staff and the leadership of the School.
Director of Development and Community Engagement, Kyle Johnson and Chair of Governing Council, Anne McNab, touched upon the projects that have already transformed our campus as well as the important projects we plan to realise over the next few years. Headmistress Rachel Bailey explained how parents can be involved in school life via the Parents’ Association and by being members of the Benenden Society. She also shared highlights of the new students’ first term and outlined the strategic vision for Benenden.
Current pupils Felicia Cheng, Maria Goggin, Emma Griffiths and Zoe Whiting treated guests to music at the reception drinks and pianist Maria performed a beautiful solo of Danny Boy arranged by Nikki Iles in the banqueting hall before dinner.
Overseas Events
In the autumn term, Rachel Bailey travelled to Asia for her first overseas visit as Headmistress of Benenden. During an extremely busy schedule, Rachel Bailey, together with Kyle Johnson and Edward Whiting, Director of Music, held small group meetings with Parents in addition to dinners, drinks receptions and family events in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. They also met with Seniors at a Tea Reception kindly organised by the Benenden School Hong Kong Trust. The Headmistress would like to thank the Patrons of the School who generously hosted gatherings, as well as those who gave of their time and experience to assist with the organisation of some of these wonderful events.
Upcoming Overseas Events
We look forward to welcoming Patrons, Parents, Seniors and their Parents and Prospective Parents to these special upcoming overseas occasions in Bangkok and New York:
Bangkok, Thailand
Benenden Thailand Open Morning Presentation
Saturday 29 March 2025 from 10.00 to 11.00am
Benenden Open Morning Presentation on Saturday 29 March at 10:00. Join us to hear more about the academic, boarding and co-curricular life of the School and how girls are benefitting from A Complete Education.
Location: The Apartment, F9, Park Hyatt, Central Embassy, 88 Wireless Road, Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok.
Benenden School Thailand
Community Event
Sunday 30 March 2025 from 1.00pm to 5.00pm
An informal reception to celebrate Benenden’s longstanding connection with Thailand and bring together as many members of our community as possible. Invitees are Parents and pupils, Seniors and their families, as well as families whose daughters have offers to join Benenden in the future.
Location: Ma Maison, 4 Soi Somkid, Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok.
New York, USA
Benenden School New York Community Event
Friday 2 May 2025 from 6.00 to 9.00pm
An informal reception with cocktails and canapés to bring together Friends of Benenden School who are based in New York and the surrounding areas. We look forward to welcoming Parents and pupils, Seniors and their families, as well as families whose daughters have offers to join Benenden in the future.
Location: The Brompton at 205 East 85th Street, New York 10028.
For more information about any of these events please email: development@benenden.school
The Wealden Hub Independent State School Partnership
“The Wealden Hub was established to offer students at local West Kent schools the opportunity to access a wide range of extra-curricular events. I am immensely proud of the achievements of this initiative so far and excited by the ongoing development of these partnerships. It is made possible through the support Benenden receives for the Be the Change campaign and I thank our supporters whose generosity has ensured the Wealden Hub can provide ongoing learning experiences to young people in our local community.”
Rachel Bailey, Headmistress
Following the pandemic, Benenden sought to rebuild its close ties with Benenden Primary and other local schools. Numerous visits and events have been hosted by the School, and a logical step was to formalise these links through the creation of the Wealden Hub Independent State School Partnership (ISSP). This initiative builds on already established local relationships, most notably through our sponsorship of the John Wallis Academy in Ashford. A number of staff members serve as governors on their school board, and regular collaboration occurs through the CCF programme and Sixth Form mentoring.
For instance, in January 2025, we welcomed more than 100 John Wallis students for an afternoon of academic discussion with their Benenden peers as part of the Scholars and Mentoring programmes.
The purpose of the Wealden Hub is to reinforce professional collaboration opportunities by working closely with our local community. Over the past three years, the range of activities has grown significantly. One key development is the extensive volunteer programme operating on Tuesday afternoons, where around 60 members of the Six One volunteer in a variety of roles across ten locations (including five schools). These roles range from assisting classroom teachers to one-to-one reading support and working within onsite forest schools. This term, we launched a student-led weekly ‘Hour of Code’ activity with Cranbrook Primary, where students visit our Creative Technology suite to learn coding through the Scratch programme. Additionally, we provide vital support for Benenden and Goudhurst primaries by helping their pupils meet swimming proficiency requirements. Benenden coaches assist Years 5 and 6 pupils with swimming lessons on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
The ‘hub-and-wheel’ approach of the Wealden Hub allows Benenden to play a central role in supporting a wide variety of initiatives. These include facilitating musical workshops, hosting early-career teachers at our annual conference, and contributing to the annual Primary Shakespeare Festival. Hemsted Park events are also supporting the Hub, providing musically gifted local students with opportunities to experience world-class performances through the Wealden Hub Music Scholars programme.
With the establishment of the Hub, we have been able to formalise existing links and celebrate the close relationships we share with our local schools. This truly collaborative approach enables Benenden to provide real and lasting benefits to the community while offering our pupils and staff a wealth of opportunities to engage with and learn from our local partners.
Wealden Hub ISSP Schools:
• Benenden School
• Benenden Church of England Primary
• Colliers Green Church of England Primary
• Cranbrook Church of England Primary
• Rolvenden Primary School.
• Sissinghurst Church of England (VA) Primary School
• The John Wallis Church of England Academy (including Primary)
Nick Rendall Director of Partnerships
By supporting Be the Change, you can help us to grow the impact of the Wealden Hub and our wider partnerships work, benefitting our community and our students.
For more information, please contact Kyle Johnson at kaj@benenden.school
The Centenary Campaign
Our current Campaign, which launched during Benenden’s Centenary year, marks the final phase of our School’s ambitious Centenary Vision. It seeks to invest in our buildings and facilities whilst keeping focus on our important bursary and partnerships work.
Our fundraising targets for the Centenary Campaign are:
£2m
Rejuvenating an Icon Project cost = £5m Restoration and Boarding House modernisation, Hemsted
£1m
Future Fit
Project cost = £1.5m SPLASH upgrade
£2.5m
Be the Change
Project cost = £5m
£2.5m secured in previous initiative Bursary and Partnerships programme
Campaign Update:
Rejuvenating an Icon Hemsted Roof Planning continues to move forwards for the restoration of our main building, Grade II listed Hemsted House. The priority of our works remains the roof, many parts of which have come to the end of their life. Metal elements are showing signs of rusting which, if left unresolved, will begin to fracture stone and brickwork. The gutters are no longer fit for purpose as they are too small to cope with modern downpours and require replacing. Parts of the roof are leaking, numerous tiles have become dislodged, and the dormer windows are no longer watertight.
Benenden will be employing expert external contractors for the task, given the complexity and specialist nature of the works needed to restore this beautiful, historic building. Over the
summer, the Project Architect produced an Historic Statement for the structure, which is a fundamental step that allows us to move forward with conversations with the local planning authority and conservation officers.
We hope to start the Hemsted roof replacement in summer 2025, dependent on securing the necessary funding and us successfully navigating through the required historic building permissions process.
To find out more about these projects, view our webpage at benenden.school/the-centenarycampaign or use the QR code.
Kyle Johnson, Director of Development and Community Engagement
Future Fit SPLASH Upgrade
We are also excited about our plans for upgrading SPLASH. Work has already begun to the changing rooms in the pool area, which have had a much-needed refresh. Our attention has now turned to improving the rest of the space, including the upstairs which will be benefitting not only from new equipment, but from an improved layout to extend the footprint of the gym, allowing more girls to have access to this popular facility at any one time.
In order to ensure there is also plenty of space for our talented dancers, we have additional plans for a sprung floor dance studio.
Home from Home Boarding House modernisation, Echyngham and Guldeford
Our Centenary Campaign began with four elements: to restore and improve Hemsted House (Rejuvenating an Icon), to upgrade our sports complex SPLASH (Future Fit), to complete the first phase of our bursaries and partnerships programme (Be the Change), and to modernise our Middle School Boarding Houses (Home from Home).
Given the current, challenging financial climate and the introduction of VAT to School fees, Benenden has been working hard to see where money can be saved across the various projects. As always, it is essential that donations we receive from our generous community, alongside the money being invested by the School, are being put to the very best use and having the greatest possible impact.
As a result, we have revised our business plan for the proposed Boarding House works. This has included a key decision to employ an in-house team rather than external contractors for the refurbishment works proposed for Echyngham and Guldeford. Not only is this cost-
effective, it will allow much more flexibility as the team will be able to make other significant improvements across the campus. As well as directly employing specialist tradespeople, we now have an experienced Construction Manager in place at Benenden to lead the team.
As a result, the School has been able to remove this plan of works from the scope of the Centenary Campaign, allowing donations to focus on the other projects.
Since the summer holidays, the new in-house team has been taking opportunities to begin making improvements. Work began in Guldeford, where 16 of the 22 bedrooms have been refurbished so far. Work has now started on the top floor corridor, with the aim to complete the remaining dorms by the end of the year.
The creation of an in-house team has also allowed the School to make improvements in additional Boarding Houses. In Elms, work has been able to get underway in two of the washrooms. In Norris, two bedrooms on the middle floor have been refurbished so far, with work also beginning in the washrooms.
£5,500,000 £1,500,000 The Centenary Campaign
New windows will be fitted in the top floor of Norris at Easter with top floor bedrooms and washrooms in the programme for refurbishment this summer.
As the in-house team continues to grow and get fully up-to-speed, we will make increasingly significant inroads into the refurbishment of the boarding houses. The result of this work will be brighter, lighter, more comfortable spaces that will better meet the needs of modern boarders.
Thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Centenary Campaign.
Kyle Johnson Director of Development and
Community Engagement
If you would like to join other parents, Seniors and Friends in supporting, or if you would like more information regarding a particular project, please contact Kyle Johnson at: kaj@benenden.school or on 01580 236742.
As a key part of the planning process, specialist conservation architect Nick Lee Evans has been incredibly busy at the School over the previous months. He has over 30 years’ experience in his field and has been putting his expertise to use, methodically inspecting the building and looking through the School’s archive to identify which elements are of historic significance and need preserving, and which can be altered. The School is now in possession of a full assessment of the building’s heritage, a task that is integral to planning works on a building of this nature.
Nick’s Heritage Statement describes Hemsted and provides a summary of the historical development of the building, concentrating on the areas of great significance, and lists the planning history of the site. This story takes the reader right back to the site’s settlement during Roman occupation,
Historic Hemsted
Given the historic nature and listed status of our main building, the work we are planning for Hemsted is logistically complex. As custodians of this historic house however, we are committed to ensuring its longevity for the benefit of current and future Benenden pupils.
to the naming of Benenden village in the Domesday Book, and eventually the first record of a fixed dwelling on the site in 1216. It then follows the development of the site and the many changes that bring us to the School and its buildings in the present day.
Nick’s accompanying Statement of Significance then summarises the importance of the building’s heritage assets, which is done in accordance with Historic England’s best practice criteria. It also provides a detailed assessment of the relative significance of the individual elements of the structure. When deciding what is ‘significant’ there is a lot to consider. It may be the physical fabric, age, or the aesthetic value of elements of the building. However other qualities are also important to consider, such as any association with historic events or people. With Benenden buildings of course there is so much communal
and emotional value and therefore significance, as it is a place that means so much to so many Seniors, pupils and families, as well as many current and former members of staff.
Since producing the report, Nick has successfully applied to be the Hemsted Project Architect . As a specialist, based in Kent, with a vast knowledge of buildings of this nature we are delighted to have him on board. He is extremely passionate about the project and keen to work alongside the School to improve and preserve this beautiful building.
We look forward to sharing more updates on the progress of this vital work, which will only be fully realised through the support of the Benenden community.
Nick Lee Evans
Be the Change – 24 by ‘24!
Through Be the Change we strive to provide fully funded places to deserving bursary applicants and to foster the wonderful partnership work undertaken by both our students and staff in the wider local community.
HRH The Princess Royal, the President of the Benenden Society, has led support for our Be the Change initiative since its launch in January 2022, and we are thrilled and humbled that through her and 734 other donors’ financial support we have now realised our initial target to triple from 8 to 24 the number of fully funded, means-tested bursaries we offer.
Having reached the notable Centenary target of providing 24 such places by the end of 2024 – which is coincidentally, and perhaps poetically, the same number of pupils who attended Benenden in its very first year of 1923 to 1924 – we will through Be the Change ensure that this level of bursary provision is maintained on an ongoing basis.
As such, with an incredible £2.6million already donated by generous parents, Seniors and Friends of the School, we are now focused on inspiring a further £2.4million of support over the next 3-4 years to continue to positively transform these and many more young lives in future years.
The principle that it is important to offer a number of partial and fully funded bursaries is well-established at School, as one of the many things we do to walk rather than simply talk about our institutional values.
Thank you to our partners, particularly The Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation, for helping us identify and support our bursary students. Thank you to every single one of those students for grasping so enthusiastically the opportunities you have been presented with. With especial thanks to the hundreds of people who have come together in support of Be the Change.
24 £100,000
students currently on fully funded bursaries donated since the Centenary Campaign launched
Be the Change supporters 735
"From our perspective as parents, it is also important to us that Benenden continues to flourish and offer exceptional opportunities for future generations... the Be the Change bursary scheme holds a particular significance and weight to our family and our values."
Grace Zhu and JJ Shi Current Parents
"One of my responsibilities is to ensure that our bursary students flourish and make the most of the opportunity to study and live at Benenden. It's so pleasing to see the girls overcome their initial nerves, quickly settle in, make friends and tick off ambitious goals one after the other."
Heidi Smith Head of Day Students/Bursary Support/ Head of Athletics
Be the Change Calling Campaign 2024
During the 2024 summer holiday, a group of 12 dedicated Sixth Form students and recent Benenden leavers came together to participate in our most recent Be the Change Calling Campaign.
Over a two-week period, our enthusiastic callers reached out to Seniors, Former Parents, and longstanding former staff members. The aim of the telephone campaign was to enable Sixth Formers and recent leavers to connect with members of our community, while also bringing community members together to positively impact the lives of many deserving young students.
This year we raised in excess of £44,000 in pledges, uplifted gifts and Gift Aid, while also providing callers with valuable training, paid work experience, new transferable skills, plus the sage and heartfelt advice of the people with whom they chatted.
The funds raised through this Calling Campaign will directly benefit our Be the Change bursary programme, a cornerstone of our School’s commitment to providing access to our Complete Education, regardless of financial background. Bursaries open doors for bright, talented girls who might not otherwise have had the
opportunity to attend Benenden. By ensuring that our school community remains diverse and inclusive, we enrich the learning experience for all our students, fostering an environment where girls from different backgrounds can learn from one another and grow together.
For the students who participated in the telethon, the experience was both rewarding and enlightening. As they made calls to Seniors spanning different generations, they heard countless stories about school life and how it shaped the personal and professional journeys which followed. From recollections of classroom adventures to reflections on how their education paved the way for careers in fields as diverse as law, medicine, the arts, and technology, the students gained a deeper appreciation for the lasting impact of Benenden. Seniors generously shared both academic and professional advice with the students, as well as amusing anecdotes from their time at School. Their stories of resilience, creativity and success were inspiring,
reminding our callers that they, too, can achieve great things with the foundation they are building at Benenden.
We are incredibly grateful for the hard work of the callers who were absolutely committed to making this year’s Calling Campaign a success. Their dedication, combined with the generosity of our Seniors, Honorary Seniors and former parents, has made a tangible difference to the success of our bursary programme and, in turn, many young lives.
Katie Tyler Philanthropy Officer
531
Seniors, Honorary Seniors and Former Parents contacted pledged donations
47
60 29 single donations
regular monthly donations
£3,000
largest gift
£5
smallest gift
The Be the Change campaign is an initiative I feel very strongly for, especially now, having left Benenden and I can see more clearly the powerful opportunities and experiences my time there provided for me. The opportunities and experiences should be available to individuals from all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds. I believe all members of the Benenden community should aim to contribute to Be the Change and the calling campaign enabled me to do just that - play my part and give back, strengthening Benenden’s future community.”
Isla Forbes H/O2023 Senior Telephone Campaign Caller
“I really enjoyed the calling campaign, because it allowed me to gain a new experience, getting to talk to people who have previously attended the School. I was given so much great advice for my future and I also heard amazing stories about what Benenden was like in the past. It was great to raise money for a good cause as well as having a fun and exciting experience!”
Arianna Gbemudu V1 Elms
“I loved being part of the Be the Change Campaign for a second year in a row. Connecting with seniors and hearing about their lives since Benenden felt very special and it feels wonderful knowing that I’m helping young people have the same opportunities to the ones I had.”
China
Miller E/B2023
Boarding School Programme
Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation
Benenden is part of the network of accredited schools providing vital places for the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation (RNCSF) Boarding School Programme. The scheme provides school places for children who would benefit greatly from transferring their education to a boarding environment. Launched in 2020 following funding from the Department of Education, the first three years of the programme have been evaluated by RNCSF in conjunction with the University of Nottingham.
“By identifying … children who could benefit from a placement in a state boarding or independent school and brokering a suitable school placement and providing effective support and guidance to ensure success, it is possible to achieve life transforming outcomes for children.”
These outcomes are measured by the stability of the placement including: attendance; the social and emotional mental health and wellbeing of the children; and academic progress and attainment with enhanced employability prospects. The reduced burden on carers enables children to stay within kinship care when not at school.
75% of children assisted by RNCSF between 2013 and 2021 went on to higher education.
School accreditation to the scheme seeks assurance in three vital areas: pastoral care; financial commitment; and training and development. School staff gain access to professional development opportunities, shared resources, peer-to-peer support, evaluation and monitoring. A community of practice is being created in the latest relevant pedagogy and training.
“When we asked children… what matters most to them, they say it is fairness and education. They know that education is important so that they can realise their hopes and dreams for their futures.”
Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner
Source: “ Broadening Educational Pathways. Results from the first 3 years of implementation and evaluation of the potential for the scheme’s longterm impact.”
“From a young age I had always wanted to experience boarding. Upon arriving at Benenden I was quite nervous however the School’s accepting, and kind community helped me to settle in regardless of the fact that I was on a bursary. Academically, Benenden has provided me with the tools and resources to achieve high grades in my recent GCSE exams. I believe that Benenden had made me well equipped to independently tackle any challenges I may face academically whilst still offering amazing support through my subject teachers”.
Tolu Gbadamosi VI1 Beeches
£1.7m
from the RNCSF in small grants of £5k or £8k covering marginal costs and unlocking school support
£0.7m 65
Local Authority contributions towards boarding costs 2023 places were taken up in boarding or independent schools referred by 43 local authorities
“I was obviously excited when I heard about my acceptance to Benenden, but I was also slightly apprehensive – I wondered if the other girls would be kind to me, and if I would be able to fit in as I come from a different background to most of them. Luckily, all my fears were unfounded, as I realised that they were all just girls like me – most of them nervous too as we were all entering Benenden for the first time as students.
I’ve had the chance to be part of the close-knit community that Benenden is as a school. Now I’m in VI2, I’ve taken part in extracurriculars that I’d never heard of before I started here, as well as being able to take up the violin – something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. The RNCSF have been so helpful throughout all this, making sure that I have been settling into school well, and keeping in touch with House Staff as well as Ms Smith (the Bursary Support teacher) to help support me better. They also check up with me every term and during holidays as well, which has been very useful during stressful exam times.
Mimi Agbolade VI2 Beeches
A Grand Gesture
Pianos generously donated by members of our community are striking a chord with our Benenden musicians.
Alongside our Heart of Benenden Campaign, which saw our community come together to enable the creation of our stunning Centenary Buildings, Benenden had further support towards plans to improve the instruments available to pupils.
As part of the development of the Sir David K.P. Li Music School, a number of current parents, Seniors, parents of Seniors and Friends generously donated towards a fleet of new pianos. Whilst some donors gave the funds for one or more pianos, other communal gifts joined together to purchase an instrument. The result was an incredible £165,000 raised which
allowed our School to purchase an amazing 24 pianos in total. The pianos themselves are a mix of Yamaha grands, uprights and digitals, and are located all across the Music School, in practice rooms and communal spaces. We were also grateful for a donation for a beautiful new marimba.
We are delighted that many of our pianos now have beautiful donor plaques on them, thanking and recognising those who generously funded them. Alongside our Heart of Benenden donor board in the Jat Atrium, they illustrate the incredible support we have received from across our community for the Centenary
£165,000
donated towards a fleet of 24 new Yamaha pianos
Buildings project, which is making such an enormous difference to School life.
“We are obviously hugely fortunate that the design and fabric of the Centenary Buildings are so inspiring but it’s just as important that our students have access to high quality instruments. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, every teaching room, practice room and classroom contains a quality Yamaha piano, and our students and staff reap the benefits of this provision every day. We are very grateful to everyone who gave as part of this campaign.”
Edward Whiting, Director of Music
Benenden Retrospective: The Science Centre and Eco Classroom Ten Years and Counting!
The Science Centre was opened in 2012 by HRH The Princess Royal, President of the Benenden Society. The new facility was funded in part by £3 million donated by over 200 generous Benenden Patrons. In this article, we look at the impact of the building’s first ten years.
Over the last decade, the landscape of Science education at Benenden has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the addition of the Eco Classroom and the state-ofthe-art Science Centre. These new facilities have not only revitalized our approach to teaching and learning but also made a lasting impact on both students and staff.
The Eco Classroom, designed with sustainability in mind, has been an outstanding addition to our campus. Its eco-friendly construction, as seen in the photograph, serves as a living example of the sustainable practices we teach our students. This classroom provides a unique learning environment where students can explore topics such as ecology, environmental Science, food foraging, and sustainability, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world. It is a space that inspires curiosity and a sense of responsibility towards the environment, reinforcing the values we aim to instil in our students and the local community.
On the other hand, the Science Centre
represents a significant step forward in providing cutting-edge facilities for our Science disciplines. Equipped with modern laboratories and advanced technological resources, the Science Centre has greatly enhanced the hands-on learning experience for our students. These new labs allow for more complex experiments and practical work, which are crucial for understanding scientific principles in real-world scenarios. This has significantly enriched the educational experience, making Science more engaging and accessible. This building is at the centre of the School and pumps inspiration, curiosity and adventure into all surrounding learning.
Some of our longer-serving faculty members fondly recall the old Science buildings, which, while charming, were becoming increasingly inadequate for our expanding curriculum. The new facilities have not only solved these logistical issues but have also brought renewed energy and enthusiasm to Science teaching. The new spaces are bright, airy, and conducive to learning, creating an environment where both students and teachers feel motivated
to explore and innovate. Individual projects can be catered for, collaborative research projects between schools continue, and the development of the CREST project (British Science Association's scheme for STEM projects in schools) and STEM pathways are all embedded within the programmes of learning.
The impact of these developments is clearly reflected in our academic statistics. Since the opening of the Eco Classroom and the Science Centre, we have seen a notable increase in the number of students choosing to pursue Science subjects at both GCSE and A Level.
Furthermore, these buildings have enabled us to build stronger partnerships with external organisations, providing students with opportunities to engage in collaborative projects and real-world research. Whether hosting visiting scientists, participating in nationwide environmental initiatives, or collaborating with local schools, the new facilities have become a hub for innovation and partnership.
The Science Centre and Eco Classroom have not only modernised our facilities but also enriched the overall educational experience at Benenden. These buildings represent our commitment to providing the best possible education in the Sciences, preparing our students to become the problem-solvers and innovators of the future. We look forward to continuing to develop our Science programme and to seeing the future accomplishments of our students, both within and beyond the walls of these inspirational spaces.
Claire Gaskell Director of Science & STEM / Head of Biology
Partner Organisations
• British Science Association
• National Physics Laboratory
• National Science and Technology Council
• Microbiology in Schools Advisory Committee
A Level Biology
32 students in 2020-21 to 59 in 2023-24
A-Level Chemistry
42 students in 2022-23 to 56 in 2024-25
A Level Physics
24 students in 2020-21 to 41 in 2023-24
Sixth Form Science Projects
The Science Centre:
• Principles, Resolutions, and the Future of MRI Technology by Melanie Chow and Salma Tinubu
• Research into Magnetic Confinement Fusion by Marissa Hammond
• The Application of Error Catastrophe to Antiviral Drugs by Sophie Blake
• How Air Pollution Affects a Child’s Brain by Rosalyn Chiu
Over 1/3 of our 2024 Leavers are going on to study a STEM subject
The Science Centre:
• is equipped with a water harvesting system which collects water from the roof, and this is used for the flushing of the toilets;
• has a heating system subsidised by a Biomass boiler using wooden pellets, made from recycled wooden offcuts;
• has a heat recovery system which recycles the heat from the extracted air inside the building, then reuses it to partially heat the building; and
• there are occupancy sensors in the classrooms so when they are not occupied, they turn off.
Angels Among Us
The Benenden Angel was the creation of Miss Bird (or Birdy as she was affectionately known), one of the School’s three founders. The “Angel Sermons” formed a series of fables depicting The Benenden Angel as the School founders’ guiding spirit and had a profound and lasting impression on generations of Benenden Seniors.
Today’s Benenden Angels are a growing number of people including Seniors, former Staff and parents who are helping to support Benenden in the future by making a bequest to Benenden School in their Will. Legacy donations received in the past have enabled the School to construct numerous vital buildings and award a significant number of fully funded bursary places.
“Interview day at Benenden was a more-than-usually nervous time because the friendly and welcoming atmosphere and the helpfulness of girls and staff, together with the beauty of the place, made me very keen to have this post and no other.
I subsequently enjoyed the happiest twelve years of my career, making a contribution, I hope, to the everincreasing success of the School. I can’t pick out highlights because the
whole time was one highlight. Going to work each morning to meet eager learners and highly agreeable colleagues, all in beautiful surroundings; who wouldn’t want to return a little something in the form of a legacy for such a privilege? If you have experienced the unique qualities of Benenden School, why not ‘be an Angel’ yourself?”
Alexander Stiller Benenden School English Department 1991-2003
As we are a registered charity, all legacy gifts to the School are completely free of Inheritance Tax and can include money, land and buildings or stocks and shares.
The impact of your gift could be far reaching, assisting current and future generations to benefit from a Benenden education, enhancing
School facilities and helping us to ensure we retain our status as one of the leading girls’ schools in the UK.
If you have already remembered Benenden in your Will and have not told us, please get in touch so we can thank you, keep you informed and invite you to special events and receptions we hold for Benenden Angels.
If you would like more information on leaving a legacy gift to Benenden, please contact development@ benenden.school
The Benenden Angel and other fascinating archive materials are available to view on the Benenden School Digital Archives website at heritage.benenden.school.
The creation of the digital archive was a Benenden Centenary project made possible with funding from the School alongside generous contributions from the BSSA (Benenden School Seniors’ Association). We are always keen to expand our collection and make historical materials available to our community. If you have documents, photographs, or artefacts you think will enrich our collection we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Please contact Karen Barradell on seniors@benenden.school
Benenden Seniors
Forever Connected
A Lifetime of Belonging
Once a Beneneden girl, always a Benenden girl. Here are some of the ways Seniors can get involved in life at their School.
Join the BSSA Committee
The BSSA Committee meets once a term to coordinate Seniors’ Events, the Seniors’ Bursary Fund and support the School.
Apply for an eXtend eXcel eXplore Award
The BSSA also funds the eXtend eXcel eXplore Award which provides funding to any Senior seeking to improve themselves or contribute to the wider community through academic projects, re-training, voluntary work or expeditions, rewarding personal development, inspiration and pioneering spirit.
Join The Benenden School Hong Kong Society
Seniors are based all around the world, and in Hong Kong, they join together under the aegis of Charlotte Wong and Bianca Law who run the Benenden Hong Kong Society, planning social events and workshops for Seniors. Charlotte Wong H1991 Bianca Law E1996
If you would like to create a group in your corner of the world or assist with regional events in the UK, please contact Karen Barradell on seniors@ benenden.school
Volunteer for the School
Seniors regularly come back to School to speak at the Futures Conference and Showcases giving career or subject advice. Every speaker at our Global Conference in 2023 was a Benenden Senior, demonstrating leadership in humanitarian issues, entrepreneurship, sports and government services. Fiona Cornish regularly helps with advice and mock interviews for our medical school applicants and Seniors are involved in our Oxbridge Blues mentoring group. For the last few years Seniors have come back to judge House Shout and this year we welcomed Olivia Wollaston M/B2016 and Charlotte Boyle E/B2016.
Work for the School
“30 years after leaving Benenden, I have really enjoyed coming back to photograph various events for the School in a professional capacity. It has been fantastic to see all the new facilities and hear about the plans to upgrade existing ones.
Each visit proves to be a trip down memory lane! It was really great to be able to photograph the special centenary celebrations last year. With so much of my own personal history at Benenden, it’s wonderfully familiar to come back again; like visiting an old friend!”
Georgina Edwards M1994 Photographer georginaedwardsphotography.co.uk
Isla Forbes has taken part in our Telephone Calling Campaign for the past three years. First, gaining valuable paid work experience and, in 2024, acting as Senior Telephone Calling Campaigner helping to run the Virtual Call Room.
“The Campaign started off with two training days – learning invaluable skills from experts within the telephone fundraising field. We then moved into calling alumni for just under two weeks, calling over 1,960 Seniors, Former Parents and Honorary Seniors.
My role involved helping organise the Campaign, advising telephone etiquette to new callers, running motivational games throughout the shifts and making my own calls to
Benenden alumni. It was incredible to see the passion and hardworking energy all callers brought to the campaign as well as the tenacity and resilience displayed throughout the two week calling period.”
Isla Forbes H/O2023
Sign up for Benenden Connects
Mentor a student, network with Seniors and Parents, read our latest publications, promote your business! benendenconnects.com
Become a Benenden Patron
Join over 440 Senior who are Patrons and Supporters of the School. Their generosity helps to ensure the future wellbeing of all Benenden students.
Contribute to The Senior
Write an update or an article for The Senior – an amazing magazine! seniors@benenden.school
Attend a Senior or Patron Event
Benenden Connects
Calendar of Events
Benenden Thailand Open Morning Presentation
Saturday 29 March 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Benenden School Thailand Community Event
Sunday 30 March 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Benenden School New York Community Event
Friday 2 May 2025
New York, USA
Centenary Campaign Capital Project Briefing
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Online Event 1.00pm
Seniors’ 50th Reunion for 1975 Seniors
Thursday 15 May 2025
Oriental Club, London
Seniors’ Day
Saturday 17 May 2025
Benenden School
Seniors' 2000s Decade Drinks
Thursday 5 June 2025
Beaufort House, London
Leavers’ Ball
Thursday 3 July 2025
Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London
Benenden Society Newsletter
Cover photograph: Ibk Oduba-Ibironke Ma/ L2024 asking a question at the Inspiring Future Female Leaders Conference taken by Georgina Edwards M1994.
Seniors’ and Parent Events now booking on Benenden Connects: benendenconnects.com
Hemsted Park: Find out more about our events by using the QR Code
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.
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
Pledge to Benenden School (Kent) Ltd
Name(s):
Name in home language:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Gift Amount Options (please tick one)
Country:
Email:
Single gift of (amount)
Gift by instalment of (amount) in instalments
Monthly Quarterly Half-yearly Yearly (please select one)
Regular gift
Directing Your Gift
I/we wish to support:
Monthly Quarterly Half-yearly Yearly (please select one) Payments should be made until further notice or Payments should be for a period of (years)
Centenary Campaign (general) Rejuvenating an Icon (Hemsted) Future Fit (SPLASH) Be the Change
Other:
Payment Method
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
V ia 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:
To donate online go to: benenden.school/development
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: 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 and Community Engagement
kaj@benenden.school
Development Office
Benenden School
Cranbrook
Kent TN17 4AA
01580 240592
development@benenden.school seniors@benenden.school