- Location
- Kent
- Recorded age range
- 10–19
- Education
- British
About Benenden School
Founded 1923. One of UK's leading independent schools for girls. Picturesque campus, state-of-the-art facilities.
School background from the saved source · 2026-05-31
Benenden School was founded in 1923 by three former teachers from Wycombe Abbey — Helen Hindle Sheldon, Charlotte Bird and Florence Frank — as a Church of England girls' boarding school in the Kentish village of Benenden. The school sits today on a 240-acre rural campus at Hemsted Park — a Grade II listed Victorian country house — and is one of the very few remaining substantially full-boarding girls' schools in the United Kingdom. Around 550 girls ages 11-18, all boarders, are educated. The Headmistress is Samantha Price.
Benenden's most internationally famous alumna is HRH The Princess Royal — Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and the only daughter of Prince Philip — who attended Benenden from 1963 to 1968 as the first British royal princess to be sent to a regular boarding school. Princess Anne went on to compete for Great Britain in three-day-eventing at the 1976 Montreal Olympics (the only British royal to have competed in an Olympic Games) and has served for fifty years as the most active member of the Royal Family by official engagement count, becoming Princess Royal in 1987.
Baroness Karren Brady CBE — the businesswoman who, as Chief Executive of Birmingham City Football Club in the 1990s, became the most prominent female executive in English professional football, now Vice-Chairman of West Ham United and business partner of Sir Alan Sugar on the BBC's The Apprentice — was a Benenden girl. The school operates a substantial bursary programme.
School life and areas of focus
- English
- Sustainability
- Outdoor
- Founded 1923 — 103-year history
- Girls-only ages 11-18, fully boarding (one of the very few remaining full-boarding girls' schools)
- ≈550 pupils — all boarders
- Set on a 240-acre rural campus at Benenden, Kent
- Hemsted Park (the school's principal building) — Grade II listed Victorian country house
- GSA and BSA member
- Most internationally famous alumna: HRH The Princess Royal
- Substantial bursary programme
- Day and boarding places available
- A-Level A*-B*: 41% achieve AAB+
Education and school life
Explore the curriculum and subjects below. Our team can help you find out about subject choices, year groups and programme availability.
- Programme type
- Boarding school
- Curriculum
- British
- Teaching language
- English
- Campus setting
- rural
Subject areas
- English Learning
- Sustainability
- Outdoor
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Modern languages
- Music
- Drama
- Sport (lacrosse)
Listed memberships and accreditations
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Study and progression pathways
- Sport
- Languages
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh)
- Medical schools
- US Ivy League universities
Academic profile in the catalogue
No review date is recorded for these catalogue figures.
The legacy catalogue contains estimated academic figures without a measurement source. Ask our team about current class sizes and progression results.
Campus, boarding and student community
Catalogue profile
- Founded
- 1923
- Campus setting
- rural
- Boarding
- Listed in the catalogue
- Co-education
- Not recorded as co-educational; confirm intake
School-wide directory record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- School stages
- Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Directory age range
- 10-19
- Student intake
- Girls
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Religious ethos
- No religious ethos listed
- Headteacher in source record
- Ms Rachel Bailey
- Inspectorate
- ISI
- Total pupils
- 532
- Girls · number / share
- 532 · 100%
- Pupils receiving SEN support · number / share
- 148 · 27.82%
- Pupils with an EHC plan · number / share
- 0 · 0%
Directory and catalogue figures are shown separately because their age groups or record dates may differ.
Recorded examination results
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- Qualification
- A-level
- Results year
- 2025
- Average grade
- A-
- Progress score
- 0.32 (Above Average)
- AAB or higher
- 41.30%
Results are for the year shown, separately from the estimated catalogue indicators.
Tuition and costs
Recorded GBP school fees
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
| Attendance | Recorded range |
|---|---|
| Day fees | £14,166.00 |
| Boarding fees | £19,737.60 |
These historical directory amounts are not a confirmed school quotation. The billing period, VAT, academic year and included costs need confirmation from the school.
Catalogue USD figures
Estimated catalogue fees · USD
Catalogue figures are shown in US dollars (USD). The fee period and academic year are not specified in this record. UK institutions generally publish their own fees in pounds sterling (GBP); check the current fee schedule rather than treating this range as a GBP price.
Ask the UniCampus team about the fee period, entry year, boarding and additional costs.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Entry requirements depend on the school, age group and programme. Talk to the UniCampus team about school reports, language requirements, assessments and your application timeline.
- Catalogue application window
- Rolling
- Listed intake
- September 2026
These catalogue notes do not confirm an available place or a current deadline. MEC guidance can help you organise a shortlist and prepare questions for the school.
Support recorded in the catalogue
- Scholarships or bursaries
- Not specified in this record; ask the institution
- Visa application support
- Listed; confirm what assistance is provided
Source notes and alternative records
Dated background research is retained below; source descriptions may differ and have not been newly verified by UniCampus.
School background research · 2026-05-31
School background notes
Source record dated 2026-05-31 · Source text retained in English
Read this source's description in the school overview.
- Founded · source note
- 1923
- Campus setting · source note
- rural
- Religious ethos · source note
- Church of England
- School leadership · source note
- Samantha Price (Headmistress)
- Scholarships · source note
- Mentioned in saved research; confirm current terms
Additional subject and programme notes
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Modern languages
- Music
- Drama
- Sport (lacrosse)
Listed education pathways
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh)
- Medical schools
- US Ivy League universities
Memberships and accreditations in the source
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
School-life notes
- Founded 1923 — 103-year history
- Girls-only ages 11-18, fully boarding (one of the very few remaining full-boarding girls' schools)
- ≈550 pupils — all boarders
- Set on a 240-acre rural campus at Benenden, Kent
- Hemsted Park (the school's principal building) — Grade II listed Victorian country house
- GSA and BSA member
- Most internationally famous alumna: HRH The Princess Royal
- Substantial bursary programme
Notable alumni listed in the source
- HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne — daughter of Queen Elizabeth II; international Olympic equestrian rider; long-serving Royal Family figure)
- Baroness Brady CBE (Karren Brady — vice-chair West Ham United; The Apprentice business partner)
- Old Benenden girls active in UK public service, business and equestrian sport
Additional school record · 2026-05-30
Additional saved school information
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
- Scholarships · source note
- Not identified in this source
School-life notes
- Day and boarding places available
- A-Level A*-B*: 41% achieve AAB+
Schoolscout introduction
Benenden School stands out as a distinguished institution for girls, offering a vibrant and nurturing environment that fosters both academic excellence and...
School location
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- Recorded address
- Cranbrook Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, South East, TN17 4AA
- Postcode
- TN17 4AA
Questions in the source record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18 · Original English answers
What type of school is Benenden School?
Benenden School is a girls' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 10 to 19, located near Cranbrook in Kent. The school offers education from Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Benenden School?
Most families apply to Benenden School 1–2 years before entry, with a process that can include tests, interviews and school reports. See the private school admissions timeline for when to apply and what to expect.
What are the fees at Benenden School?
Fees for Benenden School vary by year group, with typical termly costs around £14,166.
Is Benenden School a day or boarding school?
Benenden School offers day and boarding options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is Benenden School a single-sex or co-educational school?
The school provides single-sex education for its pupils.
Contact our team for current dates, entry criteria and fees.
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