Benenden School case studies (17)

Impact of partnership work done in 2025 (ISC annual Census 2026)

• 30 state schools involved
• 501-1000 state school pupils involved
• 2000 staff hours given

Academies or free schools sponsored

• The John Wallis Academy

Impact Statement

Here are some further details of just some of our partnerships and the impact they bring.

The Kent Academy Network. Each year students from five Kent Academies who have no family background of university education sign up to a four-year programme of academic support and extension. Benenden staff are well represented in the residential schools delivering lessons on philosophy, classical texts and languages and other extension material. This enriches the education of the students beyond that of their usual curriculum and adds interest and breadth to their potential university applications and choices.

Year 12 – 10 Mentoring Programme. We run a mentoring programme between Benenden and The John Wallis Academy where our year 12 students mentor their year 10 to Year 11. Over 50 pairs of students meet, support and encourage. The coaching and guidance is of reciprocal value and provides a demonstrable boost in terms of confidence and application amongst students form The John Wallis Academy in the run up to their GCSE exams.

Teacher Training. Each year teachers going through teach first and other graduate trainee programmes, as well as those completing their NQT year requirements make reciprocal visits between Benenden and The John Wallis Academy for extended placements. Staff from both schools learn a huge amount of techniques and skills which they then bring back to their respective schools for the wider benefit of both communities.

Career Support.  Our careers department works with local maintained schools (John Wallis, High Weald, Cranbrook, Mascalls) to provide access and awareness of high education opportunities. This includes a weekly news letter, a biannual careers convention, paid for support with specialist medical and Oxbridge applications. Staff assist John Wallis pupils and mentor, Medical Oxbridge candidates.  We also seek to share our virtual events with our local schools to ensure the maximum benefit from these opportunities.

Volunteer Programme. As part of our new and growing volunteer programme over fifty students visit four different primary schools on a weekly basis to support the learning and life of their children. Our students participate in a huge range of activities from playing with the children, running afterschool clubs, sports activities, classroom support, taking small groups and hearing readers. The reciprocal benefit and confidence boost this brings to all involved is palpable. In addition to our primary school placements we also provide volunteers in Bowles Lodge and Tenterden Social Hub, interacting with their members. Every two weeks members of the Social Hub take part in Benenden's 'Memory Cafe' hosted by our pupils where those members with memory issues can interact and benefit from musical entertainment.  We have receive many positive and enthusiastic testimonials about the positive and lasting impact these initiatives bring. We continue to support our local community on a weekly basis with volunteers at the local pre-school, in the Village shop and at our local National Trust property, Sissinghurst Castle gardens. Pupils take part in helping in a retail environment, assist with archiving and serve within the cafés in both Sissinghurst and the Village shop.

Music For 30 years Benenden has invited local musicians of Grade 6 and above to come and be part of its Symphony Orchestra. The boys and girls who have done this have contributed a great deal to both the musical output and the dynamic of the Orchestra. As a Music Department we have also been very pleased to host the Kidenza workshops for Primary Schools on an annual basis, and in December 2022, we are looking forward to welcomed Benenden, Goudhurst and Cranbrook to develop and record a song as part of their fundraising campaign for Ukraine, which was featured on BBC breakfast news.

Confucius Classroom The Mandarin department are committed to provide language and culture programmes to the schools in the region and our local communities, additionally supporting other schools’ Chinese programme and our outreach programme. These events give exposure of mandarin and Chinese culture to many students who otherwise would not receive it. 

Wider community engagement. Benenden commitment to its community is extensive. Through our Wealden Hub initiative we provide access to the School's facilities, through the provision of free concerts, the sharing of our grounds for community events, support with equipment for Christmas fayres, pupil support for the Benenden fete. We are developing our links with local charities, for example 'Wellbeing in the Weald; seeking out ways to maximise our impact with the local area.