Benenden School, Cranbrook
Benenden School is an independent school for girls aged 10 to 19 in Cranbrook. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Benenden School in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Benenden School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Benenden School are The Dulwich School Cranbrook (1.4 miles), St Ronan's School (2.4 miles) and Bethany School (5.7 miles).
Where pupils go next
Of the 92 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 58% went on to university or other higher education and 10% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 120 pupils (25%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Benenden School.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Kent (101).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
7 October 2025
Regulatory Compliance
12 October 2022
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
5 February 2019
Intermediate (Boarding)
9 February 2016
Integrated
29 January 2013
About
Benenden School is a private boarding school for girls in Kent, England, in Hemsted Park at Benenden, between Cranbrook and Tenterden. Benenden has a boarding population of over 550 girls aged 11 to 18, as well as a limited number of day student spaces.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Benenden School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby all-through school
Keep up with Benenden School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
77%
Available places
480 pupils
620 places
140 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cranbrook
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cranbrook
Across Kent council
Places available
19,539
Applications
18,644
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Kent council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
120
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
25.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
480
Total Pupils
0
Boys
480
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Benenden School
Questions parents ask about Benenden School
What are GCSE results like at Benenden School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Benenden School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Benenden School last inspected?
Benenden School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2025.
How many pupils go to Benenden School?
Benenden School has around 480 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Benenden School?
Benenden School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Benenden School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Kent is 11 (the median across 711 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Benenden School?
Benenden School is at Cranbrook Road, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4AA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)