Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, Tunbridge Wells

In 2026, pupils at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Kent and 47 across England.

57% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Kent and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 54.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.73: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 43.6, against 54.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Chemistry and Physics.

For September 2026 entry, 384 families put Bennett Memorial Diocesan School as their first choice and 1134 named it as one of their preferences, for 293 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 114 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Bennett Memorial Diocesan School are Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 72.5); The Skinners' School (0.6 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 72.7); St Gregory's Catholic School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 44.8); and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys (0.8 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 64.5).

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School is one of 9 schools run by The Tenax Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 294 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 14% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 204 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 52% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 28% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 200 pupils (10.5%) received SEN support and 30 (1.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Tunbridge Wells Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Huntleys Park (adjacent), 300 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bennett Memorial Diocesan School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Bennett Memorial Diocesan School issued 39 suspensions, 2.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Bennett Memorial Diocesan School are Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School (0.3 miles), The Wells Free School (0.7 miles), St Augustine's Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles) and Southborough CofE Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.