We hope that you and your daughter are interested in finding out more about Benenden.
The information on this page gives you an indication of the process and our friendly and experienced Admissions team are always available to speak with you.
First and foremost we recommend families come and visit to get a good sense of life at Benenden.
An Open Door Approach
We encourage prospective families to visit us as many times as you wish, through open days, personal visits and to join us at school-wide events. We know how important a decision it is to choose the right school and we are happy to answer any questions you may have – no matter how minor you think your query may be!
Benenden greatly values its relationship with parents, from parents’ first exploratory contact with the School, throughout their daughter’s school career, and often beyond.
A personal visit, where you will be able to speak with members of staff and with students, will help you to appreciate the unique character of Benenden. Prospective pupils and parents are warmly encouraged to visit Benenden as soon as you feel ready to begin looking at senior schools and as many times as you like during the Admissions process.
For any enquiries relating to Admissions, and for further details on current reserve lists, please contact our friendly Admissions team on 01580 240592 or email registry@benenden.school.
11+ Entry
Our entry lists for September is now closed and we are operating waiting lists. Registration for remains open.
Once a registration list is closed, we maintain a reserve list of those who would like to be considered for a place should one become available. If you would like your daughter’s name to be placed on the reserve list for September , please complete the registration form (non-fee payer). We will only ask for the registration fee to be paid in the event that we are able to move a candidate’s name to the main Admissions register.
12+ Entry
Our entry lists for September are now closed and we are operating waiting lists.
Once a registration list is closed, we maintain a reserve list of those who would like to be considered for a place should one become available. If you would like your daughter’s name to be placed on the reserve list for September , please complete the registration form (non-fee payer). We will only ask for the registration fee to be paid in the event that we are able to move a candidate’s name to the main Admissions register.
13+ Entry
Assessment is in Year 6 for a Year 9 entry.
We are operating waiting lists for 13+ entry in September and . Registration for remains open.
Once a registration list is closed, we maintain a reserve list of those who would like to be considered for a place should one become available. If you would like your daughter’s name to be placed on the reserve list for September , please complete the registration form (non-fee payer). We will only ask for the registration fee to be paid in the event that we are able to move a candidate’s name to the main Admissions register.
14+ Entry
Sixth Form (16+) Entry
Normal entry is in September at 11+, 12+ or 13+, as a result of the ISEB Common Pre-test or through Benenden’s own Entrance or Scholarship examinations. In addition, there is also a small 14+ and 16+ competitive entry into Year 10 and the Sixth Form. More information on the entry and assessment process can be found here.
Registration
Candidates for 11+ entry should be registered with us and placed on our provisional list by the end of UK Year 5. We recommend registration two years in advance of entry.
After registration, the 11+ assessment has three stages:
Preview Assessment Day – 11+ Entry
The first stage is our Preview Assessment Day which provides candidates with the opportunity to visit the School, giving them a taste of our academic and co-curricular activities, assessments and an interview. For 11+ entry this will take place on Saturday 30 September .
The Preview Assessment Day gives each candidate the chance to show us her abilities and interests while enjoying a themed programme of enquiry-based activities at Benenden.
All candidates will undertake English and Maths tasks, have an informal interview with a Benenden staff member and, in advance, we will have requested a confidential report from their current school which will include latest test data. The Preview Assessment Day, held each year in the Autumn Term, is intended only for confirmed candidates. After the Preview Assessment Day, we will provide feedback together with an indication as to whether we feel it is likely she will reach the standard we require for entry to the School. We would plan to make conditional offers at this stage.
Examination for Entry – ISEB Common Pre-test
To help with the demands placed on pupils in terms of testing for several different schools, we have adopted the ISEB Common Pre-test for 11+ entry. We will request that 11+ applicants for Benenden take the ISEB Common Pre-test during the Autumn Term, after they come to the Preview Assessment Day, and by 30 November. Candidates will need to make arrangements to sit this test at their current school, or a recognised testing centre in the UK or overseas, (eg local British Council Office), between 1 October and 30 November. Parents register candidates for the ISEB Common Pre-test in September. The Admissions Department at Benenden will provide details on how to do this.
Following the two stages of the 11+ assessment, firm offers of places will be made in December . Firm offers are made on the basis of performance in the ISEB Common Pre-test, reference, interview and activities during the Preview Assessment Day.
We invite candidates with an offer of an 11+ place the opportunity to experience Benenden boarding life through a taster day or a sleepover during the Spring Term .
All 11+ places must be accepted, and a deposit paid, by Monday 4 March .
11+ Academic Scholarship Examinations
Following the 11+ entry assessment process, 11+ Academic Scholarships will be awarded to the highest achievers, taking into account the whole admissions process. We do not offer a separate 11+ Academic Scholarship assessment.
Registration
Candidates should be registered and placed on our provisional list by the end of UK Year 5. We recommend registration four years in advance of entry.
Preview Assessment, Examination for Entry and Formal Offers
To bring the timeline for Benenden’s admissions procedure at 13+ closer to that of some other senior schools, we now assess 13+ candidates three years in advance of entry, while in Year 6.
We believe this timing is necessary so that parents of candidates seeking a place at Benenden at 13+ are in a position to make decisions at an earlier stage and at more or less the same time as they may receive offers from other senior schools being considered.
To help with the demands placed on candidates in terms of testing for several different schools, we use the ISEB Common Pre-test for 13+ entry.
We will request that 13+ and 12+ applicants for Benenden take the ISEB Common Pre-test during the Autumn or Spring Term of Year 6 before they come to the Preview Assessment in April. Candidates will need to make arrangements to sit this test at their current school, or a recognised testing centre in the UK or overseas, (eg local British Council Office), between 1 October and 31 March. Parents can register candidates for the ISEB Common Pre-test from September. The Admissions Department at Benenden will provide guidance if required.
The Preview Assessment for 13+ entry will take place in April .
Offers of places will therefore be made before the end of Year 6.
The 12+ admissions process takes place alongside the 13+ process. Candidates can be considered for either point of entry. As 12+ places are fewer in number, it may be that the School cannot offer these immediately and offers may be made as spaces become available.
Benenden has a small competitive entry each year into the Fifth Form (Year 10) and the Sixth Form. Offers are made on the results of competitive examinations, an interview and satisfactory school report. For Sixth Form entry, you should follow the standard registration procedures, as below.
The assessment for Sixth Form entry for entry takes place on Friday 10 November . We ask candidates to choose two academic subjects in which they would like to sit the exams – usually two that they plan to study for A Level. At Benenden Sixth Form entry is highly competitive, so candidates should choose their strongest subjects.
Candidates should be registered with the School by 1 August. We then will be in touch to make the assessment arrangements. Candidates can come to Benenden to sit their Entrance papers on Friday 10 November . However, the papers can be taken elsewhere on the same date – either in the candidate’s current school (if they will allow) or at a local testing centre. We will ask parents to make these arrangements and we will supply the exam papers to the testing centre. We will also request a confidential reference from the candidate’s current school, including predicted GCSE grades, and arrange to interview her (either in person or via Microsoft Teams).
The assessment for our 14+ entry for also takes place on Friday 10 November . Candidates will sit entrance exams in English and Maths. Examples of past papers can be found on our website.
14+ candidates need to be registered with the School by 1 August. We will then be in touch to make the assessment arrangements. Candidates may come to Benenden to sit their Entrance papers or the papers can be taken elsewhere on the same date – either in the candidate’s current school (if they will allow) or at a local testing centre. We will ask you to make these arrangements and we will supply the exam papers. We will also request a confidential reference from each candidate’s current school and arrange to interview her (either in person or via Microsoft Teams).
Deadline for applications to be received for entry in to the Sixth Form and Fifth Form (Year 10) is 1 August in the preceding year of entry.
To find out more about Benenden’s Admissions procedures or to arrange a visit, please contact:
Registry, Benenden School, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AA Telephone: 01580 240592 registry@benenden.school
Benenden enjoys a thriving programme for Scholars including Academic awards and our most accomplished musicians, artists, actresses, designers and sportswomen. Scholarships are given to recognise talent and we are delighted to identify and reward that ability each year.
All awards made are honorary and do not therefore include any fee remission as part of the award. All Scholarship awards will be full in status and recipients will be invited to take part in our extensive Scholars’ Mentoring Programme.
Financial assistance with fees, in the form of a means-tested Bursary award, may be available. Please see separate information on Bursary applications.
The information below sets out the range of Lower School and Sixth Form Scholarships available and, importantly, all the key dates you need to know for examinations, interviews and other assessments.
Benenden is proud to offer bursary support to ensure that everybody has the same opportunities regardless of their financial circumstances. For entry to the School at all levels, candidates no longer require the award of a scholarship in order to access bursary support. The parents/guardians of girls who require financial assistance to attend the School are therefore encouraged to apply for a means-tested bursary.
Twitter