last word
A reassuringly solid choice for the academically competent all-rounder who is happy in a lovely rural bubble, and a school firing on all cylinders.
Data profile
Benenden School
Independent girls senior school in Tunbridge Wells for ages 11–18. Selective entry, top-tier fees.
- Rank #48
- ISI Excellent
- Fees £46.2k/yr
- girls
- boarding
- Cranbrook, Tunbridge Wells
Outcomes
Where leavers go after sixth form.
- Cohort
- 100
- Oxbridge
- 4
- Russell Group
- 72
- US Ivy
- 2
- Medicine
- 5
Class of 2025
Top destinations
- UCL—
- Imperial—
- Durham—
- Edinburgh—
- Exeter—
- LSE—
- King's College London—
- Cambridge—
Exam results
A level A*–A and GCSE 9–7, recalibrated for 2026.
- A-level A*–A
- 68%
- GCSE 9–7
- 80%
- Oxbridge rate
- 4%
- Russell Group rate
- 72%
Recalibrated
Entry points & fees
| Entry | Year | Places | Assessment | Day fee (max) | Boarding fee (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ | Year 7 | — | ISEB Common Pre-Test · School's own exam · Interview · Reference / report · Other | £46.2k | £70.2k |
| 12+ | Year 8 | — | School's own exam · Group assessment · Interview · Audition · Practical assessment | £46.2k | £70.2k |
| 13+ | Year 9 | — | ISEB Common Pre-Test · School's own exam · Interview · Reference / report · Other | £46.2k | £70.2k |
| 14+ | Year 10 | — | School's own exam · Group assessment · Interview · Portfolio · Audition | £46.2k | £70.2k |
| 16+ | Lower Sixth | — | School's own exam · Interview · Reference / report | £46.2k | £70.2k |
Houseroom Index
Our composite score, broken down by pillar.
Index score
78
/ 100
National rank #48
Academic75
Destinations85
Future-ready55
Pastoral95
Value-add67
Access & breadth75
External consensus70
Inspections
ISI
Excellent
Inspected 2025-10-07
Editorial verdict
overview
Benenden does exactly what it says on the tin: traditional, all-girls full boarding brought bang up to date. For the academically competent all-rounder who is happy to live in a lovely rural bubble, this is a reassuringly solid choice – and a school that's firing on all cylinders. - **Location:** Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AA - **Pupils:** 560, ages 11–18 - **Gender:** Girls only - **Boarding:** Day and boarding
Compare with peers
Schools families applying here also consider.
- Fees £35.4kA*-A 64%Oxbridge 5%Rank #66
Roedean School matches Benenden with girls boarding, overlaps on 11+ and 13+ entry phases, is within a 54km commute, and shares a similar fee bracket and selectivity tier.
- Fees £38.4kA*-A 58%Oxbridge 7%Rank #64
Woldingham School is a girls boarding school with 11+ and 13+ entry phases, located 49km away, with fees slightly lower but in the same tier, and a strong Oxbridge destination record.
- Fees £33.6kA*-A 67%Oxbridge 3%Rank #70
Downe House is a girls boarding school with 11+ and 13+ entry phases, located 135km away but still in the South East, with fees in the same tier and similar academic outcomes.
- Fees £46.8kA*-A 80%Oxbridge 23%Rank #16
Wycombe Abbey is a girls boarding school with 11+ and 13+ entry phases, within 110km commute, higher fees but same tier, and a notably strong Oxbridge destination record.
- Fees £46.8kA*-A 77%Oxbridge 4%Rank #74
St Mary's School Ascot is a girls boarding school with 11+ and 13+ entry phases, located 93km away, with fees in the same tier and a comparable academic and Oxbridge profile.
How peers are chosen
Matched on sex, boarding, entry phase, location, fee band, tier and outcomes. Scoring: 0.45 outcome similarity, 0.25 structured, 0.10 embedding, 0.20 AI re-rank. Refreshed yearly and when a profile changes.
Top feeder prep schools
- 1 offers
Open days, bursaries and how to apply: Benenden School profile →