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Bennett Memorial Diocesan School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells TN4 9SH · bennettmemorial.co.uk · 01892 521595

On the mapSearch near TN4 9SH

Overview

Ofsted
Outstanding
2019 framework · inspected Dec 2023
GCSEs, 2024/25
54
average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
Demand for places
1.3
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,913
461 over 1,452 places · 132%
Local authority
Kent
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
10.5%
First language not English
11.6%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Tenax Schools Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 384 families put the school first and 293 places were offered; 70% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 327 (Places 295)327September 2023: 349 (Places 287)349September 2024: 282 (Places 292)282September 2025: 321 (Places 293)321September 2026: 384 (Places 293)384Places 293
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262933841.3▲70%
September 2025Sept 20252933211.1▲81%
September 2024Sept 2024292282188%
September 2023Sept 20232873491.2▲72%
September 2022Sept 20222953271.1▲80%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 54, and 57.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Kent it was 46.7, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (36.2 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 57.3 (England 46.3)57.32017/18: 57.8 (England 46.5)57.82018/19: 54.2 (England 46.7)54.22021/22: 59.5 (England 48.8)59.52022/23: 58.2 (England 46.3)58.22023/24: 56.0 (England 45.9)56.02024/25: 54.0 (England 46.0)54.0England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲5446
▲57.8%45.4%
▲84.5%64.8%
▲88.9%40.5%
▲5.144.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form78.9−0.9
Sixth form college0.7−0.4
Further education14.3+2.5
Other education0.3−2.4
Apprenticeship1.7−0.2
Employment1.4−0.1
Not in a lasting destination1.4+0.6
Activity not captured1.4+1

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 31.9 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 33.7 (England 31.1)C+2017/18: 33.8 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 35.6 (England 32.9)B-2021/22: 40.3 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 36.0 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 34.2 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 36.2 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
183 studentsB- (36.2)Above average +0.32
184 studentsB- (36.1)Above average +0.29
10 studentsDist (36.5)Average +0.26
21 studentsDist+ (39.3)Average +0.14
13.8%AAB or better
100%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24199C+ (34.2)+0.28
2022/23172B- (36)—
2021/22153B (40.3)—
2018/19155B- (35.6)+0.06
2017/18141C+ (33.8)+0.18
2016/17153C+ (33.7)+0.35
2015/16187C+ (31.9)+0.21

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University51.5−6.7
Further education1.4−1
Apprenticeship4.9+0.8
Employment24.5+5.7
Not in a lasting destination12.3−1.2
Activity not captured5.4+2.5

Ofsted

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 13 December 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Outstanding
Inspected
13 Dec 2023
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jun 2012

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Jun 2012Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Apr 2007Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement

What parents said

88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (505 replies, to 2 September 2024).

Recommend
88%
Replies
505
2 Sept 2024
Child is happy at school●87% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe▲94% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▲92% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲97% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well●88% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn●81% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▲89% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●90% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲98% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▲85% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲79% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 77% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲66% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 35% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲72% agreeEngland 67%

based on 116 parents (23%) with SEND

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