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Bennett Memorial Diocesan School[1]

Secondary · ages 11–18

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Headline results

Attainment 8
A8 53 53.4 2025/26[2]
A-level average grade
AL B- B- 2024/25[3]

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
53.4 2025/26[2]
Grade 5+ in English & maths
56.8% 2025/26[2]
Grade 7+ in English & maths
13.6% 2025/26[2]
Progress 8
+0.73 2023/24[4]
Progress 8, 2025/26
Not calculated[5]
Progress 8, 2024/25
Not calculated[5]
Earlier years
Year Attainment 8 Grade 5+ in English & maths Grade 7+ in English & maths Progress 8
2024/25 54[6] 57.8%[6]
2023/24 56[4] 61.2%[4] +0.73[4]
2022/23 58.2[7] 68%[7] +0.95[7]
2021/22 59.5[8] 68%[8] +0.76[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade
B- 2024/25[3]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
13.8% 2024/25[3]
All results, 2020/21
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
All results, 2019/20
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
Earlier years
Year A-level average grade AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
2023/24 C+[10] 17.3%[10]
2022/23 B-[11] 19.3%[11]
2021/22 B[12] 23%[12]
2018/19 B-[13] 16.4%[13]

Destinations after GCSEs

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
97% 2022/23[14]
School sixth form
83% 2022/23[14]
Sixth-form college
1% 2021/22[15]
Further education college
12% 2022/23[14]
Apprenticeship
0% 2022/23[14]
Employment
2% 2022/23[14]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment School sixth form Sixth-form college Further education college Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 99%[15] 80%[15] 1%[15] 12%[15] 2%[15] 2%[15]
2020/21 98%[16] 84%[16] 1%[16] 12%[16] 2%[16]
2019/20 99%[17] 82%[17] 1%[17] 13%[17] 1%[17]
2018/19 99%[18] 78%[18] 18%[18] 1%[18] 1%[18]

Destinations after 16–18 study

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
88% 2022/23[19]
UK higher education
60% 2022/23[19]
Education
63% 2022/23[19]
Apprenticeship
2% 2022/23[19]
Employment
24% 2022/23[19]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment UK higher education Education Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 84%[20] 58%[20] 61%[20] 4%[20] 19%[20]
2020/21 87%[21] 56%[21] 60%[21] 1%[21] 26%[21]
2019/20 88%[22] 58%[22] 65%[22] 2%[22] 21%[22]
2018/19 92%[23] 51%[23] 62%[23] 4%[23] 26%[23]

Higher education after 16–18 study

Progressed to higher education
74% 2021/22[24]
Top third of most selective universities
27% 2021/22[24]
Russell Group universities
25% 2019/20[25]
Oxford or Cambridge
2% 2019/20[25]
Earlier leavers
Left in Progressed to higher education Top third of most selective universities Russell Group universities Oxford or Cambridge
2020/21 70%[26] 29%[26]
2019/20 81%[25] 30%[25] 25%[25] 2%[25]
2018/19 76%[27] 22%[27] 19%[27] 1%[27]
2017/18 81%[28] 21%[28] 18%[28] 1%[28]

Shares of the pupils who left in the year shown. Russell Group and Oxford or Cambridge figures were published for leavers up to 2019/20 only.

Ofsted

Latest inspection
13 Dec 2023[29]
Type
S5 Inspection[29]
Report published
30 Jan 2024[29]
Personal development
Outstanding[29]
Quality of education
Outstanding[29]
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding[29]
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding[29]
Safeguarding is effective
Yes[29]
Sixth form provision (where applicable)
Outstanding[29]
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Outstanding[29]

Competition to get in

Applications and offers, Year 7

Applications per place
3.9 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Applications (any preference)
1134 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences
384 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Places offered
293 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences per place
1.3 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Earlier years
Entry Applications First preferences Places offered Per place First preferences per place
Entry Sept 2025 1098[30] 321[30] 293[30] 3.7[30] 1.1[30]
Entry Sept 2024 955[30] 282[30] 292[30] 3.3[30] 1.0[30]
Entry Sept 2023 1028[30] 349[30] 287[30] 3.6[30] 1.2[30]
Entry Sept 2022 964[30] 327[30] 295[30] 3.3[30] 1.1[30]

Character & practicalities

Type
Academy converter[1]
Ages
11–18[1]
Boys / girls
Mixed[1]
Faith
Church of England[1]
Admissions
Non-selective[1]
Sixth form
Yes[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
1452[1]
Trust
THE TENAX SCHOOLS TRUST[1]
Local authority
Kent[1]
Website
https://www.bennettmemorial.co.uk/[1]
District
Tunbridge Wells[31]
Postcode
TN4 9SH[1]
URN
136603[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll
1892 2024/25[32]
English as an additional language
11.5% 2024/25[32]
SEN support
8.7% 2024/25[32]
EHC plan
1.5% 2024/25[32]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
10.1% 2024/25[32]

Pupils' ethnicity 2025/26

White
75.6%[33]
Mixed
9.5%[33]
Asian
6.4%[33]
Black
3.3%[33]
Any other ethnic group
1.6%[33]
Unclassified
3.6%[33]

The school census's major ethnic groups as shares of the school's pupils, summed by us from the published counts. For information only: never used to rank, filter or colour schools.

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
Bennett Memorial is highly ambitious for its pupils.[34]
Pastoral care
The school meticulously plans the ‘Bennett journey’ for pupils so that, from the minute they join, they know that they are a valued part of the school family.[34]
Behaviour
Pupils’ conduct is exemplary, particularly in lessons. Disruption to learning is incredibly rare.[34]
Learning support
As a result, all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve exceptionally well.[34]
Enrichment
There is an extensive range of opportunities to inspire and develop pupils’ talents and interests. The school has planned and organised the personal development ‘co-curriculum’ superbly.[34]
Pupil voice
Many pupils aspire to take on positions of responsibility in the guilds, such as becoming guild prefects. Sixth-form students are excellent role models for younger pupils.[34]
Collaboration
Pupils actively support each other’s learning. ‘Guild assemblies’ celebrate pupils’ achievements collaboratively.[34]
Structure
Pupils understand and recognise the importance of the school’s high expectations for their behaviour and conduct.[34]
Diversity
Drawing from a diverse range of beliefs, backgrounds and abilities, the school is unashamedly ambitious for all.[34]

Sources

  1. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  2. Department for Education: Performance tables schools data (explore education statistics). Period 2025/26, provisional, published 2026-10-15. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  3. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  4. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  5. Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2024/25: data guidance. Period 2024/25. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    It is not possible to calculate Progress 8 for academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26 due to gaps in the baseline caused by COVID-19 disruption.
  6. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  7. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  8. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  9. Department for Education: A level and other 16 to 18 results 2020/21. Period 2020/21. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, and alternative processes were set up to award grades.
  10. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  11. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  12. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  13. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  14. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  15. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  16. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  17. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  18. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  19. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  20. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  21. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  22. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  23. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  24. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  25. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  26. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  27. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  28. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2017/18, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  29. Ofsted: State-funded schools inspections and outcomes. Period 2023/24. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  30. Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers: school level. Period Entry Sept 2026, final, published 2026-06-29. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  31. Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  32. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  33. Department for Education: Schools, pupils and their characteristics: school level underlying data. Period 2025/26, published 2026-06-04. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  34. files.ofsted.gov.uk: files.ofsted.gov.uk document. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quotes (13)
    Bennett Memorial is highly ambitious for its pupils (p. 2)
    The school meticulously plans the 'Bennett journey' for pupils so that, from the minute they join, they know that they are a valued part of the school family (p. 3)
    Pupils' conduct is exemplary, particularly in lessons (p. 2)
    Disruption to learning is incredibly rare (p. 2)
    Drawing from a diverse range of beliefs, backgrounds and abilities, the school is unashamedly ambitious for all (p. 2)
    Pupils understand and recognise the importance of the school's high expectations for their behaviour and conduct (p. 3)
    There is an extensive range of opportunities to inspire and develop pupils' talents and interests (p. 2)
    The school has planned and organised the personal development 'co-curriculum' superbly (p. 3)
    Many pupils aspire to take on positions of responsibility in the guilds, such as becoming guild prefects (p. 3)
    Sixth-form students are excellent role models for younger pupils (p. 2)
    Pupils actively support each other's learning (p. 2)
    'Guild assemblies' celebrate pupils' achievements collaboratively (p. 3)
    As a result, all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve exceptionally well (p. 2)