Day students

Our day students play a full part in every area of school life: leaving at the end of the day will not prevent your daughter from benefiting from the Benenden experience! Watch the video below to discover a day in the life of a day student.

Watch to find out more

Life as a day

student

Day students are fully immersed in the academic, co-curricular and personal and professional elements of our Complete Education. We have carefully planned their role in the boarding side of school life: being affiliated to a boarding house means they benefit from the pastoral care and close friendships that are hallmarks of the boarding programme.

A day student is a member of a House in the same way as a boarder. The House, run by a highly experienced team of staff led by the Housemistress/ Housemaster, acts as a day student’s home away from home while she is at Benenden. Although she does not have a bedroom in the House, she has her own study space and shares social spaces with her boarding friends. The House is also her base during the day, so if she has a private study period, she can return to House to work or to socialise at lunchtime or after lessons.

Benenden only has a small number of day students joining each year – in the Fourth (Year 7), Lower Fifth (Year 9) and Six One (Year 12) – so we can ensure she enjoys the personalised care and attention across all areas of school life for which Benenden is so renowned.

Your daughter will be one of a handful of girls joining a House, which means the teachers, boarding staff and her new friends quickly get to know her very well. Being fully integrated into the House system will enable her to forge friendships with pupils across the House, not just her own year group.

Download our day students brochure

Frequently asked questions

: Yes. The routes are dependent on demand but we anticipate running a minibus service from Staplehurst station and locations in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Ashford and Maidstone. This will incur an additional charge.
: Yes, Saturday school is integral to our Complete Education.
: All girls are expected to be in School for lessons on a Saturday and sporting commitments. We also have closed weekends at the start and end of every term which are compulsory for all girls, including day students.
: Our boarding is full so unfortunately we are unable to offer occasional boarding.
: Absolutely!
: Monday to Friday, day students need to arrive by 8.10am and 8.40am on a Saturday.
: Yes, your daughter is very welcome to arrive from 7.30am and spend time in House before breakfast.
: Absolutely not. Like our boarders, your daughter should be realistic about how much time she would need to commit to rehearsals and training.
: She is most welcome to join us for whole-year events. There is an additional charge for her to join other events in the programme.
: The co-curricular programme is an integral aspect of our Complete Education. Your daughter will be expected to take part in the co-curricular programme during the school day and is strongly encouraged to do so at other times.
: Curriculum trips are included as part of the fees and if a trip is not included, you will be written to with full details.
: Once your daughter has been allocated her House, our House system naturally lends itself to this with the day students fully integrated from day one. The pastoral and academic care your daughter receives, along with the numerous opportunities that the girls have to be a part of her Layer/House, will enable your daughter to integrate very quickly.

Also, your daughter will be one of a handful of girls joining a House, which means the teachers, boarding staff and her new friends quickly get to know her very well.
: Your daughter’s Housemistress/Housemaster will be your main point of contact.
: We have an excellent medical centre on site at Benenden which is staffed 24/7 during term time. Your daughter is always welcome to visit if she is feeling unwell. We also have two part-time counsellors.
: Due to our fully immersive boarding programme, we have two weekends each term (one in the summer) called Exeats. This is when we begin the weekend early at 12.30pm on Friday and boarders return on Sunday evening. It is a chance for all of us to have a mini break.
: In addition to the annual Parents’ Meeting, you will receive regular written reports on your daughter’s progress and we are always happy to discuss her academic progress with you.
: Our current competitive admissions system applies to all prospective pupils, including internal and external assessments and an interview. Full details are here and our Admissions team will be happy to advise further.
: Our fees are reviewed on an annual basis and are outlined on our fees page here.