Benenden students are celebrated not only for their outstanding academic achievements but also for the way they embrace the School’s ethos of A Complete Education. This unique approach ensures that girls balance academic rigour with an extraordinary range of co-curricular opportunities, enabling them to grow in confidence, explore their passions and prepare for exciting futures beyond Benenden.
Alice Edge, 16, is a shining example of how Benenden girls flourish within this environment. Having achieved an impressive ten GCSEs at top grades today, Alice is now looking ahead to her A Level studies in Maths, Physics, Music and Design Technology, for which she has been awarded a DT Scholarship. “The DT Scholarship has been amazing because it allows me to be creative and explore different mediums. It feels like such a unique opportunity that you don’t find at other schools,” she explains.
Alongside her academic studies, Alice continues to thrive in her musical journey. She is also a Choral Scholar at Benenden and is currently rehearsing with the National Youth Choir ahead of a solo performance this Sunday at Stoller Hall in Manchester – an incredible achievement for a young singer who will also begin studying at the Royal College of Music Junior Academy each Saturday.
Her passion for performance was first sparked when she performed as a brother in the School’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Coliseum – the largest stage in the West End. “Taking part in Joseph was a turning point for me. It gave me the confidence to perform in front of others and opened up a whole new side of my musical journey,” Alice reflects. She is now going to perform in next term’s production of Grease, taking on the role of Teen Angel.
Alice’s love of learning also extends beyond the classroom. Over the holidays she has attended academic courses with the London International Youth Science Forum and Oxford Scholastica, where she deepened her understanding of renewable energies – a passion encouraged by her teachers.
Looking to the future, Alice is excited to combine her academic interests with her practical experience and hopes to study engineering at a top university. “I’m fascinated by cars and aerodynamics. I am restoring my own car with my father and am really looking forward to being involved in the karting project at Benenden next year. Benenden has supported me by connecting my studies with my future ambitions in motorsport engineering,” she says.
Reflecting on her time at Benenden so far, Alice is excited about the next stage of her school journey. “I’ve got a great group of friends and am looking forward to the independence of Sixth Form life in a Sixth Form boarding house,” she shares. Surrounded by a strong peer community and motivated by the breadth of opportunities on offer, Alice is thriving in an environment that allows her to balance ambition with wellbeing.
Alice’s story encapsulates how Benenden’s Complete Education equips girls not only with excellent academic results but also with the confidence, resilience and curiosity they need to succeed in life beyond school.