We are delighted to announce that Orwell Park School will be joining the Benenden family of schools.
This exciting partnership is rooted in a shared ethos of delivering a premium, modern education, underpinned by strong traditions and values. Both schools will benefit from sharing expertise and best practice, ensuring an outstanding academic and co-curricular experience for pupils.
Orwell Park is a highly respected prep school for girls and boys aged 2–13 in Suffolk, with which Benenden has long enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship. Many Orwell families have gone on to become part of the Benenden community, and the schools share core values of courtesy, respect and a commitment to community, as well as an ethos shaped by the boarding tradition that day families also embrace.
Under this partnership, Orwell Park will come under the governance of Benenden School while retaining its own identity and Senior Leadership Team. This ensures that both schools remain focused on their individual communities while also working together to develop opportunities for pupils.
Benenden currently has one international school, Benenden School Guangzhou, and Orwell has stated how proud it is to join the group. Both schools will continue to deliver on their individual strengths, with Orwell Park maintaining its strong record of preparing pupils for a wide range of senior schools, and Benenden continuing to offer its globally renowned boarding and day education for girls aged 11–18.
Benenden Headmistress Rachel Bailey said:
“This is a proud day for both Orwell Park and Benenden. Our schools have long enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship so I am delighted that we will be working together even more closely. Whenever I have visited Orwell, it feels very similar to Benenden, with an undeniable sense of purpose and ambition within a friendly and welcoming environment.
“We very much look forward to working together to ensure that every child across both our schools benefits from an outstanding and innovative education that truly prepares them for their future.”
Orwell Park Head Simon O’Malley added:
“At a time of uncertainty and disruption in the independent sector, this bold initiative will further strengthen Orwell Park’s position as the leading prep school in East Anglia.
“There is no doubt that, together as partners, the capacity to enhance and develop all that Orwell is renowned for will only grow. I am excited to work with the governors and staff to help shape this exciting future.”
This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both schools, built on shared values and a clear vision for the future. Together, Benenden and Orwell Park will continue to provide pupils with exceptional opportunities, equipping them with the skills, confidence and ambition to thrive.