At Benenden, holding a Scholarship is a position of honour, with enhanced responsibility and opportunity to match. Each year, the School’s most accomplished musicians, artists, actors, designers and athletes are rewarded for their talent and dedication with Scholarship places that heighten chances to excel in their specialist fields. We invited some of our Scholars to share their experiences…
Emma – Academic Scholar, Upper Fourth
Being an Academic Scholar at Benenden hasn’t really changed my day-to-day life very much, but it has opened up new opportunities that I might not have noticed otherwise.
I earned my scholarship by getting good marks in the entrance exam. At first I was quite surprised, as I had no idea I was good enough to get one! At my old school, we weren’t told exactly how high our grades were, so when I found out, it gave me a major confidence boost.
As an Academic Scholar, I attend Hut 6, which is at the heart of the School’s academic extension programme. Anyone can join, but for Academic Scholars it is an essential, compulsory part of the programme. It’s a chance to explore new topics and challenge ourselves in different ways.
At the start of term, I applied to be a Centenary Scholar, which is a smaller, more refined version of Hut 6, and I was awarded that too. In one session, we discussed Milton Friedman’s ideas, which I found quite difficult at first, but I managed to grasp the concept and start forming my own opinions.
One of the most interesting topics we’ve covered in Hut 6 was the etymology of words with the prefix con-. I really enjoyed this because many of the words have Latin roots, and Latin is one of my favourite subjects.
Last year, I also wrote a Hut 6 project essay about how regeneration is relevant in The Repair Shop, which was a challenge, but I managed to complete it.
Overall, being a scholar has given me more confidence and motivation to push myself in lessons. I feel proud to be part of the programme, and it encourages me to keep working hard and trying new things!
Mary – Art Scholar, Six Two
I was thrilled when I was awarded a Benenden Art Scholarship at 13+. To me, it was a recognition that I might have the potential to develop the enjoyment of art that I had developed at my prep school.
Art has always been an escape for me. When I am drawing or painting, I can fully immerse myself in the artwork, and this has continued to be the case at Benenden.
In my lower years, my work gravitated towards creating conventional art with a subject matter that interested me. However, with Benenden’s fantastic teaching, my art has developed, exploring new techniques and processes. Art has a deeper and more personal meaning to me.
Being an Art Scholar has given me opportunities like joining inspirational talks and gallery trips. I was very pleased to get a 9 at GCSE, which reflected the fantastic teaching I had received and the hard work I’d put in.
Another highlight for me was receiving a private painting commission. I now enjoy creating art that is innovative and progressive, and constantly developing my ideas.
My Art Scholarship has been key to my time at Benenden, and as a result of it my art life outside of School has blossomed. Most importantly my Art Scholarship has given me confidence in myself, not just in terms of my art, but in the assurance that hard work and diligence pays off.
Mia – Creative Technology Scholar, Fifth
Creative Technology is one of my favourite subjects, so when the opportunity to become a CT Scholar came around I knew that this was something I should try to achieve.
When I was in the younger years, CT was always my favourite subject. I found it interesting, and as a creative person it was a great opportunity to branch out from the more traditional things we were doing in Art.
An example of this could be when we made and designed paper jewellery, or when we learnt how to create a digital portrait in Adobe Illustrator.
When I signed up to try and become a CT Scholar, I had to make a portfolio of some things I had made that I was proud of. This mainly consisted of things I had made outside of School at that point. Along with submitting a few things I had done in the past, I also made lots of new things. This was great, as I was learning lots of new skills before I had even become a Scholar.
On the day that we completed the task it was nice to see what everybody else had put in their portfolio. A few weeks after I was happy to hear that I had been accepted as a CT Scholar.
Since then, I have started the GCSE course and am on my second project. It has been great to see everybody’s ideas and designs, and to support my peers with their work from time to time.
So far I am still enjoying the subject and have created some interesting pieces and have gained lots of new skills.
I am very proud to be a CT Scholar as well as a CT student, and I will continue to strive for my best in the subject with the support of the amazing and lovely department.
Petra – Drama Scholar, Upper Fifth
I think one of the best things about my role as a Drama Scholar is the opportunities it gives me to pursue my love of all the different aspects of theatre.
The Scholar’s Play, a production of Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, was an especially amazing opportunity, which I felt so fortunate to have been a part of.
The play followed the life story of Emilia Bassano, and was written at a time of speculation surrounding her relationship with Shakespeare and the impact this may have had on his writing – particularly Othello, which features a character named after her.
I played both a lady in waiting and the role of Emilia in Othello, which posed a huge challenge regarding my versatility as an actress, as one role was very comical and the other more serious and technical.
While this was difficult, it completely changed my perception of my performance and acting in general – something that could only have been possible in such an inspiring environment with people from multiple year groups all united by a shared passion for the subject. This, I think, is what makes Scholars’ performances so special.
That said, one of my favourite elements of the Scholarship is the way it enables you to inspire younger years and instil an enjoyment of Drama and theatre that will last for the rest of their lives, whether that’s in performance, design or simply the experience. This, for me, is one of the most meaningful parts of my role.
Elsie – Music Scholar, Six One
Music is widely appreciated at Benenden, and as a Music Scholar, music doubtlessly forms a great part of my life at School. Playing as part of the School’s Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, Chamber Music ensembles, or just playing with friends are among the highlights of my week.
Being a Music Scholar has given me some of the most inspirational and memorable experiences. The Department’s amazing facilities act as a concert venue which regularly invites many of the world’s leading musicians. From Sheku Kanneh-Mason to Angela Hewitt, and even the Jazz classic Ronnie Scott’s, these concerts form invaluable experiences for passionate musicians at Benenden. Scholars often have the opportunity to enjoy masterclasses, Q&As or intimate recitals with the performers. These interactions with professionals are always rewarding and encouraging.
At the same time, consistent musical contributions are required from Scholars. This includes playing regularly in orchestras and ensembles and performing in Scholars’ concerts. Often Scholars are also invited to perform for School events both on and off site, as well as for charity concerts and even music for School plays.
But, of course, your presence is also required at the annual Scholars’ dinner, which is always a real treat to look forward to!
The expectations for Music Scholars are demanding, but adaptable to what one strives for. I have always felt strongly encouraged by the warmest support from all the Music staff. Being a Music Scholar has allowed me to stretch the limits of my potential and to achieve so much that I wouldn’t have thought was possible.
I am extremely honoured for my talents and achievements to be recognised and am more than grateful to have found a group of friends that, through the sharing of our passion in music, has made my musical experience at Benenden a highlight.
Kiki – Sport Scholar, Lower Fifth
Being a Sport Scholar at Benenden is an enriching experience. It’s about commitment, hard work, and making the most of the support available to improve in my Sport.
What I love most about Sport is the thrill of competition and the sense of achievement that comes from working hard and seeing progress. Whether it’s training with my teammates in Lacrosse or Netball, competing in matches, or simply enjoying the energy of Sport, I always really enjoy it.
Sport has taught me the importance of discipline, perseverance, and always striving to improve.
One of the biggest highlights of being a Sport Scholar at Benenden is the incredible opportunities we get. From weekly individually-tailored strength and conditioning sessions to workshops, the Sports Scholars at Benenden have many great opportunities.
We recently enjoyed a workshop where we met rower Giedrė Rakauskaitė, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist in the mixed coxed four. We participated in a fun team challenge, as well as a Q&A where we learned more about what it’s like to compete at an international level.
With the Scholarship also comes a lot of responsibility. I know I’m expected to set a good example, not just in my Sport but also in my academics and attitude. Sport has also taught me teamwork and communication skills that can be used in any aspect of my life.
Overall, being a Sport Scholar at Benenden is an incredible experience. It’s about so much more than just playing sport—it’s about pushing boundaries and embracing the opportunities that come my way.