Launched in 2015 by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, the Benenden School Centenary Vision is our 10-year development plan for enhancing the School in advance of our centenary year in 2023.
The Heart of Benenden campaign is the flagship investment of the Centenary Vision, and has enabled the creation of our spectacular new School Hall and state-of-the-art Music School.
Designed by Guy Hollaway, an award-winning architect and Benenden parent, these aspirational and inspirational new facilities will dramatically enhance the experience of each and every one of our girls for years and indeed generations.
Our girls congregate, praise, reflect, celebrate and share in a world-class School Hall. Our musicians learn, appreciate, collaborate, practise and perform in facilities with world-leading acoustics that are befitting of their talents and that enable them to reach their true potential.
The Centenary Hall
Almost 80 years after it was built for a school of around 200 pupils, we had outgrown the old School Hall. Benenden needed a new Hall fit for today’s school and for the future, one that can fit our 550 girls plus staff in comfort.
Designed by the multi award-winning Guy Hollaway Architects, the new Centenary Hall offers state-of-the-art acoustics and gives girls and audiences a truly professional performance experience.
In addition, retractable seating provides the flexibility for the Hall to be used for a variety of events, while the bar area and catering facilities enable the facility to be hired out to maximise its benefit to the community.
Crucially, the Hall makes the most of its position in one of the most beautiful parts of the School site, and the new design will retain some tiered seating which had been such a treasured part of the old Hall for generations of Benenden girls.
The Sir David K.P. Li Music School
In addition to the new School Hall, the Sir David K.P. Li Music School features the smaller Bonnie Yeung-Tsang Recital Hall, with capacity for an audience of around 150 people, which offers girls a performance space in a more intimate environment, perfect for rehearsals and smaller performances such as Lunchtime Concerts. This is also the ideal environment in which girls can develop their confidence and skills in performing.
The Music School has more than 20 practice rooms and classrooms, as well as a smaller performance room, IT suite and recording and performance booths. These facilities offer girls plenty of opportunity for practice and to explore new musical passions.
The Music School is linked to the School Hall by the Beethoven Bridge through the stunning Jat Atrium, which will flow into the new Seniors' Courtyard outside, creating a tranquil and beautiful space in which girls can relax and gather with friends.
To find out more please contact Kyle Johnson or call 01580 236742.
