Benenden Summer School 2027
Sustainable Futures
At Benenden, we put sustainability at the heart of what we do; it is central to the way we run our school and to our curriculum. From 5 to 18 July 2027, we will be bringing the best of our sustainability projects together in an innovative two-week residential summer programme designed also to give a taste of boarding at one of the world’s leading boarding schools.
An
Overview
Sustainability is, without a doubt, the key challenge facing today’s world; it will be a primary concern for the next generation of leaders, thinkers, lawyers, architects and entrepreneurs. This course will gather the ambitious young people who will take on those roles and give them the tools they need to come up with solutions to the issues that the businesses, governments and societies of tomorrow will face.
At a Glance
Ages: Boys and Girls, 11-13 and 14-16
Dates: Monday 5 July to Sunday 18 July 2027
Duration: Two weeks
Location: Benenden School, Kent
Academic content: At least 20 hours per week
Excursions: 3 full-day and 2 half-day
English level: B1+ (Intermediate and above)
Maximum class size: 15
Price: £4,896
Booking Enquiries: contact Summer.Admin@Benenden.School
The
Course
Making use of Benenden’s enquiry-based model, the course offers a project-driven learning experience in which students will be given the tools and opportunity to pursue their own interests and showcase their talents.
Workshops, lectures and independent study sessions throughout the two weeks will supply students with the skills, ideas and knowledge they need to complete an individual and a group project.
The course will make the most of Benenden’s unique position in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the heart of the Wealden Kent countryside. Workshops will take place both on site and off site, with visits to nearby locations such as the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Bedgebury Pinetum.
On-site workshops will take full advantage of Benenden’s 250 acres of stunning Wealden landscape and existing sustainability projects, which include a vegetable garden, bee hives, eco classroom, wildlife cameras and a recently revived orchard.
Environmental
Ethos
We are committed to minimising the environmental impact of our course. Throughout the two weeks, we’ll do everything we can to limit plastic usage and food waste, and to ensure that as little damage as possible is done to the nature with which we interact. Furthermore, we strongly encourage those attending to seek the least detrimental mode of transport, and those who fly to consider offsetting the carbon emissions of their flight.
Activities
Programme
Students will engage in a full programme of social and sporting activities to complement and provide down-time from their academic pursuits. Our on-site facilities, to which students will have access, include a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields and sports hall.
There will also be three full-day excursions. These will, provisionally, be to Brighton, Oxford and Thorpe Park.
Boarding
and Meals
Students will stay in Benenden’s Medway and Marshall houses where they will experience the camaraderie and fun of Benenden boarding, as well as experienced pastoral support.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all included, with a variety of options available at each meal. Packed lunches will be provided on excursion days. Specific dietary requirements can be catered for, provided we are made aware of them during the booking process.
Further
Information
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A convenient ‘meet and greet’ service will operate from Gatwick and Heathrow Airports and from London St Pancras International station.
Students will be met in arrivals. On departure, students will be assisted with check-in and accompanied to the security gate.
The Airport Transfer Service is free for arrivals and departures between 9.00am and 5.00pm. We recommend flights are booked as early as possible.
If you would prefer to bring your child to Benenden yourself, or collect them at the end of the course, you are very welcome to do so.
The first and last days of the course are dedicated to arriving to and departing from the School. We ask students to please arrive at the airport or station between 9.00am and 3.00pm UK time on Monday 6 July. Those travelling directly to Benenden should arrive between 3.00pm and 6.00pm (earlier arrivals can be accommodated upon request). Departures from Benenden on Sunday 19 July should be between 7.00am and 5.00pm.