Bennett Memorial Diocesan School

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School

Motto	Semper Tenax (Ever holding fast)
Established	1951
Type	Community school
Religion	Church of England
Headteacher	Jon Sparke
Founder	Lady Elena Bennett and Christopher Chavasse
Location	Culverden Down Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9SH England
Local authority	Kent
DfE URN	136603 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Staff	102
Students	1480
Gender	Coeducational
Ages	11–18
Houses	Audley, Chavasse,Fisher, Gundalf, Justus, Langdon, Merton, Ridley
Colours	Green
Website	www.bennett.kent.sch.uk

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School is a secondary school in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

History

The school was founded on 17 October 1951, by Lady Elena Bennett of Matfield, and Christopher M. Chavasse, Bishop of Rochester. The school opened to students on 8 January 1953, to 400 students and only 18 teachers. The schools' main benefactress, Lady Elena Bennett, died peacefully during the early hours of 25 October 1967. In 1976 Bennett became a comprehensive school, welcoming students of all abilities from a large part of the Diocese of Rochester rather than just Tunbridge Wells. It was shortly after this time that the Bennett sixth form was developed for A-Level students. Over the years students have travelled from as far away as Aylesford and Robertsbridge. A huge turning point in the School's life, happened in 1993, when Bennett introduced boys in Year 7. In 2003 Bennett Memorial achieved specialist school status as a technology college. It also has the silver Artsmark award, the Sportsmark award and is a Language College.

In April 2011, Bennett Memorial Diocesan School gained 'Academy' status, bringing with it new freedom and opportunity.

Pupils from the school were chosen to form part of a "guard of honour" for athletes at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, displaying artistic creations their school made to celebrate the event.

In 2012, the school unveiled plans for a new sixth form centre. Construction of the 'Sixth Form Study Centre' commenced in March 2013, and opened to staff and students in January 2014.

In February 2014 Rt Hon Michael Gove (Education secretary) came to the school to officially open the new sixth form block.

Facilities

The school has the following main buildings:

• The Mansion House - 1906/51+ (Administration, R.E, Art, Technology, Science Departments & Site Team)
• The Palmer Building - 2008 (Maths)
• The Webster Block - 1977 (ICT, Modern Foreign Languages, Geography & Learning Support)
• The Cutbush Building - 2001/5 (History)
• Music and Drama Department - 1980s
• The Ann Scott Wing - 1993/6/8 (English, Science)
• The Sports Hall - 2001 (a 4-badminton court-sized hall, a multi gymn)
• Sixth Form Study Centre - 2014 (PSHE, RS & Social Sciences, Study Space, Maths)

Form system

The school holds a house system used in every year, the name of the house is usually named after bishops of Rochester:

Form	Form colors
Audley	Maroon
Chavasse	Green
Fisher	Navy blue
Gundulf	Yellow
Justus	Light Blue
Langdon	Grey/Pink
Merton	Purple
Ridley	Red

Notable alumni

• Douglas Booth, model and actor (BBC's Worried About The Boy)
• Joanne Rout (née Round), 1988 Paralympic swimmer
• Scott Wagstaff, footballer for Bristol City F.C.
• Christopher Weatherhead, notorious computer hacker
• Jonathan Williams, footballer for Crystal Palace F.C.
• Michael Rosen book writer and starred in ytp:chocolate cake

External links

• Bennett Memorial Diocesan School - Official School Website