Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #33 in Kent public Top 8% UK

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personDr Karen Brookes

corporate_fareTHE TENAX SCHOOLS TRUST

location_onTunbridge Wells, TN4 9SH

language Visit Website phone 1892521595

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Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2023

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Students

1,865

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Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#34 in Kent

#550 of 3,216 nationally

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Bennett Memorial Diocesan School is a Academy converter secondary school in Tunbridge Wells, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School is an academy converter in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE TENAX SCHOOLS TRUST. The school has approximately 1,892 pupils on roll, of whom 10% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 54, placing the school #34 in Kent and #550 of 3,216 nationally. 57.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 22.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 25 A-level subjects. 56.2% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 26.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.32 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.5:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

57.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)22.6%

Entering EBacc88.90%

EBacc APS5.14

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.73

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc87.80%

EBacc APS5.34

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.95

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

58.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc89%

EBacc APS5.41

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.76

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

59.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc86%

EBacc APS5.58

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc90%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.88

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc82%

EBacc APS4.9

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.97

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc70%

EBacc APS5.18

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)SP%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.32

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils do significantly better than expected at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

156

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.6%

Achieving A*–A26.0%

Achieving A*–B56.2%

VA Banding Above average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered25

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.28

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

173

Retention rate97.70%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

151

Retention rate98.70%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

137

Retention rate97.8%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

13 December 2023

Inspection Report

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27 June 2012

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-12-13

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2012-06-27

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-04-26

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(7 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,892 pupils. During this period, there were 11 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,892	11	0.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,890	14	0.7%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,885	9	0.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,897	20	1.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,898	15	0.8%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,855	15	0.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,865	15	0.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,868	8	0.4%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,789	8	0.4%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,795	15	0.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,806	4	0.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,742	11	0.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,744	5	0.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,744	6	0.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,703	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,703	9	0.5%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,709	12	0.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,629	11	0.7%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,634	10	0.6%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,643	12	0.7%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,545	7	0.5%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,543	7	0.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,548	8	0.5%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,488	7	0.5%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,497	12	0.8%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,495	7	0.5%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 78 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 30 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 29 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 21 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 17 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils