Bennett Memorial Diocesan School is a mainstream secondary school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 200 of its 1,913 pupils (10.5%) were getting SEN support and 30 (1.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,913 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kent.
10.5% get SEN support
200 of 1,913 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.6% have an EHC plan
30 of 1,913 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia92
- Autism41
- Social, emotional and mental health38
- Speech, language and communication17
- Moderate learning difficulty7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,913 (places for 1,452)
- Headteacher
- Dr Karen Brookes
- Part of
- The Tenax Schools Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 10.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kent
- School reference (URN)
- 136603
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Kent council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, December 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in December 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9SH
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.3 miles
- St Gregory's Catholic School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 0.4 miles
- Broomhill Bank School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Meadows School Special school · Ages 5–19 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 4.5%, EHC plans 0.3% 0.5 miles
- The Wells Free School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.1%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.7 miles
- Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 3.3%, EHC plans 0.2% 0.8 miles
Questions about Bennett Memorial Diocesan School
How many pupils at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 200 of the 1,913 pupils (10.5%) were getting SEN support and 30 (1.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (92 pupils), autism (41 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Bennett Memorial Diocesan School?
Through Kent council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Bennett Memorial Diocesan School?
You can ask for Bennett Memorial Diocesan School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Bennett Memorial Diocesan School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Bishops Down Primary and Nursery School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Bennett Memorial Diocesan School?
Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9SH, in Kent.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.