TV celebrity Davina McCall opened two new key elements of Benenden School’s Centenary Vision project last weekend, much to the delight of dozens of pupils, their parents and teaching staff.
International hockey players Sarah Haycroft and Zoe Shipperley and cheerleaders from the John Wallis Church of England Academy were also present for the grand opening of the first two completed phases of the development programme.
Opening the new facilities, which along with eight staff homes that have also recently been completed at a cost of £4million in total, Davina said: “It’s so important for young people to lead an active lifestyle and this will be a huge asset. I wish I’d had something this good when I was at school!”
The aim of the school’s new state of the art additions is to further enhance the complete education offered to girls at Benenden – and to also ensure that the local community benefits from using things like the all-weather
pitch too.
Being able to play games such as lacrosse and hockey on it throughout the winter months will enable students to improve their skills and increase the amount of training that they receive.
The school’s Under-15B lacrosse team are the national champions and they hope this new sports area will further enhance their standard.
Benenden Headmistress Samantha Price said: “We offer girls a complete education – academic excellence with an exceptional array of extra-curricular activities. The new Centenary Vision programme will ensure girls are getting the very best facilities to support our innovative curriculum to let them succeed in the modern world.”
The next building project will be the construction of a new school hall and the establishment of a new music school.
The Centenary Vision was launched in April 2015 by HRH The Princess Royal, a former Benenden pupil who is also Founders’ Patron of the School.
