Benenden or CLC

[Hemaa]

Hi everyone,
I know there has been similar threads in the past but I'll be grateful to know your current opinion. Which of the two provides a more nurturing environment and has an overall better reputation.

Thank you.

Bump

CLC no contest

My only experience of Benenden is a guided tour by a friend who sent both her girls there and who loved the place, so it was a very subjective tour. However, I gained a positive impression from what I saw and heard.

CLC is different - I have extensive and 'inside' experience of the place. I do not rate it highly and wouldn't call it a nurturing environment, although it does depend upon the house and whether you're talking about boarding or day girls. In my opinion the day girls have a better experience but boarding leaves a lot to be desired. As a school it has staffing issues and some mixed pastoral care staff, as well as some odd ideas about dealing with the "dramas" which occur amongst pupils. And despite the media hype I wouldn't rate it highly as very academic either.

CLC depends upon overseas students to fund it and the number of overseas girls is very, very high. Managed well, this should provide a good mix of cultural diversity and learning, but in reality it often does not and instead, leads to real problems between different groups of girls. This is not always managed well.

I don't know Benenden, but I do know Rachel Bailey who has taken over as Head - she is academically rigorous and a good person so I think we will see continued excellence there.

I do however know CLC well as DD is in UC as a day girl, I also know many current and ex pupils. The academics are strong (look at the data - it is objective and not subjective) and all bar one girl I know (out of 25+) have settled and thrived at the school. They are all UK/local day however so I cannot comment on full boarders from outside the UK. It is pastorally well connected, and I am incredibly impressed with the medical centre on site which is part of that wider interconnectivity.

As with all academics you need to match the child to the school - what suits one will not necessarily be the one that suits another.

They both have superb reputations though notwithstanding the change of team at Benenden- it's one of those nice choices to have.

Thank you so much @Areherenow and @MeanderingGently for your reviews. It actually helps.

Thank you @birtydertie and @NLseneca as well.

Following. Very keen on any Benenden insight as well as how it's going with day pupils at the school.