History
It was founded on 19 October 1951 by Lady Elena Bennett and Bishop Christopher Chavasse of Rochester, as a Church of England school for girls. The original school building was purchased by the Church using funds donated by Lady Elena Bennett in memory of her late husband Sir Thomas Bennett and the school subsequently opened in 1953.
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. Bennett started to accept boys in 1993 and in 2003 achieved specialist school status as a technology college. It also has the silver Artsmark award, the Sportsmark award and is a Language College.
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.
Read more about this topic: Bennett Memorial Diocesan School
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The history of the world is none other than the progress of the consciousness of freedom.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)
“It’s not the sentiments of men which make history but their actions.”
—Norman Mailer (b. 1923)
“The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)