Our vision
Benenden International takes forward the founding ethos of Benenden School to a global audience.
Our vision is to widen the opportunities for pupils across the world to benefit from our educational philosophy. We are committed to maintaining Benenden’s reputation for innovation and excellence through engagement with partners from across the world. We achieve extraordinary outcomes for our pupils , both in the classroom and in the world beyond school. Through our partnerships we can widen access and enable collaboration, something we believe in strengthening as we head towards our second century.
The Benenden Community has a depth of experience to draw on, a progressive mind-set and a desire to seek out the best that education can offer.
What we do
We are seeking to establish long term partnerships with likeminded educational organisations and individuals to create world class Benenden Schools. Benenden International is keen to discuss options for new schools and regions with prospective partners and investors. Interested parties should contact the Director of International and Strategic Projects office@benenden.international to arrange an initial discussion.
We are committed to working with partners throughout the life of any international school and support all aspects of a partnership including:
- Licensing of the Benenden trademarks and intellectual property
- Site selection, architectural design and construction consultation pre-school opening
- Adapting the Benenden curriculum to suit local market
- Support with marketing of the school both in the UK and locally
- Appointment of the international school Head and Senior Management Team and development of school leadership structures
- Development of operational policies and procedures for the international school based on Benenden operational model
- Assistance with compliance inspections and accreditation with professional bodies
- Work alongside the international school partner and Senior Management Team once the school is operational
Our international partners are responsible for the construction and subsequent operation of the school. However, in addition to full school partnerships, the Benenden International Team is able to support other school project and educational opportunities on a consultancy basis.
Meet the Team
Mr Matt Commander – Director of International and Strategic Projects
After completing his degree in Civil Engineering, Matt joined the Army and served for 11 years as an officer in the Royal Engineers and Queen’s Gurkha Engineers.
On leaving the Army he took up a Physics teaching appointment at Cranleigh School before moving to Christ’s Hospital where he taught GCSE, A Level and IB Physics alongside being a Houseparent for six years.
Matt Joined Benenden in 2015 as Assistant Head (Co-curricular), moving to Deputy Head (Staff and Cocurricular) in April 2017.
From September 2018, Matt took on the role of Director of International and Strategic Projects, overseeing all aspects of the School’s international school partnerships as well as working on other school strategic educational projects.
Mr Nick Rendall – Director of Partnerships and Assistant Director of International and Strategic Projects
Nick graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London having read English and History of Art, prior to joining the Army in 2001, serving in the Coldstream Guards.
On leaving the Army he joined Stowe School as an English teacher and worked as an Assistant Housemaster prior to teaching at Truro High School and King Edward’s Witley where he was a Housemaster and Head of the Lower School.
He holds a PGCE (QTS) from the University of Buckingham and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Cambridge.
At Benenden Nick has been a Housemaster, alongside teaching English, prior to becoming Director of Partnerships and Assistant Director of International and Strategic Projects.
Find out more
To find out more read our Benenden International brochure here.