Bethany School (Goudhurst, Kent)
The school was founded by a Baptist minister, The Reverend Joseph James Kendon, in 1866 and still places great emphasis on its Christian character.
Headmaster Francie Healy has been in post since September 2010.
Bethany School has a campus location set in 60 acres (24 ha) of countryside.
Sports and other extracurricular activities
Bethany School has a wide variety of sports. Rugby, football and cricket are among the most popular sports for boys, with netball, hockey and rounders for girls. The school also has other sports facilities, including fitness premises, and a 25-metre (82 ft), six-lane indoor swimming pool.
A variety of clubs and activities, including beekeeping, archery, table tennis, and others are available to pupils and these are incorporated into the school day.
Bethany School takes part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and each year 15-20 pupils achieve the Gold Award.
Business Studies pupils have the option in the Sixth Form of participating in Young Enterprise, a charity scheme, where pupils form a business and attempt to generate profits for shareholders.
Bethany School has historically put a strong emphasis on community, and continues to do so.
Recent development
In recent years, Bethany School has seen a major development of new buildings:
- 1999 - The orchard was completed, providing a separate living area for Sixth Form boarding pupils.
- 2001 - The modern sports complex was completed, providing a new 'weights room' and a climbing wall.
- 2002 - The new library was completed, with the former library being converted into a drama studio.
- 2003 - The Holmes Building was completed, which houses Business Studies and Geography.
- 2005 - The reconstructed dining hall complex was completed.
- 2006 - The modern Food & Nutrition rooms and new language classrooms were opened.
- 2007 - The new Astroturf was completed.
- 2009 - The new Science block was completed, costing £5 million.
- 2013 - The refurbishment within the boarding accommodation was completed.
- 2023 - Construction of the £4.5 million Performing Arts Centre began.
Boarding Houses
The Mount
The Mount is for boys from Years 7 to 12, who like to refer to themselves as Mounties, and has recently been refurbished with brand new furnishings. The Mount is a boys weekly boarding and day house situated on the outskirts of the School.
Old Poplars
Currently Old Poplars is the only House that is exclusively for girls on the campus and accommodates girls from Year 7 to the Lower Sixth. Old Poplars has benefited from an extensive refurbishment programme which was completed in 2013 and it offers its girl boarders a comfortable 'home from home' character.
Pengelly
It was constructed in 1975 and named after former headmaster Kenneth Pengelly. Pengelly was housing boys from Year 7 to the Lower Sixth. The building was demolished in September of 2023.
Kendon
Kendon, named after the School’s founder, J. J. Kendon, makes up a large proportion of the original building. It was the original Bethany House School, originally known as the Old School. It still retains some of its original features although it has been developed extensively over the years and is one of the most modern and best-equipped Houses on site. Kendon will now become part of the performing arts centre, for example the music school as the old one was sold to pay for the performing arts centre.
The Orchard
This is the newest boarding house and accommodates most of the Sixth Form pupils. All Upper Sixth and most Lower Sixth pupils have single en-suite rooms. Day pupils also have study rooms here which can be used for study periods. The Orchard has generous proportions and facilities include a kitchen, snooker table room, coffee bar, sitting room and lounge. In 2010 a new block was built adjacent to The Orchard due to increased demand for Sixth Form boarding places.
The Bethanians' Society
The Bethanians' Society was founded in 1887 for the former pupils of the School.
See also
References
- ^ "Bethany Community". Archived from the original on 7 October 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
- ^ "Old Bethanians' Society". Archived from the original on 4 May 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
External links
- Official website
- Official friends network
- Independent Schools Inspectorate
- Independent Schools Council - Schools Information
- Good Schools Guide entry for Bethany School
- Old Bethanians' Society
- Gascoigne, Rodney. "Schooldays," memoir of an Old Bethanian's time at the school in the 1950s.
51°8′9″N 0°29′2″E / 51.13583°N 0.48389°E
