Two Tenax schools have received a personal letter of commendation from the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson. Jarvis Brook Primary and Bennett Memorial Diocesan School were both recognised for their excellent pupil outcomes. The letters highlighted each school’s commitment to providing a transformative education for every child, whatever their starting point.
Jarvis Brook Primary: proving what’s possible
Jarvis Brook Primary is a small school in Crowborough, which does not always get the attention it deserves. In 2025, Jarvis Brook pupils achieved the best outcomes of all Crowborough schools in reading, writing and maths combined, both for the proportion meeting the expected standard and for those achieving the higher standard. The school also achieved the highest outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in this key measure of school performance.
In her letter, the Education Secretary was warm in her praise: “Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes for the disadvantaged pupils at Jarvis Brook Primary School. Your school’s achievements demonstrate what is possible.” She added, “Your school’s performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement.”
These strong outcomes reflect the quality of practice throughout the school. Jarvis Brook’s May 2025 Ofsted inspection recognised pupils’ excellent attitudes to learning, the ambitious curriculum, and staff’s exceptionally high expectations. Inspectors noted the calm, purposeful atmosphere and how pupils ‘love learning at this welcoming school’.
Bennett Memorial: Kent’s highest-performing non-selective school and a sector leader.
Bennett Memorial received a letter from The Education Secretary, congratulating the school for their exceptional outcomes, and thanking staff for their hard work and the opportunities provided to pupils. The school has a well-established reputation locally, and its 2025 GCSE results have reinforced that standing across the county. With an Attainment 8 score of 54, it is the highest-performing non-selective, non-fee-paying school in Kent, an achievement that drew well-deserved recognition, including coverage in KentOnline.
The Education Secretary’s letter also encourages Bennett Memorial to use its success to benefit the wider sector: “Your school’s achievements demonstrate what is possible, and I hope you will continue to share your experience and best practice with others.”
It is a role Bennett Memorial is already well placed to fulfil. As a DfE designated Teaching School hub and initial teacher training provider, the school is actively developing the next generation of teachers and sharing its expertise with the profession.
These letters are a meaningful recognition of what both schools have achieved; not just in terms of their excellent results, but also in how their values shape their commitment to care for every child. We are enormously proud of Jarvis Brook and Bennett Memorial, and of the school leaders, teachers, support staff and families who make them the exceptional schools they are.