Benenden School becomes a giant Monopoly board for the day

Posted by Stephanie Broad | October 13, 2016 | Events

• #benenden-school
• #monopoly
• #winning-moves
• #samantha-price

Benenden School became a giant Monopoly board on 9th October as its special edition of the classic game was launched.

Teams of students and staff battled it out on a giant game board in the Entrance Hall – and then raced around the School site to collect huge versions of the property cards.

The giant cards were placed at the very locations they represent on the new Benenden School version of Monopoly, so girls were dashing to, for example, the Theatre to collect the Theatre property card (which would have been Oxford Street on a traditional Monopoly board).

Collecting the cards from around the site

Earlier this year, thanks to the efforts of two Sixth Formers, the School partnered with Monopoly manufacturer Winning Moves to produce an official special edition of the much-loved family board game. 

Yesterday’s event represented the formal launch of the Benenden edition. As well as playing the giant version of the game, girls were entertained by Mr Monopoly – a student wearing a costume supplied by Winning Moves.

This has been a really fun event. The girls had a brilliant time collecting the cards from around the site and I think it was a tough reminder of just how big the campus is! - Becky Spiers, student

Becky Spiers, 17, who wore the outfit, said: “This has been a really fun event. The girls had a brilliant time collecting the cards from around the site and I think it was a tough reminder of just how big the campus is!

“It was pretty warm inside the Mr Monopoly costume but that was mainly because the girls kept hugging me for pictures!”

The game was won by the team from Norris House.

Headmistress, Samantha Price said: “This was a great, interactive way of launching the Benenden version of Monopoly, which is already proving to be a lovely keepsake for generations of staff, students and parents. 

“Our aim is for this giant Benenden Monopoly competition to become a fun introductory event for new girls in their first week at the School, as it’s such a wonderful way to get to know your way around the site and to make friends.”

The Benenden edition is on sale to staff, students, parents, former students and families. Proceeds will be split between two great causes: the future development of the School as well as the National Kidney Foundation.

Mr Monopoly was a hit with the students

The exciting edition is all thanks to two former students at Benenden: Isabella Cassidy and Tele Mobereola. The girls came up with the idea as a wonderful way of marking their time at Benenden before they left after their A Levels.

Gone are the traditional streets such as the Strand, Whitechapel and Mayfair; instead players can buy iconic locations around Benenden School, including the Science Centre, Cloisters or the new All-Weather Pitch.

The traditional Stations have been replaced by the transport we are familiar with at Benenden, including scooters and the School bus. Instead of Community Chest and Chance cards, you pick up Pink Slips or Blue Slips – part of the School’s reward and sanctions system – and suffer the consequences, whether it’s a present in Prayers for your birthday or a detention for a misdemeanour!