A new 800 seat music hall has been unveiled at a school which the headteacher says can be used by the community.

Benenden leader Samantha Price opened the new facilities at the independent school last week.

The new Centenary Hall, an 800-seat multi-use space forms part of the new Centenary Buildings, together with a new music school – The Sir David K. P. Li Music School - which features more than 20 music practice rooms, a music tech suite and a 120-seat Recital Hall for smaller performances.

In a speech at the official unveiling, Mrs Price spoke about the importance of music education.

She said the government needs to “sit up and address” its underfunding of state schools that left music vulnerable - even before the pressures of the current cost-of-living-crisis.

Mrs Price says music is "transformational” to young people so is fearful after these cut backs.

“As a nation we cannot afford to regard music as a ‘nice-to-have’ when it comes to the education of our young people,” she said.

“If there’s no funding to support essential and transformational subjects such as music then I fear that education faces a bleak future in our schools, which would be a disaster for this country.

“Clearly, against this backdrop, it is difficult to make the case for continued investment in music.

“And this is a problem that the government needs to sit up and really address.

"If schools are so poorly funded that headteachers are having to make the choice between employing an extra chef or offering music clubs to their children, then clearly schools are underfunded.”

The headmistress of the independent girls’ school since 2014 pledged that Benenden would do its best to help any local schools that were struggling to offer music to their pupils.

“This is not just a building for Benenden. It’s for the community to use.

“If music is worth investing in, then the community certainly is.”

This time next year the school will be celebrating its centenary year, having opened in September 1923.