Tonbridge School

Boys, 13-18
Day & Boarding
Kent

"Tonbridge School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18, occupying a site of about 150 acres in the market town of Tonbridge in Kent. The school was founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde, a member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners which continues to maintain close links through the governing body. The school has seven boarding houses and five day houses for around 800 boys. In 2021, Tonbridge School merged with The New Beacon Preparatory School in Sevenoaks, a day and boarding prep school for boys aged 4 to 13."

  • Tonbridge School is a boys-only senior school, offering both day and boarding places.
  • The school welcomes approximately 800 boys aged from 13 to 18 years.
  • Tonbridge School is located at Tonbridge in Kent.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Tonbridge School.
Age
Boys, 13-18
Type
Senior
Category
Day & Boarding
Size
800 pupils
Tonbridge School

James Priory is Headmaster of Tonbridge School.

Ethos of Tonbridge School

Headmaster James Priory describes Tonbridge School as being a school which 'celebrates the life of the mind, but which also enjoys putting knowledge into action'. The school is proud of its community partnerships and 'of our pupils' willingness to take the lead and serve'.

Tonbridge School offers almost £2.5m a year in scholarships and bursaries to provide up to 100% of means tested fee remission. Scholarships are awarded in Year 6 and Year 8 to provide support when a boy joins Tonbridge in Year 9 but also, where a pupil is at primary school in Year 6, to enable attendance at prep school for Years 7 and 8.

Tonbridge is one of the leading boys' boarding and day schools in the UK and is highly respected, both here and internationally, for providing a world-class education. It occupies an extensive site of 150 acres in Kent – just a 40-minute train journey from London Charing Cross.

There are some 800 boys in seven Boarding Houses and five Day Houses. One of the key strengths of Tonbridge is that it blends tradition and innovation successfully, with high achieving boys wearing their gifts lightly.

The School is renowned for its excellent teaching and for academic achievement. Each year exam results at GCSE and A-level are outstanding, with boys progressing to leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group institutions: the large majority securing their first-choice destination.

Pastoral care is based around an outstanding House system. Strong and positive relationships between boys, staff and parents are central to its success, and the School strives to ensure that each pupil, whether a boarder or a day boy, feels fully at home and well supported. Tonbridge was the first school in the UK to put mindfulness on the curriculum for all Year 10 pupils.

There is also a vibrant programme of Co-Curricular breadth and depth, with a wide range of societies covering everything from Beekeeping to Ultimate Frisbee. The School has a strong commitment to widening access and is striving towards doubling the number of boys who receive means-tested fee assistance to be 80 to 100 boys by 2028.

Tonbridge encourages its students to make connections – connections between academic subjects, between different sports and activities, between people, between cultures: with the aim of producing fine minds and good hearts. The School’s ethos is summed up in just two words: ‘Only Connect’.

Source: Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School

Visiting Tonbridge School

Open Events provide a wonderful opportunity to visit a school and discover more about the community, values and ethos. Find out more about open mornings at Tonbridge School.

Tonbridge School

Tonbridge School Fees, Inspections & Governance

Inspections

Tonbridge School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) on behalf of the Department for Education. Routine inspections take place once every three years.

Governance

The school is a registered charity managed by trustees. Read more about the charity structure and how it is run on the Charity Commission website.

No items found.

Photo Credits:

Tonbridge School Admissions

To find out more about Tonbridge School, contact the Admissions team at the school.

Tonbridge School location map
TS

Tonbridge School
High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1JP.

Boys, 13-18 · Day & Boarding

To discover more, visit the Tonbridge School website.

Tonbridge School Leavers' Destinations

At the end of their time at Tonbridge School, pupils go on to a number of leading senior schools. Recent destinations include:

Scroll right to see all the details about the schools below, including type and location.

Have you considered these Kent catchment area schools?

Scroll right to see all the details about the schools below, including type and location.
Day & Boarding
Boys & Girls, 3-18
Brighton
Day & Boarding
Boys & Girls, 7-18
Cranleigh
Day & Boarding
Boys & Girls, 13-18
Eastbourne
Day & Boarding
Boys & Girls, 0-18
Canterbury
Day & Boarding
Boys & Girls, 3-18
Ramsgate

Would you like to explore other local and regional schools?

Discover more Kent private schools – or look further afield at indepedent schools across the South East area.