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Tonbridge School

Boys 13-18
Day & Boarding
700 to 1,000 pupils
Kent
/ Independent Schools Guide / Kent /

Tonbridge School

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.

Key facts

· Tonbridge School is a day and boarding school.

· It is a senior school and is for boys only.

· The school welcomes boys aged 13 to 18 years.

· Tonbridge School has 700 to 1,000 pupils.

· The school is located in Tonbridge in Kent.

Why choose 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.

Attain asked the school, what makes Tonbridge different – and why should parents consider it?

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’.

Tonbridge School Videos

Governance, Inspections and the Head

When reviewing details about a particular school, prospective parents should always ensure they have looked at the governance details, reviewed recent inspections and read about the Head's vision for the school.
Governance

Tonbridge is a registered charity with historic links to the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the London livery companies. Read more on the Charity Commission website.

Read about the governance of Tonbridge School
Inspections

Tonbridge School was last inspected in November 2021. Read the inspection reports on the school's website.

Read inspection reports for Tonbridge School
Head

James Priory is the Headmaster of Tonbridge School.

Meet the Headmaster of Tonbridge School, James Priory

Tonbridge School Fees

No items found.

Leavers' Destinations from Tonbridge School

When pupils leave Tonbridge School, they go on to a number of senior schools including:

No leavers' destinations information is available.

Feeder Schools for Tonbridge School

Pupils who attend Tonbridge School have joined from a number of prep schools including:

No feeder prep school information is available.

Tonbridge School Open Days

Mar
9
Open Morning
Open Mornings are a great opportunity to discover Tonbridge. Families will be offered refreshments and a tour of the school with one of the current pupils.
Discover more about the Open Morning
Photo:
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge win national physics competition
A team from Tonbridge has won the UK round of the Weizmann Get Cracking competition - a challenge which required teams to solve Physics puzzles. Their prize is an all-expenses trip to the world competition in Israel in late March.
Read more about this news story

More about Tonbridge School

Tonbridge School's address is High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1JP. To discover more, visit the Tonbridge School website and contact the Admissions Department to arrange a visit.

Next steps

If you think Tonbridge School might be of interest to your child, visit the Tonbridge School website and make contact with the Admissions Team to arrange a time to visit.

You can also discover more private schools in Kent – or explore independent schools in the South East – and compare these to see if they should be considered as options for your family.

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