TUNBRIDGE WELLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL for BOYS

OUR PHILOSOPHY at Tunbridge Wells

Grammar School for Boys is that education should be about giving young people every opportunity to explore and learn about the world around them. The rich, broad and ambitious curriculum at our selective grammar school set across two campuses, one in Tunbridge Wells and one in Sevenoaks, ensures that teachers use their expert subject knowledge to spark students’ curiosity and deepen their understanding.

Learning is our core business and we are proud of our academic record and are committed to achieving the highest standards. However, we measure our success on more than just examination results and feel that academic attainment in isolation is not enough to give our students the tools they need to succeed in the world. Our approach to education is holistic: excellent teaching is underpinned by the positive care and relationships that every student receives.

Our students can explore and develop their social, sporting and cultural interests through our wide range of co-curricular activities. These activities encourage self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-discipline above and beyond the academic environment.

Great emphasis is placed upon pastoral care. We provide a safe and supportive environment where all students are encouraged to achieve their best personally, socially and academically. Our school values of respect, excellence and determination underpin all that we do, fostering responsibility, independence, awareness and tolerance. We are proud of our strong sense of community that encourages caring and kindness towards all. Having been awarded the Optimus Wellbeing Award for Schools, our commitment to the mental wellbeing of students and staff has been recognised and remains a priority.

We believe that anyone who walks into our school will be struck by the vibrant atmosphere as well as the high levels of student engagement and enthusiasm. The community spirit and sense of pride in the school is tangible and there is a strong mutual respect between students and staff. This extends to the close relationships established with parents and carers from the moment students arrive and we always endeavour to communicate with openness and honesty.

In November 2021 Ofsted highlighted that our students ‘love coming to school and achieve well’ and that there is ‘a strong culture of learning and achievement’. We are proud that Ofsted too could feel that ‘students are proud to be part of a harmonious community, they feel safe and well cared for and that students approach all aspects of school life with maturity’.

The co-educational Sixth Form, known as ‘TWGSB6’, offers a broad range of subjects as well as a co-curricular programme to support personal growth, and nurturing pastoral support that will equip the students with the skills and understanding required to achieve their aspirational pathways whatever that may be: higher education, an apprenticeship or employment.

The school is passionate about raising the personal and academic aspirations of all of the students, enabling them to make informed choices about their future and encouraging them to become resilient life-long learners. This is the case at all stages of our students’ educational journeys, whether it is the move from Key Stage 3 into key stage 4 or the transition from Key Stage 4 into key stage 5. We aim for students to be happy and confident in the choices they have made and to be equipped for the next stages of their education and lives. The wider opportunities available allow our students to grow and develop into wellrounded, articulate young adults, able to make a positive contribution to society.

The school site has undergone considerable transformation in recent years with an injection of over £27 million of investment leading to some outstanding facilities, including a five-court sports centre, state-of-the art Maths & Computer Science block, a stunning new Sixth Form Centre and a new campus in Sevenoaks which also provides the neighbouring town with a selective education. Headteacher, Amanda Simpson says, ‘Our vision is to be the best selective boys’ school in West Kent and our aim of All Round Excellence continues to drive us forward’.

TWGSB Open Events dates can be found here: www.twgsb.org.uk/2093/open-events

Can you tell us when you started at St Gregory’s School?

I started in September 2022, after spending seven years at a high performing Catholic School in West Sussex as a Deputy Headteacher.

What attracted you to the role of Head there?

I feel I have been called to St Gregory’s. I was incredibly impressed by the students and by the fantastic teachers who all work so hard and have great relationships with the students. I see amazing lessons by teachers who genuinely care.

Which school had you been at before?

I was at St Paul’s Catholic College where my main role was Head of Sixth Form and I was proud of taking the Sixth Form into the top 1% of Sixth Form Colleges in the UK.

Can you tell us a little about the school’s involvement in the Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership?

We are part of a Catholic family of schools, which benefits students and staff. For example, I am currently working with two local primary schools in the Trust and this will benefit students with SEND provision. We are also in a cluster of schools with St Simon Stock in Maidstone, which means we have additional support and resources available to us.

What key changes are you planning on making at the school?

All schools are faced with challenges, and St Gregory’s is in a similar position to many schools. My main drive is on standards. I firmly believe that successful schools are built on high expectations, supporting students, and challenging students and families when things go wrong. We need to ensure our families are well supported, and this is done by great pastoral care and amazing teaching and learning. I need to guarantee parents that when they send their child to us, that our students behave impeccably and make us all proud.

What are the key things you would like to keep the same or improve?

Our ethos, built on the Gospel Values, means