FROM ALGORITHMS TO ARGONAUTS

Tonbridge enters national ‘top ten’ in Sunday Times guide to top-performing schools

Tonbridge was named as one of the best schools in the country in a new set of league tables published by the Sunday Times.

The paper identified the UK’s highestachieving schools in its ‘Parent Power’ Schools Guide 2023, based on most recent A-level and GCSE results.

Tonbridge was ranked eighth in the national table for independent senior schools, and top boys’ boarding school in the country.

The School was placed third overall in the Parent Power regional table, which compared independent schools in the south-east.

James Priory, Headmaster, said: “This excellent news reflects the quality of education and high level of continuity we were able to provide, academically and pastorally, throughout the pandemic. It is also exciting to consider the positive impact made through our innovative Sixth Form Curriculum, for which we saw our first examination results last summer.

“Above all, however, we know that boys at Tonbridge benefit from a wide range of experiences and co-curricular opportunities, all contributing to an outstanding, rounded education that extends well beyond the classroom and, indeed, beyond the measurement of any league table.”

Tonbridge Computer Scientists come top in British Algorithmic Olympiad 

Tonbridge has shown it is one of the country’s top schools for Computer Science following a national competition that tests students’ skills in programming.

The British Algorithmic Olympiad (BAO) combines Mathematics and Computer Science in one exam based on problem-solving and logical thinking. Tonbridge was named the top school overall, with Alex Chui (CH2) achieving the highest score outright in the competition. A total of seven Tonbridge boys achieved Gold status, with two others being awarded Silver and two receiving Bronze.

Tonbridge boys use Physics skills to win national safe-cracking competition

Tonbridge students are celebrating receiving Oxbridge offers for the 2022-23 admissions cycle. A total of 27 students have received offers for places at either Oxford or Cambridge. The degree courses they will be taking include a range of arts and science subjects such as Classics, Mathematics, Engineering, Chemistry, French and Spanish, Music, Medicine, Geography, Computer Science, Biochemistry, History, Theology and PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics).

The acceptances mean that Oxbridge offers have been made to 17 per cent of the School’s Upper Sixth cohort. Mark Weatheritt, Deputy Head Academic, said: “Competition from national and international candidates remains as strong as ever, making these achievements all the greater.”

* More than 85 per cent of all A-level grades awarded last year were at A or A*, highlighting Tonbridge’s position as one of the leading schools in the country for academic achievement.

A Tonbridge team has won the UK round of the Weizmann Get Cracking competition. Run by Weizmann Institute of Science, this contest requires teams of Lower Sixth boys to design and build their own safe, which can only be ‘cracked’ by solving various Physics puzzles.

Teams from schools and colleges across the UK take it in turns to find a way to open each other’s safes. Two Tonbridge teams entered the UK round of the competition, with the winning team consisting of Justin Leung (HS4), Vir Mirchandani (FH4), Eden Cheung (FH4), Oliver Jamison (JH4) and Michael Nyamali (SH4)

Adam Cooke, Teacher of Physics and Design Technology, said: “The competition was the climax of many months of hard work, mostly in the boys’ own time, and it was an exceptional achievement to win the competition.” The winners’ prize was an all-expenses-paid trip to the international stage of the contest, held at Weizmann Institute in Israel.

Number one in the world: Students win the Trinity Maths Competition

A Tonbridge team has come ‘Top in the World’ in a global Maths competition. More than 150 teams from leading schools across the world, including those in China, the US and the UK, took part in the Trinity Maths Competition (Winter 2023), an annual online contest which tests students’ abilities under time pressure.

The Tonbridge team, pictured right, was made up of Isaac King (CH4), Hayden Lam (FH5), Alex Chui (CH2), Catalin Botezat (Sc5), Justin Leung (HS4) and Sam Zang (FH3). The boys finished in first place in the entire world, beating the School’s previous best placing in the Trinity Maths Competition of 8th.

A second team also did extremely well, achieving 21st place in the world rankings.

James Ashton, Head of Maths, said: “By any measure, this was a remarkable achievement. Second and third places went to prestigious Maths schools in the US, and so this result, along with our excellent performances in other competitions, confirms Tonbridge’s reputation as one of the finest schools for Maths in the country and, quite possibly, in the world.”

Ten boys reach Gold standard in Physics Challenge

Students put in strong performances in the BPhO Intermediate Physics Challenge, which saw more than 3,000 entrants competing from a total of 204 schools.

Ten Tonbridge boys were awarded Gold medals, putting them in the top 9.8 per cent overall. Eight boys achieved Silver medals (top 16 per cent), and nine achieved Bronze I (top 21 per cent). This national problem-solving competition – another in which Tonbridge has a strong track record in recent years – encourages the study of the subject and recognises excellence in young physicists.

The Argo sets sail at Tonbridge

The Whole School Concert, featuring the world premiere of the musical work The Argo, took place at the end of the Lent Term. Inspired by the legendary voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, the story followed Jason’s journey to Colchis after being challenged to prove his worth by bringing back the fleece of the Golden Ram.

The Whole School Concert is a memorable experience for all Tonbridge boys, only occurring once during their time at the School. Every boy is involved, forming the Whole School Chorus, and during The Argo they performed alongside soloists, the Tonbridge School Symphony Orchestra, choristers from Hilden Grange and Yardley Court, and The New Beacon School Choir.

Performances took place over two nights in the School Chapel, with half of the School’s 12 Houses taking part on the first night, and the other six Houses the following night.

Mark Forkgen, the School’s Director of Music and Conductor of The Argo, was proud that the boys performed “a work of complexity” to such acclaim from the audience. “The Whole School played the roles of the Sons of Iolcus, Heroes and the Argonauts, singing in different styles,” he said. “A sung narration told the story, with a solo cellist and other soloists playing named characters. The Symphony Orchestra accompanied the drama, adding a wealth of colour to proceedings”.

Chapel Choir performs in prestigious venues on ‘wonderful’ tour to Paris

The School’s Chapel Choir performed concerts at two of the best-known churches in Paris, St Sulpice and St Etienne-du-Mont, during a half-term tour of the city. The boys sang an hour-long programme of choral music by composers including Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Guerrero, Parry and Mozart.

The Choir was also invited to lead the main Sunday morning Mass at Eglise de la Madeleine, singing movements from Haydn’s Little Organ Mass and Grieg’s Ave Maris stella. Julian Thomas, Choirmaster, said: “It was wonderful to be singing in such prestigious venues. Performing familiar music in three very different buildings, adjusting to the acoustics and layout of each church, is a key part of why we go on tour, and the boys rose to the challenge superbly.”

The boys also enjoyed various sightseeing trips, including a cruise along the River Seine.

Boys master art of reading for an audience as they compete for annual prize

Boys practised the art of reading aloud for an audience during the Floyd Reading Prize, the English Department’s annual competition.

Finalists competed in three categories, with boys reading one poem and one prose passage. The winners were Oscar Sanders (OH1), in the Novi category; Ethan Glucina (PS3), in the Intermediate; and Sam Edwards (PS4) in the Senior. Jonathan Reinhardt, Head of English, said: “The Floyd Reading Prize celebrates a true art, that of reading out loud for an audience. Masters at this art make poems, stories, and novels come alive and give them meaning.”

This year’s judge was Francesca Bailey, the School’s Drama Director in Residence. Francesca has many years of experience both as an actor and an academic.

Manor House won this year’s House Drama

‘Fifteens’ competition with an extract from 12 Angry Men. Three other houses made the final: Oakeshott with Dumb and Dumber, Welldon with The Lesson and Cowdrey with The Monkey Paw.

The competition sets boys the challenge of producing their own pieces – a scene from a published play, an adaptation or an original piece of writing – which have to be no longer than 15 minutes.

Les Mis, the School Play, receives rave reviews … and makes composer Schönberg ‘happy’

The School production of Les Misérables enjoyed a sell-out run of performances in the EM Forster Theatre. The cast featured students from three girls’ schools – Weald of Kent Grammar, Hillview School for Girls and Tonbridge Grammar – alongside those from Tonbridge.

The creative team also featured a number of Tonbridge boys in roles such as Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager and Lighting and Sound Operators.

The production was staged ‘in the round’, with the audience on either side of the stage, immersed in the ABC Café where students plan the Paris Uprising of 1832.

Gavin Bruce, Director of Theatre, revealed he had received an email from Claude-Michel Schönberg, the show’s composer, who wrote: “When I learn about a school performing Les Mis I am always happy. I imagine that maybe one day I will meet one of the cast in the wings of a theatre, starting to work with us. It is difficult and requires a lot of will and determination, but it is a beautiful job!”

Double honours as Tonbridge teams achieve ISFA Football and Rugby Sevens success

The School celebrated a remarkable sporting double at the end of the Lent Term as the First XI football team won the ISFA football trophy final and the Under 16s Rugby Sevens triumphed in the Colts Plate competition at Rosslyn Park.

Following successful seasons for both the First and Second football XIs, each winning their respective titles in the Southern Independent School Lent Term League, attention turned to the inaugural ISFA Trophy Final against Cheadle Hulme, played at Burnham FC. Tonbridge won the final 3-1, which meant the First XI also earned the distinction of remaining unbeaten all season.

Adam Sixsmith, Master in Charge of Football, said: “All credit must go to this talented squad for the entertaining football they have played as well as the resilience they have shown. We are all very proud of their achievements.”

Tonbridge had several squads competing at the Rosslyn Park National School Sevens, with the U16s making it through to the Colts Plate final against Epsom College, a fixture they won 21-17. “The U16s finished their season on a high, taking four trophies from four tournaments,” Rhys Crane, Master in Charge of Rugby, said.

“Winning 22 out of 23 Sevens fixtures throughout the season is unheard of and the future is very bright as they now transition from red and white to the black and white of senior rugby.”

The U14s, U15s and U18s Sevens teams also gave a good account of themselves at Rosslyn Park, with the latter reaching the Vase Quarter Final.

“All of our squads have put Tonbridge School Sevens on the map. The future looks very bright and we are excited to see how our players can now develop.”

Rhys Crane Master in Charge of Rugby

Tonbridge cadets joined by a Chinook on an excellent CCF Inspection Day

Almost 200 Tonbridge cadets took part in the School’s annual CCF Inspection Day. This year, an RAF-led parade attended by parents, staff, friends and the public, welcomed Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro CBE, Commandant General Royal Auxiliary Air Force, as Inspecting Officer.

Guests included members of The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, the Royal Engineers, and Britannia Royal Naval College. There were also many returning Old Tonbridgians including Lt Tom Brown OT (PH 09-14), a past winner of the prestigious Sword of Honour at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

The Parade, which included a substantial display of continuity drill by the CCF Honour Guard, was commanded by the School’s Warrant Officer Class I Alex Peggie (HS5). It concluded with a spectacular low-level Chinook flypast.

Cadets also had the opportunity to experience flying in the Chinook during a series of short flights around the local area. Other activities included a Royal Tournament-style Field Gun Run and a laser clay pigeon shoot.

Tonbridge’s Community Concert attracted its largest audience to date this year, with more than 200 local senior citizens welcomed to the School.

Those attending were looked after by a team of 50 Third Year boys, who volunteer each week with Tonbridge Community Action.

The evening was expertly compèred by Nick Samuel (WH5) and Siwei Han (PH5) and saw a variety of performances from more than 50 of the School’s musicians. Those entertaining the guests included Senior Strings, the Brass Quintet, the Vengerov String Quartet, a Piano Trio, the Perlman String Quartet, the Clarinet Quartet and the ever popular Big Band.

Sarah Walker, Tonbridge Community Action Assistant, said: “It was such a heart-warming evening, with so many local people coming together to enjoy each other’s company and to see young people making music. We’re grateful to the musicians, staff and parents who gave up their time to make this event such a memorable one for members of our community. For many of us it is one of the highlights of the School year.”

More than 100 students from schools across the UK came together to present and share their research at Tonbridge’s Annual Science Conference.

Young scientists share ideas and insights at Annual Science Conference of thought, ideas and insight”. He added: “Throughout the day we’ve seen curiosity, creativity and the importance of divergent thinking.”

The programme included a total of 50 student presentation sessions and research-focused display stands, including those created by pupils from schools as far away as Los Altos High School in California.

Student presentations, based on a ‘share and discuss’ format, covered areas as diverse as artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics and the influence of the internet on global democracy.

Professor Sir Jim Smith, Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust, was among the keynote speakers: his talk, “Lessons from frogs help mend a broken heart”, demonstrated the potential for science to improve people’s lives.

In his closing address, Tonbridge’s Headmaster, James Priory, thanked students for contributing to “a tremendous community