Overseas Admissions Guide
FROM INDIA TO TONBRIDGE TONBRIDGE ONLY CONNECT
FROM TRADITION TO INNOVATION
WELCOME TO TONBRIDGE Tonbridge truly is a place that makes a home for individuals from a wealth of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences, and we will be keen to welcome you to it. Headmaster, James Priory
Tonbridge is one of the leading boys’ boarding and day schools in the UK and is highly respected, both in the UK and internationally, for providing a world-class education. In the latest Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’ league table, published in December 2022, Tonbridge was the 8th highest ranking independent school in the country, and the top boys boarding school. Tonbridge encourages its students to make connections – connections between subjects, between people, between cultures: with the aim of producing fine minds and good hearts. Our ethos is summed up in just two words: ‘Only Connect’. KEY STATS • 800 pupils aged 13-18 • 450 boarders, 350 day • Seven boarding houses; five day • 150-acre campus • 40 mins from London by train
Why all boys? Since our foundation in 1553, Tonbridge has specialised in educating boys. Boys tend to mature later than girls and they learn in different ways too. Optimising our education for boys frees up the classroom dynamic. The rapport between teacher and pupils is more relaxed, more individual, and more engaging. Boys needn’t feel constrained by gender stereotypes that suggest certain activities are ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’ exclusively. It can liberate them to pursue any of their interests, to share ideas and have conversations without feeling self-conscious. And it is not as if our boys are kept apart from girls. We run shared academic, pastoral and social activities with local girls’ schools, and each boarding house is twinned with a house from Benenden, a local girls’ boarding school. These partnerships allow our boys to develop lifelong friendships with girls whilst at Tonbridge. 02
The Sunday Times Parent Power League Table
8th 8th Overall ranking
National A-level ranking
1st 6th All boys boarding
National GCSE ranking
Placing us higher than Eton, Harrow and Winchester
Academic curriculum
The Sunday Times ranked Tonbridge as a ‘top ten’ school in the UK, based on the summer 2022 examination results, where more than 85% of A-level results and 97% of GCSE results were A* or A - the highest possible grade. Our curriculum has been inspired by the skills identified by The World Economic Forum as having the greatest value in the future, such as complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, leadership, resilience and flexibility. We offer 26 subjects taught by outstanding subject specialists, often with an impressive reputation in their field. All are passionate advocates for their subjects and their students, encouraging our boys to go beyond the curriculum in order to gain a mastery of the topic. Talk Education said: “Teachers are young, dynamic, highly qualified and all too happy to run subject workshops or drop-in sessions for anyone needing extra support. Teaching really is of a particularly high standard at Tonbridge, and the staff list reads like a who’s who of education.”
A-levels A-levels are valued on an equal footing to the International Baccalaureate by all global universities. They are particularly well-regarded by universities for their depth of study. According to the findings of the University Admissions Officers Report 2017, A-levels give students more “detailed and in-depth expertise”, than the IB. 94% of Admissions Officers believe that A-levels prepare students to degree level study because of the detailed courses; only 56% believed the IB was able to develop pupils accordingly. The IB is a good option for parents who prefer an independent study approach for their boys, whereas A-levels meet more of a balance, helping pupils develop the independent inquiry skills that will be so important to them as they progress to university, whilst offering more guidance and mentorship.
Academic News
“‘Masters are funny, treating the boys like university students,’ we were told - and the boys ‘love them’.” The Good Schools Guide
NASA ASTRONAUTS LAUNCH BARTON SCIENCE CENTRE Tonbridge’s state-of-the-art Science Centre was opened by NASA astronauts Dr Michael Foale CBE and Dr Steve Swanson, in March 2019. The building is named after British organic chemist Sir Derek Barton, an Old Tonbridgian who won the Nobel Prize in 1969. PHYSICS: TOP IN THE UK, 7TH IN THE WORLD Two Tonbridge teams achieved the status of ‘Top in the UK’ and seventh in the world after putting in impressive performances in the 2022 International Physics Brawl. Nearly 200 teams, from schools across the globe, competed in this annual online event which tests Physics knowledge and problem-solving skills. MATHS: FOUR BOYS RANKED IN TOP 27 IN UK Our Maths department is one of the best in the country. During the first round of the 2023 British Mathematical Olympiad, four of our boys were placed top 27 in the UK, out of the competition’s 1,000 participants. Following outstanding results in last year’s competition, two Tonbridge boys were later chosen to represent the UK at the 2022 International Maths Olympiad. COMPUTER SCIENCE: FIRST PLACE Tonbridge was named the top school overall at the at the 2023 British Algorithmic Olympiad, a prestigious Maths and Computer Science exam. One of our Second Year boys achieved the highest overall score in the competition. A total of seven Tonbridge boys achieved Gold status, two Silver and two Bronze.
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Above: Tonbridge School South Asian Society
Co-curriculum
Tonbridge offers a vibrant programme of co-curricular activities, offering boys the ability to pursue their passions outside of the classroom and develop into wellrounded, confident adults. Tonbridge was recognised as an Olympic training venue for London 2012, and facilities are unsurpassed with professional coaches leading as many as 30 sports each term. Cricket is a very popular sport and many of the boys play at top competitive level. Tonbridge alumni who have gone on to represent the England cricket team include Kenneth Hutchings, Colin Cowdrey, Roger Prideaux, Chris Cowdrey, Richard Ellison, Ed Smith and Zak Crawley. The arts play a key role in Tonbridge life and are central to nurturing the creativity, passion and individuality of each boy. Our alumni include Award winning documentary filmmaker, Vikram Jayanti, and author of ‘A Suitable Boy’, Vikram Seth.
Tonbridge is a Steinway school and 40% of our boys learn to play an instrument. The Drama department stages 11 productions a year, often with involvement of girls from local schools. Boys take part in all aspects of production including set design, stage management and lighting. Space is made in the regular weekly curriculum for activities and clubs to flourish on a Wednesday afternoon. In their first year, boys are introduced to the wide range of activities available, from Formula 1 Design, Investors Club, Model United Nations and much more. Many boys also opt to join clubs and societies, with more than 20 on offer, including the South Asian Society, created by one of our Upper Sixth students and whose aim is to allow boys from similar backgrounds to meet new people, share experiences and to teach English boys about their cultures.
“Extracurricular activities are predictably unpredictable for these truly fortunate boys. Our guide said he wished he had more hours in the day in which to fit in everything that he’d like to do and, indeed, the list of options is very nearly endless.” Talk Education
“One of the best school rugby sides around and produces county and international cricketers” The Good Schools Guide
“EM Forster Theatre ... hosts numerous school and house productions each year – where pupils team up with girls from local schools, forming wonderful friendships in the process.” Talk Education 01
The Houses are small enough to feel like a family, and, like a family, all meals are taken there – we pause and we come together.
See inside a boarding House and experience Tonbridge through the eyes of some of our brilliant overseas boys
Boarding
At Tonbridge, a boy’s boarding house is his community, his place of comfort and ultimately, his home. His Housemaster, Matron and team of Tutors get to know him extremely well, supporting his academic progress, assisting with day-to-day practicalities, and offering comfort when he is unwell or may need emotional support. Tonbridge is unusual in that each House is supported by a qualified team of trained chefs and caterers. All boys return to their House for each meal and are joined their Housemasters and Tutors. We have gained a healthy eating award for our dietician-approved dishes, and cater to all dietary requirements. We insist on daily deliveries from local suppliers to maintain freshness and operate our own bakery and butchery. Most weekends, around 15-20 boys remain in the house and do what most boys do at home – relax, sleep, have brunch together, catch up on homework, or make use of the School’s facilities such as the Sports Centre.
A boarding house is so much ‘home’ to our boys that many of our local boarders choose to spend Sunday at School, enjoying the many opportunities on offer. Overseas boys are often invited to the homes of their English friends, whilst they also take part in a wide range of cultural trips and activities that they recommend through their very own committee. On Friday nights, boys can also take part in a ‘social’ with girls from our partner local schools. Socials range from quiz nights, bowling, or meals out together. The bond that’s built between our boys in the House and in the classroom is one that they will carry with them through life. They develop an extended family during their time at Tonbridge, from their fellow pupils to the teachers who have been so formative. It’s a pleasure to see how many of our boys remain fierce friends beyond their time at the School. To help facilitate this, our thriving OT network holds year-group-based reunions, university meet ups and professional networking events throughout the year, and is a real support system to boys as they progress through their careers. 08
Universities and Careers
Every year our boys win places at leading universities in the UK and internationally, including Oxbridge, Harvard and MIT, the significant majority to their first choice destination. Our Universities and Careers team prides itself on providing personalised advice and support for every pupil, throughout their five years at Tonbridge. From beginning to understand their interests in aspirations in their first year, to supporting Sixth Form boys as they explore university options and complete their applications, our ambition is, always, to listen and guide each boy to the right outcome for them. You will be involved each step of the way. We include parents in
our conversations with boys and can organise Zoom calls with you to discuss options at more length. We have good relationships with European and American universities and provide on-site training for SAT exams. In 2022, 13 of our boys studied overseas at universities in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong and Austria. In 2023, Tonbridge boys secured 27 offers to Oxbridge, amounting to almost 20% of our Upper Sixth cohort. The Good Schools Guide said: “‘Phenomenal’ careers department provides guidance using psychometric testing to suggest suitable routes for the boys and helping with work experience – ‘really empowering’ for the boys.”
“World-class university destinations matter to us they’re a sign of intellectual health” James Priory, Headmaster
ALL UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS IN 2022 HARVARD UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF EXETER DURHAM UNIVERSITY LANCASTER UNIVERSITY NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM DURHAM UNIVERSITY THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON UNIVERSITY OF BATH UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON KING’S COLLEGE LONDON UNIVERSITY OF LONDON MIT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHHAMPTON UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD DARTMOUTH COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS MCGILL UNIVERSITY ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNIVERSITY OF YORK LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE UC BERKELEY NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY CARDIFF UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK UNIVERSITY OF KENT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY HULL YORK MEDICAL SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY LEEDS ART UNIVERSITY HONG KONG UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF INNSBRUCK
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TONBRIDGE PEOPLE KRIS JOINED IN 2021 Kris joined in Year 9, following in the footsteps of his Old Tonbridgian father. “Life at Tonbridge is the perfect balance between academics, sports and fun. Tonbridge kept me on my feet and still does all the time, which is what makes it so enjoyable. My first year was an amazing year for me because of the people I met and the new things I got to experience.”
RUHAAN JOINED IN 2021 Ruhaan joined Tonbridge’s Sixth Form from a Delhi school having taken the Indian exam board. “Through its innovative pedagogy and multicultural environment, my experience at Tonbridge has made me a more thoughtful and tolerant person. Its focus on co-curricular as much as it does on academics has resulted in a more holistic development of me as a person. Overall, Tonbridge has truly transformed the way I think about the world and the way I approach new problems, and has been a life-changing experience for me.”
MEGHA CHOPRA PARENT Megha became an overseas parent in 2021. Her son, Ruhaan is in the Upper Sixth. “Tonbridge felt like a hasty decision, since Covid mayhem in India pushed us into sending our boy away from the comforts of home into a territory unknown very abruptly. But it turned out to be the finest decision we have ever made for Ruhaan. He’s blossomed into a young man so confident of his potential, thriving with compassion and perspectives, remarkably responsible and independent. As a new chapter in his life unfolds, Tonbridge and it’s teachings will forever be significant to Ruhaan.”
RAHUL SHEEMAR TEACHING STAFF Rahul teaches Religious Studies and is a Tutor in Park House. “When I’m not teaching in the Divinity department, I get to observe and plan lessons, help out with Conservation, supervise the boys in Park House, deliver Critical Thinking sessions and play squash. These activities bring me so much joy and enable me to see just how sharp, witty and caring our pupils are.”
DR VIJAY RANGARAJAN PARENT AND GOVERNOR Vijay is a Tonbridge School Governor and overseas parent to two sons. “As a Governor of Tonbridge, I have been so impressed by the professionalism and integrity of the leadership team, but as a parent, it was the quality of the classroom teaching and the warmth of the pastoral care for my boys that shone through. I always knew they were in good hands.”
VIKRAM JAYANTI OLD TONBRIDGIAN Vikram is an Oscar award-winning documentary filmmaker and filmic studies teacher at Tonbridge. “What I learnt at Tonbridge has shaped everything I’ve done as a filmmaker, traveling the world in search of compelling stories and extraordinary characters. Tonbridge was a great place to set out from. And it was there fifty years ago that I met my first other Vikram, my friend and teammate on the School House debating team: Vikram Seth, destined to be the great Indian novelist. The rest is history.” 12
CONNECTING TO TONBRIDGE
AVG. FLIGHT TIME 9H 45MINS
Getting to Tonbridge
We have decades of experience supporting overseas parents with travel. Our International Student Liaison Officer will take your son to and from the airport, and help him secure a student visa.
LONDON TONBRIDGE
Tonbridge is conveniently close to most London airports and just 40 minutes by car from London Gatwick. Y our son can go home six times a year: at the end of our three terms and during each half term break. Some overseas boys arrange to stay with their Guardian or a friend in the UK, during the holiday period.
BARBARA PRING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LIASON OFFICER barbara.pring@tonbridge-school.org Barbara is responsible for supporting all boys from overseas. She will become a key contact for your family, helping with logistics - from meeting your son at the airport, to helping him set up a UK bank account. She also provides pastoral support, helped by her 15 years of experience as a Matron at Tonbridge, in a 32-year career at the School. During exeats, she arranges weekend visits to cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Rome and Madrid. Barbara says: ‘’Looking after boys from Europe, India, Nigeria, Hong Kong and China brings enormous benefits for all our boys as we prepare them for a global working environment. I wake up in the mornings wondering what the day will bring, as each day is different, which makes my role so exciting. The time differences across the world are no barriers for me, I am so used to being woken in the middle of the night.’’
RICHARD BURNETT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS richard.burnett@tonbridge-school.org Richard oversees all selection processes, drawing upon his former role as the school’s Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator, a classroom teacher (Modern Languages and Religious Studies), and his 13 years of experience as a Housemaster at Tonbridge School. Richard is also Co-founder and Chair of Mindfulness in Schools Project, a leading UK charity whose .b and Paws b curricula are taught across the UK and internationally. MiSP’s aim is to bring secular mindfulness to young people and those who care for them. Richard says: “Whilst Tonbridge has outstanding academic results and a huge range of co-curricular pursuits, what I am most proud of is the quality of pastoral care here. The rapport and mutual trust between boys and staff is what makes this place special, and I encourage you to come and see it for yourself when you can!” 14
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Tonbridge School is a registered charity No. 1097977 The information contained in the brochure is accurate at the time of going to press