WELCOME TO THE TONBRIDGE SOCIETY
As an Old Tonbridgian, you are part of a strong and truly global Tonbridge community of more than 15,000 Tonbridgians in more than 80 countries worldwide.
That’s a network we hope you’ll be able to benefit from, for life. Over the course of each year, we run many events at the School, in London, and venues across the UK and internationally, to bring our community together and create opportunities for you to reconnect, network, collaborate, start or join a club - the world is your oyster!
In this booklet, you can discover all the ways we’ll support you as you move on from Tonbridge, and onto the next exciting chapter of your life.
You can stay in touch or get involved with all of our projects through Tonbridge Connect. A private, online platform for the Tonbridge community, Tonbridge Connect gives you access to our international network of Tonbridge professionals; our careers and mentoring scheme; and social opportunities such as events, clubs and news from our community and around the School.
Please check your emails for invitations and keep us updated with any change of contact details.
Least populated Most populated Key:
The Tonbridge community is active in over 80 countries around the world
EVENTS AND REUNIONS
Our mission is to keep Old Tonbridgians in touch with one another, as well as with the School, beyond your time at Tonbridge. We run a varied programme of events and reunions each year, in the UK and internationally for OTs of all ages, including our OT Dinner, which has been running since the 1860s. You will also be invited to your first of many year group drinks reunions in London in five years time.
Browse or sign up to one of our upcoming events at: tonbridgeconnect.org/events
We can also support you in organising a smaller reunion, and offer the opportunity to organise a reunion for your former sports team at the School. If this is something you would be interested in, please contact the OT Relations Manager.
If you have any thoughts or ideas for the OT events programme, we always value feedback from OTs and would be happy to hear from you.
OLD TONBRIDGIAN NEWS
We’ll be in touch soon after you leave, with regular news and updates from the Old Tonbridgian Community. If at any stage you’d like to share a story with your peers, OTs or the School’s wider community, just get in touch.
Our annual OT communications alone reach a global audience of over 7,000 Old Tonbridgians. This could be a useful network to tap into to talk about your career, your recent achievements, or share your ideas.
As an Old Tonbridgian, you’ll receive our annual OT Magazine, regular e-newsletters, and the School’s Impact Report. You can update your communications preferences at any time, on the settings tab of your Tonbridge Connect profile, or by contacting a member of our team at:
tonbridgesociety@tonbridge-school.org
TONBRIDGE SCHOOL ARE STILL HERE FOR YOU, AND WE RATHER LIKE KEEPING IN TOUCH!
As you start upon a new and exciting chapter, I would like to wish you luck, give you some advice and remind you that we are still here for you as a School.
I am sure you are settling in well and enjoying this new experience. You may however find that you are not receiving the help and support that you enjoyed at School. It is important that you and your parents acquaint yourselves with the relevant welfare section of the university or college website. Save the names and numbers into your phones and familiarise yourself with what support is available to you and your friends. See the Exeter example by scanning the QR code overleaf.
Despite colleges and universities being reminded by the Information Commissioner (QR code overleaf), and UK Universities, many do not routinely share any difficulty you may be experiencing, with your parents or close contacts, but instead require you to opt in to allow this to happen. Check this out with your own university or college and opt-in as your parents remain the most important support to you. See the Bristol University example by scanning the QR code overleaf.
Please remember that we as a School remain available to you in practical ways: through the University and Careers Department and the Tonbridge Society, but also as someone you can talk to, share worries with, and get advice from. This can be anyone, a teacher, a sports coach, your Tutor, your Matron or your Housemaster. You can also speak to us about other OTs that you might be worried about; we remain here to help and support in any way we can. You can also pass any messages requesting contact through your OT Relations Manager, Tara Biddle.
The School Counsellor, Dr Shirley Lauryn, continues to provide her counselling skills to you if you need them.
Advice from the OT panel at the Leavers’ Symposium and at the recent Parents’ Pastoral Conference is to:
• Have a daily and weekly routine and keep busy.
• Find ‘your people or tribe’, they are out there but you might need to work to find them by joining lots of groups and societies.
• Look after the basics of sleeping, eating and exercising well.
• Not sit on worries, problems or anxieties but share them with family, friends, or us.
• Lastly, if you are not enjoying the course or the university then speak to your parents, or us. It is better to change to something more suitable than struggle through.
I hope you are enjoying your start to life after Tonbridge and that you do stay in touch.
Colin Swainson Deputy Head Pastoral
University of Exeter Welfare section of its website
Information Commissions Office Data sharing section of its website
UK Universities Website
Bristol University Example
PASTORAL OUTREACH
Tonbridge School has a Pastoral Outreach programme in place where members of staff experienced in pastoral care visit universities around the country. The team meet with undergraduate OTs at a local pub to check in with them and to see how they and their peers are managing the transition from Tonbridge, and how they are adapting to university life in general. It also offers a great opportunity for OTs to catch up with each other and for the School to remind the boys that we are always there for them should they need practical or emotional support.
“I
am deeply touched by Tonbridge’s commitment to supporting its students, past and present, and its greater network.”
Old Tonbridgian
You are welcome, and encouraged to reach out to us in between our visits:
For Pastoral Outreach, contact:
Will Biddle
Pastoral Outreach Coordinator
Will.Biddle@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 7769 339092
CAREERS AND MENTORING SUPPORT
The School’s Universities and Careers Department is here to support you as you progress through university and as you navigate your first jobs. Simply get in touch if you feel you could benefit from some advice. We encourage you to take part in our mentoring scheme, and also become a member of one of our many industry-based clubs to benefit from the expertise of our global alumni and parent community.
Transition to University Toolkit
For Universities and Careers support, contact:
Ruth Davis Head of Universities and Careers
Ruth.Davis@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 1732 304286
Portia King Careers Adviser
Portia.King@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 1732 304361
INDUSTRY CLUBS AND NETWORKING
Our industry-based clubs have been created to help you to network and benefit from the expertise of our global community of professionals, from graduate to senior leadership level. Our clubs currently cover a wide range of industries, from music to engineering, finance to marketing, and much more. We hope to expand this even further as OTs express their interest in creating clubs in new industries.
We hope you’ll back this new initiative by visiting Tonbridge Connect’s club page and joining an industry club that matches your professional interests.
If you would like to take careers support a step further as
you progress through your own career, you may also choose to sign up to our mentoring scheme. Use this platform to find a mentor in your chosen professional field, and seek their guidance in writing a CV, preparing for an interview, or ask industry-specific questions to help take your career to the next level.
Tonbridge School’s Universities and Careers Department is also available to provide support and advice to OTs throughout your life. Simply get in touch with our Careers Advisers - contact information is on the previous page.
INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
Our international clubs have been set up to provide a support network for Old Tonbridgians overseas. If you’re planning to move abroad, help us build a community in your new host country by joining a club today. We already have thriving international networks, such as our Hong Kong community, which offers OTs a chance to connect and socialise at local OT events, and share advice and expertise.
Our clubs currently cover Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, the USA and Scotland, and we hope to expand this further as OTs express their interest in creating clubs in new
regions. The Tonbridge Community is active in over 80 countries worldwide, so there’s a good chance that if you’re moving abroad, we can put you in touch with some Old Tonbridgians in your new host country.
You can also reach out to members of the Tonbridge Society community in your area on Tonbridge Connect. Simply search for members in your country or city and get in touch.
SPORTS CLUBS
If sport was a big part of your time at Tonbridge, you might like to join one of our many OT-led sports clubs.
Our existing clubs include Cricket, Fives, Football, Golf, Hockey, Rackets, Real Tennis, Rifle, Sailing, Squash and Ultimate Frisbee. If you are interested in creating a club that doesn’t already exist, just get in touch.
Each of our OT sports clubs coordinate a busy schedule of social events and play matches throughout the year. You can find out more about each club, including when they play and
how to become part of the team by visiting their club page on Tonbridge Connect. You’ll find contact details of the club manager on each page.
By clicking ‘join’ on the club page, you’ll also receive news from the Tonbridge Society relating to your sport, including major upcoming matches and results, and success stories from OT sports professionals.
Find out more at: tonbridgeconnect.org/clubs
OTHER BENEFITS
Old Tonbridgians have the opportunity to join the Lansdowne Club and East India Club at a reduced rate. A completed application form should be sent to the OT Relations Manager, who will forward this, together with the Headmaster’s letter of support, to the relevant Club.
To find out more, contact:
Tara Biddle
OT Relations Manager
Tara.Biddle@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 1732 304253
Old Tonbridgians are also eligible for discounted membership at the Tonbridge School Centre, for your first three years since leaving the School. Your three-year membership is offered at just £100, with no joining fee.
To find out more, contact: Tonbridge School Centre
tsc@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 1732 304111
GET IN TOUCH
In order to keep you updated with the latest OT news and events, we rely on having up to date information from OTs. If your contact information changes, let us know, and we’ll be sure to keep in touch.
For general enquiries, contact: Tara Biddle
OT Relations Manager
Tara.Biddle@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 1732 304253
To speak to our Director, contact: Adrian Ballard
Director of the Tonbridge Society
Adrian.Ballard@tonbridge-school.org
+44 (0) 1732 304253
