Two Schools. One Ethos

The New Beacon Preparatory School Tonbridge School

TWO SCHOOLS. ONE ETHOS.

BETTER

TOGETHER

T WO S C H O O L S O N E E T H O S

What is the merger?

What is the reason for the merger?

The merger is a bringing together of Tonbridge School and The New Beacon, by which The New Beacon becomes part of Tonbridge School and is thus able to benefit from being part of the Skinners’ Company family of schools. The merger will enable Tonbridge School to support the continuing development of The New Beacon. However, the two schools will continue to be separately operated and managed.

The merger, which will be effective 31 August 2021, has been under discussion for more than a year. It is an opportunity to secure a long-standing partnership and to combine our expertise to provide an educational pathway from 3 to 18.

We are two thriving boys’ schools, based close to each other in Kent, and with expertise in day and boarding education.

We have a shared ethos of outstanding teaching and learning, high-quality pastoral care and a commitment to the development of the whole child.

Both schools are committed to widening access through educational partnerships and bursary awards, and to achieving social impact through community and charitable initiatives.

The New Beacon is Tonbridge’s biggest feeder school (approximately 20 boys per annum) and Tonbridge wishes to secure that number of well-prepared boys joining the school each year.

The development of the curriculum at The New Beacon to align Years 7- 9 will be a major benefit to all boys going on to their chosen senior schools.

FAQ S

T WO S C H O O L S O N E E T H O S

What difference will the merger make to the two schools?

In terms of daily life and routine for pupils, there will be no discernible difference.

Tonbridge will provide increased access to staff expertise and its senior school facilities to enrich the experience of boys at The New Beacon. Those boys joining Tonbridge from The New Beacon will have the opportunity to become familiar with Tonbridge’s setting and community.

The development of the curriculum at The New Beacon, creating an added sense of progression from Years 7 and 8 to Year 9, will support the boys in preparing for entrance assessments and transition to senior school – not just academically but also in terms of confidence and life skills – whichever senior school destination they choose. The New Beacon will continue to develop its teaching and learning environment, boarding, co-curricular and sporting facilities.

FAQ S

Will each school remain autonomous?

Will the two Headmasters’ roles and responsibilities change?

The two Governing Bodies will work closely together and expect the schools to become aligned in terms of overall strategy.

The two Headmasters, Mike Piercy of The New Beacon and James Priory of Tonbridge, will liaise on opportunities for educational partnership between the two schools, including the further development of an intellectually creative curriculum to align Years 7- 9.

Each school, however, will retain its individual identity, its teaching and support staff, leadership and management teams, uniform and site.

The Headmaster of The New Beacon will retain responsibility for The New Beacon as a separate school.

T WO S C H O O L S O N E E T H O S

FAQ S

Will the schools’ admissions procedures change?

Does the merger alter progression from one school to another?

Tonbridge, which is determinedly selective, has a rigorous admissions procedure; this will not change and will continue to apply to boys from The New Beacon. Admission to Tonbridge for a New Beacon boy will not be automatic.

Tonbridge enjoys strong links with many prep and state primary schools. Current Year 9 boys, for example, come from about 60 schools.

The New Beacon is non-selective on entry to Reception, with many boys proceeding to academically selective senior schools.

The New Beacon will continue to recommend to parents the senior school best suited to their sons. It has sent boys to 21 schools in the last five years.

T WO S C H O O L S O N E E T H O S

Do the schools plan to increase their bursary provision?

Yes. Tonbridge currently supports between 40 and 50 boys with significant meanstested funding. It hopes to double the number of Foundation Awards by the time of its 475th anniversary in 2028.

The New Beacon governors have also expressed intent to increase bursary provision.

Widening access is on the agenda for both schools.

Are there plans to increase the number of pupils at The New Beacon?

Yes. The New Beacon currently has 325 boys and anticipates strengthening numbers still further over the coming years. The school is interested in developing its boarding to complement its existing day provision, including at 11+.

FAQ S

Will there be any changes to the governance of The New Beacon?

The New Beacon Board will be joined by members of the Tonbridge School Governing Body and will continue to be responsible for overseeing The New Beacon under the chairmanship, as currently, of James Thorne. He and Simon Hall, chair of The New Beacon’s Finance & General Purposes Committee, will become Governors of Tonbridge School.

The aim is for The New Beacon to have as much continuity as possible whilst benefiting from a collaborative approach between the two schools.

T WO S C H O O L S O N E E T H O S

Who will own The New Beacon’s assets after the merger?

What is the involvement of the Worshipful Company of Skinners?

Tonbridge School will own The New Beacon’s assets.

Tonbridge School was founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde, a distinguished member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. The Skinners’ Company continues as Trustee, but an independent Governing Body is responsible for governance. The Chairman of Governors and majority of governors are nominated by the Skinners’ Company. As a major not-for-profit organisation, the Skinners’ Company currently supports five charities, two almshouses and seven schools: Tonbridge School, The Judd School, The Skinners’ School, Skinners’ Kent Primary School, Skinners’ Kent Academy, Skinners’ Academy Hackney and the Marsh Academy – all located in Kent and North London.

The New Beacon will become the eighth school in the family.

FAQ S

T WO S C H O O L S O N E E T H O S

Has the Charity Commission approved the change to the Tonbridge School objects in order to allow the merger to take place?

Yes, it has.

Will this merger affect either school’s fees?

The merger will not influence either school’s fees.

FAQ S

Does either school have any plans to become co-educational?

No. Both Governing Bodies periodically undertake strategic reviews, as you would expect, in order to examine the long-term options of their schools. However, both schools are committed to all-boys education for the foreseeable future and applications for places at both schools are strong.