Life in the
SIXTH FORM TONBRIDGE ONLY CONNECT
Key stats
• 800 pupils aged 13-18 • 450 Boarders, 350 Day Boys • Seven Boarding Houses • Five Day Houses • 150 acre campus • 40 minutes from London
Co-educational Sixth Form
• Day girls from 2028 • Girl boarders 2030
HEADMASTER’S WELCOME
Sixth Form is a defining time, when you shape the life you will subsequently lead. At Tonbridge, you will enjoy greater independence alongside a wealth of experiences that will support your personal, academic and future professional ambitions. There has never been a more exciting time to join us, as we further enhance our Sixth Form experience already recognised as a ‘significant strength’ by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (2024). Through our latest initiative, Think 25, we will encourage you to consider the kind of person you want to be at 25. Guided by our ethos, Only Connect: Fine Minds and Good Hearts, you will leave us with not only outstanding qualifications, but also the confidence, character and sense of purpose to make a meaningful contribution to the world.
From September 2027, we will recognise and reward exceptional ability and potential amongst new entrants across academic, musical and sporting disciplines via our new enhanced Sixth Form Scholarships. Following our recent announcement of plans to introduce a co-educational Sixth Form, we will also welcome our first cohort of girls as day pupils in September 2028, coinciding with the celebration of our 475th anniversary, and as boarders from September 2030. In the meantime, I hope this brochure gives you a sense of what makes Tonbridge special, and I look forward to welcoming you.
James Priory Headmaster
ACADEMIC LIFE More than at any other time before, you can pursue the subjects and ideas which interest you and personalise your curriculum accordingly. Academic curriculum Five different Sixth Form pathways offer you five different ways to succeed. The pathways are all academically rigorous and you can choose the one that suits your interests and aspirations. Whether you wish to study for an extended research project qualification (EPQ), additional languages, filmmaking, or to participate in our bespoke Life Skills programme, you can make our Sixth Form your own. Our Sixth Form speaker and Global Futures programmes complement these pathways by providing new perspectives, workshops, employer engagement opportunities, university preparation and real-world insight.
FIVE ACADEMIC PATHWAYS A. 3 principal subjects, an EPQ and Life Skills programme. B. 3 principal subjects plus AS Mathematics C. 3 principal subjects plus an Additional Language Qualification and Life Skills programme D. 3 principal subjects plus A Level Film Studies E. 4 principal subjects plus an optional EPQ
FIND OUT MORE IN OUR SIXTH FORM CHOICES GUIDE
“Intellectual stimulation at every turn, with sky-high academic standards set by the specialist teachers who pupils told us are ‘passionate about their subjects’ and ‘challenge all including the absolute brightest’.” The Good Schools Guide
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
Super-curriculum A wide variety of opportunities, including societies, conferences, competitions and specialist lectures will extend your learning beyond the syllabus, while partnerships such as the MIT Global Teaching Labs will inject university-level thinking into your Sixth Form experience. These will give you intellectual stretch that is both rigorous and relevant. In addition, we support participation in national and international competitions, with our students consistently leading the way on national teams, including topping the leaderboard in mathematics, science, economics and AI Olympiads. Our students write and curate their own magazines and podcasts in addition to securing places at prestigious external summer schools. All of this is undertaken alongside achieving some of the highest A Level results in the country. Within the School, House competitions take place across the full range of academic subjects in addition to the likes of debating and chess, with the Sixth Form coaching and mentoring junior year groups as well as participating directly. Societies include subjects such as Engineering, Medicine, Debating, Trading and Law, in addition to Model United Nations simulations and the interdisciplinary Paradigm Shifters (the History and Philosophy Society). Hands-on projects, such as the UK Rocketry Challenge, provide further avenues for students to apply their skills to real-world problems.
THE ARKWRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP THE STEVENS TRADING DAY THE WEIZMANN SAFE CRACKING COMPETITION THE ISAAC PHYSICS SUMMER SCHOOL THE CINEMAGIC YOUNG FILMMAKER NATIONAL SPANISH DEBATING THE JOHN LOCKE ESSAY PRIZE THE ANNUAL FILM AWARDS THE FESTIVAL DE THÉÂTRE FRANCOPHONE THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE INTERNATIONAL HISTORY CONTESTS THE PERSE CODING COMPETITION CHEMISTY BRAWL CAMBRIDGE CHEMISTRY COMPETITION TRINITY MATHS COMPETITION SENIOR ASTROPHYSICS OLYMPIADS IN MATHS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, AI, ECONOMICS AND THE SCIENCES
“Teachers are young, dynamic, highly qualified and all too happy to run subject workshops or drop-in sessions for anyone needing extra support. The staff list reads like a who’s who of education.” Talk Education
LIFE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Our extensive co-curricular programme takes place during timetabled Pursuits and Activities sessions, supplemented by three afternoons of sport, plus Saturday fixtures.
Our annual House drama competition, ‘Fifteens’, is an annual highlight, led by Sixth Form students who conceive and direct their House entry.
Through these opportunities, you can hone existing talents, explore new interests and build teamwork and leadership skills.
Art, Photography and Filmmaking The Art Department provides two floors of dedicated space, from ceramics to photography, printing and fine art. We have a fully equipped studio and a dark room with twelve enlarger stations for traditional black-and-white film development and printing, allowing students to master analogue photographic techniques alongside digital practice.
Music Our Music Department is widely regarded as one of the best in the UK. We are an “All Steinway” school, and our world-class facilities include the Chapel’s Marcussen Organ, two recital halls, a music library, designated rock and percussion suites, as well as a double recording studio. Guided by a distinguished conductor who has performed with the UK’s top orchestras, the department nurtures musicianship at every level. Our students frequently gain places at conservatoires, as well as performing at prestigious venues in the UK and internationally. Ensembles range from chamber groups and jazz bands to choirs and a full symphony orchestra, with concerts taking place throughout the week across a range of settings, from informal afternoon recitals to large-scale public performances. Drama The EM Forster Theatre serves as a hub for around eleven professional-level productions each year, many of them created in collaboration with local girls’ schools. Whether mastering the art of acting, directing, or production, students explore every element of theatre either within or beyond the curriculum - following in the footsteps of alumni like Beauty and the Beast’s Dan Stevens.
Exhibitions regularly take place within our two art galleries and exhibition spaces, supporting teaching, and giving students the opportunity to engage directly with professional artists and contemporary practice. Artist talks, workshops and residency programmes and exhibitions allow students to experience art in a way that is unusual within a school setting. The new Film Suite is named after Old Tonbridgian and acclaimed Hollywood documentary filmmaker, Vikram Jayanti. Funded through the generosity of the Jayanti family, the suite includes a private cinema, teaching space and state-of-the-art editing facilities, establishing Tonbridge as a regional centre for filmmaking. Conservation Our 4-acre orchard offers boys hands-on experiences in nature, from conservation and beekeeping to harvesting apples for juice, cooking, rearing pigs, and logging.
Life Skills Our bespoke Sixth Form Life Skills programme equips students with the practicalities they need beyond school: cookery, first aid and personal safety, personal finance and employability skills, such as public speaking and presenting. Sport Tonbridge is renowned for its strength in sport and world-class facilities, with previous alumni including both England and Saracens flanker, Ben Earl and English international cricketer, Zac Crawley, in addition to Colin Cowdrey, who lends his name to both our Sports Scholarship and one of our Day Houses. Our facilities were recognised as an Olympic training venue for the Australian Track and Field team for London 2012 and again in 2017 ahead of the IAAF World Championships. They have provided a pathway for a host of international, county and professional sportsmen and women. This includes the West Indies men’s cricket team in 2024, the England Hockey Roadshow in 2026 and the U16 boys’ and U18 girls’ Six Nationals Hockey Tournament 2025 and the girls’ tournament again in 2026. In addition to our 150 acres of pitches and three newly resurfaced artificial pitches, our facilities include three state-of-theart gyms, and an award-winning swimming pool. Tonbridge School Sailing School Club sail and race three times a week at Bough Beech Reservoir. Comprising 100 acres, the reservoir is located in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a 15-minute drive from School. Professional coaches lead as many as 30 sports each term, including Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Climbing, CrossCountry, Fencing, Fives, Football, Golf, Hockey, Judo, Rackets, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Tennis and Ultimate Frisbee.
LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Outdoor development Our well established CCF and Duke of Edinburgh programmes build discipline, teamwork, resilience and confidence through outdoor activities, service and skills development. Community engagement Our community engagement programme, Tonbridge Community Action (TCA), was praised as a “significant strength” by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (2024) for its impact in enhancing the students’ confidence, communication and leadership skills. Cultural societies Diversity is also celebrated and encouraged within the School community, with thriving student-led South Asian, Jewish, Islamic and African-Caribbean Societies providing space for students from similar backgrounds to meet new people, share experiences and promote different cultural experiences.
228
Community events annually
34
We have worked with 34 schools and special education providers
24,780
Tonbridge School pupil hours
FINALIST, TALK EDUCATION AWARD September 2025 We were a finalist in the Community Engagement Charity Fundraising category of this year’s Talk Education Awards, reflecting our longstanding commitment to social impact. From our Giving Day to the weekly Community Action programme, pupils contribute thousands of hours each year to local projects, building genuine partnerships and making a lasting difference beyond the School gates.
LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL
The aim of our vibrant Global Futures Department is to prepare you for life beyond school - so you are ready to thrive at university, excel in your first career, and make a meaningful impact in the world. The support you will receive is aligned to your ambitions. We offer expert guidance on UCAS applications, entrance exams, and tailored interview preparation, including one-to-one practice interviews with Oxford and Cambridge academics, as well as bespoke preparation for US colleges. Our workshops cover every aspect of the application process, from CV writing and cover letters to interview assessments and professional networking. Subject-specific mentoring ensures you will receive focused support in your chosen field. Our Think 25 initiative will give you the tools to thrive beyond school, whether at a world-class university, launching a new business venture, or pursuing career opportunities around the world. After School, you will join a thriving community of over 20,000 Tonbridgians across 80 countries.
“Our ambition is to help students achieve their aspirations, to be future-focused and confident in a rapidly changing world. Our Global Futures department ensures they are not only prepared for university, but for meaningful lives beyond it.” James Priory, Headmaster
“The question is no longer, ‘Where do our students go at 18?’, but ‘Who will they be, and where will they be, at 25 and beyond?’” Ruth Davis, Director of Global Futures
“Sixth Form pupils are fully prepared for life beyond school, empowered to take control of their futures and achieve their ambitions.” Talk Education
OUTCOMES
Our students consistently achieve some of the best results in the country. Each year, they go on to secure places at the world’s leading universities, including Oxbridge and Ivy League institutions. The significant majority go to their first-choice destination. In addition to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities in the UK, we have strong and growing relationships with leading universities in North America, with students increasingly choosing to study abroad.
94% of A Level grades A*/A/B
95% go to top universities worldwide
North America
Harvard MIT Princeton Brown Columbia University of Chicago Duke Northwestern UC Berkeley Cornell University of Toronto UCLA McGill University University of British Columbia University of Southern California University of North Carolina Purdue NYU Tufts Northeastern Clemson University
Europe
University of Oxford University of Cambridge Imperial College LSE UCL St Andrews Trinity College Dublin Bocconi University Milan Maastricht University Delft
Far East
Hong Kong University NYU Abu Dhabi The Chineese University of Hong Kong
South Africa
Stellenbosch University
Australia
University of Sydney University of Melbourne Monash University
“Let’s not beat around the bush here - Tonbridge was ranked as 6th best school in the country and THE best boarding school in The Sunday Times Parent Power 2024 guide. It also came second overall in the South East table (Top Students’ School) and was the top students’ school nationally for A Level results. In fact, it’s a stalwart amongst the academic heavy weights of the South East, retaining its top ten position year after year.” Muddy Stilettos
HOUSE LIFE
At Tonbridge, your House will become your home, your community and the heart of your School experience. Whether Boarding or Day, you will belong to a close-knit group of around fifteen others in your year group who are in the same House.
Our mealtimes provide more than sustenance; they are an opportunity to spend time together and to relax within the school day, when students welcome a range of academic and support staff for lunch and wide-ranging conversation.
Every House is led by a Housemaster, supported by a team of Tutors and, in Boarding Houses, a dedicated Matron. Together, they provide pastoral care, academic guidance and practical support offering encouragement during busy times, a listening ear when needed, and a reassuring presence.
Food also offers another dimension to education. Our Lead Nutritionist leads sessions on fuelling for sport performance, as well as our trained chef who leads sessions in our Eliza Acton Cookery School, which pays homage to one of the first authors of a cookbook who had connections to Tonbridge.
For Sixth Formers, House life also provides leadership opportunities, both formally through specific House roles and informally in leading House teams and organising events.
More broadly, food forms a core part of celebrations, whether through international food festivals or seasonal dining, including Christmas dinners, cricket teas and summer BBQs.
Dining and nutrition Dining together is a key part of House life, Day students eat within their House communities, just as Boarders do, reinforcing the School’s strong sense of community. We have a team of in-house chefs and caterers dedicated to each House led by our specialist caterers, Lodestone House. A dietician-approved menu has been developed, with daily deliveries from local suppliers to ensure freshness. Specialist requirements are catered for, including allergies, intolerances and religious requirements.
Tonbridge provides “a strong support network that reduces stress, increases emotional resilience and allows pupils to focus on their education.”
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Day
House life at Tonbridge is built on a foundation of community and belonging which also applies to Day students. The School’s boarding ethos means there is extended access to facilities and activities beyond the formal school day. Each Day House is equipped with common rooms, kitchens, study spaces, games rooms, changing areas, and outdoor spaces for relaxation and recreation.
12
Boarding and Day Houses
5
Day Houses
7
Boarding Houses
Boarding
Boarding Houses are well equipped with kitchens, social areas and outdoor space offering a home-from-home atmosphere in a vertical structure. Weekends offer a balance of rest, recreation, and social time. Around 15-20 students typically stay in each House, spending their time much as they would at home, relaxing, and having full use of the School’s facilities, including the Smythe Library, the performing and creative arts spaces and Tonbridge Sports Centre. Many local boarders choose to stay at School over the weekend, appreciating the sense of community, while overseas students are often invited to friends’ homes or take part in cultural trips organised by the Overseas Student Committee. If you are joining us from overseas, our International Student Liaison Officer will help you settle in quickly. This may include offering practical help such as securing visas and setting up bank accounts and/or arranging airport transfers - your transition to studying in the UK will feel seamless.
“Before I joined Tonbridge, I was nervous about being so far from home. However, my worries were quickly put to rest by my Housemaster, Matron and friends who helped to create my new home. We have a strong sense of community here - we build each other up rather than push others down.” Ethan, Head of School (2024-25)
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT XANDER
“Just being surrounded by high-achieving peers at Tonbridge has inspired me to be the best I can be. The level of talent was immediately obvious to me. Within my first few days of joining the Sixth Form, I’d met someone who had won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad, as well as people who had placed in the top three of internationally recognised essay competitions. What I found most interesting, though, was that rather than feeling intimidated, it was genuinely encouraging. It motivated me to pursue my own interests with greater purpose, to challenge myself, and to keep developing into the person I wanted to become.”
HEAR FROM XANDER
ALIDA
“Leaving Tonbridge after my A Levels this summer feels like leaving home, which is interesting given that my original home is on the other side of the world. I’ve found a sense of belonging and care about so many people here. The School has helped me grow as a person, discover new things, and learn more about myself. I’ve not just developed here, but also discovered a real sense of who I am.”
HEAR FROM ALIDA
LUKE
“I think one of my favourite memories at Tonbridge is running out onto The Fifty, leading the team, and seeing all the Old Tonbridgians on the sidelines, alongside the boys in our year and the year below, chanting, singing and playing the drums and saxophone. As I ran through the tunnel, I felt part of the community. I was proud to represent the School, knowing that the younger boys were looking up to me in the same way that I once looked up to those before me. It felt like a full-circle moment, and is something I’ll always remember.”
HEAR FROM LUKE
AARON
“Aaron exhibited a rare combination of energy, care, and authenticity during his tenure as Head of House for Whitworth in his final year. From supporting younger boys in the Games Room, his presence in the garden with the Second Year for cricket, leading on House music and his contributions across House sport and athletics, and his broader commitment to school life as a Prae, have all reinforced the depth and consistency of his engagement. He has set an outstanding example to younger Whitworthians and leaves a lasting legacy in the culture and spirit of the house.” Chris Ashurst, Housemaster
HEAR FROM AARON
LIFE IN TONBRIDGE TOWN
Getting to Tonbridge
Nestled in the heart of Kent, Tonbridge is a quintessential English market town that offers the best of both worlds: a peaceful, safe environment with easy access to the capital. Previously voted the “happiest place to live in the South East,” the town is framed by the rolling hills, bluebell woods, and ancient paths of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its impressive 13th-century castle and wealth of historical buildings serve as a reminder of the town’s rich heritage. The School is at the top of the town’s vibrant high street, surrounded by independent shops, cafés, and cultural attractions. The River Medway flows through the town, offering opportunities for rowing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, with the annual Dragon Boat Race bringing the community together in a vibrant display of teamwork and competition. With excellent transport links, Tonbridge is just 40 minutes from Central London by train. London airports are within easy reach too, with Heathrow just an hour away by car. As part of the commuter belt, Tonbridge has a strong, family-friendly community, making it an ideal place for young people to live and learn.
SEE OUR VIRTUAL TOUR HERE
1 hour
from Heathrow Airport
40 mins from Central London
APPLICATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
We are looking for students who are keen to develop their subject specialisms, to pursue their academic interests and passions, and take full advantage of our broad and rich Sixth Form curriculum. We welcome prospective Sixth Form students to visit us from Year 10, at one, or both, of our Open Mornings (in September and March). As well as hearing from the Headmaster and viewing our campus, you will meet current students and academic leads. The deadline for applications is 1 October in the year before entry (Year 11). Our Sixth Form Scholarship Programme celebrates exceptional talent within academic, music and sporting spheres and has been designed to attract, nurture and support new Sixth Form students in their areas of strength. Please visit our website to discover more about the application process and deadlines.
Welcoming girls from 2028 Day girls will join Sixth Form from 2028 and from 2030, we will also welcome girls as boarders. In addition to new boarding facilities, there will be new sporting facilities, a Sixth Form Hub and increased House dining capacity as part of a new masterplan for the whole School estate. We look forward to sharing further details in the months ahead. Please visit our dedicated Co-educational Sixth Form page for further information.
Tonbridge School High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1JP +44 (0)1732 304297 admissions@tonbridge-school.org
TONBRIDGE-SCHOOL.CO.UK
Tonbridge School is a registered charity No. 1097977 The information is accurate at the time of going to press