Parents' Handbook

Ethos and Aims

Tonbridge School aims to provide a caring and enlightened environment in which the talents of each individual flourish. We encourage boys to be creative, tolerant and to strive for academic, sporting and cultural excellence. Respect for tradition and an openness to innovation are equally valued. A well-established house system at the heart of the school fosters a strong sense of belonging. Tonbridge seeks to celebrate its distinctive mixture of boarders and day boys; this helps to create a unique broadening and deepening of opportunity. We want boys to enjoy their time here, but also to be made aware of their social and moral responsibilities. Tonbridgians should enter into the adult world with the knowledge and self-belief to fulfil their own potential and, in many cases, to become leaders in their chosen field. Equally, we hope to foster a life-long empathy for the needs and views of others: in the words of the great novelist and Old Tonbridgian, E.M. Forster: ‘Only Connect’. 

Tonbridge School aims to provide an unsurpassed education of excellence and breadth; we focus our efforts and resources on achieving this by: 

Continuing to strive for Academic Excellence, with our boys achieving the highest possible academic standards, routinely exceeding initial expectations when they join the School. Tonbridge takes advantage of its independence, innovating in curricular matters as appropriate; the academic programme is designed to support, engage, stretch and challenge all boys (including the most able), equipping them for later life. 

Offering Co-Curricular Breadth and Depth, with a vibrant and balanced programme encompassing sport, music, art, drama and many other activities to underpin a culture of creativity, innovation and excellence, but also to provide opportunities for service to others, self-reliance and leadership. 

Providing Pastoral Excellence, with the house system at the heart of pastoral care, generating the small group identity that strengthens a sense of security, belonging and well-being, and allowing boys to contribute meaningfully to house as well as school activities. This system also aims to focus on each boy’s progress and ambitions (encouraging all to contribute to the school and house communities) and to foster mutual tolerance and respect through appropriate rewards and sanctions. 

Encouraging a heightened sense of Individual and Collective Social Responsibility so that along with the privileges and advantages of a Tonbridge education, there is also a strong sense of social responsibility across the entire school community (staff as well as boys) based on self-knowledge, carefully fostered spiritual and moral values, and a grounded, outward-looking awareness of others. 

The School aims to recruit, retain and develop the best and most committed teaching and support staff to ensure that it is able to achieve its aims. We ensure that all our staffing, communication, recruitment, admissions, development and financial activities support the School’s aims, and that the wider Tonbridge community (including parents, Old Tonbridgians, Tonbridge School Foundation, the Parents’ Arts Society and the Skinners’ Company) helps us achieve these aims, and benefits from the School’s activities. 

In summary, Tonbridge School aims to provide an excellent and broad education, to ensure that each boy fulfils his potential and is able to make a significant contribution in his chosen field(s) both at school and in the adult world, where many will become leaders.

Pastoral Care – The Framework

The foundation of the Pastoral Care Framework is the House system and the prime responsibility for a boy’s welfare and progress at the School lies with his Housemaster. There are 7 Boarding and 5 Day Houses. 

All boarding Housemasters are assisted in their pastoral duties by an assistant Housemaster, a team of 5 House Tutors and a House Matron. House Matrons are accessible to all boarders for long periods of time during any given day. They take responsibility for a wide range of the needs of boarders, including medical help, laundry, hospital or dental trips, but they also offer invaluable pastoral support and a ready ear to listen to boys’ problems. A Boarding House is manned by a responsible adult (Housemaster, Assistant Housemaster, Tutor, Matron, Housemaster’s wife, or other School employee) throughout any given 24-hour period during term-time. 

Day Housemasters have a team of 5 House Tutors to assist them. There are inevitably longer periods during the day, such as teaching periods, when day Houses may be left unmanned by adults. During such times boys are always within easy reach of the main School buildings and have access to emergency contact numbers and telephones. 

The role of Assistant Housemasters and House Tutors is to support the Housemaster in his general pastoral duties on a regular basis, but also to take specific responsibility for a group of boys within a House. This takes the form of academic advice, particularly when reports are circulated, but also pastoral support and encouragement. The House Pastoral Team will be involved in a wide range of House activities. Tutors for boys in the first year are also encouraged to give additional support. Housemasters appoint some boys in their top year as House Praes to assist them in running the House and helping to solve problems involving the welfare of other boys. School Praes are appointed by the Headmaster to help him and the Second Master in a similar way in the School. These Praes receive induction at the start of their term of office and are subject to continual supervision and monitoring of their role. 

The School pays particular attention to the need for boys to have access to different members of staff for advice and help. The Upper Master oversees the welfare of the top 3 years on a whole School basis. The Lower Master oversees the welfare of the first 2 years on a whole School basis. The School Chaplain can be approached at any time during the School week as a further source of advice and help. In addition, all boys are made aware that the School Counsellor is available 4 days a week to see in confidence. An Independent Listener (an adult outside School) is also available for boys. The Welfare Group meets regularly under the Chairmanship of the Second Master to monitor specific welfare issues. 

The Medical Centre staff are available 24-hours a day during term-time and a School Doctor is on duty every morning except Sunday. Boys may make confidential appointments with a School Doctor or with any other Doctor at the local practice (Warders Medical Centre). 

All boys have the opportunity to contribute their views on aspects of the Pastoral system through a School Council, House Councils and House Food Committees. There is also a clearly stated complaints procedure for boys and others wishing to make formal complaints about any aspects of School life. The whole Pastoral system is formally monitored and supervised by the Second Master (who is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead), and by the Governors’ Pastoral Committee. They report respectively to the Headmaster, and to the Governors of the School

Admissions Portal

The admissions portal is an online resource made available to parents of new boys in the early summer, prior to their arrival at Tonbridge. Parents of boys joining Tonbridge in September will be sent login details for the portal during late June some 10 weeks before entry. The portal allows the school to collect from parents many of the details required in order to make their son’s transition to Tonbridge as smooth as possible. It also provides parents with important information relating to their son’s arrival at Tonbridge. The admissions portal normally closes some three weeks after it is made available, by which time all of the required forms should have been completed.

Academic Terms

It is important to note that there are specific events for each term and that boys are present for the whole term (see also section on Absence from school). 

At the beginning of each term all boys are given a copy of the Lists and Calendar for the coming term. This small booklet contains details of the term’s events as well as complete lists of staff and boys.

Novi: On the first Wednesday of the Michaelmas Term at 4.00 pm all new boys, with their parents or guardians, are invited by their Housemasters to tea in their Houses. Boys should wear smart casual clothes. Housemasters will then look after the boys while parents and guardians attend the Chapel for a brief address by the Headmaster at 5.00 pm. Precise details of the timings will be available to parents and boys via the Parent Portal. Day boys should note that this is the afternoon before the first full day of term.

Thursday will start with a Chapel service at 8.35 am (day boys should arrive by the usual check-in time of 8.20 am). After Chapel boys will be collected by their House Tutor, who will guide them through their first morning at Tonbridge. 

Lunch will be taken in Houses at 1.00 pm, and all Novi boys will be involved in a games session from 2.15 until around 4.00. It is therefore important for day boys to make sure that they have their games kit at school for this first afternoon, and for their parents to note that day boys will be able to leave school around 4.30 on this first Thursday. 

Friday sees the start of normal school routine, with five lessons in the morning, a pursuits period after lunch and two further lessons in the afternoon. This will be followed by a games session which will finish around 6.00 pm. (Please see the section Timing of school days to see how the timetable on a Friday afternoon changes according to the winter and summer timetables.) 

On Saturday afternoon there will be games for everyone in the first year - day boys will be free to leave by 4.30 pm. Boarders spend the first weekend at school when a range of activities will be available. 

On the first Sunday of term all Novi attend Chapel with day parents being invited to attend School Matins at 10.30 am in the Chapel. There will be a reception in Old Big School after the service. 10 Further information about the school routine and times can be found under Departure times for day boys, Timetable information and Timing of school days. 

All years – important term events to note 

Michaelmas Term: House Rugby, Novi House Swimming Gala, House Film, Senior Debating and House Music Competitions. On the last Sunday of term there are two Parents’ Carol Services (4pm and 7pm) to which all parents are invited by House, rotated annually. During the last few days of term all Houses host either House Lunches or Suppers. A whole-school presentation assembly is held during the last week of term with the Novi and 2nd Year also having a separate awards assembly the same week. 

Lent Term: House Art, Hockey, Soccer, Junior debating and competitions. A whole-school presentation assembly is held during the last week of term with the Novi and 2nd Year also having a separate awards assembly the same week. A Chapel service is held for all boys at 12.30pm on the last day of term. 

Summer Term: A service and reception on the Friday before half-term for leavers and their parents, a whole-school presentation assembly is held during the last week of term with the Novi and 2nd Year also having a separate awards assembly the same week, along with Cricket and Athletics finals, Interviews for the Upper Sixth with the School Governors, the Leavers’ Concert, and the Leavers’ Ball (see also section on Skinners’ Day).

Aerosol products

In the light of the possible dangerous misuse of aerosols and the ready availability of alternative non-aerosol products, the possession and use of aerosols, other than those dispensing deodorant, shaving foam or gel, on school premises is discouraged.

Alcohol

The effects of drinking and juvenile alcoholism are a major concern to all schools. Boys need to be advised sensibly and educated. This is achieved in part through the school curriculum, supported by the school’s policy on alcohol (see The Memoranda and the School’s Alcohol and Smoking Policy). School rules state that no boy below the Upper Sixth is allowed to visit a public house at any time when the school has responsibility for him. When a boy goes home for the weekend, it is accepted that he is then the responsibility of his parents. However difficult situations have arisen when boys ‘officially’ at home are seen drinking in Tonbridge public houses, and this makes it more difficult to enforce the school rules applying to those staying at school over the weekend. We have therefore laid down a rule that Sixth Form boys who are not under the school’s responsibility (i.e. a Day boy or a boarder who is signed out for the weekend) may not drink in public houses close to the School. Parents are asked to reinforce this ruling to their sons.

Arts programme

The school produces an Arts Programme three times a year, listing the dates and times of all Plays, Concerts, Exhibitions and Seminar Lectures that are planned for the term. Parents are most welcome to attend any of the listed events – you can book through www.tonbridgearts.com, or alternatively the Box Office is open Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 2.30 pm - telephone 01732 304241.

Billing Extras

These are available to view on the Parent Portal if you are registered as the bill payer on our school database. They show extras added to your son’s account since the last bill was issued. Please note that extras are added to your son's account as soon as costs are finalised for an activity. In practical terms there may be a delay between the occurrence of an event or activity and the finalisation of cost. Some charges, such as House Accounts, are submitted at the end of each term and will not be visible at an earlier stage. Please bear this in mind when reviewing the charges recorded. 

Individual Shop transactions may represent multiple quantities, i.e. more than one file, pen, pencil etc. Unfortunately, it is not possible to display individual transaction quantities on this view, only the total transaction value for individual items, but these are available from the Shop Manager (Gail Hollywood gh@tonbridge-school.org or ext 4240) and can be emailed to you on request.

Bullying

The school does not tolerate any form of bullying. There is a strict anti-bullying policy and a cyberbullying policy, given to all boys and available on the website and/or the Parent Portal. Throughout their time at the school, boys are taught to respect one another and to develop a constructive and co-operative approach to the needs of others in the community. Understanding and adhering to the anti-bullying policy is an important part of this development. The Anti-Bullying Council is a pupil council coordinated by members of staff which aims to promote a culture which rejects any bullying behaviour.

Calculator and geometric instruments

Your son will probably already have geometrical instruments (ruler, protractor, compasses, etc.): all he needs to know is that the Pound stocks replacement items. 

He will also need a scientific calculator, i.e. one that has function buttons like SIN, COS, TAN and LOG and that can cope with numbers in standard index form. There are restrictions on which models are allowed to be used in GCSE and AS/A level maths exams. Our recommended model satisfying these restrictions is the widely available Casio fx-85GT. This inexpensive calculator is stocked in the Pound and your son is strongly advised to purchase this model if he does not already have a scientific calculator or if he is thinking of replacing his current calculator.

Change of Address or other details

Parents are asked to inform the Headmaster’s Office immediately, in writing, of any change of address and telephone number(s) so that the school’s records can be kept up to date. Alternatively, parents should visit the Parent Portal home page where they can check contact details held for them on the school’s database and make amendments via the Contact Details Amendment form. It is of utmost importance that the school has daytime and evening numbers (including, if relevant, mobile numbers), fax and e-mail details in case of emergency. This is also possible within the Tonbridge for Parents app

Child Protection (within Safeguarding)

The school has a formal Child Protection Policy which is consistent with the guidelines issued by the DfE and the Kent Local Safeguarding Children Board. The full policy is available on the Parent Portal and the School’s website. The Deputy Head Pastoral, Mr C J C Swainson, acts as the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, with the Second Master, Mr J R Bleakley, and the Lower Master, Mrs J H McNeil, acting as his deputies and at the TSC Mr A Lloyd, the TSC Manager. The Governors’ Pastoral Committee monitors Child Protection issues. A welfare group meets regularly under the Chairmanship of the Second Master to discuss any pupils felt to be at risk.

Complaints

If at any time parents have cause for concern or occasion for complaint, they should raise the matter with the school as soon as possible. All concerns or complaints will be taken seriously and with respect, and the school will respond promptly. Parents should feel free to talk directly with a member of staff, to telephone, or to write with details of the issue that concerns them. In the first instance it may be best to address a concern to the member of staff most closely involved with the matter at issue (e.g. the Housemaster, Head of Department), but there may be some concerns which parents prefer to bring directly to the Second Master or the Headmaster. Parents also have the right to contact ISI. The Complaints Policy is available in full on the Parent Portal.

Contact Lists

The Year and House Contact Details lists are produced with the understanding that the data is not used by parents to communicate anything other than matters relating to the school. You are prohibited from harvesting, aggregating, mining, copying or otherwise collecting information about others, including but not limited to names, email addresses, telephone numbers from the information provided for other purposes or for your own gain. You can opt-in to the year list or the house list via the Parent Portal.

Counsellor and Independent Listener

The School Counsellor spends four days a week at the school, and boys who are experiencing any form of difficulty may book a free confidential session. House notice boards give full details of how boys should book their appointments with the Counsellor. Please also see the section on Confidentiality. The Counsellor, Dr Shirley Lauryn, is always willing to meet parents where that might be helpful and she can assist parents to identify appropriate professional support outside school, if they require. To contact the Counsellor please ring 01732 365555 and ask for extension 4254. The School has an Independent Listener, details of which can be found on all House noticeboards and within this handbook.

Data Protection

The School has a formal Data Protection (Boys and Parents) Policy which is consistent with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Policy is available on the School’s website.

Departure times for Day Boys

A day boy may return home after his school commitments for a given day are completed. In reality a boy’s earliest routine departure times are listed below, but many boys will be involved in a number of activities and hence their departure time could be up to ninety minutes later on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Monday          4.15 pm  (after the last lesson)

Tuesday         4.30 pm  (after games)

Wednesday   6.05 pm  (after the last lesson)

Thursday        4.30 pm  (after games)

Friday               6.05 pm  (after games in the summer and after last lesson during the winter timetable)

Saturday          After school matches have been completed

On a Saturday, home fixtures are likely to be completed by 4.30 pm, while boys involved in away matches are likely to return to school between 5.30 and 6.30 pm depending on the length of the journey.

Boys not involved in games on a Saturday afternoon may leave after lunch (2.00 pm), but they are encouraged to stay and watch the home matches if at all possible.

Day boys staying for evening events are expected to arrange with their parents as to whether they are staying at school for an evening meal or are going home before returning later. The boy should then inform his Housemaster of his plans.

Drama

Located in the E.M. Forster Theatre, the Drama Department offers unrivalled facilities available to all Tonbridgians whether they are studying Drama and Theatre or taking part in co-curricular productions. We encourage participation in all its forms, whether it’s working backstage with our professional team of technicians, performing in the 400-seat theatre or enjoying the programme of professional productions as a member of the audience.

The Drama Department is central to the cultural life of the school and we work closely with the Music and English Departments to deliver a creative and culturally diverse curriculum. We stage an impressive range of productions over the course of the academic year including a whole school play or musical in the Michaelmas Term, a Junior Play, a Lower Sixth Play and an Edinburgh Fringe Play in the Summer Term, four or more House Plays scattered through the year, as well as numerous exam performances in the Lent Term.

With a range of Theatre trip to London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Drama Department offers a wonderfully rich experience of theatre.

Driving by boys

The school policy prohibits any boy from driving to or from school without the Headmaster’s permission. Day boys, when they have passed their driving test, may apply for the Headmaster’s permission through their Housemaster. Where permission is granted it is only for journeys to and from school, and boys may not use their cars for any other purpose.

Boys must also seek the Headmaster’s permission if they wish to drive other boys to and from school and the same applies to the passengers – they must have permission to be driven to school by another boy. It is extremely rare for boarders to be given permission to keep a car at school. Permission to drive form and guidelines can be found on the Parent Portal.

Boys may not use motorbikes.

If driving lessons are arranged during term time Sixth Formers must ensure that they do not clash with school commitments.

E-mail

All boys have access to e-mail facilities subject to abiding by the school’s Acceptable Use of Computers (Boys) Policy, which is available on the website.

Equal Opportunities

The school is committed to securing equality of opportunity through the creation of an environment in which pupils are treated on the sole basis of their relative merits and abilities. This commitment is shared by all pupils, staff and governors.

There is a written policy on discrimination which is available to parents on request.

Examinations (Public)

The school prepares boys for the following public examinations:

GCSE: nine or ten subjects are taken at the end of the 3rd Year (year 11). Most subjects use the IGCSE qualification whose grading scheme is identical to "domestic" GCSEs. Boys taking Double Award Science usually end up with nine GCSEs. Some boys take the Latin & Greek option and thus end up with one more GCSE qualification, Latin being taken at the end of the Second Year and Greek at the end of the Third.

Sixth Form: Other than Geography which retains an AS examination at the end of the Lower Sixth year, all other subjects offered at Tonbridge have terminal examinations taken at the end of the Upper Sixth. We use reformed A level specifications for most subjects but the following six subjects use the Pre-U course: English, History, Mandarin, Philosophy & Theology, Art and Music. The Pre-U qualification has a different grading scheme based on Pass, Merit and Distinction grades. 

Most boys start with four subjects and are encouraged to continue with all four until at the least the end of the Lower Sixth. Eventually about half the boys in a year group drop to three subjects.

The school is a centre for public examinations only in the summer of an academic year. Immediate past leavers will be able, if necessary, to re-take A level modules in the June of the year after leaving the school but a charge for invigilation will have to be made, along with a charge for the examination entry.

In addition the school is a centre for Associated Board Music examinations. Contact the Director of Music for further details.

External examination charges

It is the policy of the Examination Boards to require payment of exam entry charges in advance. This is why, to some parents’ understandable surprise, these charges appear on their school bill before their son has taken the examinations.

Enquiries about Examination Results

The Director of Studies publishes advice and information about challenging the marking of exam papers at the end of the Summer Term. Essentially such enquiries about results have to be made through the school as the examination centre. The examination boards will not entertain enquiries made by individual candidates or their parents. Boys are also able to request to see copies of their exam scripts.

Exeats

In each term there are one or two fixed long or short exeats, in addition to the half-terms. The dates for these, together with the start and end of each term, are published well in advance. In the Michaelmas Term the first long exeat is from Friday lunchtime to 9.15 pm on Sunday evening and the second fixed long exeat is from Saturday afternoon to the Monday evening. In the Summer Term there is a long exeat, covering the early May Bank Holiday, running from Saturday afternoon to Monday evening. All the other exeats are from Saturday afternoon (after games commitments have been fulfilled) to 9.15 pm on Sunday evening. On long exeats, lasting for more than one night, the school is closed and all boarders are expected to go home with parents or guardians.

See also the sections on Returning to school after the holidays and exeats and Weekends when there is no exeat.

Firefly

The school uses Firefly as our learning platform.

This learning platform is most powerful when used in conjunction with mobile computing devices. The ‘Firefly for Students’ app enables boys to access online learning resources, to communicate with teachers, to keep track of their prep and other commitments, and much more. This app is available on iPhone/iPad and Android devices, and so we recommend that all boys should carry a smart-phone or other mobile-enabled device compatible with the Firefly for Students app. Further guidance on the suitability of a particular device can be obtained, if necessary, from Anthony Milgate, the Director of IT & Digital Services.

One of the functions that Firefly provides is to bring together in one place each boy’s homepage the details of all of the preps that he has been set – we hope this will help boys to remain organised and plan their prep time effectively. As a result, we no longer issue Prep diaries. If a boy wishes to continue using his own diary to record prep that, of course, will be fine.

Guardians

To assist the school in caring for the pupils of parents living overseas, the school requires parents to nominate a guardian who is resident in the UK. A pro-forma is sent out with the offer letter for new parents and must be completed and returned to the Admissions Office as part of the condition of entry.

The role of a guardian is to provide or arrange appropriate accommodation (if required) for the pupil:

• during school holidays, half-terms or Exeats; 
• if the school has to close temporarily because of an emergency, e.g. fire or epidemic;
• if the pupil has to be away from school on medical advice or if he is temporarily suspended;
• to take decisions in emergencies on behalf of the parents in cases where the school is not empowered to do so;
• to be accessible in case of emergency.

Given the above reasons for guardianship it is important that a pupil’s guardian does not live too far from the school – ideally within two hours’ drive of Tonbridge.

House Awards

Boys who have made a significant contribution, in one way or another, to life in the House, or have generally been a credit to the House in some aspect of school life, are rewarded with some form of House Award.

House Rules

Each House has its own set of House Rules. These are displayed on House noticeboards and are discussed with first year boys as part of their induction programme. A copy of the House Rules is available on request from individual Housemasters. These are an extension of the Behaviour, Rewards and Sanctions Policy and boys must adhere to them.

Independent Listener

The Independent Listener is a confidential and supportive adult available to the boys who wish to discuss something with someone outside the School community. A policy explaining the role is available on the School’s website. The independent Listener is: 

Mrs Patricia Bridgland, Mobile: 07941 007527; Home: 01892 824671; Email: bridglandpatricia@gmail.com

Insurance

It is recommended that any valuable personal possessions that are brought to school, including laptops and other electronic devices, are clearly marked and insured under an ‘All Risks’ policy. The school is not able to accept responsibility for the insurance of boys’ personal effects.

ISI

The name, address and telephone number of the body now responsible for inspecting and safeguarding child protection issues is ISI (Independent Schools’ Inspectorate).

CAP House, 9-12 Long Lane, London, EC1A 9HA. Tel: 020 7710 9900. Email: concerns@isi.net. Website: www.isi.net/complaints/

The last Inspection (both academic and pastoral) took place in 2021. The full report can be found on both the school and ISI website.

Leave into the town and elsewhere (also refer to Bounds)

At various times during the school day boys have the opportunity, if they do not have any other school commitments, to visit the local shops in the centre of Tonbridge.

Specific school rules on what is and is not out of bounds are stated in The Memoranda (available on the school’s website). In terms of visiting the town, there are a number of possible times during the week.

Boarders may sign out of their Houses in the evening (after 6.00 pm) for short periods of time in order to use school facilities or to visit a local shop. Permission to go anywhere else must be given by a boy’s Housemaster.

Boys in the 1st and 2nd Year are not allowed out after 9.00 pm. All 3rd Year boarders should be back in their House by 10.00 pm and Sixth Form boarders by 10.30 pm.

Concerts, plays, evening trips to theatres may delay a boy’s return, but nonetheless it is important that a boy has obtained his Housemaster’s permission before leaving his House.

Lost Property

Any property lost on the school grounds, around the school or at the Tonbridge School Centre is returned to and stored at the school reception, where it will be kept for a term. Any unclaimed items will be disposed of. Any named items are returned to the boy's house. Please ensure that all property is named.

Matches against other schools

Parents are encouraged to support their sons at school matches. Fixtures are listed in the termly School Lists and Calendar. Via the sports section of the website parents may also synchronise their own personal calendars via outlook to school sports fixtures which will allow you to receive updates with match details and team information in relation to specific sides (full details of this service may be found on the school sports website).

Maps and directions to other schools can be found on the sports website.

On Saturdays Home matches usually start between 2.15 and 2.30 pm, but in order to maximise the use of the Astros, some hockey matches will start earlier. If daylight permits the senior home team may start nearer 3.00 pm. It is best to check with your son with regard to the scheduled start-time of his match, but details will be available from Reception (01732 365555) up to midday on Saturday and can also be found on the sports website.

Maps showing which home team is playing on which pitch will be available from 1.50 to 2.30 pm for anyone arriving at the swimming pool entrance to the games fields. The QR code featured on the sports programme will also allow you to receive an updated weekly schedule should you wish.

Both at Tonbridge and at other schools a post-match tea is provided for parents. At Tonbridge there will be signs to direct you to the venue for tea (usually the Tonbridge School Centre).

At the end of a home match parents are free to take their sons home if they are day boys or boarders going on weekend leave (See the section on Exeats, Returning to school, Weekend trips, and Weekends when there is no exeat.)

The same applies to away matches, but in addition parents are welcome to bring their son back to Tonbridge even if he is not going on weekend leave. It is very important for you or your son to inform relevant members of staff if he is not going to be on the coach for the return journey – a lot of time can be wasted looking for a boy who has already left with his parents! Boys must not take lifts with other parents unless there has been explicit permission from his parents and the member of staff taking the team has been informed.

Coaches returning boys to Tonbridge from away fixtures are likely to arrive back at school between 6.00 and 6.30 pm, but return from away cricket matches can be nearer 8.30 pm.

The school has a published Code of Conduct for Sport which parents are asked to note.

Medical matters

The School Medical Centre is open twenty-four hours a day during term-time and staffed by registered nurses. The centre has twelve beds and has full outpatient facilities.

Parents are asked to complete and return a medical before the start of term via the Admissions Portal.

All boarders at the school are encouraged to register with the Medical Officers, who are local General Practitioners contracted by the school to care for the health of the boys under the National Health Service. One of the doctors holds a morning surgery in the Medical Centre Monday to Friday. Boys are also free to make their own appointments at Warders, the doctors’ local practice - telephone 01732 770088.

For a boy to register with the school doctors please complete a GMS1 (which can be found as an attachment in your Novi pack) on entry to the school. (When boys leave the school they need to re-register with a GP as they will be de-registered from the Tonbridge medical practice.)

Boarders who require medical attention in their House will initially see the House Matron, who will then refer them to the Medical Centre if necessary.

Any boy who is taken ill during lesson time or injured while on the games field will be taken to the Medical Centre. In the case of day boys, parents will be contacted as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made for taking him home. If any boarder has to stay in the medical centre overnight or is taken to hospital, his parents will be informed.

If a boy has been ill, or has received any medical treatment, or has been in contact with any infectious diseases during school holidays, the Termly Health Update form on the Parents Portal must be completed. Any medication that a boarder brings back to school must be handed to his House Matron at the beginning of term. Any boy taking malaria prophylaxis must bring the medication with him so that he can complete the course. Enquiries about medical issues are welcomed from parents, who should telephone the Medical Centre directly - 01732 304272 - or contact their son’s Housemaster.

The school offers a group medical insurance scheme with AXA PPP, details of which are sent in advance by the Bursary to the parents of all new boys and are also available at all times on the parent portal. All boys are automatically enrolled in a Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (incorporating emergency dental insurance) details of which are also available at all times on the parent portal. The medical insurance scheme is strongly recommended if you have no other insurance policy in place. Further details are available from the Bursary - 01732 304122.

Other medical matters are listed under Confidentiality, Counsellor, Dental Care, Eye Tests, Immunisation and inoculations, Medicines and Sport injuries.

Music

The school has a long-established tradition of high quality music-making. We aim to stimulate a life-long enjoyment of music by encouraging as many boys as possible to participate in musical performance, both choral and instrumental. All ensembles are professionally coached and perform regularly, both within and beyond the School. At present roughly half the boys in the School have instrumental tuition; more are involved in choral activity. The Music School is available for teaching and practice throughout the day and during the evening; its resources include four Steinway grand pianos, a percussion room, a rock room and a double recording studio. There are 16 practice rooms equipped with Steinway designed pianos.

The Director of Music will also be delighted to give advice as to a suitable instrument, if that is needed, and can be contacted by e-mail via this address: jmm@tonbridge-school.org. In general, it is entirely possible for a boy to embark upon a new wind or brass instrument and achieve a high standard by the time he leaves school. A stringed instrument is less likely to be started successfully at this age, though this does not apply to the Double Bass. Obviously, most instrumental lessons have to be given in school time; in order to ensure that a boy does not miss the same subject each week, we arrange a rota system for the term. This rota covers the whole school day rather than just academic lessons. All parents are requested to complete a Music Tuition Form.

The fee for a term's course of ten weekly individual lessons of forty minutes is £350 (in 2021-2022). A full term's notice in writing to the Director of Music is required if lessons are to be terminated. Ensemble coaching, aural, theory and scales classes are all free of charge. A large stock of instruments is available for hire to pupils free of charge.

The school has a large number of musical groups: Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, Big Bands, Concert Band and School Orchestra, as well as many chamber music groups, including Jazz and Rock. The Chapel Choir sings at school services on Sundays.

Live music-making is a central feature of the Music Department's work and several formal concerts are given each term by boys and staff. The Octagon Concerts (Tuesdays at 5.30 pm) provide a weekly opportunity for less formal performance. The programmes are designed to give as much variety and interest as possible, and parents and friends are always very welcome to attend. Details of musical events can be found in the Arts Brochure or on the School’s website.

Overseas Universities Evening

In the Michaelmas Term there is an ‘Overseas Universities Evening’ for boys who are or may be considering attending university outside the UK. Experts on American, European and other international universities give talks, followed by a question and answer session and an opportunity to meet the speakers over drinks. The evening is open to boys and parents across all years, but is most relevant for those in the Lower Sixth.

Parents’ Pastoral Evenings

Held in the first half of the Michaelmas Term, there is a specific Evening for the parents of Novi. The talk given, and subsequent discussions, cover what is PSHEE, Anti-bullying and Online Safety. There will be a parents’ pastoral conference held in the Michaelmas Term of 2018, covering a range of topics, for parents of boys in all year groups.

Parties

Parents often ask the school for our views on private parties. Teaching staff at Tonbridge are given the following guidance in relation to boys and alcoholic drinks:

1. Boys in the first three years of the school should never be allowed alcohol.
2. Boys in the Sixth Form can drink wine, cider, or beer under supervision, but care should be taken about the quantity consumed. It is envisaged that these social occasions will involve a meal of some form. As a rough rule of thumb, two small glasses of wine (125ml) or two bottles of beer (330ml) would be seen as plenty with a meal.
3. Bottles of wine should never be left on tables for boys to self-serve. Boys should never be allowed to drink spirits. Soft drinks and water should always be available as an alternative.

Any social situation where alcohol may be served without a meal must have the express permission of the Second Master.

Parents are asked to consider this guidance and the following points when planning a party or giving consent for their sons to attend a private party:

• Communication: It is absolutely right that parents should speak to each other about proposed parties in advance. Your sons should not feel that it is unusual for you to speak to other parents about the arrangements regarding a party, nor should parents feel that they cannot ask the questions they want to of the hosts. If you are hosting a party it may be that you take the initiative and contact other parents in advance with details. Parents organising parties should expect and welcome phone calls from other parents. It is also worth clarifying who the other guests are – age range, school, etc.
• Alcohol: This is a difficult area as so much depends on the judgement of parents. We would recommend that there should be NO ALCOHOL at all at parties where boys in the first three years are present. Adults at a party should ensure that there is moderate consumption of alcohol. As a general rule, it is suggested that only beer and a little wine is available. Spirits should not be served to boys of school age. We would remind parents boys in the first three years that parties are often of mixed age groups, and you need to satisfy yourself about the nature of the party your son might be attending. It is also important that where alcohol is to be served that food is available.
• Adult Presence: Any party involving young people should have an adult on the premises in some capacity. It is always worth checking by getting in contact beforehand.
• Post party supervision: It should be the responsibility of the hosts to ensure that guests are picked up safely and are returned to the care of a responsible adult. Guests should not be allowed to leave the party under the care of anyone not authorised by the parent.
• Timing: With lessons and other school commitments on Saturdays, we strongly recommend that private parties are only organised on Saturday evenings, if in term-time.

Photographs

The school’s policy on cameras and photographic images is set out on the Parent Portal and the School’s website. Parents are asked to read this if they wish to take photographs of a school event.

House and Team photographs are taken regularly throughout the academic year and are available to purchase following the links supplied on the Parent Portal and via the fortnightly newsletter.

Post & Packages

Packages addressed to boys will generally be delivered direct to Reception and can only be collected by their Housemaster. Boys should not assume privacy when a package is delivered - Housemasters routinely ask boys to open a package in their presence.

Prep and work outside the classroom

In the first three years preps are assigned to cyclical days (as opposed to days of the week). Preps and other tasks will be recorded on the School’s new Digital Learning companion: Firefly.

On any given night of the week (Monday to Friday) boys should receive prep in three subjects and should expect the following quantity of work:

•      1st Year       90 minutes
•      2nd Year      90–120 minutes
•      3rd Year      120–150 minutes

In addition to the above boys will receive prep at the weekends. They must therefore use their time effectively (especially on Sundays) to ensure that all their work is completed in preparation for Monday.

At Sixth Form level preps are set according to the nature of the subject; some will set a short prep after almost every lesson while a more essay-based subject is likely to set one extended piece of work per week. In addition to any set prep boys are expected to consolidate and develop their work in the classroom by more extensive reading. In general a Sixth Former should be aiming to complete 18 hours per week on average outside the classroom.

Pursuits Periods

• These periods take place every Monday and Friday from 3.45-4.30pm: The priority of Activities is clarified in the termly Lists & Calendar.
• Departments are open and are manned so that boys can consult members of staff for help with difficulties and problems, and for advice about Universities, UCAS, and careers.
• Games practices are not allowed but, subject to priorities activities like Squash coaching and Cricket nets may take place.
• Boys are not allowed “down town” without permission from their Housemaster.
• Quiet conditions are maintained in Houses.

Seminar programme

The Seminar Programme operates in the 3rd year and the Lower Sixth, with both year groups receiving three periods per cycle, split into one double and one single period. Both the 3rd Year and the Lower Sixth are split into groups of around a dozen boys, which are deliberately selected to cut across Houses and academic subjects. The discussions, presentations and lectures embrace the academic as well as critical thinking and citizenship, pushing boys to consider issues and viewpoints outside of their normal field of view and comfort zone, and also contribute to the school’s ‘Personal, Social and Health Education’ programme. The emphasis throughout is not merely on receiving information, but also attempting to develop each individual’s ability to think and articulate their views.

The primary purpose of Seminar at all levels is to foster and deepen interest and understanding in philosophical, political, ethical, scientific and artistic issues, that lie beyond, yet underpin, study at GCSE, A level and Pre-U qualifications. Topics are wide-ranging (from censorship to surrealism, film direction to the ethics of charitable giving and sport, world citizenship to aesthetics) and embrace practical concerns as well as conceptual challenges (such as the ‘gap year’ and UCAS applications).

To this end Seminar welcomes a broad spectrum of external speakers, many of them distinguished in their fields. In past years, for example, Michael Portillo, Tom Avery, Baroness Vere, Sgt Johnson Beharry VC, Richard Suart and Peter Tatchell have all visited at the school.

Senior Students

In addition to the seven boarding houses, there is accommodation for 47 Sixth Formers in six Senior Student Houses, each under the supervision of a resident member of staff (known as the Senior Student Housemaster). The houses offer a greater independence for senior boys and the opportunity for longer periods of uninterrupted study; they can be a useful bridge between school and university in that respect. Boarders may choose to become senior students for one or more terms, but most boarding houses also operate a simple rota system so that boys take it in turns to be senior students. A senior student remains a member of his house in all other respects, including the taking of meals.

Sixth Form Academic Monitoring

Boys’ progress throughout the Sixth Form is carefully monitored to ensure they are fulfilling their academic potential. Monitoring takes place through a combination of progress tests, reports and examinations. These are scrutinised by tutors, Housemasters, the Deputy Head Academic and the Director of Learning and Academic Enrichment. If you require further details, please contact the Deputy Head Academic.

Smythe Library

Refurbished in 2016 you will find a café, newspapers, periodicals as well as the Higher Education and Careers Department plus a new classroom. The second floor houses fiction, some non-fiction and several group working spaces before going to the top floor which holds the Art, English, Languages and History collections, as well as a quiet working space.

There are two professional librarians who will help with finding the right information whether in a book or other media, and support all research.

The Learning Strategies Department is based on the Lower Ground floor together with disabled access to the lift.

Sports Centre

Opened in June 2008, Tonbridge School Centre (TSC) offers some of the very best sport and leisure facilities in the South East. TSC is open to pupils, parents and staff of Tonbridge School as well as members of the local community.

TSC Leisure Club offers Members use of our extensive facilities including our well-equipped contemporary Fitness Suite (Gym), award-winning Swimming Pool, an extensive array of Exercise Classes and our stunning world-class Athletics Track. Other activities including Tennis, Badminton and Table Tennis are available to Members free of charge and subject to availability.

TSC is also home of the Recre8 Children's Activity Courses which include a comprehensive range of leisure, sporting, creative and educational activities during term time and the school holidays.

Further information is available on the website. The Manager is Mr A R Lloyd and can be contacted on 01732 304111 or by email: arl@tonbridge-school.org

Sports equipment

Boys are expected to provide their own basic sports equipment (e.g. hockey stick, cricket bat) but the school will provide more specialised equipment (e.g. hockey goalkeeping kit) when it is needed.

It is school policy that boys must wear mouthguards when playing rugby and hockey. Mouthguards should be made to a specific standard by a dental surgeon. With this in mind, a company visit the school on a regular basis and provide custom-fitted mouthguards. Details are mailed to parents annually.

With similar regard for Health and Safety requirements, it is also school policy that boys must wear shin-pads when playing soccer or hockey.

Cricket helmets must be worn by all boys playing cricket whenever they are batting, wicket-keeping or fielding close to the wicket. The school will provide helmets for boys but it is expected that those who are selected to represent the school at A-team level provide their own helmets.

Study Skills

We work with all boys to build up a unique learning profile. We help them to reflect on their learning styles and preferences and provide them with a toolkit of strategies and resources which will be helpful across the curriculum. Study skills advice is available from the Learning Strategies department, and throughout their school careers, boys will be enabled to develop a range of Study Skills including smart revision strategies, memory techniques, better organisation, essay writing, proof reading and note taking. A range of Study Skills resources to support the boys’ development is available on the School’s intranet and Parent portal sites.

Additionally, all Novi complete a study skills programme called ‘Learning to Learn’ (L2L) during their first term. Boys are taught, in their normal English sets, essential study skills by teachers from the Learning Strategies department. The L2L project is the School’s bespoke programme for developing thinking and learning skills. It aims to make our pupils more active, self-reflective, independent and evaluative learners who will be equipped to face the demands of the School’s academic programme and to be able, upon leaving the School, to progress expertly and independently in their university studies.

Telephones

Please see the Mobile Phone Policy for full guidance.

The Tonbridge Society

THE TONBRIDGE SOCIETY

The Tonbridge Society brings together the Parents’ Arts Society, the Old Tonbridgian Society, Careers and Mentoring, and the Foundation Office under one inclusive umbrella, to inspire and support the boys, as well as foster a life-long relationship with the School and each other. It provides a social and professional network for all those who are part of the Tonbridge School community - parents, current boys, Old Tonbridgians, staff and friends of the School.

Throughout the year, the Tonbridge Society organises a wide-ranging programme of events and activities, providing opportunities to socialise, the chance to see the boys perform in concerts and theatrical productions, attend networking events and to cultivate a culture of philanthropic support. Other events are designed to bring together parents, OTs and the boys to share careers advice, offer work experience and provide mentoring opportunities.

Parents’ Arts Society

The Parents’ Arts Society was established in 1992. Its dedicated committee of parent volunteers develop a diverse programme of social and cultural events each term, from London and countryside walks, to evenings at the opera, wine tastings, and a very popular biennial Summer Ball. The Parents’ Arts programme also includes a variety of evening classes - from Photography to Italian Language - offering parents a chance to use the superb educational facilities of the school. Parents are invited to the Society’s termly Tennant Lecture Series, which cover a series of topics from the Arts, History and Popular Culture.

All new parents are automatically enrolled as members when their son joins Tonbridge and the charge for membership is met by the school until their son leaves, after which parents are given the opportunity to continue their membership.

The contact for the Parents’ Arts Society is Sarah Merriman, Parents’ Relationship Manager

Old Tonbridgian Society

For more than a century, we have worked to keep Old Tonbridgians in touch with one another, as well as with the school, beyond their time at Tonbridge. Each year, we provide or support programmes of value to our OTs throughout their lives, from our varied programme of events and reunions in the UK and internationally, to a wide range of OT-led activities such as our thriving sport societies and ‘Life after Tonbridge’ talks. The Old Tonbridgian Society also publishes an annual OT News and regular e-newsletters.

The OTS also supports a wide range of sporting clubs such as cricket, golf, football, rugby, shooting, sailing, fives, squash, hockey, rackets and real tennis: most of these clubs play at a high standard but also cater for the enthusiast. In short, the OTS takes an interest in all OTs and what they do when they have left Tonbridge. It will always be happy to advise and assist OTs in ventures on which they may be embarking and to encourage those with an entrepreneurial instinct, by putting them in touch with more experienced OTs.

All boys are automatically enrolled as members of the Society when they leave Tonbridge. The charge for their lifetime membership is met by the school.

The contact for the Old Tonbridgian Society is Tara Biddle, OT Relations Manager.

Careers Mentoring Scheme

From their first day at Tonbridge, boys will benefit from being part of the Tonbridge Society. Our Higher Education and Careers Department offers a structured academic programme which starts at the end of the Novi Year, as boys begin to choose their GCSEs, and gathers pace as they enter Sixth Form, and begin to consider university choices and explore their career ambitions.

Parents are encouraged to participate and support our Careers and Mentoring programme, by speaking at careers events at school, providing work experience or sharing their expertise with boys as a mentor. The contact for the Careers Mentoring Scheme is Ruth Davis, Head of Universities and Careers.

Tonbridge School Foundation

Tonbridge is a school built on philanthropy. We owe our existence to the generosity and foresight of our founder, Sir Andrew Judde, who in 1553 paved the way for a tradition of giving that has shaped the school that exists today. The Tonbridge Society encourages financial support for Tonbridge School through an integrated development programme.

The Tonbridge School Foundation was founded in 2003, to provide long term financial support for the school’s development plans. Through landmark gifts from individual donors and regular donations from our parents, OTs, and friends of the school, we have been able to make an incredible difference.

Previous campaigns have funded projects such as Old Big School Gallery, the Smythe Library and Learning Centre, and the Barton Science Centre, as well as enabling us to provide more Foundation Award bursary places. Our current fundraising focus is to widen access to the school through increased bursaries and increase opportunities to share our facilities and expertise more widely with other young people in our community.

Members of the Tonbridge Society are encouraged to support the work of the Foundation and get involved with fundraising projects wherever possible.

The contact for the Tonbridge School Foundation Office is Yvette Young, Development and Operations Manager.

Timetable Information

The school’s academic timetable is a fortnightly one, with the two weeks of the fortnightly cycle called week A and week B. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are whole school days (7 teaching periods); Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are half-days as far as academic lessons are concerned (5 periods in the morning followed by games in the afternoon). Parents are able to view their son’s timetable via the Parent Portal.

Example below:

Timing of school days

All day boys must report to their Houses by 8.20am and an explanation of the week is below:

• Monday:          House Tutor Time at 8.35 am
• Tuesday:         Chapel at 8.35 am
                          School Detention at 5.20 - 6.00 pm in G3
• Wednesday:  Year Group Assemblies at 8.35 am
• Thursday:       Chapel at 8.35 am
• Friday:             Chapel at 8.35 am

Saturday: Chapel at 8.35 am. Break follows Period 4, Away fixtures depart at Break. School finishes at 12.45pm if no afternoon commitments.

Evening Meetings: on weekdays (except Wednesdays) these normally occur between 6.50-8.20 pm. On Saturdays, meetings may occur at any time between 7.00-10.00 pm.

Games: Tuesday: 2.15-4.00pm; Thursday: 2.15-4.00pm; Friday (S): 4.45-6.00pm; Friday (W): 2.15-3.15pm; Saturday: Fixtures as required

[Boys involved in away fixtures will return to Tonbridge considerably later than 4.30 pm – see section on Matches against other schools.]

Trips to theatres, galleries and museums

Boys are regularly given the opportunity to visit theatres, galleries and museums in London and elsewhere – many of the visits are chosen to link with particular areas of study at GCSE and Sixth Form.

Details of theatre trips are posted at regular intervals in the English department. Boys sign up on the notice board. Other visits are organised directly by individual departments, for example the Art Department usually take a number of boys of all ages to various galleries and exhibitions during the year.

Separate consent forms are not sent to parents for each individual trip – the Activity Consent Form is available through the Admissions Portal for New Parents and covers all such trips.

Details of departure and return times are circulated to all relevant Housemasters. Day boys are expected to inform their parents of their time of return to Tonbridge, and parents are advised to check with Housemasters, if they are unsure about the arrangements for the trip.

The cost of any trips incurred during a term will be added to the school bill for the following term. The school strives to keep the costs of all school trips to a minimum.

University Visits – guidelines

A boy's visit to a university may take place for one or more of six distinct reasons:

1. An official university Open Day.
2. An official departmental Open Day at a specific university. 
3. An individual invitation from a university department, often including an interview.
4. A request by a boy to a university/department to arrange an individual visit, resulting in a letter of invitation.
5. A visit for several boys organised by a school department.
6. An unofficial visit in the nature of a general look around the university.

While it is important that boys should visit a university before accepting a place there, it is clearly not in his best interest to lose too many school days in the process. The school therefore allows a boy a maximum of two visits in categories 1 to 4 during term time in his UVIth year.

All visits must be sanctioned by a boy's Housemaster who should be given at least one week's notice.

The University and Careers Library, has copies of the Open Days booklet which lists every university Open Day. The website www.opendays.com is also a valuable source of information. Both these resources list Open Days for the whole of the calendar year, so plans can be made well in advance.

Visas (UKVI – Points Based System)

Children who are citizens of countries outside the European Economic Area and those who do not hold European Settlement Status will need to apply for a Child Student Visa under the points-based system. The school will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to support the visa application once your son’s place is confirmed. A temporary visa (vignette) will be granted followed by a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). From December 2024 the process is due to become fully electronic and no physical BRP will be required. An NHS surcharge is also applicable for non-EEA students and will be calculated at the time of your visa application depending on the length of the visa you are applying for, i.e. GCSE (3 years) or Sixth Form (2 years). Further information can be found using this link: https://www.gov.uk/child-study-visa

Weekend arrangements

For non-exeat weekends during term, the arrangements are flexible enough to suit the variety of needs and circumstances among boarding families.

Weekend Leave may be taken on any weekend except the first weekend of each term, and the weekend of Remembrance Sunday. Those who wish to take weekend leave may go home after they have fulfilled all their school and games commitments on Saturday, and they must be back in their Houses for Chapel on Sunday. 

During the four weekends in which weekend leave is not permitted, boarders may go home after the Sunday morning Chapel service (around 11.30 am), but must be back in their Houses by 9.00 pm.

Boys and parents are free to make as much or as little use as they wish of Weekend Leave, and practice varies with individual circumstances and commitments – rehearsals for concerts and plays, for example, are often held on Sundays.

On any given non-exeat weekend there are usually between 75 and 150 boarders staying at school. Many of the school facilities are open over the weekend – the Vere Hodge Centre, the Music School, the Smythe Library, the sports facilities – and a range of Saturday evening social events (usually with neighbouring girls’ schools) are organised each term. Occasional trips and activities are arranged for Sundays. On Saturday evenings and Sundays the boarders from all Houses eat together in the Orchard Centre. The social mix of the informal weekend arrangements complements the pastoral and communal benefits of House-based meals during the week.

The school is concerned to ensure the safety and well-being of all boarders at weekends and it is critical that Housemasters have an accurate and up to date picture of the expected whereabouts of the boys. To this end we would like to remind parents of the arrangements that we have in place.

• The school produces an online ‘Weekend Leave Form’ on the Tonbridge App which must be completed by parents of boarders each week. The form can be filled in weekly or at the start of each term for each weekend of the half-terms. Submissions and amendments may be made up to 6pm on Friday for the forthcoming weekend. Reminder notifications will be sent via the App to ensure the deadline can be met.
• We welcome boarders staying in at weekends, when meals are provided in the Orchard Centre. There is always a member of the house pastoral team on duty and checks are held at regular intervals in the houses or at meals on Saturday evening and Sunday.
• If parents indicate on the ‘Weekend Leave Form’ that their son is going home, we assume that is where he is and that parents take full responsibility. It is vital that a parent communicates any changes via the online form and last minute changes be communicated directly to the housemaster. If their son will be taking weekend leave but NOT staying at home parents should indicate "other" and enter the name and contact details of the person with whom he will be staying in the box provided on the form e.g. the name of a friend, relative, guardian or on a school trip, etc. and that they are being supervised by a responsible adult. If there are plans to host another Tonbridge boy the housemaster of the guest should be contacted to confirm these arrangements. Suitable accommodation arrangements must be made.
• Parents of boys on a Child Student Visa should understand the additional responsibilities placed on both parents and the school to know the exact whereabouts and who is supervising the boy when in the UK.
• If a boarder is assumed by his housemaster to be at home, he may not return to school without the housemaster’s permission on the Saturday night or before lunch on Sunday. It is legitimate, if circumstances change, for a boy to return earlier on Sunday if his housemaster knows and has agreed.
• Although these arrangements have been in place for some time, experience has shown that there are ‘grey areas’ which do give us real concerns about the safety and well-being of boys. One such concern involves boys, some of them relatively young, who are supposed to be at home, but then go to parties or to meet friends in London or elsewhere, and cannot be said to be under adult supervision. Where a parent has concerns that his son, through peer group pressure or whatever, is going to another boy’s house for a party, the housemaster should be told of this concern, and he will do all he can to help.
• It has also happened that a boy will be signed out for home, go to a local party and then, from force of circumstance, returns very late to his boarding house without the knowledge of his housemaster; in this situation housemasters are put in an impossible position with regard to their responsibility for the boy’s well-being.

Finally the School hopes that parents share our view that weekends should be a time of rest after a busy week, and of some commitment to academic work. We know from experience that the weekend activities of some boys do not allow that necessary rest and work to take place. Your help in addressing these issues and in ensuring that weekend arrangements are clearly understood and recorded would be welcomed.

Appendix One - Higher Education and Careers

The Universities and Careers Adviser is assisted by other members of staff who have specialist knowledge of particular careers, universities or subjects. The boys also receive considerable guidance from their Housemasters, who build up extensive experience and play a major part in shaping and directing boys’ ideas about their futures.

The Higher Education and Careers Department is on the first floor of the Smythe Library. There is a wide selection of literature on careers and all forms of higher and further education.

THIRD YEAR

Although university and careers advice is given as boys are choosing their GCSEs, the main part of their higher education and careers advice starts in the 3rd Year.

Psychometric Testing: Traditionally most boys complete the Morrisby psychometric tests and interest questionnaires early in the Michaelmas term. After computer analysis a detailed personal report is produced, commenting on strengths, weaknesses, interests, and ambitions. Later in the Michaelmas term all those who took Morrisby Tests are interviewed individually by outside careers consultants and the test results are analysed and discussed. In addition to examining possible career options, AS, A2 level and Pre-U choices are discussed to see that these would be appropriate. The full report is then sent to parents at the end of the Michaelmas term.

Sixth Form Course Choices: At the end of the Michaelmas Term of the 3rd Year, all boys and their parents receive a pamphlet describing the A Level and Pre-U subjects available and giving advice on choice of subjects and combinations. A time is set aside at the beginning of the Lent term for boys to talk to members of staff and the Head of Higher Education and Careers as to the appropriateness of their choices, both in terms of their academic ability and with reference to their university course choices. A few days later parents attend the 3rd Year parents' evening which allows for more exchange of ideas and guidance. This is followed by an exeat after which boys hand in their A Level and Pre-U choices, confirmed by their parents.

Compulsory Work Experience Week: All 3rd Year boys undertake a five-day period of work experience at the end of GCSEs. Boys can arrange their own work experience (this is preferable, as long as it does not involve working with immediate family), or placements can be found through the School.

Careers Evenings: About five such evenings are arranged during the year, each focusing on one major Career area such as Law, Medicine, Engineering, The City etc. Aimed at the 3rd Year, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth, all are invited to hear an admissions tutor and employer present career details, requirements and advice. We use recent Old Tonbridgians as well as more established members of the different careers areas. Parents are also invited to attend. The evening is led by the Head of Higher Education and Careers, and other members of the Common Room with expertise in that area.

Lower Sixth Induction: Following the work experience week, and before the end of the Summer term there are three days of induction, in which boys are given an introduction to their Sixth Form courses, as well as participating in a number of study skills and leadership exercises.

THIRD YEAR, LOWER SIXTH AND UPPER SIXTH

Overseas Universities Admissions: There is an ‘Overseas Universities Evening’ for boys who are or may be considering attending a non-UK university. The evening is open to boys and parents across all years. Following this, the Head of Higher Education and Careers offers support and advice on applications throughout the year, with the help of the member of staff who specialises in US applications, including preparation for the ACTs (American university admissions tests).

Oxbridge Evening: In the Lent Term there is an ‘Oxbridge’ evening for candidates and their parents who are considering an application to Oxford or Cambridge. The evening is comprised of visiting speakers from the universities and an opportunity to ask questions.

Universities Evening: Towards the end of the Lower Sixth, there is a Universities Evening to which all Lower Sixth parents and boys are invited. The Headmaster and the University and Careers Adviser give short talks, and there is further advice from invited Admissions Tutors and an Old Tonbridgian who is currently at university.

UCAS Procedure: Beginning in the Lent term of the Lower Sixth the boys are introduced, through a series of seminar and talks, to the UCAS process. The boys are given access to ‘BridgeU’ a powerful higher education tool which helps them search for, and apply to, universities around the world. Advice is given on the procedures, and how to make an effective application. At the end of the Summer Term of the Lower Sixth there is an extensive programme covering student finance, personal statement writing, gap years and how to make a success of university life. As the boys move into the Upper Sixth they are given full support through the application process from filling in the UCAS form to accepting offers and attending university.

Work Experience: During the holidays Sixth Form boys are encouraged to spend time doing work experience. This plays an increasingly important part in university admissions and while it is a good idea to try to find a placement which is pertinent to your preferred university subject, it is by no means necessary. All work experience is valuable.

Interview Training: Each academic department offers ‘Oxbridge’ interview training, and there is also provision for additional interview training by an outside agency.

Gap Years: Gap years are increasingly popular and opportunities and advice are offered to boys throughout the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth. Opportunities for voluntary work, teaching, working and travelling are emailed to boys throughout their Upper Sixth year by the Head of Higher Education and Careers. There is also a competitive in-house grant to help in the funding of worthwhile projects.

The Higher Education Guide: Full details of the Higher Education and Careers provision in the school can be found on the school’s Higher Education Guide. This can be accessed through the Parents Portal by following ‘Academic – Higher Education and Careers’.