Nearly 400 boys learn instruments, supported by more than 50 ensembles and choirs each term.
Leading British boarding school for boys in Kent
Why this school
Nearly 400 boys learn instruments, supported by more than 50 ensembles and choirs each term.
A boathouse on the River Medway supports competitive rowing alongside cricket, rugby, and fives.
Over £3.5 million awarded annually in bursaries and scholarships across the school.
Tonbridge School was founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde and has operated continuously as a boys’ independent school ever since. Set in the market town of Tonbridge, Kent, roughly 40 minutes by train from London, it occupies a 150-acre campus where Victorian architecture sits alongside purpose-built modern facilities. A member of the Eton Group and the HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), the school takes around 800 boys from age 13 to 18 across boarding and day places. Its motto, ‘Only Connect’, shapes an ethos in which academic rigour and wider character development are treated as inseparable. The ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) rated the school Outstanding in its 2024 inspection.
The curriculum runs from GCSE through to A-Level. Boys enter in Year 9, follow a broad GCSE programme, then choose from more than 25 A-Level subjects in the sixth form. In 2023, 93% of A-Level results were graded A*, A or B, a figure that reflects consistent preparation rather than narrow coaching. Beyond timetabled lessons, the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), subject Olympiads, and specialist academic societies give boys the chance to pursue depth well outside the examined syllabus. University destinations regularly include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Durham, and Ivy League institutions in the United States.
The sixth form brings greater academic independence. Boys manage a more self-directed workload, supported by Housemaster tutor teams and subject specialists. A-Level breadth combined with EPQ provision means most leavers arrive at university already experienced in independent research.
A-Level results
93% A*, A and B grades at A Level
Tonbridge runs 12 boarding and day houses, each led by a Housemaster and a team of tutors who handle pastoral guidance, academic oversight, and welfare. Boys stay in the same house from Year 9 through to the upper sixth, so pastoral relationships develop over five years rather than resetting annually. A full-time Health Centre operates on campus. Boarding fees for 2025/26 are £58,950 per year (inclusive of VAT). Day places are £46,578 (2025/26). A registration fee of £350 and a deposit of £2,250 apply at the point of acceptance.
The co-curricular programme runs to over 100 clubs and activities. Tonbridge fields competitive teams in rugby, cricket, hockey, athletics, rowing, squash, and fives, supported by a sports centre, indoor swimming pool, athletics track, multiple pitches, and a boathouse on the River Medway. Nearly 400 boys learn an instrument, and more than 50 ensembles and choirs rehearse each term. Drama productions and concerts take place in the EM Forster Theatre, a professional-specification venue on campus. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE), Model United Nations, and the Tonbridge Community Action programme (which connects boys with local schools, charities, and environmental projects) run alongside academic commitments throughout the year.
The 150-acre site sits at the centre of Tonbridge town. Historic buildings stand alongside the EM Forster Theatre, a dedicated music school, a chapel, sports centre, and boathouse. The school allocates over £3.5 million annually in bursaries and scholarships, with a stated ambition to widen access further by its 500th anniversary in 2053. Families are encouraged to register early; the £350 registration fee is payable on application.
Tonbridge is approximately 30 miles from London. Gatwick Airport is typically under 30 minutes by road; Heathrow is around 60 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Tonbridge railway station sits adjacent to the school, with direct services to London Bridge and Charing Cross.
Annual tuition
£62,079 per year · full boarding · Senior · Years 9-13
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Full boarding | — | £62,079 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Day | — | £46,578 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£2,250
Registration
£350
Gatwick Airport, approx. 30 miles / under 30 min by road; Heathrow approx. 60–75 min
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Full boarding fees for 2025/26 are £58,950 per year, inclusive of VAT, charged at £19,650 per term. Day places cost £46,578 per year (2025/26). A registration fee of £350 and a deposit of £2,250 are payable at the point of acceptance.
The school offers GCSE and A-Level programmes for boys aged 13 to 18. More than 25 A-Level subjects are available in the sixth form, complemented by the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and participation in subject Olympiads and academic societies.
In 2023, 93% of A-Level grades were A*, A or B. University destinations include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Durham, and Ivy League institutions in the United States.
The school operates 12 boarding and day houses, each led by a Housemaster and a team of tutors. Boys are assigned to a house on entry at age 13 and remain in it until they leave at 18, building sustained pastoral relationships over five years.
There are over 100 clubs and activities. Sports include rugby, cricket, hockey, rowing, squash, and Eton fives, alongside the CCF (Combined Cadet Force), Duke of Edinburgh Award, Model United Nations, and the Tonbridge Community Action service programme. Music runs at scale: close to 400 boys learn instruments, with more than 50 ensembles and choirs each term.
The school is approximately 30 miles from London and under 30 minutes by road from Gatwick Airport. Heathrow is roughly 60 to 75 minutes away. Tonbridge station, adjacent to the school, offers direct rail services to London Bridge and Charing Cross.
Entry is at 13 via the Common Entrance or Tonbridge’s own assessment. A registration fee of £350 is payable on application, followed by a deposit of £2,250 on acceptance. The school is selective and places are competitive; early registration is advisable.
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