Sevenoaks or Tonbridge School

[user1486846455]

I am interested in these two schools
for my son.He is reasonably academic and loves sport.How hard is it to gain entry into these schools?
I am looking at entry for 2020.

Both are pretty selective, although suspect Sevenoaks slightly more so. Biggest differences are single sex or coed and IB vs. A levels. Sevenoaks also intakes at 11+ so there would be an existing cohort to join at 13+ whereas every boy is new at Tonbridge .

Both are excellent schools. LIZS points absolutely pertinent. Are you looking at Day or boarding? Tonbridge has a very strong house system and so a lot of security for boys and is strong pastorally.The arts are very well taught at Tonbridge and there are terrific opportunities in sport and music. Sevenoaks strengths would be its diverse and international sixth form and its experience with the rigour of the IB.

Both are strong academically. As far as admission is concerned , Tonbridge admits on common entrance and if he is at a prep school you should be able to get some advice. Sevenoaks has its own demanding exam and is probably marginally harder to get into.Strong feeders for both schools get multiple entrants each year... children have to be bright but not extraordinary.

Thank you both for the advice.I'm trying to change my username without success.

I would prefer boys only so I guess Tonbridge would be my number one choice but I'm not sure my son will reach the required standard in the pretest which he would be required to sit during the autumn term this year.

I will be hoping for a boarding place as we are a little too far away and I also think he would love boarding.His current school does send boys to Tonbridge but they tend to be the very bright types who have a spark,if you what I mean.My son is not going to have a staring role in the school play anytime soon!

"Tonbridge is a very academic school "was the headmasters response when is had meeting he also went to to say it's up there with Eton and Winchester for attracting top notch boys.Testing in year six is usually a sign apparently.

Up there with Eton and Winchester I think not. Hate it when HMs come out with wanky statements like this.

What other choices do you have? What does his current HM say? Go ahead with pretest to Tonbridge and another school of your choice and see how it goes.As I said above it is an academic school with 70+ in CE but nit a school where every boy is extraordinarily talented

My nephew is at Tonbridge, it's a fantastic school.I would say do the pretest and see how it goes.There are lots of very bright boys competing for places every year but your son has at least six months to prepare.

He did have an offer for one of the other schools your HM mentioned but decided on Tonbridge partly because it's closer to home which means his parents can attend more of the events he is involved in.He can come home on Saturday but rarely does as there is too much going on! Your HM is right many of the same boys will be applying to Eton,Winchester,Tonbridge and possibly Harrow.

Sevenoaks is more academically selective than Tonbridge and also has a reputation of being full of very pushy helicopter parents. Tonbridge is a bit more like other boarding schools - parents let the school do any pushing required.

Jamdonutsrule - I'm thinking of Sevenoaks too but very curious about the 'helicopter parents' factor you mentioned - The head seems to be very much on top of things - so what an earth do they do?! Thanks.

@JamDonutsRule - if you did have further thoughts or detail here I would really appreciate hearing it. Also whether you know anything first hand about levels and attitude towards bullying at either of these schools. Thank you.

Every senior school DS applied for had pretest in yr 6, they were certainly not Eton territory!

Several boys in his year went to Tonbridge none of them were high flyers just good average academically.

@OnGoldenPond

Well if that's the case - then the school does a pretty good job with their 'good average academically' raw material then. A fair haul of A/A* and a good % even manage to hoodwink Oxbridge into taking them on.

Yep guess they do Whatnext as do several other schools that are not Eton.

That'll teach me to share my experiences on a schools thread. I'd forgotten how competitive they get.

@OnGoldenPond Sorry - not at all. That is my point really, plenty of fabulous schools across the board - and not just academics - preps often including Sevenoaks and Tonbridge in this... and/but many of these also requiring boys and girls of the similar merit...

Ok no worries, think I took you the wrong way, was having a bad day Apologies

Certainly not saying the boys going to Tonbridge aren't bright and talented, just not at the level where they would have considered applying to Eton. By good average I meant in relation to others at their prep really.

Just didn't want OP to be scared off Tonbridge by thinking they had to be Eton entry standard to stand a chance.

OK - hope day gets better.

yes OP don't be put off - Tonbridge and Sevenoaks both fantastic schools. I just meant that at prep schools I know the 'high flyers' do often have these on their list. Maybe alongside Eton and maybe not - but not because they aren't seen as not good enough academically or otherwise for Eton.

Tonbridge is 70% at CE, which puts it amongst the most selective schools in the country.

Exactly @BizzyFizzy

@chloetaggart

Thanks Chloe for your feedback. Sevenoaks is shortlisted for us and my son has a place. Your experience sounds rotten. Please can you give me more context on when you were at the school..was it under the current Head Master's watch? (Katy RIcks?)

Thanks Chloe for your feedback. Sevenoaks is shortlisted for us and my son has a place. Your experience sounds rotten. Please can you give me more context on when you were at the school..was it under the current Head Master's watch? (Katy RIcks?)

Thank you @siena2002 for sharing your personal journey. I sincerely hope that you make it through this horrible period and fulfil your dreams.