Tonbridge School

[H2GHO]

We are a low income family. DS is bright but doesn't play any instruments, goes to a state school, and thinking of applying for the foundation awards. What's the competition like, how many apply and how many get through?

Lots apply and the competition is quite fierce, most from the state sector and some from prep schools (usually boys already on bursaries at prep schools). Usually about 7 or 8 go through. It's a 3-stage process, your son doesn't need to play any instruments to get through as it is fundamentally an academic award. If you say your DS is bright, then I'd say go for it! What year is your DS currently?

We went through this in 2020, as stated above, it is a 3 stage process for children in state schools who need to do ISEB at Tonbridge. It was 2 stages in 2020 because of Covid but has now gone back to 3 stages.

All the children that apply will do ISEB and have interviews after which offers will be made; conditional and unconditional. Foundation scholarship applicants would generally get an unconditional offer and then have to go through additional exams/interviews in February.
You need to apply late year 5/early year 6.

In my son's set, there were 29 of them that wrote the Foundation exam in February and 8 offers made.
My son was learning an instrument but was still at beginners stage, only about 5 of the 29 did the musical part(where they played for a staff during the February Foundation exams) so it is definitely not a deciding factor. It is an academic award so if your son is really bright, he will be okay without playing a musical instrument.

Thanks for the detailed info. DS is currently in year 5. I say he's bright but I'm sure there are boys that are brighter than mine.

Does everyone get invited to sit the foundation exam or do they have to score high on the ISEB/interview?

The other question is how do they cope once they're in? Assuming most boys are from wealthy backgrounds + prep schools.

Also can you explain the scholarship process, do they take them in Year 8 and how does it work? Do they get a fee reduction in each subject that they take? Eg if a boy sits scholarship exams in English, Maths and Science, do they have to score highly in one or two, or all of them?

Not everyone who sits the ISEB gets to sit the Foundation exam in Feb. ISEB results are considered alongside reports from the boys' schools as requested by Tonbridge, a number of boys will then be shortlisted to proceed to the interview and group assessment stage. From the interview stage, a number of boys are then put forward to sit the Foundation scholarship exam. If successful, a discount on fees is given (means tested up to 100% and reviewed annually). If your DC is successful, he will need to move to a prep for Years 7 and 8 and Tonbridge will support for similar percentage.

Your DS will also need to take the academic scholarship in Year 8 but the outcome of that doesn't affect his place or financial support. However, if he gets the scholarship in Year 8, you would get £2000 credit on your bill.

I think most of your questions have been answered by the poster above.

Give the Foundation Award Manager a call, she is very approachable and will answer any other question you might have.

Yes there are wealthy families which is to be expected just by looking at the school fees! There will always be someone with more money and my opinion is that everyone that gets in has a right to be there whether because of parental wealth or by going through a rigorous scholarship process.
They are very reasonable and I would say generous with the support they give so I would say give it a go.

DS received the conditional offer. We will sit the exam again in Y8. I am so worried about this.

Hi, this is us too. Out of curiosity - is your son at a prep school or local state? Mine is at a prep, debating whether to stay on and take the Y8 exam or go to grammar (which he got a place for) this year and see how things go.

I'm not sure about that, depends what people's preferences are I guess. Looks like they're a a high performing school with lots of extracurricular and teachers are great. I've heard about bullying in recent years which was dealt with. Perhaps someone who is already at the school could shed some light.

Sadly bullying is rampant at Tonbridge. Pastoral care is almost non-existent; this was/is highlighted as a key strength. From what we have experienced and others have it is not any good. These have manifested in the incidents at Judde House last year plus various other incidents. Again nothing much has changed as a result. The prevalence of toxic masculinity is rampant; again the school does little to address this. The peer group you son would be with is not what I would call a nice group - a significant minority (at least) would likely fall into this nasty bucket. I don’t feel the type varies that much between years. Good luck with your decision.