Partnership with the Marsh Academy

Tonbridge School has been working in partnership with The Marsh Academy as one of its sponsors since June 2006.

The Marsh Academy is in the heart of the Romney Marshes and is the only secondary school in the area. Tim Haynes, Headmaster of Tonbridge, is a governor of the school and Chair of the Curriculum Committee. He aims to support the executive principal, Tracey Luke, and offer guidance where required. Anthony Moore, the Bursar of Tonbridge, is also a governor of the Marsh Academy and a member of the Personnel and Finance Committee.

Whilst the two schools may be very different places they share the same goal, which is to encourage their pupils to achieve their potential. The aim of the partnership is, through observation and discussion, to share good practice and ideas for teaching and school management. We have set up a series of exchanges between departments and it is hoped that these will lead to greater cooperation across a broader range of subject areas.

GCSE results at Marsh Academy have risen dramatically this summer (2011) with 47% of Year 11 pupils obtaining 5 A* - C grades including Maths and English - an increase in the school’s previous best of 35%.  This places the Marsh Academy in the top 20% of the schools of its type in the country.  The predecessor school was in the bottom 2% in the country in 2006.

Stephen Wainde is the Tonbridge teacher responsible for liaison with staff from the Marsh Academy.

The Tonbridge School Foundation has helped secure charitable funding of £3.6 million for a new Inclusion Unit at the Marsh Academy.  While an e-mentoring scheme is being developed for sixth formers at the two schools.
 

The engagement of Tonbridge School is central and vital to the success of the academy, and it represents an outstanding act of public service.

Andrew Adonis, ex-Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools

Relevant Links

• The Marsh Academy