Individual and Collective Social Responsibility

We encourage 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.

Objectives

• Raise awareness of social and cultural differences and environmental challenges locally, nationally and internationally. Provide opportunities for taking individual and collective action to make a positive difference to individuals and communities.
• Help boys become leaders and fulfil their potential, to foster empathy for the needs and views of others, eschew prejudice, and to develop the confidence to “connect” by becoming involved with people from different backgrounds and with different life experiences, seeking to understand their needs and points of view, and developing the skills and experience to do things that make a difference.
• Connect the School, its staff and the boys to the community that they are in, through participation in activities that are clearly for the benefit of the public.

Actions

1. Expanding Tonbridge Community Action, with the aim of involving every boy in community-related initiatives at some point in their education at Tonbridge.
2. Developing a seasonal arts programme to enhance the cultural opportunities for the school and the wider community.
3. Encouraging teaching and support staff to share their expertise with local schools and the wider community as appropriate, including actively participating in the sponsorship of the Marsh Academy.
4. Using the Green Committee (comprising boys, teaching and support staff) to promote environmental awareness, and to work alongside the SMT to develop and implement the school’s environmental policies.
5. Maintaining Tonbridge as an Anglican foundation and the Chapel (the only place where the whole school can meet) at the heart of the School community, whilst recognising that the School does not limit the promotion of spiritual and moral values to Chapel alone or to any one particular faith.
6. Encouraging the exploration of and exposure to other belief systems and issues of “prejudice” and tolerance in Chapel, in the PSHE and Seminar programmes, and seeking opportunities to explore spiritual and moral issues across the curriculum.
7. Developing events and activities that expose boys to people and situations they are unfamiliar with, to help increase their understanding of, shape their view on, and build their confidence in dealing with new environments and different individuals (including girls in appropriate social and academic situations).
8. Continuing to develop ways of bringing many nationalities into the school to enrich and diversify the school community, ensuring that the experiences of all are enhanced.