Admissions at Tonbridge

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Tonbridge has two main intakes; at the age of 13 (Year 9) we have places for 144 boys, and at the age of 16 (Year12) we have up to an additional 20 available. We also take up to 6 boarding boys at the beginning of Year 10.

Entry to Tonbridge School

At 13 +

Admission to the First Year is by the Common Entrance Examination (held in early June) or the school's own Scholarship Examination (held in April). Modified arrangements are made for boys from schools other than prep schools and boys educated overseas; find out more.

Countdown to 13+:

Enquiry stage* Request prospectus and registration form(s).
    Visit school - either by individual appointment with the Headmaster, to include a tour of day and/or boarding Houses and meet Housemaster(s) or by Open Morning.
    Completion and submission of Registration Form and registration fee.
36 months prior - September We request a confidential report from the current school.
    Candidates invited to Tonbridge for interview and computer-based cognitive test.
33 months prior - January Conditional offers made dependent on Scholarship/Common Entrance Examinations in summer of year of entry.
20 months prior - January Deadline for parents' acceptance of conditional offers by submission of Final Entry Form and guarantee fee.
7 months prior - January/February Music, Sport, Art, Drama and Design and Technology Scholarship Award assessments.
6 months prior - March Novi (new boy) Visit to the school - a two-day induction for both day and boarding pupils.
3 months prior - May/June Scholarship or Common Entrance Examinations (academic entry test).
0 months prior - September Entry to Tonbridge

At 14+

Admission to the Second Year is on the basis of a recommendation and report from the candidate's present school and by the school's own English and Mathematics exams taken in November of the year preceding entry. Find out more.

At 16+

Admission to the Sixth Form is on the basis of a recommendation and report from the candidate's present school and examinations in the four subjects of intended A level study. Applicants who have English as their second language will also sit an English as an Additional Language (EAL) examination.

Countdown to 16+:

Enquiry stage* Request prospectus and registration form(s).
   Visit school - either by individual appointment with the Headmaster, to include a tour of day and/or boarding Houses and meet Housemaster(s) or by Open Morning.
12 months before - Sept/Oct Completion and submission of Registration Form and registration fee.
    We request a confidential report from the current school.
10 months before - November Entry examinations sat in four chosen subjects (likely A levels to be studied).
9 months before - December onwards Offers of unconditional places, acceptance by submission of Final Entry Form and guarantee fee. For overseas students one term's fees in advance will be required.
6 months before - March Examinations for later day applicants, if places available, sat in four chosen subjects (likely A levels to be studied).
0 months prior - September Entry to Tonbridge

For 2012:

  • 13+ (First Year) : Day and Boarding lists are closed.
  • The Headmaster's list (which is for late applicants of exceptional merit or with exceptional circumstances) is currently open. Please contact the Admissions department.
  • The scholarship list will remain open until 1st March 2012. 
  • 14+ (Second Year) : Day and Boarding lists are closed.
  • 16+ (Sixth Form) : Registration for day places remains open. Applicants should register by 15 February 2012 and, subject to satisfactory references being received, will be invited to sit examinations in their four preferred A level subjects on 10 March 2012.

For 2013:

  • 13+ (First Year) : Day and Boarding lists are closed.
  • The Headmaster's list (which is for late applicants of exceptional merit or with exceptional circumstances) is currently open.  Please contact the Admissions department.
  • The scholarship list will remain open until 1st March 2013.
  • 14+ (Second Year) : Registration is requested at the start of the academic year preceding entry into the school.
  • 16+ (Sixth Form) : Registration, ideally, is requested at the start of the academic year preceding entry into the school.  Closing date for receipt of registration forms is Monday, 1st October 2012.

For 2014:

  • 13+ (First Year) : Day and Boarding are still open. Please contact the Admissions department.
  • The Headmaster's list (which is for late applicants of exceptional merit or with exceptional circumstances) is currently open. Please contact the Admissions department.
  • The scholarship list will remain open until 1st March 2014. 
  • 14+ (Second Year) :  Registration is requested at the start of the academic year preceding entry into the school. 
  • 16+ (Sixth Form) :  Registration, ideally, is requested at the start of the academic year preceding entry into the school.

For 2015 and beyond:

  • 13+ (First Year) : Registration, ideally, is requested at least three years preceding entry into the school (when your son is in Year 5). Please contact the Admissions department.
  • Registered boys will be invited to sit a Pre-Selection test in Year 6 (predominantly in the Michaelmas Term).
  • 14+ (Second Year) : Registration is requested at the start of the academic year preceding entry into the school.
  • 16+ (Sixth Form) : Registration, ideally, is requested at the start of the academic year preceding entry into the school.
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