Organisation Of The School
School Management > Strategic Plan 2008-2018 > Organisation Of The School
Whilst the school must of course be sensitive to changes in the expectations of our market, there is overwhelming support from all constituencies for Tonbridge to continue as a boys' boarding school with a strong House structure.
- We are clear and positive about the benefits of being a boys' boarding school - see separate Communications Strategy
- Only in a boarding environment can a genuinely broad education be offered which is to the benefit of day boys as well as boarders. There are also strong practical arguments, some of which relate to catchment, structure and finance.
- As a boys' school, we are also strongly placed to help boys realise their potential. It is also clear that boys and girls develop at different rates, especially in the teenage years and that different learning styles are associated with boys and with girls.
- The ratio of boarders to day boys is likely to be 59:41 in 2008/09. As a boarding school, the ratio should be maintained at about 60:40 without reduction in academic standards.
- At approximately 760, the school is at capacity in terms of its DfES maximum, pastoral and Chapel accommodation, as well as classroom space.
- The quality of pastoral accommodation is being improved, and all Houses are beginning to receive more effective cyclical maintenance.
- Senior Student Houses are a necessary and positive feature of the boarding provision.
- House catering is seen as a valuable feature of the school and significant investment has been made in it in recent years. It is, however, expensive to run and complex to manage. Every effort should be made to retain this positive characteristic of the school, but its viability must be kept under review.
- Some 10% of pupils live overseas and there are approximately 41 nationalities represented in the school, all of which appropriately enriches and diversifies the community. The International Coordinator and an Overseas Students' Committee help to ensure that this is appropriately celebrated and the experience of all is enhanced.
- The structure and deployment of the Senior Management Team is under constant review.