High Street, Tonbridge,
Kent, TN9 1JP
Tonbridge School puts huge amounts of time and resources into providing each pupil with the highest quality of pastoral care. At the heart of this is the house system, but there are other overlapping and reinforcing structures designed to look after the personal and social well-being of each boy. PSHE and Citizenship is very much an integral part of this.
The PSHE and Citizenship programme seeks to educate and prepare boys at a personal level for the pressures of an increasingly competitive and stressful world and provides a vital foundation for Tonbridgians in preparing them for adult life. It is important in combating social exclusion and disaffection, and equips young people with the skills and attitudes needed in modern life. We want our boys to lead confident, healthy and responsible lives as individuals and members of society.
The specific areas of Personal Education are
PSHE and Citizenship is delivered over a broad range of activities and experiences at the school.
A range of topics such as sex and drugs education, ethical and moral issues and self awareness, relationships and teamwork are delivered in the Science, Divinity, and English and Drama curriculums. Boys discuss and debate the themes that emerge.
In the first year, boys are introduced to topics on sex and relationships, drugs and alcohol and tolerance of others. They also meet the school counsellor. Depending on which activities boys opt for after the first year, they may benefit from experiences in groups such as the CCF, Terriers and Community Service Group which encourage teamwork, respect, loyalty, self reliance, discipline and initiative. On top of this, a range of life skills such as cooking are also taught.
Staff and sixth formers are trained in "emotional literacy". The training develops an understanding of the link between emotion, behaviour and learning, and also improves communication and teamwork skills.
A varied and stimulating assembly programme for the lower school covers a range of personal education topics, and includes a number of external speakers.
The subject matter of seminar talks is broad and relevant to modern life and includes many elements of personal education.
Tutors meet with boys regularly to discuss and share ideas on a variety of non-curricular subjects and follow up discussions on PSHE and Citizenship content delivered in other forums.
Saturday morning chapel talks to the whole school cover a wide range of issues including subjects such as anti bullying, charity events, and musical and dramatic pieces.
The whole of the lower sixth are involved in a community outreach programme for a day, after their summer exams. Upper sixth formers studying three A levels are also encouraged to commit to community based projects.
The sixth form are given extensive support in their application to Universities, completion of UCAS personal statements, and research of career routes.