Houses and Housemasters

Address

53 London Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3AD

Housemaster

Richard Burnett

E-mail

rb@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 304255

Richard Burnett studied Modern Languages at Cambridge where, after a year in Mexico and Paris, he graduated with first class honours before starting his career in the business world, firstly as a marketeer at Unilever and then as Director of media consultancy Human Capital. Having joined Tonbridge in 2002 he became Housemaster of School House in 2006 and currently teaches Spanish and Divinity. Richard recently completed an MA in Buddhist Studies and is co-founder of Mindfulness in Schools, exploring secular mindfulness as a well-being ‘skill’ for children to learn at school. He is married to Zoë and they have three children.

Address

10 London Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3AG

Housemaster

Graeme Gales

E-mail

gpg@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 353435

Graeme Gales has been at Tonbridge since 1987, after five years teaching at The King's School, Canterbury and at the Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1996. In his time as Head of Physical Education, Graeme has been Master in charge of Athletics, Judo and Rugby, he coached the 1st XV for 20 years. He teaches Geography and has a special interest in geomorphology. Graeme has been a pastoral tutor in both a day and a boarding house, and was appointed to Clare House (1998 - 2003), one of school's Senior Student houses, before moving into Judde House with his wife Debbie, who teaches at Hilden Grange Prep School. They have two grown up children.

Address

9 Dry Hill Road
Tonbridge
TN9 1LS

Housemaster

Adam Bissill

E-mail

aeb@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 363063

Adam Bissill was educated at The King’s School, Canterbury before studying Spanish and Russian at the University of St. Andrews. He later completed a PGCE at the University of Southampton, beginning his teaching career at Eastbourne College. Adam joined Tonbridge School in 2005. Before his move to Park House, Adam was Lower Master, Head of Spanish and Senior Student Housemaster of Beech Lawn. He is married to Julie who is an NHS Manager.

Address

Dry Hill Park Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3BT

Housemaster

James Johnson

E-mail

jj@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 771202

James Johnson read English at University College London before completing his MPhil in Anglo-Irish Literature at Trinity College Dublin and his PGCE at Cambridge University. He taught at Cheltenham College for three years before coming to Tonbridge in 2005. He was Deputy Head of the English Department from 2005 – 2009 and was Assistant Housemaster in Judde House for six years before moving to Hill Side. He coaches the 1st XV and 1st VII rugby teams and the U14A cricket team. He is married to Rachel, an Educational and Child Psychologist, and they have a young son, Joseph.

Address

2 Dry Hill Park Crescent
Tonbridge
TN10 3BG

Housemaster

Jon Perriss

E-mail

jep@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 502973

Jon has taught at Tonbridge since 2000, having previously worked at Norwich School and in New Zealand. He has played National League hockey for East Grinstead, coached the school first XI and ran the club in his first 5 years at the school. Jon also spent 4 years as the Lower Master. He has kept up his involvement in sport, and is still coaching the U14 A rugby team ( since 2004) and the U15 A hockey team. Geography is his academic passion and has been lucky enough to take part in fieldtrips to the Ardeche, Morocco and Borneo in recent years. He is married to Charlotte, who is a Renal Nurse Specialist in London. They have 2 daughters, Ella and Imogen.

Address

High Street
Tonbridge
TN9 1JX

Housemaster

Andrew Whittall

E-mail

arw@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 304249

Andrew Whittall was educated at Falcon College in Zimbabwe and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read Engineering and won four cricket blues. After graduating he spent four years playing International cricket and retired soon after participating in the Cricket World Cup in England in 1999. He then worked as a director of a Sports Marketing firm in London and commentating on Channel 4's cricket coverage. At Tonbridge, he teaches Maths and is Director of Sport. He is married to Amy, who is also a teacher, and they have three children.

Address

Shipbourne Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3DP

Housemaster

Colin Swainson

E-mail

cjcs@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 363882

Colin Swainson read Natural Sciences at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he won a rowing Blue and rowed at the Under 23 World Championships for Great Britain. He went on to do his PGCE there and then taught at Canford School for 4 years before coming to Tonbridge in 2007. He teaches Biology, is Master in Charge of Conservation, restoring the school orchard where the pigs and bees are kept, and runs the Natural History Society diving trips. Colin coaches the U14A rugby and 2nd XI hockey and was Assistant Housemaster in Ferox, before his move to Manor with his wife Harriet and their young son Nico.

Address

49 London Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3AD

Housemaster

Richard Evans

E-mail

rhe@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 304260

Richard Evans was born in Liverpool and grew up in the Staffordshire Moorlands. He graduated from Leicester University with the top First in English and took his Masters Degree at Bristol. He joined Tonbridge in 1993. He coaches rugby, soccer and athletics and has toured internationally with all of the first squads. He is a prize-winning teacher of English, and has published articles in magazines and newspapers, particularly on strategies for teaching and working with boys. Before becoming a housemaster, he was Head of English, Master in Charge of the Community Group and Cross-Country, and responsible for the teaching of boys with Special Educational Needs. His wife, Charlie, teaches locally and he has a baby daughter, Anna Isabella.

Address

45 London Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3AD

Housemaster

Chris Henshall

E-mail

cmh@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 353600 (House), 01732 502976 (Study)

Chris Henshall was educated at The Manchester Grammar School and St. Peter's College, Oxford. He taught at Cranleigh School (where he was an assistant housemaster) and King's College, Taunton (where he was Head of Geography) before coming to Tonbridge to run the Geography Department in January 1996; he took over Smythe House in September, 2005. He has played an active role in coaching athletics, cross country running, football, hockey and rugby throughout his teaching career and, as a keen mountaineer and a qualified instructor, he runs the school's Climbing Club. As well as numerous trips within Britain, he has also run major school expeditions to the European Alps, Iceland, Morocco, New Zealand and Peru. His wife, Hilary, teaches at Hilden Grange Preparatory School and they have two grown up children who are at university.

Address

11 Dry Hill Road
Tonbridge
TN9 1LU
(Parents meeting the housemaster for tours of the house should come to the boys' entrance at the bottom of Dry Hill Park Crescent.)

Housemaster

Will Biddle

E-mail

wdfb@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 502978

Will Biddle is an old Tonbridgian, having boarded in Park House between 1976 and 1981. He studied Biochemistry at the University of London, and after a year travelling and working around the world, went on to spend six years working in management for a London advertising agency.

He then studied for a PGCE in Design Technology in Newcastle and has been teaching ever since. He joined us in 2004 from Wymondham College in Norfolk. Will teaches Design Technology and coaches Ultimate Frisbee and Hockey. He has previously been the Anti-Bullying Coordinator, and he currently runs the school's PSHE programme. He is married to Tara, and they have twin girls, Grace and Ruby.

Address

33 Dry Hill Park Road
Tonbridge
TN10 3BU

Housemaster

Robert Oliver

E-mail

rwgo@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 360239

Robert Oliver took a History degree at Peterhouse Cambridge, taught at Malvern College and then was Head of History at John Lyon School. He spent a year doing an MA in Art History before coming to Tonbridge to teach History and English. He coaches Cricket and Hockey sides and is involved in conservation work. He became Housemaster of Cowdrey House in 2005. Robert is married with two young daughters.

Address

18 Dry Hill Road
Tonbridge
TN9 1LX

Housemaster

John Bleakley

E-mail

jrb@tonbridge-school.org

Phone

01732 500034

John Bleakley was educated at Bangor Grammar School in Northern Ireland, and took a joint honours degree in English Literature and History at Trinity College Dublin, where he also captained the football club. Following a PGCE at Strathclyde University, he taught for three years at Nottingham High School before he came to Tonbridge in 2002 as an English teacher. Before taking over Oakeshott in 2006 John was a Welldon House Tutor, Master in charge of Football and ran the Seminar programme. He is still coach of the 1st XI football team. He is married to Alyson, who is a teacher and they have three young children.