Foundation Awards provide means-tested support (up to 100% of the full school fee) for a Tonbridge education to gifted and talented boys who can clearly and significantly benefit from what the school has to offer and whose family circumstances are such that a bursary would be required in order for them to attend. Awards are made in Year 6 (for entry to Tonbridge in Year 9) and are available to boys in maintained Primary schools and Preparatory schools.
Awards are made on the basis of academic potential, with consideration also given to strength in music. For those children currently at Primary school, means-tested funding may be available to support two years of Preparatory school in Years 7 and 8, in addition to the guarantee of an award for Tonbridge at age 13. Financial support is also available for educational school trips, uniform and laptop where there is a need.
The assessment procedure includes an initial visit to Tonbridge during the autumn of Year 6 and the completion of an online ISEB test. Those who subsequently receive an Unconditional Offer of a place in January of Year 6, and are eligible for a Foundation Award, are then invited to return for a shortlist selection day in early February. During that full day, boys will complete written papers in Maths and English as well as carrying out short interviews with Tonbridge staff. No preparation is required in advance of these assessment days. We will also request a reference from the Head Teacher at the boy’s current school in support of his application.
The aim of the Foundation Award programme is to widen access to Tonbridge. We therefore offer a range of scholarships which provide between 10 and 100% fee remission. A boy whose family have a pre-tax income of below £70,000, might typically attract remission of 80 to 100% of fees, whilst a boy from a family with a pre-tax income of up to £140,000 might attract some level of fee remission. It should be noted that the level of fee remission offered depends not only upon family income but also upon levels of assets and liabilities, as well as other factors such as necessary expenses.
Families of boys seeking to apply for entry through the Foundation Award programme for entry to Tonbridge in September 2025 (i.e. those starting Year 6 in September 2022) are encouraged to contact Ros Griffiths (ros.griffiths@tonbridge-school.org) to discuss the scheme and application process further. They will then be required to complete the online registration form by Friday 30th September 2022.
An initial indication of the extent of financial support which might be available, if successful in winning an award, as well as confirmation of eligibility of the scheme can be obtained by completing the Means Tested Assessment form. Once completed, this form should be sent to The Bursar, Tonbridge School, High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1JP by Friday 30th September 2022 although earlier submission is preferred. The form requires limited information at this stage; we would ask that you complete it as fully as possible. We provide an exemplar form, which gives an indication of the type of information that it would be helpful to include.
Applicants who are interested in applying for a Foundation Award for entry to Tonbridge in Year 9 in September 2026 or later are encouraged to apply in the Summer Term 2023.