Year 9 (13+) Entry

The main entry point to Tonbridge is in Year 9 when around 150 boys join the School, of which approximately 85 are Boarders and 65 are Day boys. Boys entering at this stage are usually aged 13 by the September of their year of entry. This age-limit is not inflexible, and slightly younger or older candidates may be considered at the Headmaster’s discretion.

Most applications for Year 9 entry are made when boys are in between Year 5 and Year 6, but our arrangements are sufficiently flexible to consider those who apply later. Whilst most boys will join us from a UK preparatory school, we welcome applications from primary schools or from overseas candidates.

Applications for entry in September 2025 are now closed. Please refer to the Late Applicant tab for more information.

Late Applicants

Late applications will only be considered, at the School’s discretion, if there are still places available. Please contact Rachel Hearnden before registering as a late applicant, to ensure that we are able to consider your son’s application.

Rachel Hearnden

School: 01732 304103

State School Applicants

We appreciate that our application process begins earlier than it does for state schools, and therefore may have already begun by the time you consider Tonbridge School.

If you have missed a deadline or have any questions about making an application, please don't hesitate to contact Lucinda Coakley who will be able to advise you.

Lucinda Coakley

School: 01732 304105

Applicants from Mainland China & Hong Kong

Applicants residing in Mainland China or Hong Kong are asked to contact our representatives.

Emma Vanbergen

Representative for Applicants from Mainland China

Battie Fung

Representative for Applicants from Hong Kong

The Admissions Timeline

Visit and Apply

Visit Tonbridge

We warmly invite families to join us at an Open Event where there will be an opportunity to meet the Headmaster, Heads of Departments, the Admissions Team, and to be taken on a tour by a student.

To book a place, use the links below. Please note that we are unable to accommodate families outside of our scheduled Open Events.

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14 Sep 2024

Lower Sixth Open Morning Subscribe to Alerts

9:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Tonbridge School

17 Sep 2024

Mini Open Morning Subscribe to Alerts

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Bursary Consideration

If you require fee support, we ask that you contact the School's Foundation Award Manager, who is able to support families considering an application for our Foundation Award. We advise you do this as early as possible.

Ros Griffiths

Year 6

Initial Financial Assessment (Bursary Applicants Only)
Register for a place

Initial Financial Assessment (Bursary Applicants Only)

Register for a place

September

To secure a place on one of our Assessment Afternoons during Michaelmas Term, we require domestic and overseas candidates to register by 1 September. Any registrations after this date are considered by the School as appropriate.

Those applying for a bursary will need to complete the online Tonbridge Registration Form by 30 September. The registration fee may be waived.

To register, please complete the online Tonbridge Registration Form which includes paying a non-refundable registration fee of £250.

Assessment and Selection

Year 6

Assessment for Entry (Wave One)

September to December

Your son will sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an age-standardised, online exam which assess a student's attainment and potential. Further information can be found on the ISEB website.

Boys usually take the ISEB at their current school. If their school is unable to accommodate this, then boys should take the exam at an approved test centre, and Tonbridge can accommodate this. Parents/Guardians need to register their son in order for them to sit the ISEB. The deadline to sit the ISEB test for boys to be considered in the first wave of offers is 1 December.

Your son will also be invited to Tonbridge for an Assessment Afternoon, and boys are not required to prepare for the ISEB or the Assessment Afternoon.

The School will also request a confidential report from your son's current school at this time.

Assessment for Entry (Wave Two)

January to April

Your son will sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an age-standardised, online exam which assess a student's attainment and potential. Further information can be found on the ISEB website.

Your son may be invited to Tonbridge for an Assessment Afternoon, subject to his ISEB scores and a satisfactory school report.

Boys are not required to prepare for the ISEB or the Assessment Afternoon.

Offer of School places (Wave One)

January

Applicants will be notified if their son has received an Unconditional Offer, Provisional Offer or No Offer of a School place.

An Unconditional Offer is awarded to boys with the strongest profiles. The offer is dependent on them remaining at their current school, or in a suitable educational environment, as deemed by Tonbridge School, until the end of Year 8, with a satisfactory final school report. You must notify the School of any change of educational setting.

A Provisional Offer is awarded to boys with sufficiently strong profiles and requires the boy to undertake further assessment in the following academic year.

Following House visits (see below), families may choose to accept Unconditional Offers from this point until the following January (when your son is in Year 7). Once an offer is accepted, families will be required to complete the Admissions Checklist and pay the non-refundable Registration Fee.

Offer of school Places (Wave Two)

January to May

Candidates assessed during Wave Two will begin to receive offers following their full assessment.

A Provisional Offer is awarded to boys with sufficiently strong profiles and requires the boy to undertake further assessment in the following academic year.

House visits should be arranged once a candidate's offer has been confirmed as Unconditional (see below).

House Visits (Optional)

March

Families accepting an Unconditional Offer are encouraged to visit Houses and meet with Housemasters. They are then able to notify the School of a preference for a maximum of three Houses.

This is not a requirement and many families express no preference each year, leaving allocation to the Headmaster and Director of Admissions.

Late Entry Applicants

Year 7

Further Assessment for boys with Provisional Offers

Offer of a School Place

Acceptance of School Place

June

Families should accept their offer by confirming Day Boy or Boarder status, complete the Admissions Checklist and pay the non-refundable Admission Fee by the deadline. Preferences for up to three Houses can be expressed at this time.

House preference is not required and many families express no preference each year, leaving allocation to the Headmaster and Director of Admissions.

Year 8

Late Entry Exams

Late Entry Exams

Scholarships

Year 8

Music, Cowdrey (Sport), Art, Drama and DTE Scholarships
Academic Scholarships

Music, Cowdrey (Sport), Art, Drama and DTE Scholarships

December

Boys who have accepted an Unconditional Offer are able to apply for Music, Cowdrey (Sport), Art, Drama and Design, Technology and Engineering Scholarships.

Application forms must be received by the School by 1 December. Assessments take place in January.

Further information about Scholarships

Academic Scholarships

Joining Tonbridge

Year 8

Novi Visit
Your son joins Tonbridge

Novi Visit

Your son joins Tonbridge

further information & faqs

Up Next

Novi (Year 9) Curriculum

The design of our curriculum is integral to the boys' experience, our aim being to maximise learning, equipping them with knowledge while sustaining their personal development and enjoyment.

Entrance Examinations

The Tonbridge Entrance Exams provide an opportunity for boys to demonstrate their academic potential.

The majority of boys will sit the Entrance Exams in Year 6.

Year 9 (13+) Entry

Year 5

Year 6

Year 6

Year 7

Year 8

Year 8

Year 8

Arrange a Visit