Tonbridge named as Finalist for national ‘Community Outreach’ award

Tonbridge is a Finalist in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2022.

The School’s recognition is for the breadth and variety of its work in carrying out ‘Community Outreach’, with Tonbridge being one of just six schools across the country to have reached the Finalist stage in this category.

The overall aim of these national awards, now in their fifth year, is to showcase many of the achievements of the independent school sector – including its work in promoting social mobility, expanding bursary programmes and establishing strong partnerships in school communities – and to highlight the excellence of the student experience.

Hundreds of schools from across the country annually submit entries in a total of 22 categories.

An awards ceremony for all Finalists will take place on Tuesday 11 October, during which the winners of each category will be announced.

Tonbridge has an outstanding track record in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards. It received the top accolade of ‘Boys’ School of the Year’ in the inaugural awards in 2019, and was a Finalist the following year, also for ‘Community Outreach’.

The school’s Headmaster, James Priory, said: “Community outreach and engagement is central to a Tonbridge education, and being a Finalist in these prestigious awards is a tribute to the hard work, dedication and commitment of our staff and boys. I’m delighted to see recognition for our outreach work, the boys’ volunteering activities and the good use of our facilities made by the wider community.”

Tonbridge’s community activities include its partnerships with primary schools, a wide-ranging volunteering programme, weekly visits to senior citizens, an annual Community Concert and support for charity partners throughout the year, including RefugEase, Porchlight and Child Action Lanka.

Whole School events such as Pink Day (about Breast Cancer) have helped raise over £130,000 for local and international charities; a Shop and Share initiative, run with the local foodbank, has supported many local families; and Ukrainian Welcome Evenings, running since the Summer Term, have brought together host families, their guests and local services.

In awarding Tonbridge the title of Independent Boys’ School of the Year in 2019, award judges praised the school for its programme of co-curricular breadth and depth, for developing a keen sense of social responsibility in boys and for its record of academic and pastoral excellence.

The list of Finalists for each category is available via the link.