Skinners’ Day
Tonbridge welcomed members of its community and guests from The Skinners’ Company for its annual Skinners’ Day celebrations. Continuing a tradition established by founder Sir Andrew Judde, the day showcased our pupils’ achievements across sport, enrichment and academia, as well as the creative and performing arts.
The day began with the annual Leavers v Remainers cricket match on The Head, while younger pupils also took to the field in a U16 v U15 fixture. Exhibition matches across hockey, tennis, rackets, and ultimate frisbee brought together current pupils and OTs for some friendly competition.
Visitors were invited to explore a wide range of exhibitions. Art and Design Technology displays showcased GCSE and A Level work, while the Robotics Society demonstrated innovative engineering projects, including battle bots, drones and remote-controlled vehicles. The Global Futures department presented its ‘Year in the Life’ exhibition alongside displays of Extended Project Qualification research.
Community engagement was also a key feature of the day. Tonbridge Community Action highlighted partnerships and volunteering initiatives, while the Conservation team welcomed visitors to The Orchard to meet the pigs and learn about sustainability projects.
The afternoon featured demonstrations and performances. The Rocketry Club successfully launched model rockets, the climbing club showcased their skills on the Prosser climbing wall, and the Chemistry department entertained audiences with spectacular experiments. Visitors enjoyed access to the School Archives and displays of boy-led publications produced over the past year.
Music and drama played a central role in the celebrations. The Symphony Orchestra performed works by Schubert and Wagner in the Chapel, while the School’s bands entertained audiences with a lively programme of rock, jazz, blues and swing. Theatre performances included the Lower Sixth devised production, Peter’s Crusade; a multilingual comedy presented by Modern Languages students; and the premiere of the Film Society’s latest short film, Our Lady of Harringham, in the EM Forster Theatre, following the formal opening of our new Vikram Jayanti Film Centre.
