At the beginning of every Michaelmas Term there is a Societies Fair, at which all the societies set out their programmes and recruit members, especially among the new boys. The interests and activities catered for include literary, cultural, political, scientific, musical, artistic, practical, technical, dramatic, sporting and game-playing. From robotics to rocketry to rackets, boys can choose across the plethora of activities on offer.
Most academic departments organise their own societies inviting external speakers and arranging trips or expeditions. Other societies and clubs are under the guidance of a member of staff with much of the responsibility for running the society and inviting speakers given to the boy officers of the society. Housemasters and House tutors will encourage boys to be involved in societies and activities which interest them and also the creation of new societies is strongly encouraged.
There are over 35 School Clubs and societies:
| African and Caribbean | History |
| Arcana (Maths) | Home-brewing |
| Architecture | Isos (Social Science) |
| Art | Jewish |
| Astronomy | Journalism |
| Athena | Law |
| Bee Keeping | Lower School Politics |
| Chess | Mahjong |
| Classical Film | Medical |
| Climbing | Mentoring |
| Coding | Modern Languages (Sixth Form) |
| Creative Writing | Principia (Science) |
| Critical Thinking | Robotics |
| Debating (Junior & Senior) | Rocketry |
| Digital Creativity | South Asian |
| Drama | Sub Aqua |
| English | Table-top gaming |
| Exploring Christianity | Thank Science It’s Friday |
| Frusta Frustra (Sixth Form) | |
| Green Committee |
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
One of the founding cadet forces in the country, Tonbridge has a proud tradition of offering the boys the opportunity to develop their leadership and teamwork skills through the CCF. With Army, Navy and RAF sections, there is a wide range of opportunities available to the boys, from military skills like drill and weapons handling through to sailing, SCUBA diving and the chance to fly small aircraft. The highlight of each year is the inspection, where the different sections put on displays of the skills they have learned for a visiting serving officer, culminating in an inter-section competition that is fiercely contested.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
At Tonbridge, we offer the Silver and Gold Awards. Typically, around 60 boys in Year 10 sign up for the Silver Award and prepare for expeditions in the Ashdown Forest and South Downs. In their own time, they undertake volunteering, physical and skill sections with guidance from our team of committed teachers. Around 20 boys then continue to the Gold Award, where we team up with girls from Walthamstow Hall to either hike in more challenging terrain such as Dartmoor, the Lakes or Peak District, or paddle canoes in the Welsh borders.
School trips
School trips are incredibly valuable educational experiences, and we offer a large number of trips locally, regionally and internationally. A classics trip to Italy, language trips to Spain and France, a pre-season rugby tour to the Basque Country or football training in Madrid are just a few examples.
