There are twelve Houses in total, seven for boarders and five for day boys. Each House occupies its own separate and individual building and has between 65 to 70 members across all five year groups.
Although each House has its own individual character, there is an even spread of numbers, year groups as well as abilities and talents throughout. Houses allow for boys to be an integral part of a smaller community where the staff get to know them really well, and it strengthens their sense of belonging and well-being giving them the confidence to venture out to take advantage of all that the wider and larger School has to offer. Tellingly, every boy believes fervently that his House is the best!
A Housemaster, and Matron in the boarding Houses, runs each House, and they are the focal point for your son’s life at Tonbridge as they have oversight for his academic and co-curricular progress as well as their pastoral wellbeing and he is invariably your first port of call. With the support of an extensive tutor team the Housemasters will get to know your son and your family extremely well over your son’s journey through the School.
The system offers a range of inter-House competitions in music, art, debating, general knowledge, and sports too. These competitions provide opportunities for all boys to participate, regardless of their skill level. The House system encourages boys to contribute to House life through plays, concerts, and other activities.
The atmosphere
The boarding House experience
At the centre of each of the seven boarding Houses is the Housemaster and Matron, who together provide pastoral care for the boys. They oversee and support all aspects of your son’s life at Tonbridge. Each Housemaster is further supported by an Assistant Housemaster and five dedicated Tutors, who manage a year group, do one duty night a week, meet their tutees weekly for Tutor Time, join then for lunch at least once a week and get involved in all aspects of House life. Tutors have initial oversight of the boys’ academic progress and support your son throughout his time at the School.
Matrons, who play a vital role in managing the daily operations of their House, will develop a personal connection with each boy and their parents, offering emotional support and comfort particularly when your son is unwell.
Either the Matron or the Assistant Housemaster also lives in the boarding House.
What is the School’s policy on mobile phones and electronic devices for boarders?
Are boarders allowed to leave the School site, and under what conditions?
How does travel work for weekends, exeats and end-of-term departures?
What are long and short exeat weekends and how are they arranged?
What weekend activities are available for boarders, especially those staying during exeats?
How are meals organised and how does the School support healthy nutrition?
What medical support is available to boarders?
What do boarding rooms look like?
How are the boarding Houses structured?
What do Housemasters, Housemistresses and Matrons do?
How are boarders supported academically during evenings and weekends?
What facilities are available within Houses?
Boarding Houses
The day House experience
At the heart of each of the five day Houses is the Housemaster who is at the centre of the boys’ pastoral care and who oversees and supports all aspects of the boys’ life at Tonbridge. The housemasters are supported by five dedicated Tutors in each House, who each oversee a year group, meet them weekly for Tutor Time and join then for lunch at least once a week. Tutors have initial oversight of the boys’ academic progress but get to them really well over the years at School.
Each day House has its own physical building complete with common rooms and study rooms for each separate year group, games rooms, kitchens (Brew Rooms in Tonbridge slang), changing rooms as well as dedicated outside spaces for games and relaxation. They also have a separate dining room either within the House or in the Orchard Centre where the boys eat together each day, just as the boarders do.
Day boys benefit from the boarding ethos and extended days, with access to all facilities and events beyond the formal School day. Their Houses open early in the morning and remain open into the evening depending on the needs and activities of each individual boy, soon becoming a familiar and cherished home base from which to experience School life and take advantage of all the opportunities on offer at Tonbridge. As one day boy said, ‘I have everything but a bed.’ As the boarding Housemasters do, day Housemasters live onsite, register the boys in their House each morning, see them all again at lunch, which is a big part of how they can successfully oversee the pastoral care of boys giving them the greatest chance of making the most of their opportunities and time at Tonbridge.
