Tonbridge celebrates national recognition for community engagement
We were delighted to share in September that Tonbridge School had been named a finalist in the Community Engagement or Charity Fundraising category of the 2025 Talk ÍÑ¿ã°É Awards for Innovation in ÍÑ¿ã°É.
This recognition highlighted the impact of the School’s long-standing partnerships and initiatives with local schools, community groups, and charities. It followed praise from the ISI (2025), which described the School’s approach to community engagement as a 'significant strength.'
The Community Action programme, now more than 20 years old, continues to flourish, with over 120 boys taking part each week in projects that extend the benefits of a Tonbridge education beyond the School gates. Initiatives such as Science for Schools, the Learning Mentor Scheme, and Book Buddies reach 36partner schools, benefiting over 3,000 local pupils and contributing 23,325 student volunteer hours.
A key highlight of the year was Giving Day, an annual whole-School event that raised£462,000 in just 36 hours to support the Tonbridge Foundation Awards Programme.
Kat Portman Smith, Director of Community Engagement, said: '
We were thrilled that the impact of our projects had been recognised. These experiences are deeply valued by our boys and staff, helping pupils grow in confidence, develop leadership skills, and understand the importance of giving back.'
November 2025