Oscar Mcllwham PS 19 -24

"I am proud to say that I have been a Foundation boy and want to say a massive thank you.”

My Tonbridge journey started in Year 6 when my local village vicar suggested I go to Tonbridge for secondary school. Due to the fees, Mum and I laughed at him, but he told us about the Foundation Award Programme. It turned out he had been the Chaplain previously, Fr Martin Beaumont. I attended Chiddingstone C of E School, a mild and quiet place that probably could not serve as much more juxtaposition to Tonbridge.

To pick out my fondest memories of life at Tonbridge would be nearly impossible. The only thing I massively underestimated would be the bond that I would form with the 12 or so other boys in my boarding house. To say it was always plain sailing would be a complete lie, but I have formed friendships and memories I do not intend to forget for the foreseeable future. My fondest memories would be playing on the Stadio for the 1st XI, playing cricket on the Head for Parkside in the final of House Cricket, sitting in my room and having Dr Thompson ask me if I wanted to be Head of House of Parkside, playing Principal Viola in the Symphony Orchestra, and so much more. 

Qi Li  JH 19 - 24

The opportunity to be a Tonbridge Foundation Scholar is one that simply cannot be passed up. The benefits of the Tonbridge experience go far beyond an exceptional education and the use of world class facilities such as the Barton Science Centre and the TSC – it’s the tight-knit communities of the boarding houses, the support of the staff through physical and mental obstacles, and being given the opportunities to excel at whatever your heart desires.

Being a Foundation Scholar is an honour which I will cherish forever. I’m extremely proud of the fact that merit alone has put me in the position that I’m in today. Through the Foundation Award, my family and I have met some amazing people and have benefitted massively from the perks that the award brings. Money should not be a limiting factor when it comes to wonderful experiences, and Tonbridge’s Foundation Award Programme will provide boys from underprivileged backgrounds with the opportunity of a lifetime for many years to come. As I leave Tonbridge for the University of Bath to study Chemistry, I will look back on my five year tenure with great pride. The experiences I’ve had and the memories I’ve made would not have been possible without the Foundation Award, and for that reason I’d like to thank everyone at the school who made my experience such a positive and wonderful one. Tonbridge will forever be a special place to me and I hope I can come back in the future to reminisce upon the best 5 years of my life so far.

Ryan Ng  FH 19 - 24

The opportunity of a Foundation Award Scholarship has allowed me to learn from incredibly passionate teachers, inside and outside of the classroom. I am inspired by all those who have taught me over my five years at the school, for their openness to support my academic struggles and the invaluable lessons I have learnt from them.

Most importantly, I have had the opportunity to form lifelong friendships. Whether in the classroom, on the sports fields or in the dorm rooms, there hasn’t been a day where I have gone without smiling, laughing, and feeling a part of the Tonbridge community. I entered the school in 2019, unsure about where I would end up and where my academic interests would lead, looking up to the older boys who all seemed to have found their paths. Five years later, I am honoured to be leaving Tonbridge as a youth delegate for the United Nations FAO, having discovered my path and hopefully having inspired a few students myself. This sense of belonging, this feeling of being part of something bigger, is what truly makes Tonbridge a special place. I will take everything Tonbridge has imparted to me in pursuit of further study at the University of Cambridge.

Kieran McWilliams SH 19 - 24

If I had not had the opportunity to go to Tonbridge, I probably would never have discovered my passion for shooting. All of my achievements outside of academics come from shooting where I was captain for my Upper 6 year, broke the record for most 100s scored on the 10-bull target by any boy at their time at the school since Tim joined as coach, and the highest average on 10-bull. I also managed to go to national championships through the school, competing at the schools and cadets full bore national meet for three years and the small-bore British championships for two years. My biggest achievement in shooting is winning the British championship for B, C and D class in 2023. None of this would have been possible without both the School, but also the help, support and guidance of Tim Blackwell, the current master of shooting so I would like to thank him and the School for that.

I am profoundly grateful for my time at Tonbridge and to all that made it possible and can say with certainty that I would not have rather gone to any other School and would not trade my time at Tonbridge for the world. It has really helped to shape the person I am today and given me opportunities I would not have been able to get at most other schools.