SKINNERS' DAY PROGRAMME 2025
TONBRIDGE ONLY CONNECT
I am delighted to welcome everyone to Skinners’ Day, a time when we celebrate the end of the academic year. I warmly invite you to enjoy all that is taking place today, including the range of exhibitions and performances outlined in the programme.
This day marks the annual Visitation of the Master and Court of the Skinners’ Company to the School, a proud tradition dating back to our founding by Sir Andrew Judde. We extend a warm welcome to The Rt Hon The Earl of Woolton who, as Master of the Company, is presenting prizes in our main ceremony in the marquee.
From Art, DT and climbing exhibitions to displays by Tonbridge Community Action and Universities & Careers, there is a great deal to savour. Drama, poetry readings, film screenings, science demonstrations and a rocket launch (with lift-off scheduled for 2pm) are among the attractions.
The Symphony Orchestra is performing Dvořák’s Symphony No.9, From the New World, while School bands will be treating us to rock, jazz, blues and swing. Sport includes cricket, hockey, tennis, basketball, rackets and ultimate frisbee, while the keenly contested ‘Leavers versus Remainers’ match on The Head is another Tonbridge tradition. Locations are spread across campus, with maps provided in the programme.
I encourage you to take the opportunity to see our newly opened Archive Room, located above Old Big School, and invite families to enjoy a stroll to the School orchards, home to our pigs and beehives.
Above all, perhaps, Skinners’ Day gives our community of parents, friends, families, Court members and Governors an opportunity to appreciate the boys’ achievements, both in and outside the classroom, and reminds us of the many interests they are able to pursue throughout the School year.
Celebrations will continue tomorrow, when we look forward to welcoming current boys, Old Tonbridgians and their families to Oakeshott House’s 25th Anniversary event.
I will conclude with a special mention for our Leavers, who have contributed so much to the life of the School over the last five years. We wish them well as they prepare for life after Tonbridge and I look forward to welcoming them back in years to come.
Wishing you all a wonderful day.
James Priory Headmaster
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
10.00am
11.00am
12.30pm
12.45pm
Service in the Chapel
Prize Giving in the Marquee
Drinks Reception in the Marquee (following Prize Giving)
Cricket: Leavers vs Remainers on The Head
Art and DT Exhibitions in Vere Hodge, Tunnel Gallery and OBS Gallery
Climbing Exhibition at the TSC
Conservation: Pigs, Honey and Apple Juice in the School Orchards
Tonbridge Community Action in the Chapel Cloisters
Universities & Careers (Global Futures) in the Smythe Library
1.30pm
Cricket: U16s v U15s on Martin’s
Drama: Lower Sixth Devised performance in the EM Forster Studio Theatre
Hockey: Novi Exhibition Match on the Foundation Astro
Staveley Poetry Competition, E.M.Forster Prose Fiction Competition and Short Film
Competition winners’ readings and screenings in Big School
1.45pm 2.00pm
2.30pm 2.45pm 3.10pm 3.30pm 4.00pm 5.00pm
Basketball: 3x3 Basketball at the TSC Outdoor Courts
Biology: Exploring Microscopes in the BSC
Tennis: 1st VI v Old Tonbridgians on the Clay Courts
Boy-led Publications Display in the EM Forster Theatre Foyer
Symphony Orchestra: Dvořák’s Symphony No.9, From the New World in The Chapel Rocket Launch by Whitby's Pavilion
Cool Physics: A demonstration-filled talk in the BSC
Rackets: Parents' trials on the Rackets Courts
The new Archive Room above OBS Gallery
Ultimate Frisbee: Boars v Old Tonbridgians on The Fifty
Bands and Big Band in the Marquee
CCF: Laser Tag on the Lower Hundred
Premiere Film Screening of The Tomb in the EM Forster Theatre
Modern Languages Drama in the EM Forster Studio Theatre
Tea for parents and boys in Houses
End of Term
School Shop and Bookshop: Open 8.30am to 4.00pm
EXHIBITIONS
Art, Design Technology & Engineering Exhibitions
Leavers’ Exhibition
OBS Gallery & Art 2 | 12.45 - 4.00pm
Exhibition showcasing the work of our Art and Design Technology A-level leavers.
GCSE Exhibition
Tunnel Gallery | 12.45 - 4.00pm
Exhibition showcasing the work of our GCSE Art and Design Technology students.
Formula 24 2023-24
Vere Hodge Centre | 12.45 - 3.00pm
Display of the Formula 24 electric cars that were designed, built and tested by Lower Sixth students as part of their Wednesday afternoon activities programme.
Robotics Society
Vere Hodge Centre | 12.45 - 3.00pm
A display of various projects undertaken by the Robotics Society. This will include Ant-weight battle bots, drones and remotecontrolled vehicles.
Drama and Literature
Exhibitions, Performances, Displays
Lower Sixth Devised Performance
EM Forster Studio Theatre | 1.30pm
A-level Theatre Studies performances of Bled Dry, which explores the historic 1980's Infected Blood Scandal.
EM Forster, Staveley Reading and Short Film Competition
Big School | 1.30pm
The winners of the EM Forster Prose Fiction competition and Staveley Poetry competition and the Short Film Competition will read, show and discuss their work.
Boy-led Publications
EM Forster Theatre Foyer | 2.00 - 3.30pm
A display of various magazines, anthologies and journals that have been written, edited and produced by boys in the last 12 months, including contributions from Economics, English, Science and History students
Film Society Screening
EM Forster Studio Theatre | 3.10pm
A premiere of the short film The Tomb produced during the Wednesday Afternoon film-making activity.
Modern Languages Drama
EM Forster Studio Theatre | 3.30 - 4.00pm
The Lower Sixth present two extracts from Bodas de sangre by Federico García Lorca and Les Mains Sales by Jean-Paul Sartre, performed in a mix of French and Spanish, with English subtitles for both pieces.
Music Exhibitions
Symphony Orchestra Concert
Chapel of St Augustine | 2.00pm
The Symphony Orchestra performs Dvořák’s Symphony No.9, From the New World
Bands and Big Band
The Marquee | 2.45pm
A selection of rock, jazz, blues and swing from the School bands, with a rousing finish from Big Band.
Science Exhibitions
Biology: Exploring Microscopes
Barton Science Centre | 1.45pm
View life in a drop of pond water or see your own cheek and blood cells with our powerful class set of microscopes.
Rocket Launch
Whitby's Pavilion | Lift-off at 2.00pm
The Rocketry Club (weather permitting), will launch their model rockets to 850 feet, bringing their cargo of raw eggs safely back to Earth with a parachute descent. Warning - these rockets launch with a whoosh and lots of smoke!
Cool Physics
Barton Science Centre | 2.30pm
A demonstration-filled talk on what happens when things get very cold (nearly -200°C). A fun and explosive event, involving levitation and liquid nitrogen.
Sporting Events and Exhibitions
Cricket: Leavers v Remainers
The Head | 12.30pm
The Upper Sixth ‘Leavers’ will take on the Lower Sixth ‘Remainers’ in their annual clash on The Head. This is always a keenly contested fixture, with School bragging rights up for grabs.
Cricket: U16s v U15s
Martin's | 1.15pm
The U15s will be challenging the U16s to a game on Martin’s for their last school cricketing performance of the season.
Climbing Exhibition
TSC Prosser Climbing Wall | 2.30pm
A demonstration by members of the Climbing Club on the Prosser Climbing Wall in the Tonbridge School Centre followed by an opportunity to try the sport for yourself if you’d like to have a go.
Hockey: Novi Exhibition Match
Foundation Astro | 1.30pm
Novi Hockey Exhibition game.
Tennis
TSC Clay Courts | 1.45pm
To celebrate 10 years of the clay courts and in Mr Hoare’s final term running tennis, a selection of past and present First Team players will take each other on in a celebration of Tonbridge tennis.
3x3 Basketball
TSC Outdoor Basketball Court | 1.45pm
This rapid form of the game sees plenty of activity at both ends of the court, as reduced teams play against one basket with just seven minutes on the clock. Best views from the TSC balcony.
Ultimate Frisbee
The Fifty | 2.30pm Tonbridge School's Ultimate Frisbee team, 'the Boars', go head-to-head against a team of Old Tonbridgian players on The Fifty.
Rackets
Rackets Courts | 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Parents' trials: For any parents wishing to have a go at playing the world’s fastest and most difficult of sports.
CCF Exhibitions
Laser Tag
Lower Hundred | 2.45pm
Used by the CCF to train cadets in infantry tactics, and your chance to relive your children’s birthday parties: join us for a game of Laser Tag on the Lower Hundred.
Community Action
Tonbridge Community Action
Chapel Cloisters | 12.45pm - 4.00pm
A display summarising some of our local community projects and partnerships that have run throughout the year, and featuring the recent Community Giving Day and associated community projects.
Conservation
Conservation Stall
School Orchards | 12.45pm - 4.00pm
All are most welcome to come and visit the pigs in the School Orchards and see the activities boys have been involved with over the year, and will also be able to purchase apple juice and honey.
Smythe Library and Archives
Competition Essays
The Smythe Library | All day
Read the winning entries of the 2025 Greenwood Legacy and Chichele Essay competitions, all of which will be on display in the Library. Plus, learn about the history of the named Skinners' Prizes in a display in the Chan Café.
Tonbridge School Archives
The new Archive Room | 2.30pm - 3.30pm
The new Archive Room, situated above Old Big School Gallery, will be open for visitors to come and see a variety of memorabilia that is now on display. The Archivist be on hand to explain the history of the artefacts and hopefully answer any questions you may have.
Universities & Careers
Year in the Life
The Smythe Library | All day
A display about a year in the life of the Universities & Careers department. Explore the events and trips carried out, discover how we prepare boys for university applications, and see the amazing destinations of our leavers from recent years.
EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)
The Smythe Library | All day
An exhibition showcasing the projects of our Lower Sixth EPQ students.
Oakeshott 25th Anniversary
Sunday 6 July 2025
Marquee on the Upper Hundred | 10.30am
An event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Oakeshott House, attended by all three Housemasters (Paul Todd, John Bleakley and Graham Barnes), current OH parents, boys, past parents and boys from OH. If you haven't signed up, do please attend and bring a picnic.
