The Skinners' School
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The Skinners' School (formally The Skinners' Company's School for Boys) was opened in Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1887. It was founded by the Skinners' Company, a London Livery Company, and is the sister school of the nearby Judd School in Tonbridge, with which it is particularly competitive. The current roll is approximately 770, of whom around 210 are in the Sixth Form.
On 1 April 1992, the school (formerly a Voluntary Aided Grammar School for Boys) became a Grant Maintained School, reverting to Voluntary Aided status again in 1998, following the Education Act of that year. Recently, additional accommodation has been provided for purpose-designed Design and Technology facilities and classrooms; a Modern Languages Centre was completed in 2002 and a new Music and Performing Arts Centre opened in 2003. Ongoing development of the latter will provide further valuable provision for both curricular and extra-curricular activities. Recent refurbishments have given the school the opportunity to provide handsome new facilities for the Sixth Form.
A full programme of team games is maintained throughout the year with notable successes, particularly in rugby, cricket and athletics. In 2005/6, the school was rated the tenth best rugby school in the country. Pupils are divided into four houses: Atwell, Hunt, Knott and Sebastian. Atwell and Hunt were donors who helped to fund the school; Knott was the first headmaster and Sebastian was the first chairman of governors.
The school's performance in public examinations is consistently excellent. In 2006 100% of boys achieved five or more GCSE grades A* to C, and over 54% achieved A* or A Grades. Results are also good at 'A' level with over 71% of entries awarded an A or B grade. In 2006 The Evening Standard described the school as the ninth best boys' school in London and the South-east; The Times newspaper rated the school the 14th best boys' school in Britain.
In the summer term of Year 12 school prefects are selected. Leadership roles amongst the prefects include the Head Boy, two Deputy Head Boys, two Senior Prefects and four House Captains. Other school prefects are divided between the roles of Duty Prefect and Form Prefect. The current Head Boy (2006/07) is Hugh Wooster and the two Deputy Head Boys are Jonathan Gamble and Sean Baker.
Famous former pupils include TV personality Nick Knowles, actor Alec McCowen and the current coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Bob Woolmer. Other Skinners’ boys have achieved many distinctions over the years – in classical music, on the West End stage, even in warship design – the flight decks of modern aircraft carriers follow the plans of an Old Skinner. Recently there has been a member of the National Youth Ballet, two members of the National Youth Orchestra, the England Under 18 Rugby Captain, an Oxford Rugby Blue, and a Commonwealth Games athlete. Notable headmasters have included the Reverend Frederick Knott, Cecil Beeby and Peter Braggins. The current incumbent is Simon Everson.
