Welcome to the Judd School!

The Judd School is a Voluntary Aided Grammar School for boys, with a number of girls in the sixth form, situated in Tonbridge, Kent. There are around 900 students aged 11-18, nearly all going on to University.

I hope these Web pages will give you an idea of life at Judd and keep you updated as to school developments, recent achievements and news. Please select an area of interest from the adjacent list.

Robert Masters, Headmaster

The School follows the National Curriculum in Years 7-11 and offers a broad range of ‘A’ Levels. In this context, the School seeks to provide an environment in which each pupil has the opportunity to develop talents and interests to the full so that he/she is well prepared to lead a satisfying and useful adult life both in work and leisure. Highest standards are expected and achieved in all our activities. The curriculum is aimed at giving a broad education, leaving specialisation as late as possible.

Art and Design
Business Studies
Classics and Latin
Design and Technology
English
Economics
French
Geography
German
History
Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Politics
Religious Studies
Sciences

The School expects all students to participate in some of the many opportunities offered. There is a very wide range of school clubs and societies such as the Art Workshop, Bridge Club, Chess Club, Christian Union, Computer Workshop, Debating Society, Design & Technology Clinic, Film Club, French Club, Garden Club, Greek Club, Junior Running Club, Musical Activities, Politics Society, Theatre Club, Voluntary Service Unit, Warhammer Club, Young Engineers’ Club and Young Enterprise. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and many achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. We are also keen that school should not unduly dominate a child’s life and we encourage all students to be fully involved with the wider community.

Music
Music is a very strong feature and the Choir, Junior Singers, Chamber Choir, Judd Brass, Big Bands, String Orchestra, Chamber Groups, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra and Junior Orchestra perform at various functions throughout the year. Instrumental lessons are available through the School, for which a charge is made.

Drama
There is a major school drama production each year and usually one or two productions aimed at
particular age groups. Recent productions have included The Importance of being Ernest, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, All My Sons and Animal Farm (musical).

Combined Cadet Force
The School has its own contingent of the CCF with Army and RAF Sections, meeting after school on Fridays. Membership is voluntary and boys can join from Year 9. Cadets have the opportunity to attend camps and expeditions as well as Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force courses. The School has an exceptional record of gaining Flying Scholarships in the RAF Section.

Sports and Games
The School enjoys an enviable reputation in sport at national and county levels. Competitive inter-school fixtures are an important aspect of the games programme at all levels. There is a very strong fixture list every Saturday and a high standard is maintained leading to national competitions. At junior level there are regular games for ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, so that many of the students have the chance to represent the School. In Year 7 there are even ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ rugby fixtures from time to time. There is also an extensive programme of interform competitions, including one designed specifically for those who are not school team players. The main games are rugby football, cross-country running and basketball during the winter months, and cricket, tennis and athletics during the Summer Term. The open-air swimming pool is much used during the summer. There are also opportunities for rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, squash, badminton, judo, golf, table tennis and hockey at later stages in the School. Top quality coaching continues, even in inclement weather, owing to the versatility of the Sports Hall and All Weather Pitch.

Life in the Sixth Form at The Judd is extremely busy, and not just from an academic perspective. From the moment they join year 12, students are encouraged to participate fully in the life of the community, to develop their talents and to take on roles of responsibility and leadership. Indeed, a significant number of extracurricular activities rely upon the input from the Sixth Form to run smoothly.
We offer courses leading to AS and A2 in a wide range of traditional, academic subjects. All students, whether internal or transferring from other schools, are interviewed by senior staff who seek to provide guidance and support as 4 subjects are chosen for study. In addition, students follow a course in either General Studies or Critical Thinking,
also to AS.
The vast majority of Judd students stay on at the end of Year 11, and they are joined by a further thirty or more students from other schools; these include a number of girls. Pastoral Care is very important, and the Director of Sixth Form is
supported by a team of experienced Heads of Year and Tutors. All students are allocated to a Tutor Group of approximately 20 students, with a Tutor who manages the day to day pastoral care. Clear systems are in place to ensure that students and parents are kept informed of progress, and we welcome informal contact with parents/guardians. Students are provided with a Common Room shared by both year groups, which has a canteen facility, open for most of the working day. There is a vending machine for hot drinks available all day. Each student
is also provided with locker space.

In September 2004 the school was awarded Music College Status in recognition of its outstanding achievements in Music and its robust plans to continue to develop provision in the school and the local community. Students at Judd give some 40 concerts each year and now benefit from high quality facilities and teaching in Music Technology as well as traditional music. Judd’s prowess in mathematics is also recognised under the specialism. Outreach work is undertaken in local primary schools and additional resources are deployed in school to support all students.