Year 9 Options

In Year 9, our students choose their GCSE Options. We offer a Year 9 Options Evening in January and encourage all Year 9 students and their parents/carers to attend. Read CXK’s blog, Year 9 Options, for a short guide on things to be aware of when choosing GCSE Options.

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Post-16 Options    

Following GCSEs, we hope that students will remain at Tonbridge Grammar School and study the IB. There are, however, many different post-18 options available, from Sixth Form, College, an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Read CXK’s blog, Post-16 Applications in Kent and Medway- Part 1, to find out more about the options available and application processes.

Read CXK’s blog, Post-16 Applications in Kent and Medway- Part 2, to explore apprenticeships, traineeships and financial support available for study.

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Post-18 Options – Beyond the Sixth Form

The majority of our Sixth Form students go on to Higher Education following the IB. In 2023, 87% of all TGS application achieved their firm first choice place at University. However, an increasing number of students are choosing to go straight into employment, take a gap year or an apprenticeship. All students have access to Unifrog, to identify opportunities that link to their future and track their work-related experience, skills, and super-curricular activities.

Watch CXK’s vlog, Year 12 Research Year, aimed at encouraging Year 12 students to be proactive in their 'research year’. If you are hoping to go on to university post-18, it is essential to demonstrate you have engaged with your subjects outside of the taught curriculum. This could be wider reading, watching videos online, listening to a podcast, attending a lecture series, entering academic competitions. Explore UniFrog, watch videos, investigate MOOCs etc. University College, Oxford also has an excellent website with top tips for exploring your subject further.

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Additional information – including Gap Years can be found on these helpful links:

YEAR OUT GROUP                        

BUNAC                                           

RALEIGH INTERNATIONAL         

VOLUNTEERING UK                     

NATIONAL CITIZEN OVERSEAS  

THE YEAR IN INDUSTRY             

ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK

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Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships can be accessed at both Post-16 and Post-18. They are an increasingly popular route for young people given the wide variety of apprenticeships available and the nature of combining practical training alongside study. Please read the following Guide to Apprenticeships to find out more.

Local opportunities for apprenticeships in Kent can be found here. 

You can also find out more information about apprenticeships here.