Tonbridge Secondary School

Hillview School For Girls is a Performing Arts college with academy status in Tonbridge, Kent. It has an age range of students aged 11-18.HistoryThe school was built on Waterloo Road, Tonbridge in 1854 as a response to the increasing population of working class citizens in the parish. The school was then known as 'Tonbridge Secondary School'. The school enrollment toll was 54 but rose to 122 girls by 1868. In 1871 the school moved to a larger site on the corner of St. Stephens St. and Pembury Road. Again, the school grew in size (258 girls on roll in 1891).In 1929 the girls moved to the Technical Institute in Avebury Avenue. 207 senior girls were housed in four different buildings including those above the town's library. In 1936 the school moved once more to a purpose-built school. It was nicknamed by the locals as 'Hectorage Road School' and had 315 girls on roll. There was originally a single-storey building but this was replaced in due course by a two-storey building.The date the school took the name of 'Hillview School for Girls' was 1968 when the then Head Mistress decided to show a true spirit of democracy and ask the girls to suggest a new name for the school. Once the nominations had been received a ballot was held and the winner was Hillview School for Girls. The name had been suggested by a first year girl and amused many of the older girls as the "Hillview" took in the gas works, sewage farm, and tar factory not the prettiest view. In 1996 the school expanded with a new Maths and Technology block. In 2000 Hillview was chosen to be a Beacon School, the first such secondary school in Kent. A new building was erected on the lower site, giving a new sports hall, three new Science rooms and 7 new classrooms. In 2001 the school gained the status of Performing Arts College, which led to the building of a Studio Theatre. The school also received an Arts Mark Award from the Arts Council of England.

Tags: High School,Elementary School,Junior High School