Tonbridge (TGS) has an urgent obligation and opportunity to secure significant improvements to its outdoor curriculum and recreational sports facilities to benefit generations of TGS students and young people in the community of . The School is applying for planning permission from Borough Council (TMBC) for a floodlit, short pile, artificial turf sports pitch, suitable for competition hockey and multi-use training; for grading and draining of the field into three flat surfaces; for car parking; and for a sports pavilion. The improved facilities will secure space for cricket nets, a grass sprint track and a long jump pit.

TGS, an International Baccalaureate World School, enjoys an impressive academic reputation nationally and internationally and offers an exceptional education to young people from Tonbridge and Malling, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells Council areas. As a Department for Education , the School’s funding is drawn from central government grants and does not charge for the education it offers.

The Governors and staff of the School recognise that academic opportunity is only part of the fully rounded educational experience essential to support intellectual, social and emotional development so critical in preparing young people for life beyond school. Our aim is to ensure that every student benefits from an educational experience that builds confidence and self-esteem so important for physical and mental wellbeing.

Securing facilities that are fit for purpose and inspiring is critical to these educational ambitions. In 2015 TGS delivered three key areas of a four part Strategic Buildings Development Plan; a new Sixth Form Building with dining facilities, expanded and upgraded Music facilities, and improvements to Art. These developments were funded from a central government Academy grant, from private Trust awards and from the School’s capital fundraising campaign involving students, parents, alumni and other TGS friends. The developments have been supported with improved traffic management and transport arrangements.

The fourth strand of the Strategic Buildings Development Plan addresses a long overdue need for modern and high quality outdoor learning facilities to support curricular and co - curricular sport with a specific focus on securing excellent team sports facilities that all TGS students can benefit from. Financing outdoor sport is extremely challenging; capital facility developments are not affordable from the general government grant allocated to the School and Academy capital grants are available for indoor facilities only. Sport funds are directed towards community sports schemes not school sports. The School has raised the essential funds required to transform outdoor sport at TGS entirely from private philanthropy.

Sport at Tonbridge Grammar School The Governors and staff at TGS recognise the critical role that sport, and specifically team sports, play in developing and promoting health and wellbeing. They want TGS students to benefit from an engaging team sports programme that develops sports and leadership skills,

nurtures resilience, confidence and self-esteem and builds foundations for a healthy, active adult life.

At TGS the aim is to provide a varied Physical Education (PE) experience, accessible to everyone regardless of ability; with plenty of opportunity for team play and competition including, but not exclusively, competitive opportunities for the sporting elite. All students are encouraged to participate in team sports with regular inter-house sports competitions involving all students as a feature of the School’s enrichment curriculum. TGS also competes to a high standard in a wide variety of competitive school sports, including hockey, netball, football, rugby, cricket, tennis and athletics, enjoying considerable regional and national success. A focus on team sports not only encourages intra and inter school competitions but also provides a springboard to out of school sports clubs which extend and further develop sporting skill and support the development of sports opportunities for life.

Physical Education (PE) is a scheduled part of the curriculum for girls in years 7 to 11 with 640 students participating in timetabled PE lessons daily in classes of 30. Timetabled lessons are supplemented by daily lunchtime and after school clubs, termly interhouse competitions and regular inter school sports competitions. Sport for girls and boys in the Sixth Form is offered as part of the CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) programme of the International Baccalaureate Diploma with dedicated time set aside every Wednesday afternoon for students to pursue a range of CAS activities including team sports. Sixth Form students participate in and lead a range of school sports clubs at lunchtime and after school as team players and sports leaders for students in younger years.

All this is achieved because we have highly experienced, dedicated and enthusiastic specialist sports staff who, with the support of volunteers and student sports leaders, provide an enriching co-curricular sports programme including clubs and match training. Currently, however, our plans to provide PE and team recreational activities throughout the year, carefully geared to the specific needs of girls, are severely constrained by the significant limitations of our outdoor sports facilities. This reduces the opportunities for full and regular student participation.

Sporting facilities at Tonbridge Grammar School At present the School has a large grass field laid out for hockey and field sports. The pitch is poorly drained and sloping so that it becomes dangerous to use during periods of wet weather, when it becomes waterlogged, or during dry weather when it becomes cracked and pitted. In addition to the large grass field there is a single hard court, which accommodates one match size court for netball, or two netball training spaces. In summer the space accommodates two tennis courts.

The general condition of the field pitch means that the teaching of advanced skills in sports, including hockey, is not possible. This disadvantages TGS students in their preparation for local, regional and national competitions. To minimise the detrimental impact of the inadequate on-site facilities the School pays for access to a short pile, artificial turf surface at which is over thirty minutes’ walk from the School, for weekly out of hours hockey training. It is logistically impractical to use this facility during the school day given the travel time and the associated hire costs. Not having the appropriate on-site

2 facilities severely restricts the regularity and breadth of quality sports skills training.

The School has a small dance studio and a purpose built modern sports hall large enough to accommodate four badminton courts. Beyond scheduled PE lessons and co-curricular sports activities such as trampolining, basketball and gymnastics, the sports hall is used as a space for school collective worship and assemblies as it is one of only two spaces large enough to accommodate over 200 students. The sports hall is also used for public examinations as one of only two spaces large enough to accommodate cohorts of students undertaking GCSE and IB Diploma exams. This means the sports hall is unavailable for PE lessons, clubs and training for parts of both the summer and winter months.

The impact of an all-weather sports pitch for Tonbridge Grammar School  Quality and consistency of Physical Education curriculum lessons will be transformed by the year round availability of an on-site floodlit, short pile, artificial turf sports pitch.  No disruption to curriculum PE learning caused by the waterlogging of the field.  On-site play will make sport inclusive for all.  There will be wider access and vastly improved quality and extent of enriching co- curricular sports opportunities for all students.  There will be far reaching, measurable benefits associated with student health and wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem.  There will be a reduced logistical burden for parents and students as sports activities are “in school” enabling all students who want to get involved to have the opportunity.  There will be increased opportunities for competitive intra school sport and thriving inter school sports competitions.  There will be engagement of the whole school community in sport through supporting, team hosting and spectating as well as playing.  Sport will be truly accessible to all. We have included a sample timetable to illustrate the impact of the pitch.

The importance of well-managed community access to sports facilities The School intends to use these facilities for the direct benefit of Tonbridge Grammar School students. Nevertheless, the Governors are acutely aware that young people in the local community and not just students at Tonbridge Grammar School would undoubtedly benefit from access to enhanced provision for outdoor sport. There is a national focus on how we must as a society better address and support the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Team sports are recognised as having a considerable role to play in developing leadership skills, promoting resilience, confidence and self-esteem and building strong foundations for a healthy, active adult life all of which are beneficial to good physical and mental health. A number of other local schools and local school children, particularly those in primary education, do not have access to purpose built sports facilities.

The focus of community access for young people would be through inter schools training

3 and match play and by making the facilities available to other local schools. Over time the aim would be to develop an out of hours youth sports and team coaching programme that is manageable and sustainable for the School and takes into consideration the residential context.

Any revenue arising will be used to offset the running costs of the new facilities as although the improved on-site outdoor sports facilities will reduce some of our existing off-site costs, these savings will not entirely balance out the anticipated annual maintenance costs, including resurfacing in about 10 years time.

The focus would be on popular sports such as hockey and training for cricket, football, rugby, tennis and athletics, with further benefits for TGS students as volunteer sport leaders supporting these activities. Local schools have expressed an interest in using the facilities. One of the School’s regular outreach partners, an organisation supporting young adults with profound physical and learning difficulties, has also expressed an interest in using the new facilities. (See letters of interest).

In restricting the use of lights to between 8am and 7.30pm weekdays and between 9am and 6.00 pm on Saturdays, to take account of our residential context, we have consciously reduced the attractiveness of our pitch as a facility for regular use by local hockey clubs. We are aware that Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells hockey clubs are seeking additional club space and can confirm that both clubs have advised us that our restricted community times do not meet their needs, although they would welcome the opportunity to have access to the pitch occasionally. Regular club community use of the proposed pitch is therefore not planned or anticipated.

We believe our application for community access supports the TMBC Open Spaces Strategy 2007, which identifies a shortfall of short pile pitches in the Borough, supports the objectives of the Sport Development Unit and those of national sports governing bodies but does so in a way that is proportionate and considerate to the amenity of local residents. (See walking distances to ATPs in Tonbridge).

Tonbridge Grammar School neighbourhood TGS is located in the TMBC ward of Vauxhall and adjoins Medway. The single access on to Deakin Leas presents logistical challenges for the School and for adjoining dwellings. We acknowledge that in the past the School has not sufficiently considered the impact of school business on the local neighbourhood. More recently however the School has worked hard to address the needs and concerns of the close community and whilst we are not complacent, we are grateful that it has been acknowledged that progress has been made.

Traffic management is a major consideration and is central to school event planning and to the School’s lettings policy. Activity on the school site is planned in consideration of the impact on our neighbours. Traffic movements are monitored daily.

The School has an up to date Travel Plan which is reviewed annually. The School’s Travel Action Group meets three times a year with volunteer representatives from our governors, staff, parents, neighbours (from Deakin Leas, Taylor Close and The Drive), the police and our local ward councillors. The School’s Annual Travel Survey posted via the Kent Jambusters

4 website has shown significant improvement towards previous targets and a new set of objectives was agreed by the Travel Action Group in 2016.

Biannual residents meetings have been established, open to any residents living within the vicinity of the School. Additional written and email communications are undertaken by the School to alert neighbours to key events and the Estates Manager coordinates and responds to individual correspondence.

Planning consultations. In response to comments and concerns received at and since a public exhibition on Monday 28 November 2016, and at the scheduled residents meeting on Friday 9 December, the School has further adapted this planning application, and additional information has been prepared:

 Illustrative cross section drawings to better explain the proposals.  Additional information and explanations to address comments and queries raised by members of the public.  Management of the proposed new replacement car park.  Landscape plans with additional planting to provide natural screening.  The introduction of acoustic fencing  Neighbours web portal www.tgs.kent.sch.uk/neighbours to provide ongoing information and updates pertaining to relevant school business.

This application reflects revisions following a previously declined application and reflects consultations with neighbours The School has previously applied for planning permission for an all–weather pitch but the application was declined in February 2014. Since then the School has made changes to the scheme and essential funds have been raised from private philanthropy.

Site of the pitch, levelling, pitch fencing, acoustic fencing, gates  The proposed location of the pitch at the eastern end of the field sets it low within the school site providing a natural sound barrier and so that the lights have less impact on the surrounding area.  The new site also allows for a much more efficient use of the space. The levelling process will create two stepped grass training areas in addition to the artificial pitch.  The proposed pitch fencing complies with safety standards and ensures that balls remain safely on the pitch area. The fence would 3m high green plastic coated weldmesh around the pitch and 4.5m high behind each goal.  Acoustic fencing is also proposed alongside the pavilion on the north side of the pitch and alongside the eastern fence of the pitch, as advised by the noise assessment. This will reduce any noise impact of activity on the pitch beyond the boundaries of the school site. (See Noise Assessment).

Hours of use The regular anticipated use of the pitch by the School will be Monday to Friday 8am to 3.40pm and then for training and matches involving TGS and other local schools until 6pm. There would be occasional use by the School on Saturday mornings during term time. Some use of the facilities by the School is anticipated during school holidays.

5 In winter months, use of the pitch will be limited by the permitted use of lights.

The School also plans to develop sporting opportunities to further widen access to sport for TGS students and the community after 6pm, but does not seek to operate the extensive times of other community sport facilities that are open until 10pm every night. The use of the pitch until 7.30pm will allow just one session of community training in winter months.

The use of school facilities is managed and controlled as part of the day to day management of the School and is part of the School’s lettings policy and terms of use. The outdoor facilities will be managed and controlled in the same way.

Use of floodlights The School does not need planning permission for use of its own facilities, and there are no constraints on the use of the playing fields by the School or by outside bodies, but planning permission covers the use of the floodlights (lights).

The pitch will need to be lit when poor natural light impairs vision and presents a risk to personal safety. The decision to turn on the lights will be determined by the officials in charge of the pitch activity. The School proposes the most up to date and affordable technology to maximise efficiency and minimise the light spill. The lights will be turned off when players leave the pitch. An automatic timer will ensure that the lights extinguish at the end of the council approved times for use. Low level emergency lighting will be used to enable players to safely vacate the pitch.

The proposed use of lights has been significantly reduced since the previous application:

Monday to Friday – 8am to 7.30pm (previously 8.30pm) Saturday – 9am to 6pm (previously Saturday and Sunday)

School parking and overflow parking The number of car parking spaces on the school site reflects the conditions of earlier planning permissions granted for a new Sixth Form building in 2014. (See Car Parking figures). Overflow parking currently available on grass meshing on the north side of the field and directly in front of the School will be lost to the proposed development. It also presents a barrier to use of the playing fields; students have to cross it to get to the playing area.

New replacement overflow parking is proposed on the north-east boundary of the field that would enable the School to further reduce congestion on Deakin Leas and better manage all on-site parking. In recognition of concerns raised by neighbours, the School proposes car park management whereby all visitors to the site, including those using the pitch, would use the main car park and the new car park would be used for overflow. The new overflow car park would also be used on event days for longer stay vehicles, to further minimise the impact of noise that is associated with visitors to the School. In addition, the new overflow car park would be used for disabled pitch users and it would also enable the School to continue its commitment to park 17 Sixth Form student cars on the school site.

In response to neighbour requests, vegetation proposed in the planting scheme will provide a natural diffuser and interruption to vehicle headlights as they leave the site.

6 A pavilion Permission is sought for a small pavilion to host visiting groups and teams and to enable users with limited mobility to access the facilities. Able-bodied users will use changing rooms in the Hands Building or those situated behind the IBarn building, which are some way from the proposed pitch. The pavilion will be built when funds allow.

Landscaping and our environment The School recognises the importance of its natural surroundings and the development of outdoor facilities has been planned to preserve this asset. No trees will be felled. In response to feedback at a public exhibition on Monday 28 November, the landscaping plan now includes planting schemes that include trees and shrubs that will form a natural, visual and sound barrier between the School and adjoining properties.

A new strategy for an active nation – Government, December 2015 The facilities proposed in this application offer a transformational and invaluable sporting opportunity to the community of TGS, as well as to the community of South Tonbridge. The application is proposed in such a way to recognise and respect the local residential amenities of the surrounding residential properties.

This proposed development enables the School to execute its responsibility to the educational welfare of generations of students and its wider community. Private philanthropy overcomes the limitations of the public purse and whilst working within the challenges of a private residential location, the development brings a valuable facility to the Tonbridge ward of Vauxhall at no cost to its residents. It enables the School to play a modest but active part in local, national government sport and Sport England strategies.

Permitted community use of the facilities will open vital access to funds to develop these community sporting opportunities (within the conditions of permissions granted).

To quote Jenny Price Chief Executive of Sport England, “Sport can be a powerful force for good...It can enrich you personally, enhance your community and contribute to the economy.” (Sport England: Towards an Active Nation 2016 to 2021.)

Rosemary Joyce Head Teacher February 2017

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