Headmaster’s Welcome

I am delighted to have been able to spend time at this wonderful school for more than a decade. As only the third Headmaster in the school’s history, I have been privileged to see it grow in all aspects since I started here in 2013, whilst still retaining its very unique and special character. 

But what exactly is it that makes TMS different? Why do I believe parents should choose our wonderful Prep School and Nursery?  

We instil a love of learning for life

Put simply, we are here to encourage each and every child to be the best they can be in every aspect of their lives; to help them develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

I know a number of schools would make this claim, but at Tockington Manor School it is true for we really do encourage every child to ‘make the most of every moment’ – our school motto. Of course, we provide an excellent academic education but in the Independent School sector I believe that is the minimum you should expect to receive, and that is why at Tockington Manor School we provide much more.

We put the child’s happiness first

In this incredibly fast-paced world I believe that a child needs a breadth of experiences to reach their true potential, ultimately to live a fulfilled and happy life. That is why we take the time to find out what makes each and every Tockington child ‘tick’, for happiness comes first – if a child is not happy they simply cannot learn.

We focus on personal best and self-improvement

As staff, we know every child individually. We work closely together, share our thinking and observations, and are flexible in adapting to each child’s needs. We help our children discover their natural talents so that every child can experience the feeling of success and we encourage them to discover that feeling of success in everything they do by focusing on their ‘personal best’ across the curriculum. We don’t want them to worry about the scores of the person next to them but rather to aim for and celebrate self-improvement.

Children thrive in our small classes, under specialist teachers

We are proud to say that our recent assessments in English and Mathematics for Years 2 to 6 showed that all of our classes are working above the national average. Indeed the longer children stay at Tockington Manor School the steeper their rise in progress. Our Year 8 leavers have developed an enviable 100% success rate in receiving entry into their first-choice senior schools and achieving a very impressive track record of scholarship awards in Academia, Sport, Music, Drama and Design Technology.

The best way to understand what goes on at Tockington Manor School and Nursery is to spend some time with us through a private visit at your convenience. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for an insight into Tockington life.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Stephen Symonds
Headmaster