History
The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells was the second school to be founded by The Worshipful Company of Skinners. The first Skinners' Company school, founded in Tonbridge, was called Sir Andrew Judd's Free School (an independent institution), now called Tonbridge School, which only accepted fee paying boarders, leaving the locals of Tonbridge without an education. As a result The Skinners' Company decided to found another school - The Skinners' Company's School for Boys - and after a prolonged row between towns Royal Tunbridge Wells picked as the location. The school opened to 53 boys, many of whom had to walk in excess of six miles to reach class each day. The citizens of Tonbridge, again angry at the neglect of their sons, encouraged The Company to found a third school in 1888 - Sir Andrew Judd's Commercial School - which is now The Judd School. Finally, in the 1890s, The Company opened a girls school in Hackney, London, called The Skinners' Company's School for Girls.
The school has expanded and evolved over the years. On 1 April 1992, The school (formerly a voluntary aided grammar school) became a grant maintained school, reverting to voluntary aided status again in 1998, following the Education Reform Act of that year. Recently, additional accommodation has been provided for purpose-designed design and technology facilities and classrooms; a modern languages centre was completed in 2002 and a new music and performing arts centre opened in 2003. Ongoing development of the latter will provide further valuable provision for both curricular and extracurricular activities. Recent refurbishments have included new facilities for the sixth form. Specialist science status was awarded in 2005, which resulted in refurbishment of the science block. The school has since also gained mathematics and computing specialism status, and also twice achieved the 'green flag' status as an ecoschool. The school won a prestigious teaching award in 2009 in recognition of the work completed concerning environmental sustainability. A full program of team games is maintained throughout the year with notable successes, particularly in rugby, cricket and athletics. The school enjoys a deep rivalry with The Judd School and, to a lesser extent, with Tunbridge Wells Grammar School For Boys.
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