Tomlinscote was opened in 1970 as Surrey's first purpose-built comprehensive. Students enter Tomlinscote at the age of 11 years from local junior, primary and independent Preparatory feeder schools, for example, Lakeside Primary School, Ravenscote Junior School, Pirbright Primary School, Crawley Ridge Junior School or The Grove Primary School. There are often waiting lists for entry. In March 2011 Surrey County Council proposed that Tomlinscote take over the Kings International College and that years 7, 8 and 9 be based on the Kings site and 10, 11 and Sixth Form on the Tomlinscote site. Initial meetings with parents at both schools suggested united opposition to the plans and sparked a heated internet debate. In the end, after a due diligence report, letters written by teachers, parents and councillors stating their disapproval of the plan, the Governing Body of Tomlinscote voted unanimously against authorising a merger. This left the Surrey County Council no choice but to scrap the plan. From September 2017, the school day changed to start at 8:35 and finish at 3:05 PM. Students attend six 50 minute lessons except for Fridays where Years 7 and 8 finish school at 2:10 PM. In September 2018, Tomlinscote stopped taking on additional A-level students in order to focus on providing vocational courses. Ian Hylan, then principal, attributed the decision to the large number of students attending the Sixth Form College, Farnborough instead of continuing their studies at the school.
Sports Department
Tomlinscote's grounds house a sports centre which was started in 1990 and has undertaken several changes of management in the past two years. The sports centre is run as a dual-use centre, with the school using it during the day for lessons, and then during the evenings, weekends and holidays it is open to the public. The sports centre has a fully equipped fitness gym, changing facilities and hires out its sports hall and outside courts to local clubs and the public.
Language College
On 1 September 1996 Tomlinscote was formally awarded the status of a Language College. To attain Language College Status the school had to put together a detailed submission including the aims and targets over a three-year period. These targets were assessed against strict criteria by the Department for Education and Skills each year. The Language College submission related to aspects of the whole school curriculum as well as specific objectives in Modern Foreign Languages. A successful first three years led to a re-designation for a further three years in 1999 and the school was one of the first Language Colleges to be designated for a further four years in September 2002. In students' first year they have an international week where they go toGermany or France, depending on which language they study. In Year 8, up to 40 students have an opportunity to visit Madrid, Spain during their first year of Spanish lessons. When students are in year 9 or above, they are offered the chance to take part in exchanges to countries including France, Germany and Spain. PGL trips used to be available from years 8 to 9 to the south of France, and the school ran a 5-week independent expedition to Icelandin the summer of 2010.
The school provides iPads through two lease schemes, one three years in length, and the other two years. A new iPad scheme begins when students enter year 7 or year 10. At the beginning of each scheme, parents can place an order for an iPad using an online registration portal. iPads are used throughout the school day to assist within lessons as well as completing home learning tasks. The scheme is operated by Albion Computers who provide an insurance policy. The school says it chose the devices due to "performance and security" as well as the "amount and quality of apps". In 2018, Tomlinscote was awarded Apple Distinguished School status until 2021 for using "iPad and Mac products to inspire student creativity, collaboration and critical thinking". Tomlinscote operates a system of an E-Learning Co-ordinator, 7 Digital Champions and 34 Digital Leaders to teach each other the new skills needed to integrate technology into the classroom environment.
