Kent / Kent 11+
Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DB
Borden Grammar School
1
A selective boys grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 928 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective boys grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 928 pupils on roll. Families looking at Sittingbourne, Kent will usually see Borden Grammar School as a selective option for boys aged 11-18, with sixth form continuing the academic journey on the same site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 928 pupils on roll and 150 Year 7 places.
For parents thinking about the 11+, the admissions picture is one of the clearest differentiators here. The current route includes GL Assessment and Individual, with 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
On current official measures, the school offers a clear academic profile for parents to weigh up. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.26 and Attainment 8 at 63.1. 85.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 12.8% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 61% moving into higher education.
The wider offer currently includes Drama, Sport. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. Borden Grammar School is likely to appeal most to families who want strong academic expectations but also need the practical details, culture, and selective route to line up sensibly.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kent and England.
Traditional school areas apply after the earlier statutory, pupil-premium, family and health criteria. Qualified boys are then considered first in ME9 to ME12, then ME8 and ME13, then elsewhere, with straight-line distance used to break ties.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Priority first goes to looked after children, previously looked after children, and children previously in state care outside England who now meet the published care-order conditions.
Eligible free school meal applicants in ME9 to ME12
Up to 15 percent of Year 7 places are reserved for children eligible for free school meals in ME9, ME10, ME11 or ME12 who submit the required supplementary form by 31 October 2026.
Current family association
Qualified applicants with the published family association criteria are then considered.
Health and special access
Priority then goes to applicants whose medical, social or access needs meet the policy test.
Traditional school areas
Remaining places go to qualified applicants living first in ME9, ME10, ME11 and ME12, then ME8 and ME13, then any other area, with straight-line distance used to break ties.
Borden's 11+ assessment is provided by Quest Assessments, and the school treats the Borden Assessment Procedure as an optional additional route alongside the Kent PESE process.
This school uses the shared Kent Test consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Kent Test guidePaper 1
VR, Maths, NVR, English
Borden Assessment Procedure
Assessment covering verbal ability, numerical or mathematical reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and English.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Assessment covering verbal ability, numerical or mathematical reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and English.
Non-verbal reasoning
Assessment covering verbal ability, numerical or mathematical reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and English.
Science
Creative writing
Borden assessment registration opens
1 June 2026
Borden assessment registration closes
1 July 2026
Exceptional late registration deadline
8 July 2026
Borden assessment day
12 September 2026
Results posted
15 October 2026
Common Application Form and SIF deadline
31 October 2026
Waiting list closes
31 December 2027
Check the Kent Test and Borden routes
Read the school admissions page and policy so you understand the Kent Test route and the separate Borden Assessment Procedure.
Open admissions pageRegister for the Borden Assessment Procedure
Registration opens at 9am on 1 June 2026 and closes at 4pm on 1 July 2026, with exceptional late applications accepted to 8 July 2026.
Open policySit the assessment on 12 September 2026
The Borden Assessment Procedure takes place at the school on 12 September 2026.
View test dateSubmit your local authority application and any SIF
List Borden on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 and send the supplementary form by the same date if you need it for the published criteria.
Open SIFLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 64.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 62.7 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 63.1 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 63.2 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | C+ average (34.4 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (33.6 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | C+ average (33.6 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (34.1 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 96% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 92% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 2% |
| In employment | 2% |
Latest inspection: 24 November 2021
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Same Kent area and similar boys' selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare the best grammar schools in Kent for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Kent sits within the Kent Test route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools in Kent
Compare the best grammar schools in Kent for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Kent sits within the Kent Test route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Boys' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best boys grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing realistic shortlist options.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Borden Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment, Individual.
1. Check the Kent Test and Borden routes: Read the school admissions page and policy so you understand the Kent Test route and the separate Borden Assessment Procedure. 2. Register for the Borden Assessment Procedure: Registration opens at 9am on 1 June 2026 and closes at 4pm on 1 July 2026, with exceptional late applications accepted to 8 July 2026. 3. Sit the assessment on 12 September 2026: The Borden Assessment Procedure takes place at the school on 12 September 2026. 4. Submit your local authority application and any SIF: List Borden on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026 and send the supplementary form by the same date if you need it for the published criteria.
Borden assessment registration opens: 1 June 2026. Borden assessment registration closes: 1 July 2026. Exceptional late registration deadline: 8 July 2026. Borden assessment day: 12 September 2026. Results posted: 15 October 2026. Common Application Form and SIF deadline: 31 October 2026. Waiting list closes: 31 December 2027
Borden Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 24 November 2021.