Borden Grammar School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School Type: Selective boys' grammar school (11-16), mixed sixth form
• Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
• Student Numbers: Approximately 900 pupils
• Entry Requirements: Kent Test score of 332+ with no section below 107
• Ofsted Rating: Good (November 2021)
• Specialist Status: Sports college
• School Values: Kindness, creativity, resilience, courageousness, respect

About Borden Grammar School

Borden Grammar School has established itself as a leading selective institution in Kent, serving the educational needs of boys aged 11-16 before welcoming both boys and girls into its sixth form. Located in Sittingbourne, the school combines rigorous academic standards with a strong sporting heritage, reflected in its specialist sports college status.

The school's commitment to holistic development is evident in its five core values: kindness, creativity, resilience, courageousness, and respect. These principles underpin every aspect of school life, from classroom learning to extracurricular activities. With approximately 900 students, Borden Grammar maintains an environment where individual attention and academic excellence can flourish.

The school's Good Ofsted rating demonstrates its effectiveness in delivering quality education whilst maintaining high standards of pastoral care. Teachers at Borden Grammar are dedicated to challenging students to achieve their personal aspirations within a stimulating learning environment that encourages both academic achievement and character development.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Entry to Borden Grammar School is determined by performance in the Kent Test, a standardised assessment designed to identify students with the academic potential to thrive in a grammar school environment.

Kent Test Structure

The assessment comprises two one-hour papers:
Paper 1: English and mathematics (based on Key Stage 2 curriculum)
Paper 2: Verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and spatial reasoning

Both papers use multiple-choice format, allowing students to demonstrate their abilities across a range of cognitive skills. The combination of curriculum-based content and reasoning assessments provides a comprehensive evaluation of academic readiness.

Qualifying Standards

To secure a place at Borden Grammar School, students must achieve:
• Total score of 332 or higher across all sections
• Minimum score of 107 in each individual section

These thresholds ensure that admitted students possess the necessary academic foundation to succeed in the school's challenging curriculum whilst maintaining the selective nature that enables high achievement standards.

How to Apply

The application process for Year 7 entry follows a structured timeline that families must observe carefully:

Registration Phase

June to early July: Register your child for the Kent Test through the official channels. This registration is essential and cannot be completed retrospectively.

Assessment Phase

September: Your child will sit the Kent Test at a designated centre. Results are typically released in mid-October, providing families with sufficient time for secondary school applications.

School Application

By 31st October: If your child achieves the qualifying score, you must name Borden Grammar School on your secondary school common application form submitted to your local authority.

Oversubscription Criteria

When more than 150 qualified students apply, places are allocated according to the following priority order:
1. Children in Local Authority Care
2. Up to 15% of places reserved for children from specific postcodes who are eligible for Free School Meals
3. Children with siblings currently attending the school

Preparing for the Borden Grammar School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Preparation for the Borden Grammar School 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.

The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.