About Borden Grammar School
Borden Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, admitting 150 boys per year. It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). Borden also offers an additional 'safety net' assessment for boys who score just below the Kent Test qualifying threshold — this bespoke Borden test may offer places to students who narrowly missed the standard Kent Test qualifying score.
Borden Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 70%. A-Level A*–B: 70%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Borden Grammar School
Borden Grammar School is a boys state grammar school in England that selects pupils through the Kent Test (Kent’s 11+, set using GL Assessment papers) for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 150 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Kent test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Thursday 11 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Borden Grammar School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (150 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Borden Grammar School
Borden Grammar School Admissions Criteria
Borden Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Sittingbourne, Kent, admitting 150 boys per year. It uses the Kent Test (GL Assessment). Borden also offers an additional 'safety net' assessment for boys who score just below the Kent Test qualifying threshold — this bespoke Borden test may offer places to students who narrowly missed the standard Kent Test qualifying score.
- ✓Register for the Kent Test via Kent County Council — opens June, closes July (Year 5).
- ✓Sit the Kent Test: two one-hour multiple-choice papers plus 40-minute writing task.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying threshold (total 332+, no subject below 106).
- ✓Borden also administers a separate bespoke test for boys who narrowly miss the Kent Test threshold — check school website for details.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys within the school's priority area who have passed the Kent Test.
- ✓All other qualifying boys, ranked by distance.
Borden Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 150 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Borden Grammar School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Borden Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | early July 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | early July 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Borden Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Kent) when registration opens. Closes early July 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Borden Grammar School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Thursday 11 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Borden Grammar School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Borden Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Borden Grammar School
Borden Grammar School selects through the Kent Test (GL Assessment), shared across most Kent grammar schools — a reasoning paper and an English & mathematics paper (about one hour each), plus a 40-minute writing task used only for borderline decisions. The school also offers its own optional Borden Assessment Procedure as an alternative route.
- Reasoning: verbal, non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
- English: reading comprehension, spelling, grammar and vocabulary.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 problem-solving and numerical skills.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Borden Grammar School
Borden Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Borden Grammar School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Borden Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Borden Grammar School pairs high academic standards with strong pastoral care, and is consistently rated Good by Ofsted (most recently in November 2021, when the quality of its teaching was identified as a particular strength). Pupils achieve strong results at GCSE and A-Level and progress to a wide range of universities.
- GCSE & A-Level: consistently strong results across a broad academic curriculum.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with a wide subject choice.
- Progression: strong progression to leading universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Borden Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is through the Kent Test, produced by GL Assessment and used by most Kent grammar schools — two papers of about one hour each (one covering reasoning: verbal, spatial and non-verbal; the other English and mathematics), plus a 40-minute writing task used only for borderline cases. The qualifying standard is typically a total of around 332 with no element below 106. Distinctively, Borden also offers its own optional Borden Assessment Procedure — a separate route (assessing verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning and English) for boys who do not reach the Kent Test standard but may still be suited to the school.
Borden operates a catchment of 'traditional school areas', giving priority to children in the postcode districts ME9, ME10, ME11 and ME12, followed by ME8 and ME13, with straight-line distance used thereafter. Always confirm the current qualifying score, priority areas and criteria in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1878 (originally as Sittingbourne Higher Grade School), Borden Grammar School is a boys' grammar of around 850 pupils (with a co-educational sixth form) on the Avenue of Remembrance in Sittingbourne, Kent (ME10 4DB); it became an academy in 2012 and carries the motto 'Nitere Porro' (Strive Forward). The school aims to develop confident, responsible and well-rounded young men in a community built on collaboration and inclusivity.
Pupils are encouraged into a wide extracurricular programme — from football, cricket, athletics, hockey and table tennis to drama, orchestra, chess and debating. For the full list of clubs and teams, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Borden Grammar School
How do I apply to Borden Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to Borden Grammar School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes early July 2026), then list Borden Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Borden Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Borden Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Borden Grammar School?
Borden Grammar School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 150 places.
How many Year 7 places does Borden Grammar School have?
Borden Grammar School admits 150 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Borden Grammar School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Borden Grammar School's waiting list.
Is Borden Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
Borden Grammar School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Borden Grammar School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Borden Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Borden Grammar School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.