Borden Grammar School

Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Boys only · Sixth form

Part of BORDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL TRUST

Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, ME10 4DB

01795 424192 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card5 strong, 2 expectedSafeguarding met · 12 May 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths83%England 45% · 2024/25
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 95% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils938Room for 949 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 840 in 2019, 826 in 2021, 859 in 2022, 889 in 2023, 924 in 2024, 928 in 2025, 938 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1138 for 123 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 76% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 12 May 2026 , published 6 July 2026.

In short: 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

124 pupils in this year group.

83% — 36 points above the Kent average, and 38 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 83% 47% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 63.2 46.7 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.8 4.2 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 92%This school 2023/24: 85%This school 2024/25: 83% This school England 45% 2022/23 92% 2023/24 85% 2024/25 83%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

126 pupils in this year group.

98% — 5 points above the Kent average, and 6 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 79%13%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 98% 93% 92%
School sixth form 79% 56% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 13% 28% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 3% 3%
Work 1% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
99%98%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

117 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 19% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 48% 53% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 34.1 34.9 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 33.6This school 2023/24: 33.6This school 2024/25: 34.1 This school England 35 2022/23 33.6 2023/24 33.6 2024/25 34.1

A level subjects, 2024/25

22 subjects, 321 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 47 13% 34% 40%
Psychology 38 0% 5% 19%
Business Studies:Single 36 6% 28% 16%
History 26 8% 8% 23%
Chemistry 21 0% 14% 30%
Physics 21 0% 19% 31%
Biology 19 0% 26% 27%
English Language and Literature 18 0% 33% 16%
Mathematics (Further) 15 7% 27% 59%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 15 0% 0% 17%
Economics 12 0% 17% 26%
Film Studies 10 0% 0% 17%
Geography 10 0% 30% 23%
Art and Design (3d Studies) 8 13% 13% 28%
Government and Politics 8 13% 25% 26%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Spanish, Law, French, Art and Design, Art and Design (Photography), Drama and Theatre Studies, Media/Film/Tv Studies.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

109 students in this year group.

84% — 4 points above the Kent average, and 5 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 84% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 8% 6% 7%
Work 16% 30% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
89%84%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

107 students in this year group.

67% — 9 points above the Kent average, and 7 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolKentEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 67% 58% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 10% 20% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
65%67%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Kent. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered123
Families who put it first138
Of those, offered a place114 (83%)
Families who listed it at all346

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.

Admissions dates and schools in Kent

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolKentEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.3% 25.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.9% 2.8%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.0% 11.5%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.2% 12.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
4.1% 8.0%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.6% 22.9%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Lower than 85% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.2 13.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Lower than 91% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
1.8% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 73% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.9 16.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.7 12.0 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Sittingbourne.
Higher than 52% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
13.6% 13.6%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Borden Grammar School's Ofsted rating?

Borden Grammar School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 12 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Borden Grammar School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 83% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 38 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Borden Grammar School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 138 families put Borden Grammar School as their first choice for 123 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 114 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.