Business of Enterprise Final 2nd July 2008

Dreams 'n' teams 11th July 2008

Open Evening & Open Morning June 2008

Car Boot Sale 5th July 2008

Holocaust Educational Trust February 2008

The Student Ambassadors event at the Imperial War
Museum on Tuesday 5th February was held by the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Sixth Formers from Borden Grammar School, Jack Davies and Chris Foster, along with Head of Religious Studies Mrs J Pye had recently visited Auschwitz as part of the work carried out by the Holocaust Educational Trust. The Trust invited Chris and Jack, to share their experiences in front of a select audience to celebrate the trusts 20th Anniversary. The presentation focussed on their experiences of Auschwitz, but in particular how they shared their journey with Year 10 as part of their PD lessons. The event was attended not only by Holocaust survivors but also Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.

The boys were terrific giving their presentation, Mr Balls was very impressed!

Non-uniform Day Friday 14th March

NON-UNIFORM DAY

FRIDAY 14 MARCH

IN AID OF

SPORT RELIEF

£1

WEAR YOUR SPORT RELIEF SOCKS

Book Fair Monday 3rd March - Thursday 6th March 2008

Borden Library Resource Centre

  Library News

World Book Day Thursday 6th March 2008

Scholastic Book Fair

Monday 3rd March – Thursday 6th March 2008

Dear Parents and Pupils

World Book Day is the biggest celebration of books and reading for children – and we will be celebrating its eleventh anniversary on Thursday 6th March. As in previous years, schoolchildren in the UK are receiving a free £1 Book token, which can be exchanged in all participating book shops for one of nine specially published books.

Following the popularity and success of the previous book fair I have arranged this one so that pupils can also use their book tokens in the fair and purchase books for a £1 less than normal. The nine specially published books are not available though Scholastic but Scholastic is offering a new range of books promising that there will be something for everyone. There will also be a competition and prize draw for boys to take part in.

Book fairs are an important source of new reading books for schools. Every book sold at a book fair earns the school commission that is used to buy new library stock.

I am very pleased to say that due to the Book Fair last November in celebration of the opening of our new Library Resource Centre we raised over £1065 for new resources. This was the most we have ever raised during a book fair and I would like to express my thanks to all those that supported it. Extra funding has also been raised from the sale of old stock and the collection of Nestle Box Tops coupons.

The fair will be open at break times, lunchtimes and after school until 4.00pm. Parents please feel free after school to come and have a browse at the selection of books on offer.

I look forward to seeing you there and thank you again for all your support.

Mrs Covus  

Library Manager

Non-Uniform Day Friday 15th February 2008

NON–UNIFORM

DAY

‘DREAMS & TEAMS

AFRICA’

FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY

£1

!!A CHANCE TO WEAR YOUR TEAM’S SHIRT!!

Pamper Evening & Craft Fair 14th March 2008

Borden Grammar School PFA

Present

A Pamper Evening & Craft Fair

Christmas Fair & Draw - 11 December 2007

Non-Uniform Day 16 November

                                          NON - UNIFORM

              DAY

          FRIDAY 16

         NOVEMBER

              £1

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair held last week was a huge success. The total amount of books sold was £1065.17 raising a massive £639.00 of commission for the new school library. This is our most successful book fair to date.

Official Opening of the New Library 6th November 2007

The new library was opened this week  and has proved popular with students, staff and governors. The school's improvement plan has included revamped classrooms and gymnasium, a new office for PE staff and changing facilities.

But the library and resources centre has been at the heart of the work. It can house up to 90 students, has 30 computers and an upgraded stock of books. The library is also the base for a thriving after-school homework club.

Guests at the launch included county councillor Mark Dance, cabinet minister for children, families and education, who unveiled a commemorative plaque. Other guests were Ian Le Brunn, local education officer for Swale Urban, Alison Osborne, area education officer and representatives from the project architects J A Warner and building contractors Parcon. Also there were governors, Old Bordenians, members of the school's parents and friends association and representatives from the William Barrow's charity.

Headmaster Harold Vafeas said he was delighted with the finished result, and thanked financial backers including KCC, William Barrow's charity, Toshiba, Old Bordenians and the school's parents and friends association. He said: "With the money contributed we have been able not only to provide a wonderful space, but also to equip it in such a way that students have a truly first-class resource.

Book Fair Week

BOOK FAIR WEEK

Monday 4 November

-

Thursday 8 November

All day in the new library

Kent Children's University October 2007

Holiday Fun at Borden Grammar School

The first day of the recent half term holiday saw some children and parents turning up to school nonetheless.  They were attending the Kent Children’s University Day at Borden Grammar School on Saturday 20^th October, taking part in a wide range of exciting courses.

Courses on Felt Making, Art and Craft, Things that Make You Jump, Car Maintenance and Awesome Art were on offer, and children and parents attended together forming family teams.  They each attended three sessions of their chosen course and at the end of the afternoon met together to show their completed work to everyone else.  Each family who participated went away with a certificate celebrating their efforts, and all were agreed that the day had been exciting and rewarding.

Sixth Form Open Evening 27th November 2007

Music Department Activities Schedule

         Music Department Activities Schedule

Monday                    1.30 - 2.05     GCSE Class

Tuesday                   3.30 - 4.30     Choir

Wednesday             1.30 - 2.05     Orchestra

Thursday                 1.30 - 2.05     Jazz Band
                                    3.30 - 5.00    GCSE Class

Friday                       3.45 - 4.30     Consortium Band (at Fulston Manor School)

Canteen Theme Fridays

CANTEEN THEME FRIDAYS

Friday 14th September 2007 - AMERICAN DAY

Friday 28th September 2007 - CHINESE DAY

Friday 12th October 2007 - ITALIAN DAY

Friday 9th November 2007 - INDIAN DAY

Friday 23rd November 2007 - MEXICAN DAY

Friday 7th December 2007 - ENGLISH DAY

Friday 18th December 2007 - CHRISTMAS DINNER DAY

The full canteen menu can be viewed at the Healthy Eating section.

Homework Club

PLEASE NOTE, THERE WILL BE NO HOMEWORK CLUB ON THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER.

Open Evening and Open Morning 2nd & 5th October 2007

Homework Club Information

THERE WILL NOT BE HOMEWORK CLUB ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS:

MONDAY JULY 23RD

TUESDAY JULY 24TH

WEDNESDAY JULY 25TH

THE LIBRARY WILL BE AVAILABLE DURING LUNCH TIMES FOR STUDENTS TO COMPLETE ANY HOMEWORK

The Harry Potter Challenge 19th July 2007

J.K.Rowling's new book 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' is due to be released this weekend and to celebrate its launch, Mrs Covus Library Manager, held a Harry Potter Challenge in the library at lunchtime today. Teams or individual competitors were welcome, and the event proved to be a big success with the library overflowing with keen competitors. The questions were provided by Mr Sherwood-Farnfield and Mr Smith. 1st place was claimed by Nicholas LeMasonry, Jamie Trace and Thomas Payne all from Year 12. 2nd place went to Darrell Cornelius, Ben Stoker and Robert Cooper all from year 7 and 3rd place went to Matthew Lees, Mitchell Payne and Callum Brown from years 8 & 9. If you would like to test your Harry Potter knowledge,  the questions from the day can be downloaded from the following link:  Harry Potter Quiz  Check your answers by emailing Mrs Covus at gpc@bordengrammar.kent.sch.uk .

Enrichment Day 29th June 2007

A variety of different activities kept Borden students fully occupied on the last Friday of June, when the ordinary timetable was suspended.  Whilst Year 7 pupils all headed to Newhouse Youth Club for a day of teambuilding activities, the Year 9 pupils stayed on site for a day of physical and mental challenges.  With a climbing wall, a puzzle zone and archery among the activities for the day, students were kept very busy and focused despite the intermittent rain.  Most of the year 8 boys were in the south of France for an activities week, but the remainder enjoyed a very stimulating day at Chatham Dockyard where a tour of a submarine was a particular highlight.  Year 10 students got an insight into the world of work, shadowing family members or friends in workplaces and carrying out a number of tasks to help them understand the different demands of adult working life.  Finally Year 12 students had time to spend on the computers and using careers resources, as they began to prepare their university applications for the following year.

Further pictures of the day can be viewed at the gallery page.

Swale Try Angle Awards: June 2007

The annual Try Angle Awards for Swale saw six Borden students receiving recognition for their achievements in a number of categories.  Whilst outgoing sixth former Jonathan Richardson won a Personal Development Award for the way in which he has lived his school life to the full, never letting the fact that he is a wheelchair user, get in the way of his interests and ambitions, Kris Thomsett (Year 10 ) and John Barnett (Year 13) gained recognitions for their achievements in Music. Two other awards went to for Borden boys James Blackbrow and James Bonney for achievements in sport.  Year 7 winner, Jake Pearson, won an award for his work as a young carer, giving freely of his time to support a neighbour and his mother.

Business of Enterprise Final at Pfizer 4th July 2007

Congratulations to the Year 10 team who represented the school at the Business of Enterprise final at Pfizer in Sandwich.  Against strong competition, the team came away with the prize for best oral presentation, despite it being the first year the school had taken part. The event was the culmination of work begun in January, when every Year 10 student became part of a team responsible for devising a new product and putting together a business plan for it.  The school winners were the Byte-Rite team, whose product was a cannily designed cartridge pen and USB stick combined. For the Final at Pfizer, the team of six, who between them took on roles ranging from Managing Director to  computer-aided designer, had to put together a table-top and poster display as well as make a five minute presentation to the judges and a large audience drawn from the15 schools taking part.  With a slick slide show and excellent professionalism, the Byte-Rite team impressed the judges and walked away with the prize for best oral presentation.  Along with a framed certificate and a trophy, the team have also won a day at the BBC in London.  The team members were:  Samiul Hassan, Chris Jeferies, Michael Barton, James Glass, Joe Risbridger and Kane Makepeace.

Year 9 Battlefields Visit June 2007

Year 9 Battlefields Visit 14-15 June 2007

Forty-one Year 9 students took a step back in time to the trench warfare of the First World War during a visit to the battlefields of Ypres and the Somme.  They spent two days seeing at first hand the places where thousands of young men, many not much older than themselves, faced the horrors of trench warfare in some of the most significant battles of the last century. 

As well as having a chance to see a variety of First World War sites and artefacts, the boys also made a pilgrimage to the Buffs Road Cemetery on the Ypres Salient to visit the grave of a former Borden Grammar School boy, John Wells Welfare who was killed aged 30 in October 1917.  On behalf of the school, Thomas Gray placed a remembrance cross on the grave. 

The school party took part in another moving ceremony when they attended the nightly memorial service at the Menin Gate at Ypres.  Three students, Jamie Phillips, Sam Coomber and Lee Maunsell laid a wreath during the ceremony and Borden Grammar School teacher Ms Tellick read part of Laurence Binyon’s famous poem “They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old,” to the assembled crowd. 

The second day of the trip saw the boys exploring the sites of the Somme battlefield, finishing up at the stunning Thiepval Memorial on which are inscribed the names of over 73,000 soldiers who have no named grave.  Though the two days gave the students much to feel sad and shocked about, they also learnt much about the comradeship and courage of the men who were in those same places ninety years earlier. 

Further pictures of the trip can be viewed at the gallery

Car Boot Fair 7th July 2007

Arts Evening 28th June 2007

Music Quiz 9th June 2007

A Spring Concert

Pamper Evening & Craft Fair

Non-Uniform Day (Red Nose Day) 16th March 2007

NON-UNIFORM DAY

FRIDAY 16 MARCH

IN AID OF

COMIC RELIEF

£1

SPONSORED EVENTS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL – BRING LOTS OF CHANGE

Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) 16th March 2007

BORDEN GRAMMAR

PRESENTS:

FOR ONE DAY ONLY FRIDAY 16 MARCH

THE FULL MONTY

TWO PERFORMANCES IN THE CANTEEN – 11.35 AND 1.05

Indulge yourselves, gorge on chips, Kitkats, doughnuts, crisps, sausages, pizzas, tomato sauce, Maltesers, sausage rolls, Minstrels, Crème Eggs, biscuits and… the long-awaited return of the pie (and pasty) – bring lots of money and get stuck in!!!

Valentines Disco 9th February 2007

The Good Citizens

The Good Citizens of Borden Grammar School

Year 8 pupils at Borden Grammar School made Christmas cards for the children at Demelza House this year.   The school has a long connection with the children's hospice, regularly raising money for them.  Head of Lower school Marion Minhall said, “Pupils made beautiful cards and take a real interest in the work of Demelza House.”  

Meanwhile boys from Year 9 made cards for Help the Aged.  A number of boys visited the Help the Aged centre to deliver the cards in person, whilst some of the boys from the school band went to play carols there.  “The card making and visits followed work done in class, looking at the importance of family links, and grandparents especially.  The boys were pleased to have the opportunity to chat with some of the elderly folk at the centre and their cards were very well received.

In addition, the boys in Year 7 and Year 8 once again ran a very successful Christmas Fair in the last week of term.  This is a long established tradition, with the pupils taking the lead in organizing all the stalls at the fair.  The school stage was transformed into a grotto where children could pay a visit to “Mother Christmas” and her elves and a huge variety of stalls and games ensured a good afternoon for all who visited.

Mrs Minhall was delighted to report that about £600 was raised.  “This will be split between Demelza House and sponsoring a child in Haiti, enabling the boys to understand and support the needs of those both locally far afield.”

School Council Meetings

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS

SPRING HALF TERM

LOWER SCHOOL          MONDAY 5TH FEBRUARY

MIDDLE SCHOOL          FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

UPPER SCHOOL           FRIDAY 26TH JANUARY

BEFORE EASTER

LOWER SCHOOL          WEDNESDAY 28TH MARCH

MIDDLE SCHOOL          TUESDAY 20TH MARCH

UPPER SCHOOL           TUESDAY 27TH MARCH

ALL IN ROOM A1 AT 1.05PM

Poppy Appeal

Our recent poppy appeal raised £150.07!

Well done to everybody who took part.

Snow White Pantomime

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

THURSDAY 7TH & FRIDAY 8TH DECEMBER

7PM OLD HALL

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

Primary Art Links with Regis Manor

Primary Art Links with Regis Manor.

Regis Manor pupils are introduced to sculpting using Modroc.  With the help of Borden sixth formers Stuart Enticknap and Richard Cooper pupils made Mummies and Sarcophagus cases.

Homework Club

HOMEWORK CLUB INFORMATION

THERE WILL NOT BE HOMEWORK CLUB

ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS:

THURSDAY DECEMBER 7^TH

FRIDAY DECEMBER 8^TH

WWEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13^TH

THURSDAY DECEMBER 14^TH

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15^TH

THE LIBRARY WILL BE AVAILABLE DURING LUNCH TIMES FOR STUDENTS
TO COMPLETE ANY HOMEWORK.

A Winter Concert

A WINTER CONCERT

THURSDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2006

OLD HALL - 7.00 p.m

ADMISSION FREE

RETIRING COLLECTION FOR CHARITY

Lower School Highsted & Borden Disco

LOWER SCHOOL HIGHSTED & BORDEN DISCO

24TH NOVEMBER 2006

7pm TIL 10pm IN HIGHSTED HALL

TICKETS £3.00

Sixth Form Open Evening Tuesday 28th November

Battle of the Bands

                              Battle of the Bands                               

Friday 17th Nov at 7pm

Tickets £3

Advance tickets only

Available at the school library

School Play

School Play

"The Long and the Short and the Tall"

Wed 8th, Thurs 9th & Friday 10th November

at 7.30pm in the

Old Hall

Tickets available from the school library

Staff vs Prefects Football Match

Staff v Prefects Football Match

Friday 3rd November at 4pm

Spectators welcome!

Open Evening and Open Morning 10th & 13th October 2006

Book Fair Profit Notification

Scholastic Book Fair

Well done everybody,

due to the sales made at the

book fair we have managed to obtain £458.00 worth of new resources for the library.

All competition entries have been passed on to Scholastic for the main draw.

Borden winners were Joel Burch 9MC,

Michael King 8JM , and Joe Neeves 7KG.

Lost Property Reclaim

LOST PROPERTY RECLAIM

TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

OLD HALL BREAKTIME 11.35AM

Year 12 Briefing

YEAR 12 BRIEFING

THURSDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2006

AT 7.00PM

AT BORDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Scholastic Book Fair

LIBRARY NEWS
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Monday 18th September - Thursday 21st September 2006

Open break times, lunchtimes and after school until 4.00pm. Parents please feel free after school to come and have a browse at the selection of books on offer.

Raffle for all boys purchasing a book and an opportunity to enter a national competition for a chance to win a Sony PSP!

Every book sold at a book fair earns the school commission that is used to buy new library stock and we are very grateful for your continued support in this matter.

Mrs Wood's retirement

Farewell Mrs Wood

Borden Grammar School said a fond farewell to a long-serving member of staff when Headteacher’s Secretary Mrs Ann Wood retired at the end of the summer term. Having joined the school in 1976, Ann has been at the school longer than all but one of the current members of staff.  With an office in the reception area of the school, Mrs Wood has been the first port of call for visitors, staff and parents wanting to know just about anything to do with school life, and with thirty years of experience of Borden, she usually has the answers. 

During her time at the school, Mrs Wood has worked for three Headteachers and seen thousands of boys, including her own son progress through the school.  Remarkably, she has never had a day’s sickness during her years at the school, though she is the person who has kept the records of other staff’s absences for many years!

At a party in the school quadrangle, current and former colleagues, governors and old boys paid tribute to all that she has done for the school in the past thirty years.  Presentations made to her included gift vouchers, flowers and books, as well as the money with which to buy herself a piece of jewellery.  Mr Vafeas also presented Mrs Wood with a long service certificate. She was also given a school tie – a playful reference to the hundred of times she has she has lent ties to boys over the years, when they have forgotten theirs in a morning!

We are sure she will stay in touch with us all at Borden, but we wish her every happiness in a well-deserved retirement.

Loire Valley Trip July 2006

Borden Grammar School ~ Loire Valley Trip 2006

21/07/06 Staff Idol

Borden Staff Idol:  Thursday 20 July 2006                                                                                 

Borden staff celebrated the approaching end of the year with a star-packed evening of entertainment, in their very own version of Staff Idol.Parents, friends and students were treated to a feast of singing, comedy, puppetry and music judged by a panel of Sixth Form critics.

Despite close competition from the Puppets’ rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, the overall winners on the night were “The Beauticians: A Romantic Encounter” - a performance involving Miss Tellick, Miss Apsley, Mr Paine, Mr Williams, Mr Whiting and Mr Sandiford.   Mr Sandiford won the award for greatest musical contribution, appearing as he did in virtually every act.

The evening raised £390 for school funds, and a great time was had by all.  Our thanks to Miss Apsley for masterminding the whole show, to Mr Brinn for compering, and to all those who took part, shifted equipment, did the lighting or in any other way contributed to make the evening such a success.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Open Evening and Open Morning October 2006

07/07/06 Science Fair

SCIENCE FAIR

THURSDAY 13TH JULY FROM 3.30 TO 4.30PM IN THE NEW HALL

Have you ever wondered how a jet engine works? Or what is the possible future for our universe? Following their success in taking the Key Stage Three national tests for science a year early, Year 8 have spent time researching these and many more fascinating topics of their choice.

As a result of their research they have produced poster displays and models which will be on show to other pupils and parents.

07/0706 Non Uniform Day

Non-uniform day – half the proceeds will go to a school-based project and the other half will go towards constructing a school in Sri Lanka (Marc Stewart – ex School Captain – will be going to Sri Lanka to help and will be coming to Borden in September to give a talk to the boys).

03/07/06 Important dates for July

Important dates to be high-lighted on your calendar for July:

            Friday, 7th July                         -            Non uniform day

            Saturday, 8^th July                     -            Boot fair and Summer Fete

            Monday, 10^th July                    -            Staff Development Day                 

            Thursday, 20^th July                   -            Staff Idol Concert – 7 pm

            Monday, 24^th July                    -            Year 7 Le Touquet Visit

            Tuesday, 25^th July                    -            Term 6 ends – 2.15 pm

            Monday, 4^th September            -            Staff Development Day     

Tuesday, 5^th September            -            Term 1 begins for Years 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11

            Wednesday, 6^th September       -            Terms 1 begins for Years 12 & 13

In connection with the Summer Fete on July 8^th, cakes for the cake stall and bottles for tombola would be appreciated and raffle tickets are still available.  The uniform shop will also be open on this day.  Do come and support the Fete on the day 9.00 am–1.00 pm if you can.

Following the Education Act 2005, governing bodies are no longer required to produce an annual Governors’ Report or hold an annual parents’ meeting.  Please note, therefore, that the annual meeting scheduled for July 6^th on the school calendar will not occur.  Schools, instead, must complete a School Profile and publish it online.  Borden’s first School Profile will be available for parents online by the end of August from the DfEs Parents Centre website.  It will also be available on the school website: www.bordengrammar.kent.sch.uk.  Parents may also request a paper copy of this report.  We will make this facility available on the reply slip from the covering letter in a mailing to all parents in late August/early September.

22/06/06 Car Boot Fair & Summer Fete

CAR BOOT FAIR & SUMMER FETE

SATURDAY 8TH JULY 2006

8AM FOR VEHICLES (NON COMMERCIAL ONLY)

9AM - 1PM FOR THE PUBLIC

ADMISSION: (ADVANCE) £8 CARS/£10 VANS

                        (ON THE DAY) £10/£12

                        (PUBLIC) 20P/£1 EARLYBIRDS BEFORE 9AM

TO RESERVE A SPACE PLEASE CALL INTO THE SCHOOL OFFICE OR
TELEPHONE 01795 424192 (OFFICE HOURS)

20/06/06 Year 7 Drama Evening

YEAR 7 DRAMA EVENING IN THE OLD HALL

THURSDAY 29TH JUNE 2006 AT 7.00PM

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE LIBRARY-NO CHARGE

13/05/06 Music Quiz

BORDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL PFA PRESENT MUSIC QUIZ

SATURDAY 13TH MAY 2006 FROM 7PM

BORDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD HALL

TICKETS JUST £3 EACH (TABLES OF 8 PEOPLE) OPEN TO ALL THE FAMILY (ALTHOUGH VERY YOUNG CHILDREN MIGHT GET TIRED)

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN REFRESHMENTS. A BAR WILL ALSO BE OPERATING ON THE EVENING SERVING WINE, BEER AND SOFT DRINKS.

27/04/06 Lower School Easter Disco

LOWER SCHOOL EASTER DISCO

THURSDAY 27TH APRIL 2006    7PM - 10PM

TO BE HELD AT HIGHSTEAD SCHOOL HALL

TICKETS £3 WHICH WILL BE ON SALE AT BREAK & LUNCH IN RECEPTION

27/04/06 Technology Exhibition

Designs for Life

Thursday 27th April 3.30-5pm

In the New Hall

10/03/06 Battle of the Bands

The Battle of the Bands was a huge success raising a magnificent £813. Eleven bands took part, the standard was high and over 250 pupils, parents, staff and friends listened enthusiastically throughout the evening. The winning band was 'Guilty Pleasure' whose members are Sean Hinton, Andrew Lane and Craig Dawson. They played a selection of their songs, and the style, standard of performance and contrasts between the songs went down well with the judges and audience. It was a great evening's music with a mixture of original compositions and covers of songs from a wide range of bands such as Artic Monkeys, Limp Bizkit and Guns N' Roses.

13/03/06 Scholastic Book Fair

Well done everybody, from the sales made at the book fair we have managed to obtain £320.00 worth of new resources for the library. Thanks to all who helped to raise such a magnificent sum.

All competition entries have been passed on to Scholastic for the main draw. Borden winners drawn from everybody either taking part in the competition or buying books from the fair were Saem Shohid 9KB, Robert Elgar 8LW and Alastair Thomas 7RIA.

31/01/06 Sports College Status

Governors and Staff at Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne are delighted with the announcement that the school has been awarded Sports College status with effect from 1^st September.

The school’s successful application will bring significant benefits for its pupils, partner schools and the wider community in Swale. Specialist schools are very much at the forefront of educational progress. The four year development plan and additional resources that come with this new status will play their part in enabling Borden to strengthen its development as a forward looking school in Kent.

The school is very grateful to William Barrow’s Charity, the Godinton Trust, Knauf, Toshiba, the Old Bordenians and Parents’ Association who have provided the school with financial sponsorship. Pupils, parents and staff were also involved in fund raising efforts such as a sponsored walk, a football competition, a highly successful Battle of the Bands and staff talent show.

The decision to apply for Sports College status was largely influenced by the enthusiasm that most boys and staff have for sport, and, the links between sport and the Healthy Schools’ initiative and outcomes stipulated by ‘Every Child Matters’. The school subscribes to the idea ‘healthy bodies, healthy minds’ and pupils will have access to a broader range and choice of activities and accredited courses.

Sports status will not mean that the school will be intent solely in producing skilled sportsmen and enthusiasts. Modern Languages form the second target area in the school’s application. All subjects, not simply Sport and Modern Languages, have a role to play in the school’s quest to give every boy in the main school, and boys and girls in the Sixth Form, a first class education. The extra impetus given by achieving specialist school status will have benefits across the whole curriculum.

H S Vafeas

Headteacher    

19/01/06 League Tables 2005

2005 was a record year with Year 13 students attaining Borden’s best ever A level results. 48% of student grades were A or B, and the average points score per student was 370, a figure which placed us tenth out of the thirty three grammar schools in Kent. In this day and age statistics do matter, but what is more important is students’ reaction when they find out their results, and what their success enables them to do in terms of career and university aspirations. There was an overwhelming sense of celebration on results day last August. 

There were some excellent results at GCSE with ten boys attaining the equivalent of 10 A grades or better. Borden’s value added score KS2 to KS4 at 1009 is good. Our aim is to raise it to 1020 as we feel that there is real opportunity for further improvement in value added between KS3 and KS4.  

The 2005 Key Stage 3 National Test results in English, Mathematics and Science also set a new school record, with 67% of grades at level 7 or above. The value added score for these pupils, currently in Year 10, placed the school in the top 6% nationally for KS2 to KS3 value added. This represents excellent progress and augurs well for GCSE results in 2007.

Harold Vafeas