Police officers and representatives from a wide range of organisations were back on the road today and visited our school talking to Year 9 students about how to keep safe. Police and partner agencies visited, with discussions of issues including online safety, the dangers of substance abuse and healthy relationships.

As well as staff and officers from the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit, the event was organised by the KCC Social Services Team, the Metanoia project - who speak about the dangers of knife crime - as well as Homestart and Stagecoach. 

Borden Grammar School officially opened its new multi-million building; the Vafeas Block, named after former Headteacher Harold Vafeas who sadly passed away in 2014. The new building offers teaching classrooms, a sixth form area, gym, changing facilities and science lab. The school crest surrounded by poppies on the outside ensures that it honours the Avenue of Remembrance that the school is situated on.

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Swale Cllr Ben J Marton, local MP Kevin McKenna, members of Kier Construction as well as a host of former staff and students. Music, performed by students from Borden, introduced the evening; fitting as Harold Vafeas had a passion for music and supported the arts during his time at the school. 

The Vafeas family, his wife Mrs Vafeas, along with her three grown-up children and two grandchildren were guests of honour at the event. Mrs Vafeas spoke about how she had met Harold when they were both teachers in the late 1970’s and his commitment to the school. It was his kindness that shined through, and former school captain and current Assistant Head Teacher Timothy Westby spoke about Harold’s dedication, especially in helping with the lengthy Oxbridge application process.  

Headteacher Ashley Tomlin concluded the speeches by unveiling with Mrs Vafeas a picture of Harold and a plaque that will be installed in the new building.  

Cllr Jayes came to Borden to present an award for bravery to Max Markham in year 8, after he and two others saved a man's life during the summer, pulling him from the water when he was at risk of drowning. We are immensely proud of Max and his upholding of the Borden values in the community.

Open Evening 9th October 5:30-7:30pm:

Headteacher talks will take place at 5:40pm, 6:20pm and 7:00pm. You will be directed as you come into the school for an appropriate talk time dependent on your arrival time due to capacity restrictions. This event is walk-ins and no booking is required.

Open Morning 11th October 9:15-11:00am:

There are 3 slots available for tours, 9:15-9:45am, 9:45-10:15am and 10:15-10:45am. At the end of each time slot there will be a 10 minute opportunity with a member of our Leadership Group if you have any questions that your tour guides were unable to answer.

Please complete the Google Form (link below) and indicate your preferences for a time slot, these will be assigned on a first come first serve basis due to number restrictions. We will email you your confirmed allocated slot the day before, please keep an eye out for this.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_qcyPdQWiS_DaFYNUamqsy0DMCdZxEeCitQ9qoENoxvQBDQ/viewform?usp=sf_link 

The students receiving their GCSE results today have been through a huge amount of turmoil during their time in secondary education and have now had to take exams under ‘normal conditions’ with grade boundaries fully in line with pre-Covid levels. Whilst most students will likely be very pleased with their results, it is important to recognise that all students deserve praise for their resilience and courage to get to this point.

We are really pleased to report some outstanding results for our year 11 students at Borden Grammar School. An amazing 50 of our year 11 students achieved five or more top grades (7-9) with 20 of these achieving 9 or more GCSE top grades (7-9). Grade 9 is only achieved by less than 2% nationally and this year, 2 Borden students achieved 6 grade 9s, one achieved 8 grade 9s and one student unbelievably achieved all 11 GCSEs at grade 9s.

Overall, the students achieved really strong grades, with 39% achieving the very highest grades (7-9) and 93% of all grades being awarded grades 4 to 9. This represents some outstanding outcomes from a cohort of students who have displayed immense levels of determination and resilience in their journey at Borden. We are very proud of the success of our students and look forward to seeing many return to us in year 12, wishing the very best to those that are moving on to pursue their journey elsewhere.