Fully selective state school · Kent
Borden Grammar School 11+ admissions
September 2027 entryEvidence reviewed 1 October 2026Current entrance requirements, dates and school facts with links to the official evidence used. Unknown information is labelled rather than estimated.
At a glance
- Address
- Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, South East, ME10 4DB
- Year 7 admission
- Boys for Year 7 admission
- School type
- Fully selective state school
- Funding
- State-funded
- Day or boarding
- Day school
- Religion or denomination
- GIAS records no applicable religious character.
- Published admission number
- 150September 2027 entry
- Academically selected places
- 150September 2027 entry
- Preferences per offer
- 2.8DfE National Offer Day, September 2026 entry. This is not a pass probability.
- Assessment provider
- GL AssessmentGL Assessment is verified for the linked assessment route. GIAS does not publish the current assessment provider.
Selection route
- Kent Test
Local authority selection test · GL Assessment · Paper-based multiple-choice tests with separate answer sheets, followed by an unmarked writing exercise
English, mathematics and reasoning results are age-standardised. Kent sets an aggregate threshold and minimum component scores for each test year. The September 2027 thresholds are not yet published, a grammar assessment does not guarantee a school place, and each school applies its own admissions criteria when oversubscribed.
Official registration page
- Eligibility
- Boys reaching the required standard through Kent PESE, or through the optional Borden Assessment Procedure after taking Kent PESE.
- Score policy
- No numeric cutoff published; the policy states no differentiation between the two eligibility routes for oversubscription.
- Registration
- GIAS does not publish the current test registration URL.
Who gets priority
Priority postcode districts: ME9, ME10, ME11, ME12, ME8, ME13.
These districts are not equal-priority areas: within the traditional-school-area criterion, ME9, ME10, ME11 and ME12 come first; ME8 and ME13 follow; all other addresses come last. Earlier priority categories apply first. The separate free-school-meals category reserves up to 15% of places only for eligible children in ME9 to ME12.
After named EHCP or statement admissions, eligible pupils are prioritised by looked-after or previously looked-after status, the limited free-school-meals category, current sibling association, evidenced health or special access reasons, then traditional school areas. Up to 15% of places are reserved for children in ME9 to ME12 who received free school meals during Years 3 to 6; the supplementary form is due by 31 October 2026. Within the area criterion, ME9 to ME12 come first, then ME8 and ME13, then other addresses. Straight-line distance ranks pupils within criteria, with an independently supervised random tie-break. Kent PESE and Borden Assessment eligibility routes use the same priorities.
For September 2027 entry. Policy checked 2026-10-01. A priority category does not guarantee an offer.
Read the admissions policyApplications and offers over time
DfE preferences and offers at National Offer Day. Each preference is a school named on an application; a child can name several schools. These figures describe past demand and do not predict an offer.
| September entry | Preferences | Offers | Preferences per offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Preferences346 | Offers123 | Preferences per offer2.81 |
| 2025 | Preferences323 | Offers126 | Preferences per offer2.56 |
| 2024 | Preferences375 | Offers149 | Preferences per offer2.52 |
| 2023 | Preferences374 | Offers148 | Preferences per offer2.53 |
| 2022 | Preferences353 | Offers126 | Preferences per offer2.80 |
| 2021 | Preferences369 | Offers110 | Preferences per offer3.35 |
| 2020 | Preferences345 | Offers115 | Preferences per offer3.00 |
| 2019 | Preferences290 | Offers104 | Preferences per offer2.79 |
| 2018 | Preferences279 | Offers118 | Preferences per offer2.36 |
| 2017 | Preferences311 | Offers120 | Preferences per offer2.59 |
| 2016 | Preferences318 | Offers104 | Preferences per offer3.06 |
| 2015 | Preferences344 | Offers111 | Preferences per offer3.10 |
| 2014 | Preferences291 | Offers86 | Preferences per offer3.38 |
School identifiers are joined across documented predecessor links. Missing and suppressed values stay unpublished. Latest dataset: September 2026 entry. Checked 2026-10-01.
- Compare other schools and read the method
- Department for Education: School level secondary and primary applications and offers 2026 (AppsandOffers_2026_SchoolLevel29062026.csv)
- Department for Education: Get Information about Schools all establishments CSV (edubasealldata20261001.csv)
- Department for Education: Get Information about Schools establishment links CSV (links_edubasealldata20261001.csv)
What the assessment covers
These subjects are verified for the linked shared assessment route. GIAS does not publish the current assessed subjects.
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Spatial reasoning
- Writing
These stages are verified for the linked shared assessment route. GIAS does not publish the current assessment stages.
1. English and mathematics paper
Approximately one hour, with separate English and mathematics sections. Each section includes about five minutes of practice followed by about 25 minutes of test questions.
2. Reasoning paper
Approximately one hour including practice. It covers verbal reasoning and individually timed non-verbal and spatial-reasoning sections.
3. Writing exercise
A 40-minute writing exercise including 10 minutes of planning. It is not marked for the Kent Test score but can be considered by a headteacher assessment panel.
Key dates
- Registration opens
- GIAS does not publish the current registration opening date.
- Registration deadline
- GIAS does not publish the current registration deadline.
- Test date
- GIAS does not publish the current test dates.
- CAF deadline
- GIAS does not publish the current CAF deadline.
- National Offer Day
- GIAS does not publish the current offer date.
Shared assessment-route dates
| Date | Route | When |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | RouteKent Test | When1 June 2026 |
| Registration deadline | RouteKent Test | When1 July 2026 |
| Kent-primary-school test date | RouteKent Test | When10 September 2026 |
| Out-of-county test weekend starts | RouteKent Test | When12 September 2026 |
| Out-of-county test weekend ends | RouteKent Test | When13 September 2026 |
| Results | RouteKent Test | When15 October 2026 |
| Kent secondary-school application deadline | RouteKent Test | When2 November 2026 |
| National Offer Day | RouteKent Test | When1 March 2027 |
Every 11+ test's dates are in the 11+ dates calendar. To decide where this school goes on the application form, use the school application order planner.
Fees
- Fee per term
- This is a state-funded school.
- Fee per year
- This is a state-funded school.
- Published fee context
- This is a state-funded school.
Inspection context
Inspection outcomes are maintained separately and are not present in current GIAS downloads.
Practise for this school's test
Start with the subjects confirmed in the admissions sources. Topic quizzes build skills; they are not replicas of this school's entrance test.
Three topic quizzes to try
- Try the infer implicit meaning quiz
Free scored topic practice with an explanation after each answer.
- Try the solve a multi-step problem quiz
Free scored topic practice with an explanation after each answer.
- Try the select closest meaning quiz
Free scored topic practice with an explanation after each answer.
24 original questions across four subjects in 30 minutes. This is a short practice sample; check the local test format and timings separately.
Official paper directory records
Try the free diagnostic to choose what to practise next.
Sample papers
Official papers for this school's test, from the school itself or the body that runs the test, linked from the publisher's own site. Trace Learn does not host copies.
| Paper | Published by | Subjects | Answers | Opens on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest 11+ English familiarisation booklet | Published byQuest Assessments · Familiarisation booklet | SubjectsEnglish | Answersanswers available | Opens onopens on cdn.prod.website-files.com |
| Quest 11+ maths familiarisation booklet | Published byQuest Assessments · Familiarisation booklet | SubjectsMaths | Answersanswers available | Opens onopens on cdn.prod.website-files.com |
| Quest 11+ non-verbal reasoning familiarisation booklet | Published byQuest Assessments · Familiarisation booklet | SubjectsNon-verbal reasoning | Answersanswers available | Opens onopens on cdn.prod.website-files.com |
| Quest 11+ verbal reasoning familiarisation booklet | Published byQuest Assessments · Familiarisation booklet | SubjectsVerbal reasoning | Answersanswers available | Opens onopens on cdn.prod.website-files.com |
Relevant skills and exercises
- Build English comprehension skills
Draw one supported conclusion that is not directly stated.
- Try Comprehension X-Ray
Free interactive practice relevant to English comprehension.
- Build maths and numerical reasoning skills
Select and perform a short sequence of operations in context.
- Try Step Builder
Free interactive practice relevant to maths and numerical reasoning.
- Build verbal reasoning skills
Choose the option closest in meaning to a target word.
- Try Synonym Spectrum
Free interactive practice relevant to verbal reasoning.
- Build non-verbal and spatial reasoning skills
Combine row or column rules to select one missing figure.
- Try Matrix Machine
Free interactive practice relevant to non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
- Try a short GL-style timed mock
24 original questions across four subjects in 30 minutes. This is a short practice sample; check the local test format and timings separately.
Questions families ask
Which 11+ test does Borden Grammar School use?
Borden Grammar School uses Kent Test for September 2027 entry. The route names GL Assessment as the assessment provider.
How many Year 7 places does Borden Grammar School have?
Borden Grammar School's published admission number is 150 for September 2027 entry.
Who is eligible to apply to Borden Grammar School?
Boys reaching the required standard through Kent PESE, or through the optional Borden Assessment Procedure after taking Kent PESE.
Are Borden Grammar School's 2027/28 oversubscription criteria published?
After named EHCP or statement admissions, eligible pupils are prioritised by looked-after or previously looked-after status, the limited free-school-meals category, current sibling association, evidenced health or special access reasons, then traditional school areas. Up to 15% of places are reserved for children in ME9 to ME12 who received free school meals during Years 3 to 6; the supplementary form is due by 31 October 2026. Within the area criterion, ME9 to ME12 come first, then ME8 and ME13, then other addresses. Straight-line distance ranks pupils within criteria, with an independently supervised random tie-break. Kent PESE and Borden Assessment eligibility routes use the same priorities.
What subjects should a child prepare for Borden Grammar School?
The verified school or linked route evidence covers English, Mathematics, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning, Spatial reasoning, and Writing.
How current is the information for Borden Grammar School?
Trace Learn reviewed 9 attached evidence sources by 2026-10-01. Unknown facts stay labelled and should be checked again before applying.
Sources and review record
- Borden Grammar School admissions criteria 2027-2028
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Open state-funded school fields CSV
Department for Education. Accessed 25 August 2026. GIAS register snapshot on 25 August 2026.
- Kent coordinated secondary admissions scheme 2027-2028
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Kent Test familiarisation booklet
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Prepare for the Kent Test
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Register for the Kent Test for September 2027 entry
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- Kent Test results guidance
Kent County Council. Accessed 26 August 2026. September 2027 entry.
- ONS Postcode Directory May 2026 school-postcode centroid extract
Office for National Statistics. Accessed 25 August 2026. ONS Postcode Directory, May 2026.
- Borden Grammar School admissions policy September 2027
Kent County Council. Accessed 1 October 2026. September 2027 entry.
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Turn the shortlist into a preparation plan
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