Newsletters

Term 5 Newsletter 2025-26

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Dear Parent or Guardian

It would be impossible to start this newsletter without thanking you all for the support you gave the school through our Ofsted inspection this term. No school is perfect, but 100% of parents who responding to the Ofsted survey saying that they would recommend the school, was genuinely humbling. I will send something more formal out when the outcomes are  published in late June or early July. However, it’s important to say now that our students were just incredible -  their maturity and thoughtful interactions with inspectors made us proud. But then, visitors to the school regularly comment on how  calm, friendly and thoughtful everything feels - so maybe I shouldn’t be at all surprised!

This term has seen continued successes in a huge number of areas, with our new half termly house assemblies noting the success of students this term. These included students mentoring each other, acts of kindness, incredible feedback from year 10 work experience, Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver expeditions, the Kent grammar school speaking competition including presenting at other grammar schools, house prefects and more. 

On a less positive note, I think it’s important you know the context of the school funding situation. We already decided not to replace 6 support staff in the last year and the latest information we have is that the next round of below inflation pay rises are not going to be fully funded. Alongside only a 0.5% increase in 6th form funding next year (well below inflation), it means that Borden will have to ‘soak up’ a further £100 000 cut next year. This is in the context of having already made significant savings to cope with reduced funding over the last 10 years. Up to now we have desperately tried to avoid limiting anything that will impact on students, with savings largely meaning staff working more hours, less support staff, larger classes, less departmental budgets and reduced use of external providers. All of this in the context of resources that urgently need to be replaced i.e. updates to our network infrastructure to meet 2030 cybersecurity regulations, replacing the degrading MUGA surface and replacing the astro surface in the next 5 years- these are combined costs to the school of around £300 000. I only say this to make you aware of the direction of travel, but also to ask for your support. All of this means that we will need to do some serious fundraising in the near future and will likely need to call on students, staff and parents for ideas and support on helping to plug this gap.

Similarly, you may be aware that the government is in the process of expanding their free school meal entitlement to include parents on Universal Credit. The school will not know who qualifies for this without being told, so please keep an eye out for communication coming early next term regarding this. It is worth reiterating, that the government funding for these meals is at £2.66 per child per day which we subsidise from the school budget to enable students to buy a main meal each day and so, whilst a good thing, it will unfortunately be a further strain on the shrinking school budget. 

More positively, you may already be aware that we have created a ‘wellbeing garden’ at the top of our school field with the support of our site team and the Old Bordenians. We will be holding a ‘drop off’ for any donations on Sunday 31st May from 12 to 2pm. School staff will position themselves at the gate on Albany Road to receive any items, examples of which are listed below!

Finally, we have an action packed term 6 on its way, with our spectacular school musical ‘We Will Rock You’ on the 1st and 2nd of July (including a live band and refreshments), our Sports Day on the 3rd July, Charity Week, Activities Week where there are a huge number of trips and visits, inter house competitions, lunch time quizzes and our ‘sustainable city’ competition. All of this again exhibits the vibrant and positive community that exists at Borden, through the commitment of staff, students and parents. Thank you to all involved.

It only remains to wish all our year 11 and year 13 students the best of luck in their exams and everyone else a wonderful half term.

Mr A Tomlin, Headteacher


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Careers Update Term 5: Work Experience Success & Future Opportunities

It’s been another short but busy term, dominated by our Year 10s heading out on Work Experience for the third year in a row. It was wonderful to chat with so many of them on the phone to hear about their placements; even if they found taking calls from their teachers a little awkward!
Feedback from employers was everything we had hoped for. So many commented on the boys':
- Professionalism and initiative
- Willingness to learn
- Positive, ‘can-do’ attitude
They truly did themselves and the school proud. The buzz around the school upon their return, and the tales of their rich experiences, made all the hard work behind the scenes entirely worthwhile. Work Experience for May 2027 for our current Year 9s will be shared in July.

Explore Our Careers Padlet
Our Careers Padlet continues to grow month on month. If you haven’t had a chance to visit recently, please do check out the latest resources and opportunities here - https://www.bordengrammar.kent.sch.uk/careers/welcome 

Save the Date: Parent & Carer Drop-In
We are preparing to host our third and final parent and carer drop-in session of the year on Friday 19th June. Look out for an email invitation with more details coming soon.

How Can You Help?
Our program thrives on the support of our parent and alumni community. If you or your employer could support our students, we would love to hear from you.
We are currently looking for volunteers to:
-Speak to a class or year group about your industry.
-Host a school visit or workplace tour.
-Offer future placements for Year 10 or Year 12 Work Experience.
-Exhibit at our Futures Fair on Tuesday 15th September.
-Host an informal ‘Careers Lunch’ session.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch kcameron@bordengrammar.kent.sch.uk if you can help inspire the next generation of Bordenians.

Mrs K Cameron
Head of Personal Development and Careers

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Being elected as School Captain is something that I am very proud of, and I feel privileged to work alongside the rest of the Student Leadership Team and staff to provide and develop a harmonious community here at Borden. Since I joined the school in Year 7, I have been able to witness first-hand the incredible inclusivity, support and opportunities that each student receives and now stepping into this leadership position, I would love to continue contributing positively to the school community. This term has already been busy for myself and the rest of the Senior Student Leadership team as we have been supporting the Year 11s as they begin their exams by holding a session to share last-minute tips and advice we had to be successful this time of year. We have also had an Ofsted visit this term in which we were able to talk to the inspectors and finally, by the end of this term, we have selected our Prefect Team which will aid in school-wide events, with the first being Year 5 Open Evening on June 3rd. 

I am excited about what the next year will bring and hope to make the most of the opportunities ahead as School Captain. 

Lewis D - Year 12


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Year 7

Term 5 has been a really short but packed term! As exam season has officially started, Year 7 have spent their Tuesday mornings discussing effective learning strategies which focus on revision and exam preparation. In previous terms, we looked at revision timetables and topic check lists as supportive resources to aid learning, and so this term it was all about putting the theory to practice as they had to analyse examples of timetables/topic check lists before then completing their own.
Next term we start our transition process as Year 7 prepare to go into Year 8 with their new Head of Year. We will spend a lot of term 6 reflecting on their first year at Borden, celebrating our successes as well as thinking forward and setting goals for the next few years at Borden.

Miss S Irinoye, Head of Year 7

Year 8

This short term has seen Year 8 focusing on the Borden Value of Resilience in form time, reflecting on the question "Is effort cool?" as well as consolidating our understanding of bullying and how the school deals with this.  Recently, the whole school took part in Knife Crime Awareness Week, with resources provided by Charlie's Promise.  Thank you to all parents/carers who supported students by making sure they were dressed in the correct uniform at all times – Year 8 are certainly one of the smartest year groups around the school! Huge congratulations again to 8B for winning the inter-form competition, beating 8S by one point.  

Mrs A Edwards, Head of Year 8

Year 9

As we draw to the close of term 5, we are fast approaching a lot of changes. The weather (should be) improving, the evenings are lighter, and we start counting down to the summer holidays. We are also moving towards the start of GCSE courses, the first qualifications that will follow you for the rest of your lives.

You will also be aware that there is some shuffling of Heads of Year. As of term 5, Mr Weller will become your Head of Year and will take you through GCSE. I am taking over the current year 7. 

Before these changes occur, I would like to say what a privilege it has been, being your Head of Year. I wish you all the best for the future, and I may well see you in English lessons in September.

Mr C Holley, Head of Year 9

Year 10

Year 10 have had many successes in term 5. They started the term with two weeks of mock exams. This was the first opportunity to experience an exam series similar to the GCSE exams next year. The feedback from these exams has been very positive, with invigilators commenting on how lovely the students were to work with and praise from staff for some very effective revision strategies being used. Year 11 have now started their GCSE exams and this means that year 10 are less than a year away from this. Despite the mock exams being finished, it is very important that students continue to revise and review their learning to ensure they are well-prepared. 

In the third week of term, all students had the opportunity to undertake a work experience placement. There has been an enormous amount of positive feedback from the employers that students were working with and students were great ambassadors for the school. We have enjoyed hearing their reflections on their placements and what they have learnt about the world of work since their return to school. 

A number of students have also completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition this term. Despite weather conditions being challenging, with rain, hail and sun at various points during the three days, the students showed great resilience and excellent teamwork. Well done to all of those who took part. 

Miss A Phillips, Head of Year 10

Year 11

Year 11 have made an excellent start to their real GCSE exams and the shirt signing and final assembly this week had an amazing atmosphere. It has been amazing to see them in the hall each morning, accessing the breakfast revision session run by teaching staff. It has been amazing to see the development and growth of the year group over the past two years and I wish them all the very best for the future, no matter their next steps.

Mr J Weller, Head of Year 11

Year 12

Congratulations to the following students who are our new Senior Leadership Team for the following year: School Captain - Lewis, Vice Captains: Ayla and Ekene and Senior Prefects: Harrison, Connor, Charisma, Noel, Mahnur and Ava. We look forward to working with you this year and the exciting plans you have made.

This is a reminder Year 12 mock examinations start for two weeks from 17 June and following this, Year 12 students are on work to experience from 6-10 July.

Ms V Wrighton, Head of Year 12


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House Points: 18,866

Barrow students continue to wow me every single day. So many of you go above and beyond for the school and its community, alongside all of your other commitments and the academic rigour of school life. A clear example of this was a few Fridays ago when some of our Year 13s saw the site team setting up exam desks in the afternoon. Without a second thought, they sprang into action, wanting nothing more than to help.
With such a short term and so many other events, including the start of external exams, there haven’t been as many house events as usual.

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However, we’re looking forward to ending the term with a blockbuster finish at the inter-house movie quizzes, taking place at lunchtime on Friday. Come on Barrow, may the force/points be with you!
Assembly on Monday provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate our successes, including boasting 18 nominations for rewards breakfasts across just three Fridays. So many of you were also recognised by your teachers, tutors, and work experience employers with an assembly shout out.
A special mention goes to Daniel H in Year 9, who achieved joint first place for his superb speech in the recent speaking competition. Daniel has competed in the regional competitions and will be in the grand final next term; well done Daniel, we’re all so proud of you!
It’s not just the students who have been going the extra mile. Three of our staff members were also recognised for their incredible contributions to the school community, claiming the much-coveted 'Hero of the Week' box of (Heroes) chocolates three weeks in a row!

The Leaderboard
The house-point video and accompanying soundtrack was the moment everyone was waiting for (some almost as much as me!). I’m delighted to share that second place is still being firmly held by Barrow, having achieved a whopping 18,858 house points so far this year. Hardy House remain in the lead, but by just 489 points. With so many house events next term, it really is all to play for.
Keep being your wonderful selves, have a restful break, and come back ready to blaze our path to victory!
We're going up, up, up!

Mrs K Cameron – Head of Barrow House 💛


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House Points – 19,353

It’s been another really positive term for Hardy House and it’s been great to see so many students continuing to earn house points and represent the House so well every day. The effort and attitude from students across all year groups has been fantastic and has helped keep Hardy in a really strong position, leading the House Competition once again!

A particular highlight this term was the Year 9 Speaking Symposium. The students involved represented Hardy brilliantly and should be really proud of themselves. It was great to see so many students speaking confidently, sharing their ideas and stepping outside of their comfort zones during the event. Well Done to Elijah in 9H for getting to the final!

Outside of this, students have continued to impress in lessons and around school through their hard work, positive attitude and support for one another. It’s always nice to see students collecting house points for the smaller day-to-day things as well as the bigger achievements, and those points really do add up over the course of a term.

There’s still plenty to play for in the House competition going into next term, with Barrow less than 500 points away, so keep getting involved, working hard and supporting each other. Every point matters!

Well done to everyone for another hugely successful term, and good luck to year 11 and 13 in your exams. Make sure you also take the chance to enjoy a well-earned break over the holidays.

Miss J Pickett – Head of Hardy House


House Points – 17,471

Pemberton students have shown fantastic commitment this term, with students contributing across a wide range of house events while continuing to build momentum in the overall standings. It has been brilliant to see the enthusiasm, determination and support that students continue to show towards one another, helping to create such a positive atmosphere within the house.

This term saw strong involvement from Pemberton students in both the KS3 and KS4/5 Film Competition. Students demonstrated excellent teamwork, representing the house superbly. Year 9 students have also impressed in the Speaking Competition, putting in a huge amount of effort and helping Pemberton secure further valuable House Points through their performances.

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Alongside these competitions, students have continued to make an excellent contribution in lessons, consistently earning house points through their hard work, attitude and commitment across the school. It was also fantastic to celebrate many of these achievements during our end-of-term House Assembly, recognising students who have made a particularly positive contribution to Pemberton within this short term.

With plenty still to come this year, I am looking forward to seeing Pemberton continue to grow, compete and succeed over the final term.

Mr K Parrott – Head of Pemberton House


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House Points – 17,641

It's been another great term for Remembrance, both in and outside of the classroom, increasing our house point total to almost 18,000! Congratulations to Freddie Tandy, who was a very impressive runner-up in the Y9 speaking competition. We also have the house film quiz coming up this week, where I'm sure Remembrance will put in another strong performance.

Next term will bring plenty of opportunities to win even more house points, including the inter-house sustainable city design competition and Sports Day! So there is still everything to play for. Hardy and Barrow are still within touching distance, and we're keeping our eyes on the trophy!

In the meantime, good luck to all of our Y11s who are currently sitting their GCSEs and our Y13s who are sitting their A-Levels. I know you'll all do yourselves proud.

Finally, make sure to find some time for a well-earned rest over half term and come back in term 6 ready to claim victory for Remembrance!

Mr M Engel – Head of Remembrance House


House Points – 16,645

As Term 5 comes to a close, I wanted to express my gratitude for all the effort Swale students have put into this term. Although a short term, we have had so much going on to be proud of. We had the speaking competition, in which our very own Swale student, Daniel, came runner up in, congratulations Daniel! We have also had the appointment of new student leadership in the sixth form. Congratulations to our very own Ava, Noel and Mahnur from 12S for being appointed as senior prefects! Various Swale students in year 9 and 10 will have participated in Duke of Edinburgh, certainly not an easy challenge, so congratulations to all of those involved!

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Finally, our lovely Swale year 11 and year 13 students have started their GCSE and A-level examinations this term – Well done to them for showing resilience during such an important time. I wish them the best of luck and success in their exams! 

Next term is the final push for Swale, and we have lots of exciting competitions and events coming up for Term 6 to add to our House Points total. Have a lovely and restful week off, and I can't wait to see you all next term! 

Miss G Payne – Head of Swale House


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New Club - Micro:Bit Club

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The Drama department has been very busy this term working towards our upcoming production of We Will Rock You, an amazing rock ‘n’ roll musical based on the songs of Queen. Students have been attending countless rehearsals, learning song lyrics and lines, choreographing numbers and getting fully immersed in all the preparation that goes into putting on a big show like this. 

Performances take place on July 1st and 2nd with tickets on sale from June 1st via TicketSource.com - notifications will go out nearer the time. Put the date in your diaries – this is not one to be missed!

REQUEST: for the production to be truly amazing, we are on the hunt for a number of items and pieces of costume. If you have any of the following, and would be happy to part with them, the Performing Arts department would be truly grateful! Due to the nature of the show, we cannot return any of the items, so please only send them into school if you they are no longer wanted:

  • band t-shirts
  • clothing that is leather/studded/denim (anything that feels slightly rock n roll)
  • glittery, silver or sparkly items of clothing and fabric
  • suit jackets
  • plastic tubing of any kind
  • bike helmets 
  • pieces of bicycles (not rusted or sharp please!) e.g. headlight, handle bars, wheels, etc
  • wigs
  • jewellery, preferably brightly coloured, plastic pieces (not stones/gems)
  • torches
  • bandages
  • video tape
  • old rock memorabilia, eg records, posters, etc
  • tin foil

Miss I Edmundson

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This term the focus has shifted towards summer sports, including athletics and striking and fielding. Softball cricket club has been well attended and foundations have been laid before we push on to hard ball training in term 6 with internal and external fixtures already on the calendar. Students have also had opportunities to compete in the Swale Schools Athletics competitions at TSS on Wednesday afternoons. It has been fantastic to see such strong athletic performances from many involved (years 8 and 9 have their event on the first Wednesday back after half-term). 

We had many individual achievements this term which are below, well done to all!


James Davies - 9H

On 11 April, he went with his team to Nottingham for the EH national hockey finals, which they won. At the weekend, James was back in Nottinghamshire for the supra league finals, but the team lost 3-4 in the semi-finals (to the team that they beat in the nationals!).

An incredible achievement, Borden has a National Champion in their midst!


Teddy Forster - 8H

Teddy Forster travelled to Dallas, Texas to represent Kent Schools FA U13s over the Easter break in the Dallas Cup. As part of the trip, he represented Kent against other football teams from the US, Mexico, and Bolivia. The trip was 10 days long, where he got to stay with a host family. Between games, the squad took in trips to the AT&T Stadium (which is hosting 9 World Cup games), an NBA game to see the Dallas Mavericks, as well as watching the Texas Rangers in the MLB. 

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Jacob Clayton - 10B

Jacob Clayton competed at Loughborough University for the GB Deaf Team and achieved outstanding results, gaining five medals in total:

  • 1st place in the 50m breaststroke (age group)
  • 1st place in the 50m backstroke (age group)
  • 1st place in the 50m freestyle (age group)
  • 1st place in the 100m breaststroke (Category A – all boys)
  • 1st place in the 200m individual medley (Category A – all boys)

In addition, his 50m breaststroke time placed him 2nd overall across both categories.

Jacob achieves all of this with such grace and humility and truly deserves to be celebrated. We are incredibly proud of this resilient, determined, and funny young man.

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Connor Fray - 8P

Connor recently attended a sailing competition where he and his team were racing against other teams who are much older and more experienced, the closest in age are 16 and 17, the rest are all much older, including adults. Connor crews for his teammate James who is only 11 years old. They got a tad lost on the first race which is a learning curve and to be expected as it's the first time they've sailed in Rutland. But they continued to get better and eventually won their first race at the end of day 2. Overall they finished in 3rd place for the weekend. This is then added to their previous race last month and now puts them joint second in the Nacra 15 class for 2026.

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Dear Parents and Carers,
As we reach the end of another busy and incredibly productive term, we want to share a brief update on the fantastic progress our students have made in Religious Studies. It has been a term filled with deep discussions, insightful questions, and excellent hard work across all year groups.
Here is a snapshot of what our students have been focusing on, and a look ahead to next term.


Key Stage 3 Highlights
Year 7 - This term, our Year 7 students have been exploring key Christian beliefs and narratives. They have looked closely at the Resurrection of Jesus, The Great Commission, the Ascension, and the significance of Pentecost.
Looking Ahead: Next term, students will pivot to looking at non-religious world-views as they begin their unit on Humanism.
Year 8 - Year 8 have immersed themselves in the study of Sikhi. They have explored the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, the formation of the Khalsa, the spiritual meaning behind the 5 Ks, and the powerful history and significance of the turban.
Looking Ahead: Next term, they will build on this foundation by examining Sikhi views on the world, the concept of Miri Piri (the balance of spiritual and temporal power), and the role of the Gurdwara.
Year 9 - Our Year 9 students successfully concluded their unit on Islam, using the themes within The Breadwinner to deepen their understanding of faith in context. They have since transitioned into Buddhism, where they have already explored its historical origins.
Looking Ahead: Next term, the Buddhist unit continues as we dive into the Eightfold Path, practices of worship, the Sangha (community), and the fascinating connections to Kung Fu.


Key Stage 4 Updates
Year 10 - Massive congratulations to our Year 10 students for their focus and determination during the recent mock exams. 
Looking Ahead: In Term 6, we will be doing a thorough "deep dive" feedback session on the mock papers to help students identify their strengths and target areas. Following this, we will move straight into our next AQA unit, exploring vital themes and moral issues.
Year 11 - By the time this newsletter is published, our Year 11 students will have officially completed their final GCSE Religious Studies exams! We want to take this opportunity to say how incredibly proud we are of every single student. Religious Studies is a highly demanding course requiring critical thinking and intense writing, and their resilience has been outstanding. We wish them the absolute best of luck with their results and their next steps.

Community & Cultural Reflections
Whether your family holds religious beliefs, follows a non-religious world-view, or is simply looking forward to some quality time together, we wish every single member of our school community a peaceful, safe, and rejuvenating break.
As part of our shared community, we also want to acknowledge the significant faith celebrations falling around this time of year, sending our very best wishes to:

  • Those who recently celebrated the Christian festival of Pentecost.
  • Those preparing to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
  • Those who have been observing the Buddhist festival of Vesak.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support at home. Have a wonderful half-term break!
Warm regards,
The Religious Studies Department


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Ski Trip 2026

Excitement filled the air as 37 students and 5 staff gathered at the school, ready for an unforgettable school ski trip to Grandvalira in Andorra. For many, it was their first time skiing abroad, while others were eager to improve their skills on the slopes. Either way, everyone was looking forward to a week of adventure, laughter, and snow-covered mountains.

Located high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, Grandvalira is one of the largest ski resorts in Europe, with over 200 kilometres of slopes. The stunning scenery alone was enough to impress us, with towering mountains, bright blue skies, and fresh snow stretching as far as we could see.

Each morning began with an early breakfast before heading out in groups with the dedicated ski instructors. Beginners started on the nursery slopes, learning how to stop, turn, and use the ski lifts without falling over — although there were still plenty of funny moments in the snow. Meanwhile, the more experienced skiers tackled steeper runs and practised more advanced techniques.

As the week went on, everyone made significant improvements. Students who were nervous on the first day soon gained confidence and were skiing down blue and red runs by the end of the trip. The instructors were encouraging and patient, helping the students to feel safe while pushing others to improve.

Of course, the trip was about much more than skiing. Evenings were packed with activities, including a quiz night, ten-pin bowling, a visit to a local spa and a pizza night. Spending time together outside the classroom helped students from different year groups become friends and created memories that will not be forgotten anytime soon.

The teachers played a huge role in making the trip successful, keeping everyone organised and making sure all were safe while still allowing students to enjoy their independence. Although there were a few tired legs, sore muscles and very tired faces by the end of the week, everyone agreed the trip was worth it.

The trip to Grandvalira was an amazing experience filled with adventure, teamwork, and fun. It gave students the chance to try something new, challenge themselves, and create lasting friendships. The trip for 2027 will take place during the Easter holidays and will be travelling to La Plagne, France.

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Charlie's Promise

The visit from the knife awareness charity, 'Charlie's Promise' had a profound impact on Year 10, who were blown away by the powerful message from Mr Cosser, Charlie's father. His visit explained the devastation of losing his 17-year-old son, who was stabbed at a garden party, and was incredibly informative and thought-provoking. It reminded students that not all knife crime is drug or gang-related. The last week of this term has been Knife Crime Awareness Week and all students, in form time, have been looking at aspects of knife crime and how to anonymously report to the youth service, 'Fearless', so that our students know what to do in the event they have information about peers carrying knives.

Some students gave feedback:

1. Martin's visit has made a massive impact to not just me but the whole of year 10. It has really made us realise the risks of carrying a knife or being close to someone with one. I appreciated the visit, and it made me sad and emotional when learning the story.

2. Charlie's experience made me notice that one death affects more than one person, not just the victim.

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Holocaust Educational Trust

For nearly 20 years, Borden Grammar School, through the Religious Studies Department, has supported the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust and their 'Lessons From Auschwitz' scheme.  It is a nationwide project; two students from every sixth form in the country are invited to take part.  It is divided into four stages; first meeting a survivor from the Holocaust to hear their testimony, secondly, a visit to Auschwitz, thirdly, a chance to reflect with other students who visited and then finally sharing the experiences with the school community and sharing that with the trust.

This academic year, Alan Law and Logan Ross (Year 12) took part in the project, and shared their experiences through assemblies.  They even delivered one assembly with an OFSTED inspector present and they both shared vividly their thoughts and experiences of the project.  

Alan has kindly given permission to print his final thoughts on the project.....
"The Lessons From Auschwitz Programme has been an incredible learning experience for me, allowing me to look beyond statistics and look at the personal lives of those who were affected by the disaster. Through our Slideshow Presentation, we have explored what the Auschwitz camps were physically, allowing us to build an understanding of the holocaust in our audience. To then speaking about the statistics and which groups were targeting, but furthermore exploring what those statistics mean, educating the audience that it is important to look beyond the statistics because they are oftentimes impersonal and incomprehensible.
Then we spoke about why we were actually delivering a presentation if it is a historical event, in an attempt to tackle any criticism towards its relevance. We explained how antisemitism is increasing currently and the key message of our assembly was to stand against antisemitism: not to be bystanders. This has been a very emotional experience -  understanding the true meaning behind the Holocaust - and it is something that I will carry with me for the rest of life."

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Year 9 Symposium

Over the last two terms, our Year 9 students have been working hard to prepare speeches on topics of their choice as part of both an inter-house competition and a regional public speaking competition involving grammar schools from across Kent and Medway.

We are immensely proud of all the students for the dedication they showed in developing their speeches in their own time and for producing such insightful and engaging presentations. All students performed their speeches to their form group during English lessons at the end of last term. Following this, the top speaker from each form took part in an internal heat, delivering their speeches in front of the entire Year 9 cohort during assembly. From this highly competitive round, Daniel and Elijah were selected to represent the school at the regional finals.

On 21 May, Daniel and Elijah in Year 9 represented the school at the regional finals and did so outstandingly. Elijah opened the event with a passionate and thought-provoking speech about inequality in society, while Daniel later delivered an impressive speech on the Bee Crisis.

As a member of the judging panel (although not allowed to judge our own students), I can say that the standard of competition was exceptionally high, with 12 excellent entries from schools across Kent. We are delighted that Elijah was named runner-up, while Daniel has progressed to the Grand Final in June.

We are incredibly proud of all our Year 9 students for their efforts and achievements throughout the competition, and we wish Daniel the very best of luck in the final.

Mr T Westby

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Wellbeing Garden Update: Digging In & Growing Together

A huge shout-out to our incredible student well-being garden team! Their commitment over the last few months has been fantastic. They’ve been readily volunteering their time, getting their hands dirty, and our numbers are growing week by week. Thanks to their hard work, we have successfully cleared overgrown trees and bushes, repaired and cleared a tired-looking shed and removed old, rotting planters and levelled some former fox dens to give us the space to bring our vision to life.

We are also incredibly fortunate to have received a generous donation from the Old Bordenians Association. This has funded some of the work in the first stage of our garden, and will allow us to put down a bark pathway and connect our three main areas, as well as purchasing the bark,  soil, much-needed water butts, and more.

Looking to the Future
Our vision for the garden is growing! Future plans for the space include:
-A beautiful rockery filled with a variety of plants and shrubs
-A fully functioning allotment space for growing our own produce
-A dedicated, peaceful area for quiet reflection

Can You Help Us Grow? (Donation Drop-Off: Sunday 31st May)
With the bank holiday and half-term holiday approaching, many of you might be tackling your own garden projects. If you find yourself with any pre-loved gardening items that need a new home, please think of us!

Items we are in need of:
-Large rocks, railway sleepers, and wooden log-roll edging
-Watering cans, wheelbarrows, and pallets (non-painted)
-Corrugated roofing
-Decorative stones and bricks
-Flowers, bushes, shrubs, bulbs, and seeds
-General gardening tools

Please note: We have already been blessed with a very large donation of pots, seed trays and a small greenhouse, so we do not need any more of those at this time.

How to donate: Myself and Mrs Cameron will be at the Albany Road gate on Sunday 31st May between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to happily receive any donations you'd like to drop off (Albany Road gate, postcode ME10 1EL).

Thank you so much for your continued support in creating this special space for our school community.

Mr G Cameron, Site Team

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School Food Standards: A Positive Step Forward
Dear schools, parents and carers,
We welcome the government’s intent to improve School Food Standards: getting more nutritious food into children and making sure school meals continue to play a positive role in health, wellbeing and the school day.

What This Means for Schools and Families
The consultation is now open, and we strongly encourage schools, parents and carers to read the proposals and have their say. This is particularly important given the additional compliance expectations being introduced for schools, including greater oversight of School Food Standards, a lead governor for school food in every school, increased visibility of menus and food policy, and the need to consider how packed lunch policies support a consistent approach to healthier choices across the school day. While most changes are expected from September 2027, the consultation is an important opportunity to help shape what comes next. You can read more and respond to the consultation here. Alternatively, if there are points you would like us to raise as part of the wider sector response, please do get in touch.

How Impact Food Group Is Preparing
We are confident in the progress already made across our menus and in the direction we have been taking for some time. Through our Impact+ approach, we focus on creating mealtime experiences that support energy, concentration and wellbeing, while still being appealing and relevant to students.
Many of the principles now being discussed are already reflected in our offer. Across our menus, we already provide fruit every day as an alternative to more traditional desserts, have introduced more plant-rich dishes, and reduced sugar, fat and salt across our range. We continue to prioritise baked rather than deep-fried items, with dishes prepared without fat where possible, while strengthening nutritional balance through more fibre and healthier everyday choices.
We have also made our menus more transparent, improving the way dishes are named and described to better showcase ingredients and support understanding of more nutritious, plant-forward options, such as lentils in bolognaise and chickpeas in curries. This helps schools, pupils and families make more confident choices around allergens and dietary needs, while also building familiarity with healthier ingredients and encouraging openness to trying new dishes. Our teams are also being trained to support schools confidently through the changes ahead.

Making the Changes Work in Practice
At the same time, any changes must protect the popularity of school meals as well as their nutritional quality. If the offer becomes less appealing to children, there is a real risk that more pupils will move towards packed lunches and other alternatives, which often contain more salty, sugary snacks and offer less positive nutrition overall. We also believe that any recommended changes must be properly funded. Higher expectations can deliver real benefits, but only if schools and caterers are given the support needed to implement them successfully and sustainably.
As part of this wider conversation, we are actively involved through The School Food People, which works closely with the Department for Education on school food matters. As Vice Chair of The School Food People, I am keen to ensure that schools’ views are reflected as these proposals develop, and that the final framework is both practical and workable for school caterers and schools alike. We remain committed to working closely with our school partners to deliver food that is nutritious, appealing and trusted by pupils, supporting both healthier choices and a strong, well-used meal service.
If you would like to discuss any of this information further, please get in touch.

Best wishes,
Bryan Lygate
Chief Operating Officer
Impact Food Group


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Brigade Clothing - Promotion Details

  • Dates: Friday 29th May – Midnight Sunday 31st May 2026
  • Offer: 15% Discount
  • Code: LASTCHANCE15
  • Website: Brigade Parents Ordering Site
Web: www.brigade.uk.com
Brochure: https://thewebsitehosters.co.uk/brigade-2025/
☀️ KEY SUMMER DEADLINE DATES - ✨ Order early to avoid the Back-to-School rush!
  • Direct to School (Delivery to School) – Order by Friday 12th June for free delivery to school before the summer holidays*
*From Saturday 13th June, all orders will switch to Parents Direct (Home Delivery).
  • Parents Direct (Home Delivery) – Order by Friday 17th July for delivery before the new September term.
  • Wholesale Orders – Order by Friday 12th June for delivery to school before the end of the summer term.
BRIGADE ARE PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE TOP-RATED SCHOOL UNIFORM PROVIDERS ON TRUST PILOT WITH A RATING OF 4.6*
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/brigade.uk.com
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Upcoming Events

Term 6 Starts
All Day
01
June
Y12 University & Apprenticeships Fair Trip
9:00am – 3:00pm
03
June
A-Level Art Exhibition
3:30pm – 7:15pm
03
June
Year 5 Open Evening
5:30pm – 7:30pm
03
June
Td/IPV MenACWY Vaccinations
8:00am – 3:00pm
04
June
Year 5 Open Morning
9:15am – 11:00am
05
June
Pastoral & Wellbeing Trustee Meeting
5:00pm – 7:00pm
09
June
Y12 Psychology Zoo Trip
9:00am – 4:00pm
10
June
Y12 Exams Start
All Day
17
June
Y10 Geography Urban Field Trip
9:00am – 3:00pm
18
June
GCSE Art Exhibition
3:30pm – 6:00pm
23
June
Full Trust Board Trustee Meeting
5:00pm – 7:00pm
23
June
Year 6 Welcome Evening
5:00pm – 7:00pm
24
June
Year 6 Transition Day
All Day
25
June
Y10 STEM Taster Day Trip
8:00am – 3:30pm
25
June