News Compendium

Ken Beach (OB 1970-1974) has advised us of the sad passing of Graham Steady (OB 1968-1975), whom he knew at School and with whom he became a lifelong friend.

Our thoughts are with Graham's widow and children, and wider family and friends.

106 Years

Armistice Day this year falls upon a Monday.

The School and the OBA will be holding a combined Service of Remembrance, to which all OBs are cordially invited, in the Quadrangle, on Monday 11^th November.  

Harold Sofronios Vafeas 1955 - 2014

This has been a transformational year for the Association.

There have been several “most important” achievements.

The Mailchimp email and marketing platform is now our primary record of the Old Bordenians Association (OBA) membership information. It allows Old Bordenians including current and past staff members to register their details and, if they want to, to inform the OBA of any help they can offer to assist either the School or the OBA - there is a link to Mailchimp on the OBA website.

Click here for a formatted version of the Constitution: /images/OBA-Constitution-Revision-For-Ratification-12-Sep-2024.pdf

OBA Constitution Ratified and Adopted at AGM 12 September 2024

1. The name shall be the OLD BORDENIAN ASSOCIATION (“the OBA”).

Click here for a formatted copy of the Accounts /images/OBA--2024-AGM-Financial-Statement.pdf

Our Draft accounts are currently being examined independently, and will will finalised once audited.

The latest major extension to the School was dedicated as the

'Harold Vafeas Sports and Learning Block'

on Friday 27th September 2024

Partial handover of the new substantial extension to the School began in late May, however full handover will not be until during the new school year, with ancillary building works and re-laying the Lower Field continuing late into the Autumn.

The new block is to be known as the Harold Vafeas Sports and Learning Block, in memory of Headmaster Harold Vafeas, who was taken ill in service, and who passed away in January 2014.

ALL OBs are cordially invited to apply for a named invitation to the ceremony, by emailing  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  in the first instance, and we would like to encourage a maximum turnout in honour of Mr. Vafeas - particularly for OBs who were pupils during Harold's nine year tenure from 2004 to 2013

There are limited places available, and admission is by named invitation only so that the School can manage guest numbers

Please actively  contact your classmates and encourage them to join the Association by scanning or clicking on this QR Code:

Minutes of the Old Bordenian Association AGM Meeting

held via Zoom on Thursday 7^th September 1830

Members present: Mark Bailey (chair), Mark Sayer, Chris Terry, Donal Watkin, Keith Shea, Dave Palmer, John Gibbard, Mick Pack, Peter Lusted, Ashley Tomlin

Apologies for absence: None

1. School update

AT ran through various elements of the school’s progress and what was planned for the coming year. Having been in role for 3 years, there has been significant advances in many areas.

1. Staffing. With a turnover of circa 10% BGS remains below the average, but recruitment is the most difficult it has ever been, with positions remaining vacant for 12 months.

2. Exam results are the best for at least 4 years, with BGS expected (October) to see a score of zero (it has been negative for previous 3), meaning students are achieving their potential. A level results were the best for 8 years, with 2 students progressing to Cambridge, and GCSEs showed a higher success in A**A* and A grades, slightly less in grades 9-4 (95% to 96%)

3. The Borden vision is now published and focusses on care and nurturing futures leaders, while maintaining underlying academic excellence

4. Attendance is strong but still below prepandemic levels, with persistent absence at 12% (20%+ nationally)

5. Buildings. Buiding related issues are taking 4-5 hours a week of AT’s time. With intake of year 7 up 30 per year for the last 3 years, and the covid delays to the new building, space is a constraint – 3 new mobile classrooms are in place. All plumbing is being replaced and the new build is due for April 2024

6. Student numbers. BGS is larger than it has ever been, with 154 in year 7 and 40 students choosing to join the 6^th form from other schools

7. School plan. Supporting. There is a new associate assistant head, Jordan Weller, in role for 12 months ahead of advertising nationally for the assistant head role next year. This is an example of an overall approach to develop the school’s middle leadership.
   There are initiatives to further engage parents, although those who the school really want to engage are proving more challenging>
   The school is looking beyond borders and keeping options open in relation to Multi Academy Trusts. There is pressure to join one by 2030.
   The next 3 years will see an increased focus on careers. Help from the OBA was requested and offered. Inspiration. There is more work being undertaken on the curriculum, with BGS determining its own pedagogy and way of teaching that will be common across the whole school.
   There is to be more leadership and celebration of success for the students, with some classes spanning all year groups to aid development and a systemisation of recognition. Achieving. The school is focussing on getting top achievers to perform even better and to remove the tail by motivating more disadvantaged students.

8. The Wellbeing Garden hadn’t really delivered and was being re-thought

9. The strikes were handled well and have not damaged relationships or good will with staff

10. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is receiving more focus

11. There will be a Remembrance Ceremony this year and all OBs are invited. Details TBC

2. Finance update

DW provided an update to finances based on draft accounts. Our position is very similar to last year. It was suggested that we should explore placing funds in a higher interest account.

KS volunteered to be a new signatory on the account. DP and DW to meet to finalise some Barclays compliance sign offs.

ACTION

DW and DP to meet to sign off Barclays documents

3. Communications (plus Website project)

CT thanks MS for his actions in successfully migrating the website to a separate platform. All that was required was the re-direct from the school IT team. MB took an action to contact AT.

ACTION
MB to contact the school re final redirect

4. Membership

KS reported that there had been a slight increase in Mailchimp contacts, with 352, and notably some younger Members. KS to contact the family of John Hearn to inform them that they need to cancel the standing order to prevent further payments. With prizegiving on 14^th September, DW will contact AT to have the sign up QR code displayed for leavers.

ACTION

DW to contact AT re sign up QR code

KS to contact the family of John Hearn

5. Football

KS reported that there had been no play due to lack of venue but was hopeful that new premises would be available for this season. The reunion held at the Appleyard in July, was success.

6. Reunion Dinner

With no dinner in 2022, it was agreed to return to the school for a similar format but with more notice to the OBs. It was commented that traditionally booking are made in the last 4 weeks prior to the dinner and so we need to notify potential attendees that we require confirmation sooner. It was suggested we look at a tour of the new building. It was proposed that we look to dates in late April avoiding exams, Easter and Bank Holidays. Any decisions held over to the next committee meeting.

7. AOB

The new building had been discussed under the Head’s report, but the OBs still wanted to do something to mark the V Block. It was suggested that John Macrae and Dave Jenkins could be memorialized in some way.

ACTION

MB to contact AT

The Meeting closed at 20:45.

Next Committee Meeting 2^nd November 18:30

Mark Bailey

Outgoing Chair

Election of Officers and Committee:

The Agenda for the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Old Bordenian Association is published below