Buckinghamshire / Buckinghamshire 11+
West Street, Marlow, SL7 2BR
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
1
A selective co-educational grammar school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,205 pupils on roll.
At a glance
At a glance
A selective co-educational grammar school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,205 pupils on roll. Sir William Borlase's Grammar School serves boys and girls aged 11-18 and keeps a full sixth form on site. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,205 pupils on roll and 150 Year 7 places.
From a family point of view, admissions are likely to be one of the most important parts of the picture. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 150 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
The academic side of the school is backed by enough published data to give families a useful starting point. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Outstanding. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.56 and Attainment 8 at 73.8. 97.9% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 44.4% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 77% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Theatre, Performing arts spaces. The wider offer currently includes Orchestra, Drama, Duke of Edinburgh. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. Taken together, those features make Sir William Borlase's Grammar School the kind of school that rewards careful research into travel, admissions detail, and day-to-day fit, not just headline outcomes.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Year 7 entry uses the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test. Sir William Borlase's also has pupil premium and priority-area provisions for some applicants scoring below or around the standard qualifying threshold.
The policy combines catchment residence, a Priority Admissions Area lottery, pupil premium provisions and distance tie-breaks. Some places remain available outside the highest-priority geographic categories.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Qualified children in this group are first priority, including children previously in state care outside England.
Catchment pupil premium places below 121
Up to 20 catchment pupil premium applicants with STT scores between 110 and 120 are prioritised by distance.
Catchment pupil premium qualifiers
Catchment pupil premium applicants who score 121 or qualify through review/appeal.
Priority Admissions Area lottery
Up to 15 places for applicants living in the Priority Admissions Area on 1 September 2026, allocated by random lottery.
Children of staff
Children of qualifying staff employed for at least two years or recruited to a shortage post.
Catchment residence
Children living in catchment, including the priority area, continuously since 1 September 2026.
round 1 hour: • English: 25 minutes (plus 5 minutes practice) • Verbal Reasoning: 20 minutes (plus 5 minutes practice).
This school uses the shared Buckinghamshire consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Buckinghamshire guidePaper 1
VR, NVR, Maths
Secondary Transfer Test
Two papers assess verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills before age standardisation.
Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
English, Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Two papers assess verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills before age standardisation.
Non-verbal reasoning
Two papers assess verbal, non-verbal and mathematical skills before age standardisation.
English
Science
Creative writing
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens
1 May 2026
Secondary Transfer Test registration closes
2 June 2026
Secondary Transfer Test for Buckinghamshire primary and partner schools
10 September 2026
Additional Secondary Transfer Test sessions
8-11, 14, 16-18 and 21 September 2026
Secondary Transfer Test results
16 October 2026
Secondary application deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Check the 2027 admissions policy
Use the school policy for the PAN, oversubscription order, catchment priority, and any pupil premium rules.
Read policyRegister for the Secondary Transfer Test
Out-of-county and non-partner-school families register with Buckinghamshire Council by 3pm on 2 June 2026.
Register with Buckinghamshire CouncilSit the Secondary Transfer Test
Buckinghamshire primary and partner-school pupils sit the test on 10 September 2026; other sessions run across the published September window.
View test datesSubmit the secondary application
Name the school on the home local authority application by 31 October 2026.
View timelineLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 77.4 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 76.4 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 73.8 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 72.4 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | A- average (47.7 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B+ average (44.8 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B+ average (43.7 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B+ average (44.7 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 98% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 99% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 2 May 2024
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Compare the best grammar schools in Buckinghamshire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Buckinghamshire sits within the Buckinghamshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before you compare a realistic shortlist.
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Compare the best grammar schools in Buckinghamshire for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Buckinghamshire sits within the Buckinghamshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
Explore grammar schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted in the UK and narrow them by GCSE strength, county, and school type before you compare a realistic shortlist.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Check the 2027 admissions policy: Use the school policy for the PAN, oversubscription order, catchment priority, and any pupil premium rules. 2. Register for the Secondary Transfer Test: Out-of-county and non-partner-school families register with Buckinghamshire Council by 3pm on 2 June 2026. 3. Sit the Secondary Transfer Test: Buckinghamshire primary and partner-school pupils sit the test on 10 September 2026; other sessions run across the published September window. 4. Submit the secondary application: Name the school on the home local authority application by 31 October 2026.
Secondary Transfer Test registration opens: 1 May 2026. Secondary Transfer Test registration closes: 2 June 2026. Secondary Transfer Test for Buckinghamshire primary and partner schools: 10 September 2026. Additional Secondary Transfer Test sessions: 8-11, 14, 16-18 and 21 September 2026. Secondary Transfer Test results: 16 October 2026. Secondary application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 2 May 2024.