Schools by area › Buckinghamshire › Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
West Street, Marlow SL7 2BR · swbgs.com · 01628 816500
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 72.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Buckinghamshire 53.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 3.12 mi
- 5.02 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Catchment · Buckinghamshire Council
- Demand for places
- 1.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,222
- 137 over 1,085 places · 113%
- Local authority
- Buckinghamshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Selective
- Free school meals
- 3.4%
- First language not English
- 13.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Catchment” went to a home 3.12 mi (5.02 km) from the school. Source: Buckinghamshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 257 families put the school first and 146 places were offered; 56% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 146 | 257 | 1.8▲ | 56% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 147 | 220 | 1.5▲ | 66% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 147 | 220 | 1.5▲ | 65% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 150 | 213 | 1.4▲ | 69% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 150 | 240 | 1.6▲ | 63% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Catchment | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.12 mi5.02 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 72.4, and 96.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Buckinghamshire it was 53.4, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B+ (44.8 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲72.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲96.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲99.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲80.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲6.87 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 94.4 | +6.3 |
| Sixth form college | 2.8 | +1.3 |
| Further education | 0.7 | −1.5 |
| Other education | 0.7 | −4.5 |
| Activity not captured | 1.4 | −0.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 226 students | B+ (44.8) | Average +0.08 | |
| 226 students | A- (45.2) | Above average +0.11 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 218 | B+ (43.7) | +0.04 |
| 2022/23 | 203 | B+ (44.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 235 | A- (47.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 202 | B+ (44) | +0.06 |
| 2017/18 | 220 | B+ (42.6) | -0.08 |
| 2016/17 | 209 | B (41.5) | -0.10 |
| 2015/16 | 213 | B (41.4) | -0.15 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 72 | +1.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8 | +1.1 |
| Employment | 12.4 | −5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.9 | +2.2 |
| Activity not captured | 6 | +3 |
Ofsted
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 1 May 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 1 May 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jun 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jun 2012Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Feb 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (498 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 498
- 42% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 63% who raised concerns
based on the 22% who had a child bullied
based on 95 parents (19%) with SEND