About the school
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, known locally as "Borlase," is a co-educational selective grammar school for pupils aged 11 to 18, located on West Street in the centre of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. With around 1,000 to 1,200 pupils, including a sixth form, it is highly respected for its academic results and its specialism in the performing arts.
The school was founded in 1624 by Sir William Borlase in memory of his son Henry, and some of its buildings date back to its foundation. Sir William Borlase's Grammar School address is West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR. It became an academy in 2011, and its motto, "Te Digna Sequere," translates as "Follow Things Worthy."
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School admissions are part of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) consortium, and the school uses the Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus exam, the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT), to select pupils for Year 7. The school is consistently oversubscribed, which makes early, well-structured exam preparation valuable.
School type
Co-educational Grammar (Selective)
Exam date
Thursday 10 September 2026 (for September 2027 entry)
Exam board
Buckinghamshire STT (GL Assessment)
Address
West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
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Admissions information
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School entrance test is administered through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) system. Here is everything you need to know about Sir William Borlase's Grammar School admissions and the exam structure.
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is one of the 13 schools in The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) consortium, all of which use the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). The exam board is GL Assessment and the test is administered by Buckinghamshire Council as part of its Coordinated Admissions Scheme. Entry is on the basis of academic ability.
The Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus exam consists of two multiple-choice papers, each lasting approximately 45 to 60 minutes with a short break between them. One paper covers comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning; the other covers maths, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning. Scores are age-standardised and weighted 50% verbal and 25% each for numerical and non-verbal ability. For the September 2027 entry the main test is on Thursday, 10 September 2026, with a practice test on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
Children at state-funded Buckinghamshire primary schools are entered for the STT automatically. For Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus registration, families whose children attend a primary school outside Buckinghamshire must register online; for September 2027 entry, registration opens at 10 am on 1 May 2026 and closes at 3 pm on 2 June 2026. Families must also submit their Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF), naming the school, by 31st October.
STT results are released to parents in October 2026, ahead of the 31st October application deadline, with allocations made on National Offer Day on 1st March 2027. A standardised score of 121 is the qualifying threshold for consideration; achieving it does not guarantee a place, as the school applies its admissions criteria where demand exceeds places.
Key admissions details
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School has a Published Admission Number of 150 places for Year 7, with around 1,000 to 1,200 pupils on roll across the school. A number of places are reserved for Pupil Premium and Free School Meals children in the catchment, and up to 15 priority-area places are allocated by random lottery. The school is regularly oversubscribed, so a qualifying STT score combined with the Sir William Borlase's Grammar School admissions criteria determines who is offered a place.
The Sir William Borlase's Grammar School catchment area covers Marlow and surrounding areas including Stokenchurch, Hambleden, Lane End and parts of Maidenhead, with a smaller Priority Admissions Area within it. Entry is based first on a qualifying STT score; where qualifying applicants exceed places, priority follows looked-after children, Pupil Premium and Free School Meals in catchment, the priority area, children of staff, siblings, and then distance from the school. Applicants must provide proof of residence in the catchment.
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Sir William Borlase's Grammar School was founded in 1624 by Sir William Borlase in memory of his son Henry, on its present West Street site in Marlow. It became an academy in 2011 and today educates around 1,000 to 1,200 pupils aged 11 to 18, including a sixth form.
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School has a Published Admission Number of 150 places for Year 7. Demand is high and the school is regularly oversubscribed, making thorough Sir William Borlase's Grammar School exam preparation essential.
The Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus uses the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test. It consists of two multiple-choice papers covering comprehension and verbal reasoning in one and maths, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning in the other, weighted 50% verbal and 25% each for numerical and non-verbal. The test is sat in September of Year 6.
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School catchment area covers Marlow and surrounding areas, including Stokenchurch, Hambleden, Lane End and parts of Maidenhead. Entry is based first on achieving the qualifying STT score, but where the school is oversubscribed, catchment and distance become deciding factors, so proximity matters.
Children at Buckinghamshire state primary schools are registered automatically. Families outside Buckinghamshire must complete 11 plus registration online; for September 2027 entry this opens at 10 am on 1 May 2026 and closes at 3 pm on 2 June 2026. The Common Application Form, naming the school, must be submitted to your Local Authority by 31st October.
Yes. As a performing arts specialist, Borlase offers a rich extracurricular programme including hockey, rowing, netball, football, drama, creative writing, jazz ensembles and dance, supported by its own theatre.
Yes, all our Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Buckinghamshire and beyond access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
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