Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School has received an outstanding rating in all areas during its recent inspection, marking a continued high standard since its previous inspection in 2012. The school is characterized by a strong emphasis on both academic and personal development, fostering an environment where pupils feel confident and eager to learn. The curriculum is rigorously designed, allowing students to excel in their studies while also participating in diverse extracurricular activities that enhance their overall educational experience. The school's supportive community, inclusive atmosphere, and commitment to addressing the needs of all students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, are notable strengths.

Strengths

• Outstanding quality of education across all subjects
• Highly ambitious and thoughtfully sequenced curriculum
• Exceptional behavior and positive attitudes from pupils
• Strong personal development and careers programmes
• Vibrant community with excellent pastoral support
• Effective identification and support for pupils with SEND
• High levels of parental support and appreciation for school ethos

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School attended 94.4% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 14.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.3% of pupils at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Sir William Borlase's Grammar School had 19.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 3.7% of pupils at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 0.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Sir William Borlase's Grammar School received £7,900 and spent £7,536 for each of its 1,205 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,129,000 (£937 per pupil).

Across all 3 schools of Marlow Education Trust, income was £6,845 and spending £6,844 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Marlow · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is part of Marlow Education Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Spinfield School Marlow
• Marlow Church of England Infant School Marlow
• Great Marlow School Marlow
• Burford School Marlow
• Beechview Academy High Wycombe

What is Sir William Borlase's Grammar School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Sir William Borlase's Grammar School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Sir William Borlase's Grammar School have?

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School has 1,222 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sir William Borlase's Grammar School cover?

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Sir William Borlase's Grammar School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 76.7, and 98% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Sir William Borlase's Grammar School?

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is at West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR.