Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Marlow, SL7 2BR · Buckinghamshire · Grammar school
Check the area around this school
9th of 36 secondary schools in Buckinghamshire we can score, 37 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 147 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.9/10 among them, against 9.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 98.0 · 98 | 30% | 2.95 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.56 · 86 | 25% | 2.16 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 76.7 · 99 | 10% | 0.99 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2024. In 2024/25, 96.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 72.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.56 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.5 out of 10 among them, against 9.3 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Cambiata Boys’ Choir, Borlase Jazz Bands, Youth Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, and the Peripatetic Music Service.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,222 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,085. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their progress scores? How are music ensembles scheduled alongside academic lessons?
What Ofsted said about Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Overview
The inspection judges the school as ‘Outstanding’ across all categories, describing it as a ‘vibrant and generous community’ where pupils display ‘excellent behaviour and manners’. The report highlights a ‘highly ambitious curriculum’ that balances academic rigour with personal development, ensuring pupils are ‘exceptionally well prepared for the future’.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘very thoughtfully and ambitiously sequenced’, allowing pupils to study subjects ‘broadly and deeply’ rather than focusing solely on examination preparation.
- Teaching is of ‘consistently high-quality’, with teachers who ‘explain new content and concepts skilfully and clearly’ and address misconceptions directly.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve ‘exceptionally well’, receiving ‘appropriate and effective support’ to learn successfully alongside peers.
- The school fosters a ‘positive and joyful’ ethos where relationships are based on ‘mutual respect’, and bullying is ‘extremely rare’.
- Personal development and careers programmes are ‘excellent’, offering pupils exposure to the ‘world of work’ and enrichment activities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 73.8 |
| 2024/25 | 72.4 |
| 2025/26 | 76.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of SL7 2BR, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT