Sir William Borlases Grammar School

About the School

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School is very proud of its heritage as they approach their 400th birthday and staff are excited to be inspiring and empowering the aspirations of students today. A state-funded school in the centre of Marlow, Borlase is recognised for excellent academic learning and outstanding extra and super-curricular programme.

Founded in 1624 on the same site they occupy today, the brick and flint Cloisters, clock tower and Chapel of Borlase share a street with Mary Shelley’s cottage where she wrote Frankenstein, TS Eliot’s house and the original site of the Royal Military College now at Sandhurst. Behind the older buildings the campus opens out to reveal a modern 21st century school with the latest technologies. In September 2021 the school opened a brand new Sports Hall and they have a new student refectory planned for the near future.

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School has a very special energy that springs from a contagious enthusiasm for learning across all subjects; this extends well beyond the classroom through the many independent project groups, academic clubs and societies that flourish at the school on a daily basis. The calendar is full of opportunities to enrich learning through trips, visits, practical explorations and independent research.

Borlasians aspire to achieve their best academically and personally and are unashamedly ambitious in those aims. High achievement comes from the genuine enjoyment of learning and staff are committed to fostering that enjoyment in and outside the classroom. Teachers are all specialists in their chosen disciplines who are passionate about creating learning experiences that provoke independent thinking and creativity.

At Borlase, everyone embraces education in its broadest sense offering a rich curriculum and encouraging excellence in sports, in music, dance and the arts, in engineering and scientific innovation and in political and philosophical thinking and discussion. Borlasians are encouraged to be busy, to participate in life to the full, to seize opportunities and to create opportunities for others.

The extra curricular programme is wide-reaching: hockey and rowing programmes have national reputations; rugby, netball, football are just some of the sports with regular fixtures across the school. The symphony orchestra, strings orchestras, jazz ensembles and nine choirs perform in prestigious venues and the school is recognised for its exceptional Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre performances. Other activities include chess, robot wars, creative writing, and much more.

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School has a strong sense of community and a distinctive ethos fostered through the House and pastoral system. In this environment young people thrive, developing new experiences, building lifelong friendships; growing into confident contributors and leaders who will go on to shape the future.

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School ask you to contact them to arrange a visit and students will show you around the school.