Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School (commonly shortened to Borlase or SWBGS) is a selective state grammar school accepting girls and boys aged 11–18 located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated on West Street, close to the town centre and also accepts students from nearby towns. It has around 1200 pupils, including a sixth form of about 450.

History

Foundation

The School was founded on its present site in 1624 by Sir William Borlase in memory of his son Henry Borlase, MP for Marlow, who died in that year.

Sir William Borlase

In 1624 and in memory of his son Henry who died that same year, Sir William decided to build a "free school" in the town in order "to teach twenty-four poor children to write, read and cast accounts, such as their parents and friends are not able to maintain at school". Boys entered the school between the ages of ten and fourteen and at the end of two years, six of the best were given two pounds each to apprentice themselves to a trade.

Co-education

In 1987 the school became co-educational when girls entered into the lower sixth.

Specialist status

In September 2005 the school was awarded specialist school status as a Performing Arts College, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Academy status

In June 2011 the school became an Academy.

Awards and inspections

As well as its performing arts status, the school has held a number of awards and marks including the Sportsmark Award, the NACE Challenge Award, the Healthy Schools mark, the Continuing Professional Development Mark, the Eco Schools Green Flag Award and was designated as a National Support School.

A full Ofsted inspection occurred in May 2024. The report noted that "The school’s ethos is positive and joyful." Borlase was judged to be an 'Outstanding' school in all categories.

Headteachers

*1624 – Smith
*1624–1721 – ''records destroyed''
*1721–1735 – Roe
*1735–1759 – Thomas Heather I
*1759–1782 – William Heather
*1782–1793 – Thomas Heather II
*1793–1809 – H. H. Gower
*1809–1814 – Stephen Gage
*1814–1835 – William Francis
*1835–1844 – George Gale
*1844–1850 – Charles Wethered
*1850–1880 – Edwin Segrave
*1881–1895 – M. Graves
*1896–1901 – E. W. Clarke
*1901–1904 – E. H. Blakeney
*1904–1927 – A. J. Skinner
*1927–1956 – W. S. Booth
*1956–1974 – E. M. Hazelton
*1974–1988 – R. R. Smith
*1988–1988 – D. C. W. Banner
*1989–1997 – L. A. Smy
*1997–1998 – Adrienne Crittenden
*1998–2017 – Peter Holding
*2018–2023 – Kay Mountfield
*2023-present – Edward Goodall

Physical layout

The school has a collection of facilities of varying vintages. The school office and reprographics room is housed in the original flint building, which was unveiled in 1624. Since then the school has added a Victorian cloister, and an Edwardian era Chapel.

In the 1970s further expansion occurred. A new school hall and several classrooms were built.

In the late 1980s a new sports gym was added, followed in 1992 by new modern languages facilities and library in a new building facing onto West Street.

In 2000, after the school started admitting Year 7s, the "Audrey Moore Building" (named after its chief benefactor) was built to house new classrooms, a sixth-form common room and a new canteen, replacing the old sports pavilion and canteen.

In 2004, as part of the school's bid for Arts Award status, a new performing arts theatre was built on the site of the old swimming pool. The building also houses purpose-built IT labs and metal and woodwork facilities. It was opened on 7 December 2004 by the Duke of Gloucester. As a result of this building work, other space within the school was adjusted with a rolling programme, and a new style eatery called "Mimi's Café" was added, along with a new Sixth Form Centre. At the beginning of the 2006 Autumn term, the headmaster announced that the Library was to be renamed the "Learning Centre".

At the end of the 2010 summer holidays, the school started building a new cookery building on the area where the decking once stood, this was completed in 2011 with the addition of an English room above the kitchens.

In September 2016, a new building was opened on the site of the old locker room. This new building houses 3 Sixth Form workrooms, Sixth Form mentoring offices and a new maths classroom

Coat of arms

The school coat of arms is emblazoned on all school literature and on the school uniform. Originally, the Taillefers of Angoulême had a crest of a ghostly hand emerging from a cloud. It is holding a badelaire to give one power in a struggle, be it sporting or academic. Behind this, on the background, can be seen eight stars.
The school also has a secondary maxim 'offer the helping hand' that has been developed in the past century.

Academic societies and clubs

In 2014 the school was hosting a number of different academic societies and clubs.

Drama

The school has put on a Junior Musical and Senior Productions.

Sport

The Sir William Borlase's Grammar School Boat Club has had members reaching international events.

Borlase Hockey club had over 200 members in 2014. The club is based at Marlow Sports Club.

Notable former pupils

* Richard Britnell – Professor of History at the University of Durham from 1997 to 2003
* Tony Culyer CBE – health economist, professor and deputy vice-chancellor at York (UK) and professor at University of Toronto
* Tom Dean MBE – swimmer, Olympic gold medalist at Tokyo 2020
* Tom Guest – Harlequins rugby union player
* Lieutenant B. A. Horsfall – recipient of the Victoria Cross
* Ken Snakehips Johnson – bandleader, jazz artist
* Hugh Walpole CBE - novelist
* Philip Lee – Conservative MP for Bracknell 2010–2019
* Alfie May - English Professional football player, Charlton Athletic
* Hugh Walpole CBE - novelist
* Garry Weston CBE – inventor of Wagon Wheels snack food and chief executive of Associated British Foods from 1969 to 1999

Footnotes

References

External links

Department for Education Performance Tables 2011

EduBase

{{Authority control

Grammar schools in Buckinghamshire
1624 establishments in England
Educational institutions established in the 1620s
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Academies in Buckinghamshire
Grade II* listed buildings in Buckinghamshire