Welcome to Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School where we are proud of our heritage as we approach our 400th birthday and excited to be inspiring and empowering the aspirations of our 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 we 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 we opened a brand new Sports Hall and have a new student refectory planned for the near future. 

Our 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 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 we are committed to fostering that enjoyment in and outside the classroom. Our teachers are all specialists in their chosen disciplines who are passionate about creating learning experiences that provoke independent thinking and creativity. 

At Borlase, we embrace 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. Our extra curricular programme is wide-reaching: our hockey and rowing programmes have national reputations; rugby, netball, football are just some of the sports with regular fixtures across the school. Our symphony orchestra, strings orchestras, jazz ensembles and nine choirs perform in prestigious venues and we are recognised for our exceptional Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre performances.  Other activities include chess, robot wars, creative writing, and much more. We have a strong sense of community and a distinctive ethos fostered through the House and pastoral system. In this environment our young people thrive, developing new experiences, building lifelong friendships; growing into confident contributors and leaders who will go on to shape the future.

Our Open evenings for new students are published but do contact us to arrange a visit and our students will show you around the school so you can decide for yourself.

Ed Goodall
Headteacher