Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
| Motto |
Latin: Te Digna Sequere (Follow things worthy of thyself) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1624 |
| Type | Academy grammar school |
| Headteacher | Peter Holding |
| Founder | Sir William Borlase |
| Location |
West Street Marlow Buckinghamshire SL7 2BR England  Coordinates: 51°34′13″N 0°46′54″W / 51.57021°N 0.78163°W |
| DfE URN | 136781 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Students | 1,080 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses |
Britons Danes Normans Romans Saxons Vikings |
| Publication | The Borlasian |
| Website | www |
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 1000 pupils, including a sixth form of about 380.
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 was descended from Taillefer of Angoulême, who fought on the side of King William at the Battle of Hastings. John Borlase, his father made his fortune in London and this enabled his son to establish himself in Marlow as a country gentleman. He lived at Westhorpe Manor House in Little Marlow and became not only Sheriff of Buckinghamshire but was a Member of Parliament for Aylesbury. In 1603 he was knighted by James the First. 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. Sir William died in 1629 but the school has survived to this day.
The school has served the town of Marlow and its surrounding district, including High Wycombe and Maidenhead, for over three centuries. In 1987 the school became co-educational when girls entered into the lower sixth.
In September 2005 the school was awarded specialist school status as a Performing Arts College, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The school planned an application for science & maths status as well before the scheme was discontinued.
In September 2007, the school moved to a two week timetable, with five one-hour periods a day, two before morning break, two after break, and one after lunch, in line with most other schools. This is to facilitate individualised learning.
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