With a proud heritage stretching back 400 years, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in the heart of Marlow, recognised nationally for its exceptional academic learning and its outstanding extracurricular programme.
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, the school is described as a “vibrant and generous community” where students are inspired and empowered to achieve their best. Borlase is particularly renowned for its national reputation in sports like hockey and rowing, and for its exceptional Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre performances. For parents seeking a school that combines academic excellence with a rich and varied school life, Borlase is a top choice.
This reputation, however, means that competition for places is intense. Gaining entry requires successfully navigating the Buckinghamshire 11+ system. This guide will provide you with a clear, accurate, and strategic roadmap to the entire process.
In this definitive guide, you will learn:
- Key dates for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.
- A detailed breakdown of the 11+ exam format for Sir William Borlase’s.
- A clear explanation of the qualifying score, weighting, and the complex admissions criteria.
- An expert strategy to prepare your child for the specific demands of the test.
Key Information for 2026 Entry
- Address: West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR
- Number of Places in Year 7: 150
- Exam Provider: GL Assessment
- School Type: Co-educational Grammar School
Key Dates for your Diary (2026 Entry)
- Registration Opens: Friday 2nd May 2025
- Registration Closes: Friday 13th June 2025 (3pm)
- Practice Test Date: Tuesday 9th September 2025
- Secondary Transfer Test Date: Thursday 11th September 2025
- Results Released to Parents: Friday 10th October 2025
- Secondary School Application Deadline (CAF): Friday 31st October 2025
- National Offer Day: Monday 2nd March 2026
Please note that dates can vary slightly, so it is always best to confirm directly with Buckinghamshire Council.
The Sir William Borlase’s 11+ Exam Format
As part of The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) consortium, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School uses the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test.
The test is written and administered by GL Assessment and consists of two papers, both taken on the same day with a short break in between. Each paper is approximately 60 minutes long.
Paper 1: Verbal Skills This paper focuses on language, logic, and comprehension. It includes:
- English Comprehension
- Technical English (Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar)
- Verbal Reasoning
Paper 2: Maths & Non-Verbal Skills This paper focuses on numerical and spatial reasoning. It includes:
- Mathematics
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
All questions across both papers are multiple-choice, and your child will mark their answers on a separate answer sheet.
The Admissions Process: Score, Weighting, and Catchment
Gaining a place at Borlase is a two-stage process with very specific criteria.
Stage 1: The Qualifying Score First, your child must achieve the minimum “qualifying score” in the exam. This score is age-standardised to ensure fairness. The final score is calculated using a specific weighting:
- Verbal Ability: 50%
- Numerical Ability (Maths): 25%
- Non-Verbal Ability: 25%
The qualifying score for any Buckinghamshire grammar school is 121.
Stage 2: The Oversubscription Criteria Achieving a score of 121 does not guarantee a place. Because Borlase is one of the most heavily oversubscribed schools in the country, it then applies its specific admissions criteria to the pool of qualified children. Places are allocated in the following order of priority:
- Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children.
- Up to 10 places for children eligible for Pupil Premium within the catchment area who score between 110-120.
- Children eligible for Free School Meals within the catchment area who have a qualifying score of 121.
- Up to 15 places for children living in the “Priority Admission Area” (a smaller area closest to the school), allocated by random lottery.
- Children of staff members.
- Children living within the wider school catchment area.
- Siblings of current students.
The Bottom Line: The catchment area is critically important. It is extremely difficult to secure a place if you live outside the defined catchment area. You must check the latest admissions policy on the school’s website to understand the rules and check your address.
[Image: A stylised map graphic showing the concept of a school with a defined catchment area circle around it.]
How to Prepare for the Sir William Borlase’s Test
A structured and focused approach is the key to success.
- Focus on the GL Format: Ensure all practice materials are in the GL Assessment style. This means practising with multiple-choice questions and, crucially, using a separate answer sheet to perfect exam technique.
- Build a Broad Skillset: The weighting shows that verbal skills are twice as important as Maths or Non-Verbal Reasoning. However, a balanced revision plan is still essential, as a very high score in one area cannot compensate for a weak score in another.
- Develop Speed and Accuracy: The papers are tightly timed. Regular practice under timed conditions is vital to build the speed and accuracy needed to perform well under pressure.
- Don’t Forget the Foundations: The GL Assessment is strongly based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum. A deep and fluent understanding of core Maths and English topics is the best possible preparation.
By understanding the specific format of the exam and the importance of the admissions criteria, you can create a preparation plan that gives your child the best possible chance of success.
Ready to start your focused preparation?
➡️ Our GL Assessment Practice Packs are specifically designed to mirror the format and style of the Buckinghamshire 11+ Test, providing the most authentic practice available.