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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.[1] It is situated on West Street,[2] close to the town centre and also accepts students from nearby towns. It has around 1200 pupils, including a sixth form of about 450.
| Sir William Borlase's Grammar School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
West Street , , SL7 2BR England | |
| Coordinates | 51°34′13″N 0°46′54″W / 51.57021°N 0.78163°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Academy grammar school |
| Motto | Latin: Te Digna Sequere (Follow things worthy of thyself) |
| Established | 1624 |
| Founder | Sir William Borlase |
| Specialist | Performing Arts College |
| Department for Education URN | 136781 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Head teacher | Ed Goodall |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1,080 |
| Houses | Britons Danes Normans Romans Saxons Vikings |
| Publication | The Borlasian |
| Website | www |
History
edit
Foundation
editThe School was founded on its present site in 1624 by Sir William Borlase[2] in memory of his son Henry Borlase, MP for Marlow, who died in that year.[3]
Sir William Borlase
editIn 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
editIn 1987 the school became co-educational when girls entered into the lower sixth.
Specialist status
editIn September 2005 the school was awarded specialist school status as a Performing Arts College, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).[4]
Academy status
editAwards and inspections
editAs 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."[6] Borlase was judged to be an 'Outstanding' school in all categories.
Headteachers
edit- 1624 – Smith[a]
- 1624–1721 – records destroyed
- 1721–1735 – Roe[a]
- 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
editThe 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
edit
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
editIn 2014 the school was hosting a number of different academic societies and clubs.[7]
Drama
editThe school has put on a Junior Musical and Senior Productions.[8]
Sport
editThe Sir William Borlase's Grammar School Boat Club has had members reaching international events.[9]
Borlase Hockey club had over 200 members in 2014.[10] The club is based at Marlow Sports Club.
Notable former pupils
edit- Richard Britnell – Professor of History at the University of Durham from 1997 to 2003[11]
- Tony Culyer CBE – health economist, professor and deputy vice-chancellor at York (UK) and professor at University of Toronto[12]
- Tom Dean MBE – swimmer, Olympic gold medalist at Tokyo 2020[13]
- Tom Guest – Harlequins rugby union player[14]
- Lieutenant B. A. Horsfall – recipient of the Victoria Cross[15]
- Ken Snakehips Johnson – bandleader,[16] jazz artist [17]
- Philip Lee – Conservative MP for Bracknell 2010–2019[18]
- Alfie May - English Professional football player, Charlton Athletic[19]
- Hugh Walpole CBE - novelist[citation needed]
- Garry Weston CBE – inventor of Wagon Wheels snack food[20] and chief executive of Associated British Foods from 1969 to 1999
Footnotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "About the School". Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. Retrieved 19 April 2006.
- ^ a b "Marlow Town Highlights". Marlow Society. Archived from the original on 12 January 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2006.
- ^ Wheals, Brian Brenchley (1984). Theirs Were But Human Hearts. Self published. ISBN 978-0-9509053-0-3.
- ^ "Specialist Schools Home". DfES. Archived from the original on 3 August 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2006.
- ^ "Open academies map and schools submitting applications". Department for Education. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ "OFSTED Inspection of Sir William Borlase School 2012".
- ^ "Sir William Borlase Grammar School Academic Societies". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Sir William Borlase Grammar School Arts". Archived from the original on 28 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Sir William Borlase Grammar School Rowing". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Sir William Borlase Grammar School Hockey". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Prof Richard Britnell Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, Prof Richard Britnell Profile". Debretts.com. 21 April 1944. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Prof Tony Culyer, CBE Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, Prof Tony Culyer, CBE Profile". Debretts.com. 7 January 1942. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Tom Dean wins gold at Tokyo Olympics (and makes Marlow school proud)". Bucks Free Press. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Dowager Duchess of Devonshire visits childhood home". Wycombe District Council. 28 May 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Ken Snakehips Johnson Story". Ken Snakehips Johnson. Retrieved 19 April 2006.
- ^ "Marlow's History". Marlow. Archived from the original on 18 February 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2006.
- ^ "LEE, Phillip James". Who's Who. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ Kellerhouse, Lucy Charlton (1917). Forest Fancies. New York: Duffield. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.22182.
- ^ Cowe, Roger (16 February 2002). "Obituary: Garry Weston. Penny-wise entrepreneur at the head of Associated British Foods". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
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External links
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