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Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: 11+ entry

West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2BR

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial Team

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

Can we apply, and what did it take?

For September 2027 entry

  • 121or more

    Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT), 2027 entry

    Checked, source: The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS), checked
  • Year 7 places

    150

    2027 entry, Published Admission Number ()

    Checked, source: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
  • 3.121miles

    2026 entry, rule 6 (living in the catchment area), on National Offer Day

    Checked, source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked

Your next deadlines

  1. Next: Selection review requests close

    in 10 days

    Only if your child scored below 121

  2. Coming up: School place applications close: Common Application Form ()

    11:59pmin 11 days

Can we get in?

How far offers reached

Each bar shows how far from Sir William Borlase's Grammar School the last child offered a place lived, under the last admission rule the offers reached. Up to five years, on one scale.

Qualifying is not the same as being offered a place.

A score of 121 or more in the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) means your child can be considered. If more children qualify than there are places, the school gives places using its admission rules, in order. The figures below show how far those rules reached in past years. They are history, not a prediction: they change every year with who applies.

Checked, source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked

Distance from home to school, in miles

  • National Offer Day
  1. 2027 entryNot known yet
    Offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027
  2. 2026 entryOffer day
    3.121 miles

    On National Offer Day, offers went to children living up to 3.121 miles away, under rule 6 (living in the catchment area).

  3. 2025 entryOffer day
    3.327 miles

    On National Offer Day, offers went to children living up to 3.327 miles away, under rule 9 (distance from home).

How distance is measured (the school's 2027 admission rules): Straight-line distance from the Ordnance Survey address point of the child's normal home address to the nearest open school gate available for pupils; equal distances decided by random selection supervised by a person independent of the school

Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked
What the words mean
National Offer Day:
the first offers, made on 1 March (or the next working day).
Final:
how far offers had reached later, after places were offered from the waiting list.
Admission rule:
schools give places rule by rule, in order. The distance is only how far the last rule reached.
N/A or “All offered”:
no distance was needed to decide places under that rule, for example because everyone who applied under it got a place.
No figure published:
nobody published a figure for that year, or we have not checked one yet. We never fill a gap with a guess.

Applications and offers, September 2026 entry (Department for Education)

How many families applied to Sir William Borlase's Grammar School and how many places it offered. Applicants per place is all applications divided by offers. Families apply to several schools and not every applicant qualifies, so it is not the chance of a place.

Applications and offers at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, September 2026 entry
FigureDepartment for Education
First-preference applications257First-preference applications, 2026 entryChecked 16 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (Explore Education Statistics).The source says: 202627,Academic year,School,E92000001,England,E12000008,South East,825,E06000060,Buckinghamshire,Secondary,8254505,z,6,Sir William Borlase's Grammar School,146,146,144,2,0,714,257,148,140,1.7847222222222223,1.7602739726027397,277,40,Academy converter,No religious character,2.7,Selective,Urban: Nearer to a major town or city,No,E14001082,Beaconsfield,136781,7View the official source
All applications (any preference)714All applications (any preference), 2026 entryChecked 16 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (Explore Education Statistics).The source says: 202627,Academic year,School,E92000001,England,E12000008,South East,825,E06000060,Buckinghamshire,Secondary,8254505,z,6,Sir William Borlase's Grammar School,146,146,144,2,0,714,257,148,140,1.7847222222222223,1.7602739726027397,277,40,Academy converter,No religious character,2.7,Selective,Urban: Nearer to a major town or city,No,E14001082,Beaconsfield,136781,7View the official source
Places offered on National Offer Day146Places offered on National Offer Day, 2026 entryChecked 16 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (Explore Education Statistics).The source says: 202627,Academic year,School,E92000001,England,E12000008,South East,825,E06000060,Buckinghamshire,Secondary,8254505,z,6,Sir William Borlase's Grammar School,146,146,144,2,0,714,257,148,140,1.7847222222222223,1.7602739726027397,277,40,Academy converter,No religious character,2.7,Selective,Urban: Nearer to a major town or city,No,E14001082,Beaconsfield,136781,7View the official source
Applicants per place4.9Applicants per place, 2026 entryChecked 16 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (Explore Education Statistics).The source says: 202627,Academic year,School,E92000001,England,E12000008,South East,825,E06000060,Buckinghamshire,Secondary,8254505,z,6,Sir William Borlase's Grammar School,146,146,144,2,0,714,257,148,140,1.7847222222222223,1.7602739726027397,277,40,Academy converter,No religious character,2.7,Selective,Urban: Nearer to a major town or city,No,E14001082,Beaconsfield,136781,7View the official source
About these figures

There is no separate pass mark for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. What changes each year is how far down its admission rules the offers reach (council allocation profiles; past years are a guide, not a promise).

For 2026 entry the school offered 150sir-william-borlases-grammar-school-2026: Places offeredChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS); statistics prepared by Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Total 186 192 186 180 184 186 189 186 182 180 186 150 192 2379View the official source places on Offer Day; 27%sir-william-borlases-grammar-school-2026: Out of county percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS); statistics prepared by Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Out of County % 13% 20% 3% 64% 26% 6% 2% 28% 14% 17% 27% 27% 30% 21%View the official source went to children living outside Buckinghamshire. Distances are in miles, as the council measures them.

At a glance

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in brief

tap a value for its source

Year 7 places
150Year 7 placesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: The planned admissions number (PAN) of students for each year group is as follows: Year 7: 150 Year 9: 6View the official source2027 entry
The (PAN): how many children the school plans to admit.
Pupils
boys and girlsPupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: Sir William Borlase Grammar School (co-educational)View the official source
Who the school admits.
Entrance test
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)
The test children sit to be considered. Written by GL Assessment.
Marlow Academy TrustAdmission authorityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: For the avoidance of doubt the Admissions Authority for this school is the Marlow Academy TrustView the official source
Who sets the admission rules and decides who is offered a place.
A mapped area (see the admission rules)
Where children get priority. Living inside it does not by itself mean a place.
Places offered
150Places offeredChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS); statistics prepared by Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Total 186 192 186 180 184 186 189 186 182 180 186 150 192 2379View the official source2026 entry
How many places the school offered on National Offer Day.
From outside Buckinghamshire
27%From outside BuckinghamshireChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS); statistics prepared by Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Out of County % 13% 20% 3% 64% 26% 6% 2% 28% 14% 17% 27% 27% 30% 21%View the official source2026 entry
The share of offers that went to children living outside the county.
Supplementary Information Form (SIF)
Yes, for this school
An extra form some schools ask for. It goes to the school, not the council.

Key dates

Dates for September 2027 entry

For children in Year 6 in 2026/27.

Buckinghamshire Council

7 earlier steps, all doneShow
  1. Done: Test registration opens

    10am

    Source: The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS), checked
  2. Done: Test registration closes

    3pm

    Source: The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS), checked
  3. Done: Home address date: the address used for school places

  4. Done: School place applications open (CAF)

    10am

  5. Done: Practice test

    Source: The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS), checked
  6. Done: Test day

    Source: The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS), checked
  7. Done: Results

  1. Next: Selection review requests close

    in 10 days

    Only if your child scored below 121

  2. Coming up: School place applications close (CAF)

    11:59pmin 11 days

  3. Coming up: Pupil premium evidence due to the schools

    in 11 days

    Only if you are claiming pupil premium priority

  4. Coming up: Selection review outcomes

  5. Coming up: National Offer Day

  6. Coming up: Appeal deadline

    Expected

    Only if you are refused a place

Year 5 now? Dates for September 2028 entryMost are only given as a month so far, so we mark them as expected.

Buckinghamshire Council

  1. Coming up: Test registration opens

    Expected

  2. Coming up: Test registration closes

    Expected

  3. Next: Home address date: the address used for school places

  4. Coming up: Practice test

    Expected

  5. Coming up: Test day

    Expected

  6. Coming up: School place applications close: Common Application Form (CAF)

    in about 54 weeks

  7. Coming up: Results

    Expected

  8. Not published yet: National Offer Day

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

How places are given

9 admission rules, in order, for 2027 entry

If more children qualify than there are places, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School gives places using these rules (its ), in this order (2027 entry).

For 2026 entry, the last places on National Offer Day went under rule 6 (living in the catchment area) of that year's rules.

  1. 1

    Looked-after and previously looked-after children (incl. abroad-adopted) scoring at least 110

    The policy's own words
    1. A `looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became the subject of an adoption, residence, child arrangements or special guardianship order, ... being adopted, who has achieved a score of at least 110 in the Admissions Test.
  2. 2

    Up to 20 places: pupil premium children in catchment scoring 110-120

    The policy's own words
    2. Up to a maximum of 20 places for children eligible for pupil premium, living in catchment, who have achieved a score of between 110 and 120 in the Admissions Test.
  3. 3

    Pupil premium children in catchment who qualified (121+, Selection Review or appeal)

    The policy's own words
    3. Children eligible for pupil premium living within the catchment, with a score of 121 or more in the Standardised Transfer Test, or who have qualified through Selection Review or the appeals process.
  4. 4

    Up to 15 places for Priority Admissions area children, allocated by random lottery

    The policy's own words
    4. Up to a maximum of 15 places for children who live in the school's Priority Admissions area on 1 September 2026 In relation to this category only, all 15 places will be allocated by random lottery in front of an independent witness
  5. 5

    Children of staff (employed 2+ years or in skill-shortage post)

    The policy's own words
    5. Eligible children of staff in either or both of the following circumstances: Where the member of staff has been employed at the School for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the School is made, and/or The member of staff has been employed to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
  6. 6

    Children living in catchment (incl. priority area) continuously since 1 September 2026

    The policy's own words
    6. Children living in the catchment,which includes the priority area as well as children in other parts of the catchment areas of the school must have been living in their home continuously since 1 September 2026
  7. 7

    Siblings of pupils in Years 7-12 on roll when allocations made

    The policy's own words
    7. Siblings of children in Years 7 to 12 who are on the roll of the school at the time allocations are made
  8. 8

    Exceptional medical or social needs only met at this school

    The policy's own words
    8. Children who have exceptional medical or social needs* which can only be met at this school supported by evidence as set out by Buckinghamshire Council on this link.
  9. 9

    Any remaining places offered in distance order

    The policy's own words
    9. Once the rules have been applied, any further places will be offered in distance order.

Source: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked

Who qualifies
Qualifying score of 121 in the admission tests, or deemed qualified by a Selection Review PanelSource: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
Catchment
Catchment shown on the school's catchment map; catchment includes an inner Priority Admission Area plus other parts of the catchmentSource: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
How distance is measured
Straight-line distance from the Ordnance Survey address point of the child's normal home address to the nearest open school gate available for pupils; equal distances decided by random selection supervised by a person independent of the schoolSource: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
Pupil premium (qualified children)
Rule 3 - after looked-after/previously looked-after children (1) and the up-to-20 non-qualified pupil premium places (2); must live within catchmentSource: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
Pupil premium places for children just below the score
Must be eligible for pupil premium and living in the school's catchment area at 1 September 2026; proof of pupil premium eligibility required; apply via home council and also send a letter with evidence to the school (enquiries@swbgs.com, FAO Headteacher (Admissions)) by 31 October 2026; distance tie-breaker if more than 20 eligible; places not applied for by 31 October 2026 pass to the next ruleSource: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
Supplementary form
Pupil premium families applying for one of the 20 priority places send a letter with evidence of eligibility to the school by 31 October 2026, as well as the council application.Source: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
Waiting list
Council-managed waiting list from National Offer Day to 31 December; school-maintained waiting list from 1 January until 31 August of Year 7Source: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked
Address used
The address you live at on Tuesday 1 September 2026 is the one that counts.Source: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked

The admission rules for September 2028 entry are not published yet. We check the school's website and add them when they appear.

More detail from our guide

2027 entry. The school's admission arrangements for September 2027 are determinedSir William Borlase's Grammar School: Document status (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: Determined Admissions Policy 2027View the official source.

If more qualified children apply than there are places, the school uses these rules in order: (1) Looked-after and previously looked-after children (incl. abroad-adopted) scoring at least 110. (2) Up to 20 places: pupil premium children in catchment scoring 110-120. (3) Pupil premium children in catchment who qualified (121+, Selection Review or appeal). (4) Up to 15 places for Priority Admissions area children, allocated by random lottery. (5) Children of staff (employed 2+ years or in skill-shortage post). (6) Children living in catchment (incl. priority area) continuously since 1 September 2026. (7) Siblings of pupils in Years 7-12 on roll when allocations made. (8) Exceptional medical or social needs only met at this school. (9) Any remaining places offered in distance order.Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: Oversubscription criteria (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: 2.5 Oversubscription Criteria Where eligible applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below to decide which student to admit.View the official source

  • Catchment: Catchment shown on the school's catchment map; catchment includes an inner Priority Admission Area plus other parts of the catchmentSir William Borlase's Grammar School: Catchment description (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: 6. Children living in the catchment,which includes the priority area as well as children in other parts of the catchment areas of the schoolView the official source
  • How distance is measured: Straight-line distance from the Ordnance Survey address point of the child's normal home address to the nearest open school gate available for pupils; equal distances decided by random selection supervised by a person independent of the schoolSir William Borlase's Grammar School: Distance measurement (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: The straight line distance definition: is 'the distance from the address point of the childʼs normal home address, as set out by Ordnance Survey, to the nearest open school gate available for pupils to use'.View the official source
  • Pupil premium (qualified children): Rule 3 - after looked-after/previously looked-after children (1) and the up-to-20 non-qualified pupil premium places (2); must live within catchmentSir William Borlase's Grammar School: Pp qualified priority (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: 3. Children eligible for pupil premium living within the catchment, with a score of 121 or more in the Standardised Transfer Test, or who have qualified through Selection Review or the appeals process.View the official source
  • Waiting list: Council-managed waiting list from National Offer Day to 31 December; school-maintained waiting list from 1 January until 31 August of Year 7Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: Waiting list (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: If any vacancies arise in Year 7 between National Offer Day (1 March) and 31 December of the same year, they will be allocated in line with the admissions policy from the waiting list managed byView the official source
  • Pupil premium (children who did not qualify): places: 20Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: Pp unqualified places (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: 20 of the 150 places in Year 7 (2027) will be prioritised for students who are eligible for Pupil Premium* and who are living in the schoolʼs catchment area at the time of application 1 September 2026 and whose score would not otherwise qualify them for admission.View the official source; minimum score: 110Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: Pp unqualified min score (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: Such candidates must have achieved a Secondary Transfer Test result of at least 110.View the official source; conditions: Must be eligible for pupil premium and living in the school's catchment area at 1 September 2026; proof of pupil premium eligibility required; apply via home council and also send a letter with evidence to the school (enquiries@swbgs.com, FAO Headteacher (Admissions)) by 31 October 2026; distance tie-breaker if more than 20 eligible; places not applied for by 31 October 2026 pass to the next ruleSir William Borlase's Grammar School: Pp unqualified condition (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: Applications for one of the 20 places must be made via the usual coordinated admissions process via your home Local Authority; a letter must also be sent directly to the school for the attention of the Headteacher (Admissions) to enquiries@swbgs.com, together with evidence of eligibility by 31 October 2026.View the official source

2028 entry: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: Document status (2028)Not yet published by Sir William Borlase's Grammar School; last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: Determined Admissions Policy 2027 pdf Admissions Policy 2027 with highlighted changes pdf SWB Catchment - In Place Since 2020 pdf Determined Admissions Policy - 2026 pdf Determined Admissions Policy - 2025 pdf Determined Admissions Policy 2024 pdfView the official source; we will update this when Sir William Borlase's Grammar School publishes its 2028 arrangements.

The test

Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)
Test
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)
Written by
GL Assessment
Test date, 2027 entry
Thursday 10 September 2026
Score scale
60 and 170
How the parts count
verbal 50%, maths 25%, non-verbal 25%
How long
60 minutes, including the introduction

Entry is through the county-wide Secondary Transfer Test (GL AssessmentBuckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT): Test providerChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The test is commissioned by the The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS) acting on behalf of the 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools and is produced by GL Assessment.View the official source), sat early in Year 6. A score of 121Buckinghamshire: Qualifying scoreChecked 9 Oct 2026 against The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS).The source says: The qualifying score for Buckinghamshire grammar schools is a Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) of 121 or above.View the official source or more qualifies a child for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School; a higher score gives no extra priority. Test for 2028 entry: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School: Test family by entry year (2028)Not yet published by The Bucks Grammar Schools (TBGS); last checked 9 Oct 2026.The source says: TBGS awards 5-year contracts to GL Education Group Ltd and Buckinghamshire Council ... beginning with the 2026 entry testView the official source. See how the Buckinghamshire test works.

How the Buckinghamshire test works

Open days

All this year's events have passed
  1. Done: Prospective Y7 Open Morning (passed)

  2. Done: Sixth Form Open Evening (Year 12 entry, September 2027 - not Year 7) (passed)

    17:00-20:00

Source: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked

If you are refused a place

Reviews, appeals and the waiting list

General information, not legal advice.

Selection review (if your child scored below the qualifying score)
Ask by Friday 30 October 2026.Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked
How appeals work
Year 7 appeals up to 31 December managed by the Local Authority; from 1 January an independent appeal panel set up by the Local Authority or the School; no deadline statedSource: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, checked

General information, not legal advice.

Selection Review requests (for children who did not qualify) are due by 30 October 2026Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: Selection review deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: If you receive your child’s Secondary Transfer Test Score (STTS) on 9 October, you must submit your child’s Selection Review case in full by 30 October.View the official source. After National Offer Day you can appeal against a refusal: the council expects the deadline to be near the end of March 2027Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: Appeal deadline approxChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: The deadline to lodge a timely appeal will be near the end of MarchView the official source.

Who arranges appeals: Year 7 appeals up to 31 December managed by the Local Authority; from 1 January an independent appeal panel set up by the Local Authority or the School; no deadline statedSir William Borlase's Grammar School: Appeals route (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.The source says: The appeal process for Year 7 up to 31 December is managed by the Local Authority. From 1 January an independent appeal panel will be set up either by the Local Authority or the School.View the official source

Most appeals for full schools do not succeed, so it helps to keep a realistic second choice. See the Buckinghamshire 11+ guide.

Other Buckinghamshire schools

How far offers reached at all 13 schools on the same test

Listed A to Z. Each school has its own admission rules, so a longer distance does not mean a place is easier to get.

Listed A to Z by school name.

  1. Aylesbury Grammar SchoolBoys

    Offers reached 9.788 miles

    Rule 10 (distance from home) · 186 places

  2. Aylesbury High SchoolGirls

    Offers reached 12.739 miles

    Rule 7 (distance from home) · 189 places

  3. Beaconsfield High SchoolGirls

    Offers reached 5.085 miles

    Rule 9 (distance from home)

  4. Burnham Grammar SchoolBoys and girls

    Offers reached 2.688 miles

    Rule 9 (distance from home)

  5. Chesham Grammar SchoolBoys and girls

    Offers reached 3.72 miles

    Rule 7 (distance from home)

  6. Dr Challoner's Grammar SchoolBoys

    Offers reached 10.011 miles

    Rule 8 (distance from home)

  7. Dr Challoner's High SchoolGirls

    Not drawn: the last places went to brothers or sisters, so this distance is not comparable.

    3.387 miles

    Rule 6 (brothers or sisters at the school, living outside the catchment area)

  8. John Hampden Grammar SchoolBoys

    Offers reached 11.494 miles

    Rule 8 (living in priority area B) · 180 places

  9. Sir Henry Floyd Grammar SchoolBoys and girls

    Offers reached 13.82 miles

    Rule 6 (distance from home) · 180 places

  10. Sir William Borlase's Grammar SchoolBoys and girls(this school)

    Offers reached 3.121 miles

    Rule 6 (living in the catchment area) · 150 places

  11. The Royal Grammar School, High WycombeBoys

    Offers reached 13.52 miles

    Rule 7 (distance from home) · 182 places

  12. The Royal Latin SchoolBoys and girls

    Offers reached 6.993 miles

    Rule 9 (distance from home)

  13. Wycombe High SchoolGirls

    Offers reached 8.051 miles

    Rule 9 (living in priority area B)

Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked Each school's own page names its source. Distances are measured by each school's own method, so compare with care.

Official documents and sources

11 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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