Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.
How to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Buckinghamshire. To get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.
Admission Requirements
Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). The school offers 150 places annually following a recent expansion from 120 places [1].
Families must register for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) if their child attends a primary school outside Buckinghamshire. Registration opens on Friday 2nd May 2025 and closes on Friday 13th June 2025 (see key dates). Children attending Buckinghamshire primary schools are automatically entered for testing .
- Children must achieve a minimum score of 121 in the Secondary Transfer Test to be eligible
- Testing takes place on Tuesday 9th September 2025 (practice test) and Thursday 11th September 2025 (main test) (see key dates)
- Results are released on Friday 10th October 2025 after 4pm (see key dates)
- The school operates within a defined catchment area including Stokenchurch, Hambleden, Marlow and parts of Maidenhead
Application Process
Families must submit the Common Application Form (CAF) through their home local authority by 31st October 2025 (see key dates). The application becomes available on council websites from early September 2025 .

Qualifying for the test does not guarantee admission. The school uses oversubscription criteria when more than 150 qualified children apply . Priority is given in the following order after looked after children :
- Up to 10 places for Pupil Premium eligible children in catchment with scores 110-120
- Catchment children eligible for free school meals with scores 121 or higher
- Up to 15 places for Priority Admissions area residents allocated by random lottery
- Children of school staff members
- Remaining places allocated by distance order (closest to school first)
Families should provide proof of address through Council Tax account numbers or recent electricity bills . For specific contact information and application queries, families should refer to the school information section.
Test Preparation Guidance
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) consists of three sections: verbal reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning . Each section is age-standardised and weighted differently in the final score calculation .

Preparation should begin early using a "little and often" approach. Educational experts recommend 20-30 minute study sessions for children aged 10-11 years . Building a solid knowledge base before testing is essential for success .
- Access free practice materials through 11+ practice papers
- Consider professional support through qualified 11+ tutoring services
- Focus on verbal, mathematical, and non-verbal reasoning skills
- Complete regular mock examinations to simulate test conditions
- Start preparation at least 12 months before the test date
Practical Advice
On examination day, children should arrive well-rested and prepared. The testing takes place during normal school hours for Buckinghamshire primary school pupils . Children from outside the county will be assigned specific venues and times .
Families cannot choose test dates, times, or venues as these are allocated automatically . Test invitations are sent by email by 8th August 2025 (see key dates). Families should check spam folders if invitations are not received.

- Ensure children get adequate sleep before test dates
- Provide a healthy breakfast on examination mornings
- Arrive at test venues 15 minutes early
- Bring required identification documents for out-of-county candidates
- Consider backup school options including Great Marlow School and other Buckinghamshire grammar schools
- Understand that the school is often oversubscribed and admission depends on multiple factors beyond test scores
Families experiencing test-related stress should focus on effort rather than outcomes. Remember that Buckinghamshire offers 13 grammar schools and numerous high-quality comprehensive schools . For detailed guidance on managing expectations and accessing support services, contact details are available in the school information section.
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Information
In order to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, children need to pass the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Subjects & Structure
The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English Comprehension
- Technical English
- Verbal Reasoning
- Key Stage 2 Maths
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Spatial Reasoning
The Secondary Transfer Test is an entrance examination for admission to Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. This assessment, provided by GL Assessment, consists of two one-hour papers that evaluate a student's abilities in various subjects.
The first paper focuses on verbal skills, which include English comprehension, technical English, and verbal reasoning. These sections assess a student's ability to understand and analyze written passages, their knowledge of English language conventions, and their capacity to draw logical conclusions from given information.
The second paper concentrates on mathematical and non-verbal skills. This includes Key Stage 2 maths, which tests a student's understanding of mathematical concepts and problem-solving abilities. The non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning sections evaluate a student's capacity to identify patterns, solve problems using visual information, and understand the relationships between shapes and objects.
Other Schools using Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT)
As well as Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, several other schools also use Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT). These are:
- Aylesbury Grammar School
- Aylesbury High School
- Beaconsfield High School
- Burnham Grammar School
- Chesham Grammar School
- Dr Challoner's Grammar School
- Dr Challoner's High School
- John Hampden Grammar School
- Royal Latin School
- Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
- The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
- Wycombe High School
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.
Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.
It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
Key Dates for the Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests
Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
Date | Event | Calendar Link |
---|---|---|
02/05/2025 | Registration Opens For The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | Add Dates to Calendar |
13/06/2025 | Registration Closes For The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | |
09/09/2025 | Buckinghamshire Practice Test | |
11/09/2025 | Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | |
Early October | Parents Receive Results From The Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test | |
Late October | Secondary School Common Application Deadline | |
02/03/2026 | National School Offers Day |
Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Sir William Borlase's Grammar School as they may well change.
11+ Tutor for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
As the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.
Why use a private 11+ tutor?
Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.
11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.

11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.
Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!
Private 11+ Tutors for the Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.
11+ Past Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Unfortunately, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Ensure you double-check with Sir William Borlase's Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.
This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | English | ||
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by GL Assessment
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | English | |||
GL Assessment | Maths | |||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT).
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | English | ||
GL Assessment | Writing | ||
GL Assessment | Maths | ||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by CGP
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Maths | |||
GL Assessment | English | |||
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If Sir William Borlase's Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
CEM | Maths | |||
CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
---|---|---|---|
GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about Sir William Borlase's Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Address | Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2BR |
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School Website | https://www.swbgs.com/ |
Telephone | 01628816500 |
Email Address | enquiries@swbgs.com |
Gender | Mixed (both girls and boys) |
Total Year 7 Places | 150 |
Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 1165 (570 Girls / 595 Boys) |
Headteacher | Mr Ed Goodall |
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 1,165 pupils attend Sir William Borlase's Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Ed Goodall.
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 27/06/2012 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 19/07/2012, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data
Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 27/06/2012 | 1 | 19/07/2012 | Outstanding | Full Report |
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GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.
GCSE Subjects Offered |
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A-Level Subjects Offered |
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GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.
GCSE Results Information (2022-23)
Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
Art & Design (Fine Art) | 25 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 7 |
Biology | 122 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 20 | 39 | 55 |
Chemistry | 122 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 11 | 24 | 44 | 42 |
Computer Studies/Computing | 46 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 11 |
Design & Technology | 34 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
Dance | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
English Language | 140 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 36 | 50 | 33 | 14 |
English Literature | 137 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 10 | 34 | 50 | 29 | 12 |
French | 41 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 18 |
Geography | 70 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 38 |
German | 45 | - | - | - | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 7 |
History | 99 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 8 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 15 |
Mathematics | 140 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 8 | 40 | 37 | 49 |
Music | 31 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
Physics | 122 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 17 | 31 | 30 | 41 |
Spanish | 57 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 8 |
Drama & Theatre Studies | 34 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 5 | 12 | 11 |
Physical Education/Sports Studies | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 10 |
Science: Double Award | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
Art and Design (Fine Art) | 9 | - | - | - | 2 | - | 5 | 2 | |||
Biology | 69 | - | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 29 | 21 | |||
Business Studies:Single | 23 | - | - | - | 4 | 12 | 5 | 2 | |||
Chemistry | 55 | - | - | 3 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 7 | |||
Computer Studies / Computing | 14 | - | - | - | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |||
Drama and Theatre Studies | 9 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |||
Economics | 45 | - | - | - | 9 | 16 | 11 | 9 | |||
English Literature | 48 | - | - | 1 | 11 | 20 | 10 | 6 | |||
Geography | 21 | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | |||
Government and Politics | 18 | - | - | - | 2 | 7 | 6 | 3 | |||
History | 37 | - | - | 4 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 6 | |||
Mathematics | 116 | - | 1 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 45 | 34 | |||
Mathematics (Further) | 39 | - | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 5 | |||
Music | 13 | - | - | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - | |||
Physical Education / Sports Studies | 13 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
Physics | 51 | - | 3 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 5 | |||
Psychology | 49 | - | - | 4 | 5 | 23 | 10 | 7 | |||
Spanish | 8 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | 2 |
FAQ
Is Sir William Borlase's Grammar School hard to get into?
Yes, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.
Is Sir William Borlase's Grammar School a private school?
No, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is Sir William Borlase's Grammar School free?
Yes, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to Sir William Borlase's Grammar School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact Sir William Borlase's Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.