Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11+ Papers
Past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School as well as 11+ test details and school information.
Past 11+ 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 these 11+ practice papers to help your child prepare.
Practice 11+ 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.
11+ Practice Papers for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School by Exam Ninja
These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful and we would encourage parents to download and use them with their children.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
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. They remain useful and we would encourage parents to download and use them with their children.
| 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 Owl Tutors
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors.
| 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 Bond
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond.
| 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 CGP
These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. They are up to date and extremely useful.
| 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. Grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these tests remain useful.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
About Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Buckinghamshire. For children to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.
Nestled in the picturesque town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a beacon of academic excellence and personal growth. This co-educational institution, which caters to students aged 11 to 18, prides itself on delivering a comprehensive and stimulating curriculum that prepares young minds for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.
At Borlase, students are encouraged to embrace a love for learning across a wide spectrum of subjects, from the sciences and mathematics to the humanities and arts. The school's dedicated faculty works tirelessly to ensure that each pupil receives the support and guidance necessary to unlock their full potential, both within the classroom and beyond. With a strong emphasis on independent research, practical exploration, and enriching field trips, students are given the tools to become critical thinkers, innovative problem-solvers, and engaged global citizens.
Beyond the academic realm, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School offers an unparalleled array of extracurricular activities designed to cater to the diverse interests and talents of its student body. From nationally-recognised hockey and rowing programmes to captivating dance, drama, and musical theatre performances, pupils have ample opportunities to explore their passions and develop new skills. This holistic approach to education not only fosters a well-rounded individual but also instils important values such as teamwork, perseverance, and self-expression.
The school's unwavering commitment to excellence is reflected in its students' consistently outstanding performance on both A-level and GCSE exams, cementing its position as one of the top 50 grammar schools in the country. However, the true measure of success at Borlase extends far beyond academic achievements; it lies in the character, resilience, and compassion that its students embody as they navigate the world beyond the school's walls. With its motto, "Te Digna Sequere" (Follow things Worthy), Sir William Borlase's Grammar School continues to inspire and nurture generations of young leaders, innovators, and change-makers.
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 |
|---|---|
| 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:
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 |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
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.
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) Key Dates for your Diary
Here are all the important dates for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) tests (to get into Sir William Borlase's Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.
| Date | Event | Calendar Link |
|---|---|---|
| 03/05/2024 | 11+ Registration Opens | Add Dates to Calendar |
| 14/06/2024 | 11+ Registration Closes | |
| 12/09/2024 | 11+ Exam Date | |
| 11/10/2024 | 11+ Results Released | |
| 31/10/2024 | Secondary School Application Deadline | |
| 03/03/2025 | School Allocations |
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 Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test (STT) entrance exams. Please click here to be put in touch with an excellent 11+ private tutor from our friends at exams.courses.
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 |
|---|
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.
