Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 plus

A co-educational grammar school and academy with a long and cherished history, Sir Willliam Borlase’s Grammar School is approaching its 400th anniversary. Founded in 1624, it was built to ensure children from all backgrounds could have a high-quality education and that’s still at the heart of its mission today. With its motto ‘Te Digna Sequere’ (Follow Things Worthy) the school prizes the importance of a moral purpose behind choices and believes in the school community’s potential to make a positive difference within and beyond the school.

Ranked as an outstanding school by Ofsted, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is also known for its national achievements in rowing and hockey and has a rich offering of extra-curricular activities.

11 plus information for Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School

• Address: Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, West Street, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2BR

• County: Buckinghamshire

• Admissions info: [email protected], 01628 816500

• School type: co-educational grammar school with academy status

• Number of pupils: 1,154

• Number of places in Year 7: 150

• Open day date: normally takes place in September

• 11+ exam date: September (two papers on the same day)

• Exam board type: Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools 11 plus, administered by GL assessment

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School term dates

The term dates for Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 2022-23 are:

• Autumn term: 5th September - 20th December

• Half term: 15th - 30th October

• Spring term: 3rd January - 31st March

• Half term: 11th - 19th February

• Summer term: 17th April - 21st July

• Half term: 27th May - 4th June

How and when to apply to Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School selects its intake from applicants who have achieved the pass mark of 121 in the Buckingham Consortium 11 Plus. Children in Buckinghamshire primary schools are registered for the 11 plus automatically unless parents express a preference otherwise. Applications for a school place are made through the Buckinghamshire Council website.

Pupils at independent schools and schools outside Buckinghamshire are able to register for the test between 6th May 2022 and 24th June 2022. Applicants must also notify their home local authority of their preferred school.

In 2021, Buckinghamshire Council 11 Plus results were released on 15th October and the deadline for applications to schools was 31st October. The national offer day is 1st March 2022.

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 plus admissions process

Like many grammar schools in Buckinghamshire, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School uses the Buckinghamshire Council’s Secondary Transfer Test, set by GL Assessments. The pass mark is 121. If the school is oversubscribed with applicants who have reached that score, the following criteria are used:

• Looked after and previously looked after children

• Up to 10 places for children eligible for pupil premium, living in the catchment area, who achieved between 110 and 120 in the admissions test

• Children eligible for free school meals

• Up to 15 places for children who live in the school’s Priority Admissions area

• Children of staff

• Children living in the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Catchment Area

• Siblings of children in years 7-12 at the school

• Any further places in distance order

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus exam format and content

Pupils take two multiple choice papers on the same day:

• Paper 1 (60 minutes, including 20 minutes for introduction and examples): comprehension, technical English and verbal reasoning.

• Paper 2 (60 minutes, including 20 minutes for introduction and examples): non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and mathematics.

The qualifying score is 121. Buckinghamshire Council standardises results by age so as not to disadvantage applicants born late in the school year.

How to prepare your child for the Sir William Borlase's Grammar School 11 plus test

With the varied areas of assessment in the Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools 11 plus, we recommend that preparations begin at least a year in advance. Prospective Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School pupils will need to prepare for English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools have released a familiarisation booklet while [GL Assessment publish familiarisation materials](linkhttps://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/. These can help your child get a feel for the format and content of the exam ahead of their examination.

How Atom can help your child prepare for the Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School 11 plus

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