Sir William Borlases's Grammar School

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School aims to inspire and empower all its learners to have the skills, knowledge, qualifications and personal qualities to shape the future.  The school is proud of the excellent academic results of the students and equally proud of the positive roles Borlasians play in their community while at school and in their adult lives.

Most recent Ofsted and external verification: OFSTED Section 5, 2012 - Outstanding, all areas

DFE designated MFL Hub 2019, reconfirmed as Lead School to deliver the National College of Excellence in Languages programme of training to teachers nationally 2022.

Lead partner school in the ASTRA Teaching School Hub.

The school offers a rich, broad and challenging curriculum to all students.  In KS3 a wide range of creative arts subjects including Dance, Music, Drama, Art and Computing alongside a carefully designed core curriculum.  In Year 9, students start their KS4 courses which are enriched with deeper learning beyond the specifications and opportunities for practical exploration; all study a language.  At KS5 students choose from a wide range of subjects and extension opportunities.  All learning encourages creativity, intellectual curiosity and independent research.  There is an extensive super curriculum of academic societies and independent extension activities to challenge learners.

The school offers an impressive range of opportunities to enrich learning and support student wellbeing.  These include extra-curricular activities in sport, the arts, Duke of Edinburgh and much more.  The school is recognised for its exceptional Performing Arts, having 7 choirs, a Symphony Orchestra, Strings Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra and other ensembles.  There are many Dance Companies including an elite contemporary Dance Company and a thriving Boys’ Dance Company.  Drama and Musical Theatre productions are excellent and Production Arts students provide exceptional sets and technical support.

Sport is an important part of the school’s culture, supporting fitness for all and opportunities for athletes to excel.  The Rowing Programme has over 200 Rowers and the Hockey Programme over 150.  Netball, football, rugby, tennis, cricket, athletics and many other sports are played competitively.

Senior students create opportunities for juniors, leading clubs and societies and mentoring others, in younger years and their own.  The school has primary mentoring programmes at several local primary schools including Beechview Academy.

The school is proud of its culture of kindness and respect.  The school prioritises the safeguarding of its students and supports their physical and mental wellbeing.  The number of SEND students at the school is in line with national averages.  The school is committed to inclusion and there is a clause in the Admission Policy extending access to students from Disadvantaged backgrounds.  

The academic results at GCSE and A Level have improved year-on-year.  NB Centre Assessed Grades from 2020 are not included in the tables below while those from 2021 with Teacher Assessed Grades and 2022 when the distribution of grades was changed as a mitigation to the impact of Covid on students’ education have been greyed as they are not comparable.