Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

What Sir William Borlase's Grammar School does

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a state-funded, co-educational secondary school located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, operating since 1624 under the motto "te digna sequere" (follow things worthy of you). The institution delivers the standard UK secondary curriculum across Years 7-11 (10 GCSE subjects including English, Mathematics, Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages, and a range of option subjects such as Art, Computing, Drama, Geography, History, Music, and Sports Science) alongside a large Sixth Form offering 21+ A Level and BTEC subjects, the Extended Project Qualification, Masterclasses, and a Futures programme. The Sixth Form alone enrolls over 400 students, including 80-90 external joiners annually from other Buckinghamshire schools, making it a significant regional draw for post-16 education. The school also operates a House System, student-led academic societies (Engineering Soc, MedSoc, PolSoc, LitSoc), extensive co-curricular programmes in performing arts, sport, STEM, Duke of Edinburgh Gold, and international expeditions, plus pastoral and mental-health provision.

The core technology stack is modest and operational rather than productised: a public-facing website built by Juniper Websites on the Juniper Education platform (with accessibility and high-visibility modes), backed by separate Google Sites portals for staff, students, and parents/carers. Partnerships support pedagogy rather than proprietary product development, including Unifrog for careers guidance, The Learning Scientists for metacognitive materials embedded in every student planner, and the VESPA mindset framework (Steve Oaks and Martin Griffin) delivered across Years 7-13. Auxiliary services include a Peripatetic Music Service and facilities-for-hire, and capital and fundraising programmes encompass the Here & Now Annual Fund, the Chapel Door capital campaign (~£30,000), the Borlase Solar Project (~£180,000 across 360 panels producing 159 kWp), legacy bequests, and corporate matched-giving.

The school's revenue model is anchored on UK government per-pupil funding channelled through Buckinghamshire local authority under standard state-school formulas, which finances the free core curriculum. This is supplemented by voluntary parent donations via the Here & Now Annual Fund (with Gift Aid and corporate match), alumni legacy bequests, and specific capital campaigns (Chapel Door, Solar Project). The Here & Now fund targets specific verticals: wellbeing, sport, performing arts, literacy, MFL, STEM, and Sixth Form enrichment, functioning as a recurring voluntary subscription that bridges the gap between state allocations and aspirational co-curricular provision. The uniform is resold through designated partner Hawkinsport & Son, and admissions occur via the Buckinghamshire 11+ for Year 7 and a separate Sixth Form admissions process that explicitly recruits across Buckinghamshire and beyond, framing the school as both a state grammar and a regional Sixth Form destination.

Name

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Legal name

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Website

https://swbgs.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a state-funded, co-educational UK grammar school founded in 1624 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, delivering GCSEs and a 400+ student Sixth Form to students aged 11-18, funded primarily by UK government per-pupil grants supplemented by voluntary parent and alumni donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education (Grammar School)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Secondary education services
• Grammar school education
• Sixth form education
• GCSE preparation
• A level education

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: As a state-funded school, the primary revenue source is government funding from the Department for Education via Buckinghamshire local authority.
2. Here & Now Annual Fund Donations: The school operates a voluntary donations programme ('Here & Now Annual Fund') that provides funding for student support services, sports, performing arts, literacy, MFL, STEM, Sixth Form enrichment, and extended project work - supplementing what state funding covers.
3. Chapel Door Fundraising: Capital fundraising campaign to install a second fire door in the school Chapel (built 1914), costing approximately £30,000. Funded by Old Borlasians and community donations.
4. Solar Project Campaign: Capital fundraising to install 360 photovoltaic solar panels on canteen and sports hall roofs, estimated to cost approximately £500 per panel (total ~£180,000) with 25-year lifespan and 25% ROI.
5. Legacy Bequests: The school accepts legacy bequests in wills, which are free from inheritance tax and capital gains tax. These can be directed at any specific area of school development.
6. Corporate Matched Giving: The school participates in employer-matched giving schemes where companies double donations to the Here & Now Annual Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a state-funded, co-educational grammar school providing secondary education for students aged 11-18, covering Key Stages 3 and 4 with GCSE qualifications and a Sixth Form offering over 21 A Level subjects. Its core offering is the academic curriculum and co-curricular programme, delivered through a selective grammar school model with admission via the 11+ examination, supplemented by a Peripatetic Music Service and school facilities available for external hire.

Product overview

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a state-funded, co-educational secondary school founded in 1624, located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The school offers a comprehensive educational programme spanning Key Stages 3 and 4 (Years 7-11) with GCSE qualifications, alongside a Sixth Form providing over 21 A Level subjects. The school emphasises a broad curriculum enriched by cultural learning, super-curricular opportunities, and extensive co-curricular activities in sports, performing arts, STEM, and public speaking. The institution supports its educational mission through fundraising initiatives including the Here & Now Annual Fund, the Borlase Solar Project for sustainability, and the Chapel Door restoration campaign.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Education (Years 7-11) State-funded co-educational secondary school education covering Key Stages 3 and 4, providing GCSE qualifications in core subjects (English, Mathematics, Sciences, Modern Foreign Languages) and option subjects including Art, Computing, Dance, Drama, Design and Technology, Geography, History, Music, and Sports Science, for students aged 11-16.
• Sixth Form Education A Level and BTEC post-16 education with over 21 subject options including Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computing, Dance, Drama, Economics, English Literature, Languages, Geography, Government & Politics, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Product Design, Psychology, and Technical Theatre. With over 400 students, it offers enrichment through the Extended Project Qualification, Masterclasses, and a Futures Programme.
• Peripatetic Music Service Music instruction service providing instrumental lessons to students, available as part of the broader performing arts programme.
• Facilities for Hire School facilities available for external hire, providing venue space to the local community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 students in Sixth Form
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawkinsport & SoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesignated supplier for approved school uniform items including blazers with school badge, ties in House colours, and Sixth Form ties. Sports uniform also available. Located at Unit 10A Wessex Rd, Wooburn Green, Bourne End SL8 5DT.
• The Learning ScientistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation providing metacognitive learning strategies and materials used in Learn to Learn (L2L) lessons. Their material is included in every student planner.
• VESPA (Steve Oaks and Martin Griffin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVESPA model of learning (Vision, Effort, Systems, Practice, Attitude) used for metacognitive strategy teaching from Years 7 to 13. Delivered through Enrichment and Extension lessons, assemblies, and tutor time.
• Tony Compton (OB 1957-1964)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOld Borlasian who is drawing up architectural plans for the Chapel Door fire door project in keeping with the school's listed building status.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beaconsfield High School: Buckinghamshire grammar school for girls with a mixed sixth form, sharing the same 11+ admissions system and state-funded operating model. Direct peer particularly in the Sixth Form market.
• Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe: Historic grammar school in High Wycombe with a similar 11-18 selective academic structure and Sixth Form, sharing the same state-funded Buckinghamshire model. Closely comparable peer with shared long heritage.
• Burnham Grammar School: Co-educational grammar school in the Burnham area of Buckinghamshire, operating under the same 11+ admissions framework and offering a broadly similar academic and enrichment profile. Direct competitor in the south-east of the county.
• Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School: Buckinghamshire grammar school with a similar state-funded, 11-18 co-educational model and a comparable academic and co-curricular profile. Competes for the same selective cohort in the wider county.
• John Hampden Grammar School: Buckinghamshire boys' grammar school (with a mixed sixth form) operating under the same 11+ admissions and funding framework. Direct peer for selective secondary education in the county.
• Aylesbury Grammar School: State-funded grammar school in Aylesbury serving boys 11-18 within the same Buckinghamshire grammar-school system, offering the same GCSE and A Level pathway. Direct peer under the same local-authority funding framework.
• Wycombe Grammar School: Buckinghamshire grammar school operating under the same county 11+ framework with a similar 11-18 co-educational academic structure and Sixth Form offer. Closest direct head-to-head competitor for high-attaining pupils in the south of the county.
• Dr Challoner's Grammar School: A nearby Buckinghamshire boys' grammar school (with a mixed sixth form) that shares the same 11+ admissions system, similar state-funded model, and comparable academic and co-curricular profile. The most directly comparable grammar school in the county.

Broad incumbents

• Eton College: World-leading independent boarding school located near Windsor in the same broader South-East region. Comparable in academic reputation and heritage but operates a fee-paying model with national and international intake rather than the local state-funded model.

Others

• Marlow Education Trust: The multi-academy trust of which the school is part, grouping together local schools in the Marlow area. Relevant as the governance and funding structure that wraps around the school rather than a competitive peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/borlase

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sir William Borlase's Grammar School