Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

As well as its performing arts status, the school holds a number of awards and marks including the Sportsmark Award, the NACE Challenge Award, the Healthy Schools mark, the Continuing Professional Development Mark and is designated as a National Support School.

The most recent full Ofsted inspection (as of Autumn 2014) occurred in June 2012. The report noted that the school has "an inspirational learning culture which is embraced by staff and students".[6] Borlase was judged to be an 'Outstanding' school.

• 1624 – Smith[lower-alpha 1]
• 1624–1721 – records destroyed
• 1721–1735 – Roe[lower-alpha 1]
• 1735–1759 – Thomas Heather I
• 1759–1782 – William Heather
• 1782–1793 – Thomas Heather II
• 1793–1809 – H. H. Gower
• 1809–1814 – Stephen Gage
• 1814–1835 – William Francis
• 1835–1844 – George Gale
• 1844–1850 – Charles Wethered
• 1850–1880 – Edwin Segrave
• 1881–1895 – M. Graves
• 1896–1901 – E. W. Clarke
• 1901–1904 – E. H. Blakeney
• 1904–1927 – A. J. Skinner
• 1927–1956 – W. S. Booth
• 1956–1974 – E. M. Hazelton
• 1974–1988 – R. R. Smith
• 1988–1988 – D. C. W. Banner
• 1989–1997 – L. A. Smy
• 1997–1998 – Adrienne Crittenden
• 1998–2017 – Peter Holding
• 2018–present – Kay Mountfield

The school has a collection of facilities of varying vintages. The school office and reprographics room is housed in the original flint building, which was unveiled in 1624. Since then the school has added a Victorian cloister, and an Edwardian era Chapel.

In the 1970s further expansion occurred. A new school hall and several classrooms were built.

In the late 1980s a new sports gym was added, followed in 1992 by new modern languages facilities and library in a new building facing onto West Street.

In 2000, after the school started admitting Year 7s, the "Audrey Moore Building" (named after its chief benefactor) was built to house new classrooms, a sixth-form common room and a new canteen, replacing the old sports pavilion and canteen.

In 2004, as part of the school's bid for Arts Award status, a new performing arts theatre was built on the site of the old swimming pool. The building also houses purpose-built IT labs and metal and woodwork facilities. It was opened on 7 December 2004 by the Duke of Gloucester. As a result of this building work, other space within the school was adjusted with a rolling programme, and a new style eatery called "Mimi's Café" was added, along with a new Sixth Form Centre. At the beginning of the 2006 Autumn term, the headmaster announced that the Library was to be renamed the "Learning Centre".

At the end of the 2010 summer holidays the school started building a new cookery building on the area where the decking once stood, this was completed in 2011 with the addition of an English room above the kitchens.

In September 2016, a new building was opened on the site of the old locker room. This new building houses 3 Sixth Form work rooms, Sixth Form mentoring offices and a new maths classroom

The school coat of arms is emblazoned on all school literature and on the school uniform. Originally, the Taillefers of Angoulême had a crest of a ghostly hand emerging from a cloud. It is holding a badelaire to give one power in a struggle, be it sporting or academic. Behind this, on the background, can be seen eight stars.

Then, in the era of Henry VIII, the addition of the other arm gripping a horseshoe (replacing the former sword) showed how one must rise above conflict, and work together to overcome an adversary.

It is also noted that there is a knights' visor above the logo. The one on which it was based can be found to this day, with the rest of the armour, in the Board Room at the school.

The motto Te Digna Sequere means 'follow things worthy of thyself', and it was added in the Victorian era as an additional banner.. The school also has a secondary maxim 'offer the helping hand' that has been developed in the past century.

In addition to the coat of arms the external walls contain this plaque with a biblical quotation.

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School has six houses: Britons, Danes, Normans, Romans, Saxons and Vikings. They are named after the various ancient national groups that held power in Britain. Pupils have coloured stripes on their ties indicating the house that they are in.

Houses form the basis of the vertical tutoring system at Borlase with each house comprising seven tutor groups.

There are various house competitions throughout the academic year ranging from the biannual music and dance competitions to cross-country and sports day and public speaking and mathematics.

The school hosts a number of different academic societies and clubs.[7] These all have vocational links and are usually run by Year 12 or 13 pupils with an advisory teacher attached.

Music, drama and dance are studied by all in Key Stage 3 and can be continued throughout student's GCSE and A-level years.

The Boat Club has had members reaching international events.[9] It is open to all students from Year 9 onwards. Sir William Borlase's Grammar School won the Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2012, 2014 and 2015. In 2014, the J16's pre-qualified for the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley; the Princess Elizabeth is a J18's event.

Borlase Hockey club has over 200 members.[10] The club is based at Marlow Sports Club.

A major sport during the Autumn term, the rugby scheme starts at Year 7.

• Bunny Allen – big-game hunter[11]
• Prof Richard Britnell – Professor of History at the University of Durham from 1997 to 2003[12]
• Tony Culyer CBE – health economist, professor and deputy vice-chancellor at York (UK) and professor at University of Toronto[13]
• Tom Guest – Harlequins rugby union player[14]
• Lieutenant B. A. Horsfall – recipient of the Victoria Cross[15]
• Ken Snakehips Johnson – bandleader,[16] jazz artist [17]
• Philip Lee – Conservative MP for Bracknell 2010–2019[18]
• Hugh Walpole, novelist
• Garry Weston – inventor of Wagon Wheels [19] and chief executive of Associated British Foods from 1969 to 1999, and father of George G. Weston, the current CEO

• List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century)

• Department for Education Performance Tables 2011
• EduBase