Sir William Borlase Grammar School vs Reading School

I have 2 children there - it is an excellent school. The negative comments on this thread do not reflect the school I know.

This is a zombie thread started by people clearly with issues and an axe to grind - would probably be better to start a new thread rather then resurrect this

Hi, I am planning to apply for SWBGS grammar school for my son. I have seen som very old reviews about the school about the discipline. Is it still the same? Are there any SWBGS mum's here?

Reading Boys is a different league. To 10 school by GCSE and a level results. If it's accessible go for it.

Wow, MarlowGirl, MarlowLife and Borlasian are blatantly the senior staff. Never read such a fake review in my life...even worse than when my company's HR department tried to write their Glassdoor reviews. Good one, LOL!

I went to Borlase and would not recommend in a million years. I joined in Year 10 and had pretty much the worst 4 years of my life due to the unbelievably unfriendly and snooty atmosphere here (improved slightly in 6th form). There was definitely a lot of drug use, students turning up hungover, and after house parties in YEAR 10 I would hear what had happened the night before - 69ers, "spitroasts", girls losing virginity and entire school knowing about it. Horrendously short skirts, girls are incredibly bitchy, boys are disrespectful. The percentage of the year who were nice people was about 20%. Contrasting this to university (Bath) where everyone was nice and where I had the best 4 years of my life.

Actually, the only saving grace of this school is the academic side, it's very good. No problems with discipline (I went to Slough Grammar before this and 60% of each lesson was spent trying to get people to be quiet). I chose Borlase specifically for the academics - though really I'd have rather gone to a comp where I would have been a bit happier. Never felt like I had to do any music/drama/dance/sport (I didn't). In my Year (2011), 15 got into Oxbridge. You're allowed to do as many A-levels as you want (I did 5). I never got the impression it wasn't cool to study, but basically if you don't wear Jack Wills, smoke and perform sex acts at house parties, you won't be cool full stop.

Would not recommend. It's full of entitled awful posh kids who got tutored to pass the 11+, and the atmosphere stinks because of it.

I came across this recently on a search for alumni and was disappointed in the perception of SWBGS to some people.
I attended Borlase and am currently in my final year of University studying Product design and engineering.
My education at Borlase was excellent and I am on my way to getting a first class degree.
I studied maths, physics and deisgn technology and have been mentoring children in other schools in STEM subjects.Through this I have witnessed many other schools and I can honestly say Borlase is one of the best.

We thank Punkatheart for complimenting our apparently very mature writing style, but as we are definitely 6th form students in our last year of school, this is simply a result of our excellent teaching, as described in our previous post.
As Borlasian said - it is worth taking our views into account.

I am a Borlase Student in my final year, and would like to let you know what Borlase is really like.
Borlase is a lively community, where something is always on. Students never fail to work as hard as possible, and they can often be heard discussing lessons in corridors and the cafes at break and lunch. Discipline has never been an issue. Bullying is hardly ever heard of.
My sister attends Challoners girls school. The difference? She is pushed to be academic all the time. They don't care about their students well-being, mental health or outside activities. They care about passing exams.
Yes, Borlase do not come top of the league tables year on year. But every single student manages to participate in extra-curicular activities (there really is something for everyone)and at the end of their school careers they have become well-rounded indiviluals.
I know that Borlase's badge as a 'Performing Arts Specialist School' doesnt match up to schools with Science statuses and so on, in some people's eyes. But I can honestly say it's the best place I have ever been. I hope you take in to account MarlowGirl and MarlowLife's opinions and go along to open days, because our experiences account for a lot.

I attend Borlase and I will shortly be going into year 11. I just thought I would say something from a pupils point of view. I love the school and it has given me so much, not just academicly but in confidence. The school is very pupil friendly and very safe. It almost trys to hard with all its extra activities but i'd rather that then them not do anything for us. Borlase adopt a independant learning scheme which means that basically they will teach us and we have to learn. ie doing homework and keeping up to date. They push us hard because they know our full potential. The length of our skirts isn't really that important to our education but may I add every teacher makes us sort out our uniform before we enter class so they are not lenient about uniform.

I have a friend who went to WB and has just gone to one of the top universities in the country. She also acts and is a confident, happy girl. As for skirts...have you seen The Abbey recently? Sadly, it is a fashion trend and unless you look at St Joseph's, where the poor girls' skirts trail on the floor.

I am afraid that I suspect the posting above (Marlowgirl) is written by an adult - probably a senior member of staff rather dismayed by all this negativity. But it doesn't need to be defended, in my opinion...I know girls who have been there recently and I have been impressed by how they come out...

I would like to say that learning support has been fabulous at swbgs thus far.However,as my child goes into 6th form I am concerned this may not continue having heard a few comments. Any thoughts???

My daughter has just completed her first year at SWBGS and I can truly say it has been excellent in all respects. The standard of teaching and opportunities for extra curricular activities have helped her to blossom from a fairly quiet reserved primary school pupil into a confident and articulate 12 year old who is being encouraged to think independently and develop her personality. All the teachers I have met have been involved and committed to their roles.
I know many alumni of the school, boys and girls, now at University who have worked for me and they have all enjoyed their time there.

It's hard to form a balanced view of secondary education when your children are still in primary school and we all know how ferociously 'urban myths' develop through ill informed word of mouth. Borlase is a community school for pupils of Marlow and the surrounding area and in this respect, it performs its role amazingly well.

If your children do pass the 11+ ( and they may not!), don't hesitate to send your child there!

We are both Borlase pupils in our last year at the school, and we feel obliged to offer a true Borlasian perspective of the school and its community. We stumbled across this site whilst trying to find our internal school server and were utterly taken aback by some of the negative comments being offered. We can both put our hands on our hearts and say that Borlase has been the best thing to ever happen to both of us.
Academically - we feel we do not need to boast the schools academic record as it speaks for itself, but comments made previously about this being a result solely depending on natural ability are simply not true, as the teaching quality on offer is excellent and we feel that the school has prepared us in every way possible for the next stages of our lives. Support is offered to students who may struggle and all students are given the opportunity to thrive and are encouraged to reach their full potential.
The fact that it is a performing arts school means that pupils can be creative, have fun and participate in loads of extra curricular activities, however this is not to the detriment of other more academic subjects.
Borlase is very much a community where unfortunate things such as bullying are simply unheard of.
In response to the suggestion that work is considered 'uncool' at Borlase, we would like to point out that the vast majority of Borlase students turn out fantastic scores in both GCSEs and A levels before carrying on with higher education at some of the top ranked Universities in the country. To support this, we both have vibrant social lives, and many extracurricular interests, but both managed to produce all As and A*s in our GCSE's. These were not exceptional grades, it was the norm across our year group.
To finish off, we both wake up every morning looking forward to our day knowing that we will be spending it in a safe, sociable environment where we know we are receiving first class education. Also please do not let publicity about skirt length or drug use deter you from choosing Borlase, as these are issues that we can guarantee will be present in every school across the UK. Unfortunately Borlase received more publicity about these matters simply due to the contrast with its outstanding reputation as a Grammar School.

Terry t - be aware that there is a very full rugby programme at SWB with yearly tours and pre-season training. As the school is co-ed you will find there is more specialised trainig than some of the all boys schools by the dedicated rugby staff (and Director of Sport, county rugby coach). Maybe speak to someone who is an actual rugby player at Borlase? It may not have been mentioned by the HM at his speech but it means a lot to many of the boys.

Just a quickie to give a realistic account of one aspect which is certainly not lacking - the sport. Rowing is massive here (and RGS and JHGS don't even compare) beating most other public schools on a regular basis and having a string cadre of GB athletes in the pupils ranks, and hockey is very strong (particularly the girls - county champions throughout all ages 2010) wiht the boys U14 squad being the top squad. Other grammar schools can't compare here, despite what you may be told. Rugby is strong (although not as strong as RGS) but the football teams beat JHGS too. So Sport is modestly strong.

Results are great academically and lathough there may be issues with girls skirts, please, please put this into context!!

Don't know either of the schools, I just wanted to say there's nothing wrong with having your children at different schools. I went to a girls' school and my brother to a boys' school, and our own daughters may end up at different schools.

Kids are individuals and I am in favour of them going to the school that suits them best, rather than the one that suits their siblings.

LALady - thanks for your comments re the sports at SWBG - my son also passionate about rugby - keen to find a school with good sports.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2484933/Schoolgirls-urged-to-lower-skirt-hems-to-avoid-unwant ed-attention.html

There you go, even the Telegraph got in on the act

Jacqui - unfortunately first impressions do count re uniform. (And again, I believe this featured in the local press a while back too). Certainly not a reason to judge a school, I agree. Judgment follows actually visiting the school itself, meeting pupils and seeing it in action........

Just observing that from the recent round of schools open evenings etc, it wasn't the number one choice for a number of people who thought it would be comparing to the other grammar schools they looked at.

Terryt - my DS is very into team sports (rugby his big passion) but the open evening didn't sell the sports in the same way as the other all boys' did. There was a huge focus on performing arts.

I was also hoping to look at SWBG for my son. He is mildly dyslexic but does very well at school and also at his verbal reasoning (without support at present school). I was under the impression there was good support via learning mentors, etc. at SWBG but I am a little concerned by frakkinaround's comment - not a school for any child with any learning difficulty. Could anyone let me know if this is the case with SWBG.

Also is SWBG good for rugby, tennis and football teams/activities for boys.

I find this thread utterly bemusing. Borlase has always been one of the most desirable schools in Bucks, one which sees parents move heaven and earth to get into. And among the reasons it is so is because it produces independently minded, spirited, bright young adults. Does anyone seriously believe a school that gets these kinds of results lacks discipline? Do folk really believe drugs are the preserve of inner city upper schools? Isn't how the school handle the issue the point?

But the bit about judging the school by the length ( or lack of) the girls skirts just made me hoot out load. Believe it or not folks, this is the 21st century, we longer demand girls cover up in serge, ankle length skirts as a sign of their...their what???

I agree with frakkinaround. The school's reputation has gone downhill and when you attend other school's open days (John Hampden, Royal Grammar School) it's a complete contrast.

I think in some departments the discipline is worse than others. My mother teaches a compulsory subject and sometimes the pupils just don't want to be there which probably makes the fight 10 times harder. She adores RGS because apparently they're all so lovely and polite and the boys hold doors open for her .

I still think, although this is only hearsay, that it's a problem throughout the school which is a shame because when I was a teen it was lovely and I only didn't move there because I was midway through GCSE at my current school and on a scholarship. Just seems the reputation's gone downhill and the pupil attitude has a lot to do with that.