Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Infobox UK school
name = Sir William Borlase's Grammar School


latitude = 51.57021
longitude = -0.78163
dms = dms
motto = "Te Digna Sequere" (Latin: Follow things worthy of thyself)
established = 1624
type = Grammar
head = Dr Peter Holding
founder = Sir William Borlase
specialist = Arts College
street = West Street
city = Marlow
county = Buckinghamshire
country = England flagicon|England
postcode = SL7 2BR
LEA = Buckinghamshire
ofsted = 110515
enrollment = 1000
gender = Coeducational
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses = color box|Blue Britons
color box|Yellow Danes
color box|Green Normans
color box|Purple Romans
color box|Red Saxons
color box|Orange Vikings
website = http://www.swbgs.com/
website_name = www.swbgs.com

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School (commonly shortened to Borlase or SWBGS) is a selective state grammar school accepting girls and boys aged 11-18 located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England.cite web|title=About the School|work=Sir William Borlase's Grammar School|url=http://www.swbgs.com/|accessdate=2006-04-19] It is situated on West Street,cite web|title=Marlow Town Highlights|work=Marlow Society|url=http://www.marlowsociety.org.uk/towntour.htm|accessdate=2006-04-19] close to the town centre and also accepts students from nearby towns. It has around 1000 pupils, including a sixth form of about 350.

History

The School was founded on its present site in 1624 by Sir William Borlase in memory of his son Henry, MP for Marlow, who died in that year. [cite book |title=Theirs Were But Human Hearts |last=Wheals |first=Brian Brenchley |year=1984 |publisher=Self published |isbn=0950905305, 9780950905303 ]

The school has served the town of Marlow and its surrounding district, including High Wycombe and Maidenhead, for over three centuries. In 1987 the school became co-educational when girls entered into the lower sixth.

In September 2005 the school was awarded specialist school status as a Performing Arts College, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES)cite web|title=Specialist Schools Home|work=DfES|url=http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/specialistschools/|accessdate=2006-04-20] Recently there has been talk of application for humanities status as well. In September 2007, the school moved to a two week timetable, with five one hour periods a day, in line with most other schools. This is to facilitate individualised learning.

Headteachers

*1881 – 1895 Rev M. Graves
*1896 – 1901 E. W. Clarke
*1901 – 1904 E. H. Blakeney
*1904 – 1927 Rev A. J. Skinner
*1927 – 1956 W. S. Booth
*1956 – 1974 E. M. Hazleton
*1974 – 1988 R. R. Smith
*1988 – 1988 D. C. W. Banner
*1989 – 1997 L. A. Smy
*1997 – 1998 Mrs A. Crittenden
*1998 – Date Dr. P. Holding

Physical Layout

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, which was gradually added to over a period of about 40 years. These classrooms were until recently used to teach mathematics.

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. Then in 1992 new modern languages facilities were added, and the library moved from the cloisters to the new building that faces onto West Street.

In 2000 new classrooms were added after Borlase started admitting Year 7s. This building is named after the chief benefactor, and is hence called the "Audrey Moore Building". It also replaced a rather dilapidated canteen, and sports pavilion that had been there previously.

Finally, in 2004, linked to Borlase's bid for Arts Award status, a new performing arts theatre (to house facilities for music, drama and dance) was built. This new building also houses purpose built IT labs and metal and woodwork facilities. It was opened on 7th December 2004 by HRH 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 "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".

The school has a modern gym that houses resistance machines, free weights and cardiovascular equipment. This is used primarily for rowing, a sport that is popular at the school.

Coat of arms

The school coat of arms is emblazoned on all school literature and on the school uniform. Originally, the Taillefers of Angouleme 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. An alternative translation, offered by one Borlase Latin master, was "Go chase yourself, worthy woman". Whether this is a possible translation or not is yet to be determined.

Notable alumni

* Keith Bosley – prizewinning poet and translator
* Paul Daneman – actor
* Lieutenant B. A. Horsfall – recipient of the Victoria Cross [cite web |url=http://www.wycombe.gov.uk/news.asp?step=4&contentID=801 |title=Dowager Duchess of Devonshire visits childhood home |accessdate=2008-08-06 |publisher=Wycombe District Council |date=2008-05-28 ]
* Ken Snakehips Johnson – bandleader, [cite web|title=Ken Snakehips Johnson Story|work=Ken Snakehips Johnson|url=http://www.swingtime.co.uk/Reviews/kenjohns/kenstory.html|accessdate=2006-04-19] jazz artist [cite web|title=Marlow's History|work=Marlow|url=http://www.marlowtown.co.uk/marlhist.html|accessdate=2006-04-19]
* Danny Quah – famous economist
* Alf Milward – Everton and England footballer
* Tom Guest – England/Harlequins rugby union player

References

External links

* [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=110515 School Ofsted report]
* [http://www.SWBGS.com Borlase Web site]
* [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/dfe1x1_05.pl?School=8254505&Mode=Z DfES Performance Tables]