Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after / previously looked after children (with qualifying score) — A 'looked after child' or a child who was previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became the subject of an adoption, residence, child arrangements or special guardianship order, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, who has achieved a score of at least 110 in the Admissions Test.
2. 2Pupil Premium, in catchment, score 110-120 (up to 20 places) — Up to a maximum of 20 places for children eligible for pupil premium, living in catchment, who have achieved a score of between 110 and 120 in the Admissions Test. In the event of more than 20 pupils qualifying under this rule the distance tie-breaker will apply i.e. places will be offered to the twenty children living closest to the school (see 7.8). For the purposes of this policy, the entitlement to Pupil Premium would need to be shown to be current on 31 October in the year before entry to Year 7 is sought. All families applying for a place under this rule should also, by 31 October, send confirmation from the current school that the child is eligible for pupil premium to enquiries@swbgs.com FAO Headteacher (Admissions).
3. 3Pupil Premium, in catchment, score 121+ — Children eligible for pupil premium living within the catchment, with a score of 121 or more in the Standardised Transfer Test, or who have qualified through Selection Review or the appeals process. (For the purposes of this policy, the entitlement to Pupil Premium would need to be shown to be current on 31 October in the year before entry to Year 7 is sought). All families applying for a place under this rule should also, by 31 October send confirmation from the current school that the child is eligible for pupil premium addressed to enquiries@swbgs.com FAO Headteacher (Admissions).
4. 4Priority Admissions Area (up to 15 places, random lottery) — Up to a maximum of 15 places for children who live in the school's Priority Admissions area on 1 September 2026. In relation to this category only, all 15 places will be allocated by random lottery in front of an independent witness in order to ensure that all children living within the Priority Admission Area have an equal chance of achieving a place. Random Allocation Procedure.
5. 5Children of staff — Eligible children of staff in either or both of the following circumstances: Where the member of staff has been employed at the School for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the School is made, and/or The member of staff has been employed to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
6. 6Children living in catchment — Children living in the catchment, which includes the priority area as well as children in other parts of the catchment areas of the school, must have been living in their home continuously since 1 September 2026.
7. 7Siblings — Siblings of children in Years 7 to 12 who are on the roll of the school at the time allocations are made (This is the date upon which Buckinghamshire Council notifies parents of their place in the first weeks of March 2026) and who are expected to be on the roll of the school at the time of the proposed admission.
8. 8Exceptional medical or social needs — Children who have exceptional medical or social needs which can only be met at this school supported by evidence as set out by Buckinghamshire Council.
9. 9Distance order for remaining places — Once the rules have been applied, any further places will be offered in distance order. See paragraph 7.8.
10. 10General priority rule for partial fulfilment — Where the school can take some, but not all, of the children who qualify under one of these rules, we will give priority by taking account of the next rule (or rules) in the numbered list.

If two applications tie: Where two applicants live exactly the same distance from the school, the order in which place will be allocated will be determined by random selection supervised by a person independent of the school.

PAN figures given: Year 7: 150, Year 9: 6, Year 12: minimum 80 additional external places. Rule 2 (Pupil Premium, up to 20 places) has its own internal distance tie-breaker; Rule 4 (Priority Admissions Area, up to 15 places) is allocated by random lottery rather than the standard order. Separate oversubscription criteria lists also apply for Late Transfer admissions (section 3.5) and Sixth Form external admissions (section 4.2), not included here as this record reflects the main Year 7 entry criteria (2.5).

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.