Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Parents and Carers

Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is committed to working closely with parents and carers to ensure that students are safe, happy and able to do their best at school.  We value the exceptionally high levels of parent support that we receive at Borlase.  Parents are most welcome to contact The Friends of Borlase if they would like to get involved in some of the great work they do in supporting the school and organising events. We are indebted to our parents who volunteer in key roles at the school and who come and speak to our students as part of our Careers and Lecture Series. We receive invaluable support from parents who donate what they can to the Here and Now Fund
 
Important information for Parents 
All queries and communications from parents are monitored and prioritised: please use the email parents@swbgs.com
If the matter is pressing, do phone the school on 01628 816500.
 
Reporting a Medical absence

Years 7-11 please email absence@swbgs.com before 8.00 a.m.  or call 01628 816545

Years 12 and 13 please email sixthformabsence@swbgs.com before 8.00 a.m. or call 01628 816545

The box office can be found on the homepage of the website, next to the calendar of upcoming events.  ParentPay can be accessed here, but is also to be found in the main blue menu that can be opened from any page on this website by clicking the three lined menu icon in the top right-hand corner.

The School Day

The school gates are open in the morning to allow students to access pre-school clubs and training.

All students need to be on the school site by 8.40am, when the gates shut and registration begins.  Latecomers should sign in using their student card in reception.

Time
0840 Registration starts.  Tutor time and assemblies
0910 Period 1
1010 Period 2
1110 Break
1140 Period 3
1240 Period 4
1340 Lunch
1430 Period 5
1530 School end

 After school there are scheduled sports training sessions, performing arts practises and other student activities.  The library is staffed until 4.30pm to allow students to wait safely to be collected or to catch public transport home.

The total compulsory in-school hours amount to 34 hours and 10 minutes.

Parents Evenings

Parents are able to book appointments for parents evening online. Parents will be notified when it is time to book appointments via Recent Mailings.

To book please visit https://swbgs.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/ to book your appointments.

Please login with the following information:

  • First contact’s title
  • First contact’s name
  • First contact’s surname
  • First contact’s email address
  • Student’s first name
  • Student’s surname
  • Student’s date of birth

Please note that the first contact is the first person named on your data collection sheet. Please contact the school office if you would like to change any of the details.

If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact the school office who will be happy to add appointments on your behalf.

School Uniform - Years 7-11

Our School Uniform Provider is Hawkinsport.

www.hawkinsport.co.uk/schools/sir-william-borlase-grammar-school/day-wear

Hawkinsport & Son, 10A, Wessex Road Industrial Estate, Wessex Rd, Bourne End SL8 5DT.

We work with Hawkinsport to ensure our uniform represents the best value for money, and we continue to review this.  We continue to review this, paying particular attention to issues of sustainability and reusability.  The school-specific items that can only be purchased from Hawkinsport are indicated by an asterisk (*) The Friends of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, in conjunction with senior students working towards their Gold DofE Award, also run a second-hand uniform shop that holds a comprehensive range of stock and affordable prices.

Appearance

The school does not permit the following:

  • All types of headgear except headwear worn for religious or medical reasons, cycle helmet or a plain black “beanie” for wear to and from school in inclement weather
  • Denim or leather type clothing
  • Sweatshirts, hooded or zipped tops
  • Scarf – other than the Borlase school or plain black scarf
  • Make-up
  • All types of jewellery (with the exception of simple unadorned earstuds, one per lobe) including rings, nose-studs, friendship bracelets, ankle bands, etc. A single charity band is permitted
  • Coloured T-shirts worn underneath white shirts
  • Belts wider than 3cm and decorative buckles
  • No extreme haircuts
  • Hairbands should be plain red, black or white
Blazer* Black with school badge on breast pocket
Skirt*/Trousers Skirt: Knee length, school skirt with school badge on the front or trousers to be tailored, mid-grey, full length and not tight-fitting.
Shirt White
Tie* Red with house colours (you will be told which House you have been assigned to on transition day)
Shoes Black leather - low heeled, no open toes, no trainers
Socks or tights Dark-coloured socks with trousers and black opaque tights 30+ denier with skirts.  Socks only in the summer term with skirt.
Pullover Plain black V-necked with school logo, or plain black v-necked pullover
Belt Optional: dark grey or black
Outdoor Wear Plain coat or anorak (no logos or external labels)
School Scarf Optional : available from Hawkinsport, or plain black scarf
Bookbag Optional Borlase bookbag for use in the school day

 

Sixth Form uniform

Sixth Form Dress Code

The School Uniform and Sixth Form Dress Code is a key part of the Borlase identity. Our Sixth Form Dress Code reflects the leadership role our senior students play in the school while also proudly identifying them as part of the Borlase cohesive community. Therefore, there is some freedom of choice within a clear set of corporate guidelines. Our Sixth Form has responsibility for leading the way in setting high standards for the school in all aspects of school life; sixth form dress is an important part of this responsibility.

The school does not permit the following:

  • Denim or leather type clothing

  • Sweatshirts, hooded or zipped tops

  • Scarf – other than the Borlase school or plain black scarf

  • Coloured T-shirts worn underneath white shirts

  • Belts wider than 3cm and decorative buckles

  • No extreme haircuts and hair must be of a natural colour

  • Hairbands should be plain red, black or white

  • Make-up should be discreet

  • No trainers or platform shoes

  • No nose rings or nose studs

Permitted Uniform

Trouser/skirt/dress-suit

A black/dark grey/navy suit consisting of tailored jacket and full-length tailored trousers or tailored jacket and tailored skirt/shift dress.  Three-piece suits are permitted with a matching waistcoat with trousers or skirts (tailored suits are matching pieces, not separate items of different fabrics). Skirt/dresses must be no more than 2 inches above the knee. 

Shirt A white shirt or blouse with collar and sleeves.
Tie

Sixth form ties in House colours are purchased from Hawkinsport online. They are worn by boys; however, all sixth formers are welcome to wear them. 

https://www.hawkinsport.co.uk/product/sir-william-borlase-6th-form-ties

Shoes Black, smart shoes.  No trainers, boots, canvas or platform shoes.
Tights and socks Dark socks with trousers; black, opaque tights 30 denier + with skirts (recommended through Autumn and Winter Terms). 
Jumpers/cardigans A fine-knit black/navy/dark grey or cardinal red v-necked jumper or cardigan can be worn under a jacket, but not instead of a jacket.  Round neck jumpers, sweatshirts, hoodies or heavy-knit are not permitted.
Outdoor coats A plain, dark coat may be worn over the jacket.
Make-up This should be discreet.
Jewellery

A single pair of ear-rings, studs or droppers of up to 2 inches - to be removed for sport/dance or other situations where requested. No nose rings or nose studs.

Shaving

Students must be clean-shaven at all times unless exempt on religious or medical grounds. 

Sports Kit

Specific Sixth form PE kit is available at Hawkinsport.  It is possible to order a PE kit top that has Borlase Sport on the back of the item, or choose to have a specific sport e.g. Borlase Rowing/Hockey/Netball/Rugby/Football

https://www.hawkinsport.co.uk/product/sir-william-borlase-6th-form-t-shirt

https://www.hawkinsport.co.uk/product/sir-william-borlase-6th-form-mid-layer

Please wear SWBGS black leggings or branded leggings - provided they are BLACK and appropriate fit (e.g. no fitness style leggings, missing panels showing skin or large branding). Students can wear kit that are from previous years, e.g. Borlase Hockey / Rugby tops.

Headwear Religious headwear, or head wear worn for medical reasons

 

Sport and PE Kit 

General Guidance

Watches and wallets must be handed to the teacher at the start of the PE lesson and should be clearly named.

The school takes NO responsibility for items of value, which are left in the changing room or cloakrooms at any time.

Mobile phones and MP3 players will not be accepted by PE staff. They should be put in lockers or named mobile phones can be left at Reception.

For girls Netball, Rounders and Hockey a skort must always be worn. For other games activities, SWBGS leggings may be worn without a skort.  Any other black leggings are only acceptable under a skort.

Shoes and hockey/soccer boots must be marked with indelible ink of a suitable colour.

All upper body kit MUST be labelled with 1” size name tags available from Hawkinsport.

Lower garments to have students initials printed on them (service also available at Hawkinsport).

For obtaining items of school sportswear and gameswear the local supplier is: Hawkinsport & Son, 10A, Wessex Road Industrial Estate, Wessex Rd, Bourne End SL8 5DT. Tel: 01628-819242.

Indoor PE Kit White Borlase House T-Shirt*
Black Shorts
White Socks
Clean trainers
Outdoor Games Kit Borlase reversible rugby shirt*.  White Borlase t-shirt for the summer term or Borlase polo shirt*.
Black Shorts (Cotton for rugby) or skort
Borlase Football/Hockey socks*.  White socks for the summer term
Plain black or Borlase tracksuit bottoms for Autumn and Spring term only
Black Borlase sweatshirt or fleece*
Outdoor trainers and rugby/football boots (studs or moulded)
Shin pads and gum shield
Optional Items Holdall - Black with school logo and initials to fit in school locker
Black Borlase fleece and waterproof jacket
 

Plain black or SWBGS leggings only to be worn under a skort/shorts

We work with Hawkinsport to ensure our uniform represents the best value for money, and we continue to review this.  We continue to review this, paying particular attention to issues of sustainability and reusability.  The school-specific items that can only be purchased from Hawkinsport are indicated by an asterisk (*) The Friends of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, in conjunction with senior students working towards their Gold DofE Award, also run a second-hand uniform shop that holds a comprehensive range of stock and affordable prices.

Supporting your child's mental health and wellbeing

We are committed to ensuring that we do all we can as a school to support our students' mental health and wellbeing.  A significant part of this is providing parents and carers with the information and guidance they need to support their children.

If you are concerned about the mental health or wellbeing of any Borlase student, please contact the school, in confidence, via parent@, the Key Stage teams or the DSL.

There are key organisations with whom we work closely as a school and who can provide advice and support to families: Buckinghamshire Mind, the Mental Health Foundation and the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.

For students who wish to access support beyond that offered at school through our counsellors and 'Helping Hand' programme, we recommend Kooth and Shout.