School Updated 26 April 2026

Wiltshire / Wiltshire 11+

South Wilts Grammar School

Stratford Road, Salisbury, SP1 3JJ

A selective girls grammar school in Salisbury, Wiltshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,185 pupils on roll.

Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form GL Assessment

At a glance

Key facts

GCSE rank
UK Rank #42
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
GL Assessment
Places in Year 7
160
Competition
1.7 applicants per place
Catchment
Catchment residence is a major priority criterion, with applicants for the 11+ normally resident at the address since 1 May 2026. Out-of-catchment routes remain available.
Ofsted
Good

Overview

A selective girls grammar school in Salisbury, Wiltshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,185 pupils on roll. Based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, the school serves girls aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,185 pupils on roll and 160 Year 7 places.

Admissions are central to understanding whether this school is the right fit and realistic shortlist option. The current route includes GL Assessment, with 160 places available in Year 7 and roughly 1 applicants per place in the latest stored admissions picture. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.

Academically, the published picture is strong and easier to judge than reputation alone. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.79 and Attainment 8 at 75. 98.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 23.3% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 55% moving into higher education.

Published school information highlights facilities such as Library. The wider offer currently includes Duke of Edinburgh. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. That mix of selective entry, published outcomes, and school life is what will matter most to families deciding whether South Wilts Grammar School belongs on a serious shortlist.

Key points

Assessment route
GL Assessment across a 3-stage process, covering Maths, English and VR.
Places and demand
160 places in Year 7 and 1.7 applicants per place
Catchment
Catchment residence is a major priority criterion, with applicants for the 11+ normally resident at the address since 1 May 2026. Out-of-catchment routes remain available.
Results
98.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 77 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 23.3% AAB or better and 55% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Wiltshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for South Wilts Grammar School, Wiltshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
77
Grade 5+ English and maths
98.7%
EBacc APS
7.05
EBacc entry
55.8%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Wiltshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for South Wilts Grammar School, Wiltshire, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Wiltshire and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for South Wilts Grammar School, Wiltshire, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details

School type
Academy converter
Admissions
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Dr Amanda Smith
Pupil roll
1,185 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
South Wilts Grammar School
FSM
2%
EAL
9.2%
EHCP
0.8%

Facilities

Library

Extracurriculars

Duke of Edinburgh

Location and contact

Address

Address
Stratford Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Postcode
SP1 3JJ
Area
Wiltshire
Exam area
Wiltshire 11+

School leadership

Headteacher
Dr Amanda Smith

School contact

School phone
01722323326

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions Officer
Admissions phone
01722323326

Admissions

Year 7 places
160 places (2026 entry)
Applications listed
278 applications (2025 entry)
First preferences
244 first preferences (2025 entry)
Applicants per place
1.7 applicants per place
Catchment picture
Catchment residence is a major priority criterion, with applicants for the 11+ normally resident at the address since 1 May 2026. Out-of-catchment routes remain available.
Residence requirement
Catchment residence is a major priority criterion, with applicants for the 11+ normally resident at the address since 1 May 2026.
Published score threshold
10 (2026 entry)
Pass mark note
Applicants must meet the required academic standard. The pupil premium pass mark is 3% lower than the standard pass mark, with 10 places reserved for qualifying pupil premium applicants.

Entry depends on meeting the SWGS 11+ standard. The policy then gives priority to looked-after children, pupil premium/service premium applicants, catchment applicants, staff children, siblings and then distance.

Catchment residence is a major priority criterion, with applicants for the 11+ normally resident at the address since 1 May 2026. Out-of-catchment routes remain available.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    EHCP naming the school

    Students with an EHCP naming SWGS who have achieved the entry criteria are admitted first.

  2. 2

    Looked after and previously looked after children

    Eligible students meeting the statutory looked-after or previously-looked-after definition.

  3. 3

    Catchment pupil premium and service premium

    Pupil premium applicants living within catchment, plus service premium applicants who meet the required academic standard.

  4. 4

    Catchment applicants

    Applicants who meet the academic standard and live in the school catchment area, with residence rules.

  5. 5

    Out-of-catchment pupil premium

    Pupil premium applicants living outside catchment who meet the required academic standard.

  6. 6

    Children of staff

    Applicants living with a qualifying member of staff employed for at least two years.

Exam and test format

The GL Assessment 11+ entrance test format

age-standardised and combined into a total score used to rank candidates for admission.

Assessment route
GL Assessment
Papers and stages
3 papers
Format
Multiple-choice papers
Age standardisation
Published as age-standardised

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    Maths

    Maths paper

    Multiple-choice maths paper.

  2. Paper 2

    English

    English paper

    Multiple-choice English paper.

  3. Paper 3

    VR

    Verbal Reasoning paper

    Multiple-choice verbal reasoning paper.

What the test includes

English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are included in the published format.

Non-verbal reasoning, Science and Creative writing are not listed in the current published format.

Included

  • English

  • Maths

  • Verbal reasoning

    Multiple-choice verbal reasoning paper.

Not listed

  • Non-verbal reasoning

  • Science

  • Creative writing

Application

Key dates

  1. Registration opens

    2 June 2026

  2. Registration closes

    1 September 2026

  3. 11+ test

    26 September 2026

  4. Reserve 11+ test

    7 October 2026

  5. Extenuating circumstances evidence deadline

    2 October 2026

  6. Scores available

    26 October 2026

  7. Local authority application deadline

    31 October 2026

  8. National Offer Day

    1 March 2027

How to apply

  1. 1

    Read the 2027 admissions policy

    Use the policy for PAN, catchment and oversubscription order.

    Read policy
  2. 2

    Register for the 11+ test

    Online registration is open between 2 June and 1 September 2026 under the policy.

    View policy
  3. 3

    Sit the 11+ test

    The main 11+ test date for 2027 entry is 26 September 2026.

    View test date
  4. 4

    Submit the local authority application

    Submit the home local authority application by 31 October 2026.

    View leaflet

Results

Attainment snapshot

Progress 8
+0.79 Progress 8
Attainment 8
77 Attainment 8
GCSE results
99.4% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths
98.7% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score
7.05 EBacc APS
A-level results
23.3% AAB or better
A-level average points
39.47 points per entry

Where students go next

Higher education progression
55% in higher education
Apprenticeships
0% in apprenticeships
Employment
34% in sustained employment

Latest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.

Subject performance

Maths
99.4% grade 5+ in EBacc maths
English
98.1% grade 5+ in EBacc English
Sciences
97.4% grade 5+ in EBacc sciences
Languages
100% grade 5+ in EBacc languages

Performance trends

Recent trend

Overall GCSE performance

This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.

South Wilts Grammar School Grammar schools England
Overall GCSE performance across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for South Wilts Grammar School, grammar schools, and England. 90 77.5 65 52.5 40 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 77.5 74.2 49.4
2022/23 73.2 71.8 47.0
2023/24 75 72.1 46.7
2024/25 77 72.3 46.8

Recent trend

Average A-level result

This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.

South Wilts Grammar School Grammar schools England
Average A-level result across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for South Wilts Grammar School, grammar schools, and England. 50 pts 45 pts 40 pts 35 pts 30 pts 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 B+ average (42.2 points) 44.0 points 37.5 points
2022/23 B- average (38.2 points) 40.5 points 33.7 points
2023/24 B average (39.2 points) 41.3 points 34.5 points
2024/25 B average (39.5 points) 41.8 points 35.0 points

Recent trend

Where pupils go after Year 11

This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.

South Wilts Grammar School Grammar schools England
Where pupils go after Year 11 across 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 for South Wilts Grammar School, grammar schools, and England. 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Year This school Grammar schools England
2021/22 98% 99.1% 94.1%
2022/23 97% 98.9% 93.9%
2023/24 100% 99.0% 93.3%
2024/25 96% 97.8% 91.4%

Latest year breakdown

In education 94%
In apprenticeships 0%
In employment 1%

Inspection

Good

Latest inspection: 23 October 2019

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good

Similar schools and comparisons

Nearby schools families also consider

Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What assessment types does South Wilts Grammar School use?

South Wilts Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.

How do I apply to South Wilts Grammar School?

1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Use the policy for PAN, catchment and oversubscription order. 2. Register for the 11+ test: Online registration is open between 2 June and 1 September 2026 under the policy. 3. Sit the 11+ test: The main 11+ test date for 2027 entry is 26 September 2026. 4. Submit the local authority application: Submit the home local authority application by 31 October 2026.

When are the key dates for South Wilts Grammar School?

Registration opens: 2 June 2026. Registration closes: 1 September 2026. 11+ test: 26 September 2026. Reserve 11+ test: 7 October 2026. Extenuating circumstances evidence deadline: 2 October 2026. Scores available: 26 October 2026. Local authority application deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027

What does the latest Ofsted picture look like for South Wilts Grammar School?

South Wilts Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 23 October 2019.