About Wiltshire Grammar Schools
Wiltshire hosts 3 selective state schools — Bishop Wordsworth's School (boys, Salisbury), South Wilts Grammar (girls, Salisbury), Wiltshire College schools, and partially-selective schools. The two Salisbury grammars are the most prominent. Both schools have served Wiltshire families since 1890 and consistently appear in the Sunday Times Parent Power 200.
History & Tradition
Bishop Wordsworth's School (Salisbury) was founded in 1890 — named after a Bishop of Salisbury. South Wilts Grammar (girls, Salisbury) was founded in 1927. Both schools have evolved from Victorian-era foundations into modern selective state secondaries.
The Entry Test
Each school sets its own entrance test in September. Bishop Wordsworth's tests on Saturday 26 September; South Wilts Grammar tests on the same Saturday after a familiarisation session on 19 September.
Wiltshire 11+ at a Glance
7 Things You Should Know About Wiltshire Grammar Schools
Researched facts about the region's selective schools — drawn from official sources, school websites and education research.
- 1Bishop Wordsworth's School and South Wilts Grammar are physically located near each other in Salisbury — making them natural sibling-pair grammars for families with boys and girls.
- 2Both Salisbury grammars admit pupils from across Wiltshire and parts of Hampshire — distance criteria become decisive when oversubscribed.
- 3South Wilts Grammar holds a familiarisation session a week before the actual test — giving candidates a chance to settle into the test environment.
- 4Wiltshire has no fully-selective LA — these grammars are 'island' selectives in an otherwise comprehensive county.
- 5Both schools have small intakes (~120 girls/boys per year at South Wilts and Bishop Wordsworth's respectively) — making them genuinely small communities by grammar standards.
- 6Bishop Wordsworth's School has a strong cathedral choral tradition — many pupils sing in Salisbury Cathedral choir alongside school commitments.
- 7Wiltshire College schools and Trowbridge selectives complete the 4-school selective offer in Wiltshire.
| Rank | School Name | Gender | PAN | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #45 | South Wilts Grammar School for Girls#45 | Girls | 150 | GL Assessment | 79% | 74% |
| #68 | Bishop Wordsworth's School (BWS)#68 | Boys | 170 | GL Assessment | 65.3% | 80.4% |
| Warminster School | Girls | — | GL Assessment | 34.3% | 53% |
Wiltshire Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top-ranked grammar schools in Wiltshire?
In the 2026 Sunday Times Parent Power tables, the highest-ranked Wiltshire grammar schools include South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Bishop Wordsworth's School (BWS). Full rankings plus GCSE and A-Level results for every school are in the table above.
What 11+ exam do Wiltshire grammar schools use?
Most Wiltshire grammar schools admit pupils through the GL Assessment 11+. Check each school's row above, as some set their own entrance test or use a different exam board.
What makes Wiltshire grammar schools distinctive?
Bishop Wordsworth's School and South Wilts Grammar are physically located near each other in Salisbury — making them natural sibling-pair grammars for families with boys and girls.
What else should families know about the Wiltshire 11+?
Both Salisbury grammars admit pupils from across Wiltshire and parts of Hampshire — distance criteria become decisive when oversubscribed.
Nearby Regions
Many families consider grammars in neighbouring regions to maximise options. Explore: