Grammar schools in Wiltshire

2 grammar schools · qualifying scores, test dates and admission criteria

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School Salisbury · Outstanding South Wilts Grammar School Salisbury · Good

Wiltshire entrance test format

The two Wiltshire (Salisbury) grammar schools test separately, both with GL Assessment papers but different structures: 1. Bishop Wordsworth's School (boys) — two papers of about 50 minutes: Verbal Skills (English + verbal reasoning) and Mathematics + Non-Verbal/Spatial Reasoning. Multiple-choice, held at the school in the second half of September. 2. South Wilts Grammar School (girls) — three papers in one sitting with breaks: Mathematics (50 minutes, Year 5 curriculum plus early Year 6), English (45 minutes — linguistic skills, comprehension, spelling, punctuation) and Verbal Reasoning (50 minutes). No non-verbal reasoning. Separate registrations with each school; results arrive in October. A child applying to a Salisbury school and e.g. a Hampshire/Dorset school will face different formats — prepare per school.

Key dates

Entry yearEventDate
Sept 2027 Test date 2026-09-26
Sept 2027 Application deadline 2026-10-31
Sept 2027 Offer day 2027-03-01

Out-of-area applications

Wiltshire's two grammar schools are both in Salisbury and register SEPARATELY: Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School (boys) and South Wilts Grammar School (girls). Each runs its own entrance test — register direct with each school (Bishop Wordsworth's registration historically runs late March to 1 September; check South Wilts' own window), with tests in the second half of September of Year 6. Children living outside Wiltshire can register — the schools draw from south Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset. Apply via your home LA's Common Application Form by 31 October. Check each school's oversubscription criteria: both use catchment/priority-area elements, and Bishop Wordsworth's is a Church of England school (check any faith-related criteria in its current policy).

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