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Grammar schools in the Wiltshire 11+ area

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial Team

Some details are being re-checked

We check every fact against the official source on a schedule, and some details on this page are due their next check (last verified 19 October 2026). We'll update the page if anything has changed. How we check facts

In short

Wiltshire's grammar schools are Bishop Wordsworth's School and South Wilts Grammar School. There is no shared county test. Each school is its own admission authority. A child who meets a school's standard is eligible to be considered there, but the place itself depends on that school's oversubscription rules, which use catchment areas, pupil premium and distance in different ways. Families outside the county can apply too. The schools are listed A to Z, with no ranking.

How far offers reached at each school

Listed A to Z. Each school uses its own admission rules, so a longer distance does not mean a place is easier to get.

Listed A to Z by school name.

  1. Bishop Wordsworth's SchoolBoys

    No distance published

    –

    160 places, 2027 entry

  2. South Wilts Grammar SchoolGirls

    Offers reached 13.3 miles

    Furthest distance offered under criterion (f) · 160 places

Source: South Wilts Grammar School, checked Each school's own page names its source. Distances are measured by each school's own method, so compare with care.

Wiltshire's grammar schools are Bishop Wordsworth's School and South Wilts Grammar School. There is no shared county test. Instead, testing works like this: Each school administers its own GL Assessment-set test at its own siteWiltshire: Test administratorChecked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: For security and copyright reasons test papers are administered at SWGS.View the official source. Each school is its own admission authority, and Wiltshire Council coordinates applications and offersWiltshire: Coordinating authorityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: All applications and offers of places for admission into Year 7 in the 2027-2028 academic year at SWGS will be co-ordinated by Wiltshire Council acting in their capacity as a Local (education) Authority (LA).View the official source. A child who meets a school's standard is eligible to be considered there, but the place itself depends on that school's oversubscription rules. Those rules use catchment areas, pupil premium and distance in different ways. Families outside the county can apply too: Non-Wiltshire residents apply on their own county's form; that council informs Wiltshire CouncilWiltshire: Out of county routeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: Candidates from other counties should apply via their own county’s application form. Their County Council will then inform Wiltshire Council of a candidate's preference for SWGS.View the official source. The schools are listed A to Z. We do not rank them, because each serves a different group of children and the right choice depends on your own child.

The schools side by side

SchoolPupilsYear 7 places, September 2027 entryReligious character
Bishop Wordsworth's SchoolboysBishop Wordsworth's School: PupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Wordsworth's School.The source says: Bishop Wordsworth’s School is a selective boys' grammar school, with responsibility for setting its own testing and admission requirements.View the official source160Bishop Wordsworth's School: Year 7 places (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Wordsworth's School.The source says: The PAN for Year 7 commencing 1 September 2027 is 160.View the official sourceChurch of EnglandBishop Wordsworth's School: Religious characterChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Wordsworth's School.The source says: Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School - AppealsView the official source
South Wilts Grammar SchoolgirlsSouth Wilts Grammar School: PupilsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: It is a single sex non-denominational school for girls (registered female at birth), aged 11 to 16 and coeducational in the sixth form.View the official source160South Wilts Grammar School: Year 7 places (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: SWGS has a planned admission number for Year 7 of 160.View the official sourcenone (non-denominational)South Wilts Grammar School: Religious characterChecked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: It is a single sex non-denominational school for girlsView the official source

Rules worth checking early

Bishop Wordsworth's School limits who can sit its test: if more apply, the 480 applicants living nearest (Exeter St gate) sit the testBishop Wordsworth's School: Testing capChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Wordsworth's School.The source says: For entry into year 7 the 480 applicants who live nearest to the School will take the entrance test.View the official source. It also says a place is offered only if the school is the first preference on the application formBishop Wordsworth's School: First preference ruleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Bishop Wordsworth's School.The source says: Where the School is not listed as first preference, then a place will not be offered irrespective of an applicant meeting the qualifying standard.View the official source. South Wilts Grammar School uses a catchment area: a catchment area defined by a map available from the school and on its websiteSouth Wilts Grammar School: Catchment description (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: A map of the catchment area can be obtained from the school and is also available onView the official source. For pupil premium girls, its rule is: pass mark 3% lower for pupil premium applicants, with 10 places reserved for them; in-catchment pupil premium girls are criterion c(i), out-of-catchment criterion eSouth Wilts Grammar School: Pp priority (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against South Wilts Grammar School.The source says: The pass mark for those who qualify for pupil premium will be 3% lower than the standard pass mark and 10 places will be reserved for them. If fewer than 10 pass at the reduced pass mark, then the places will be re-allocated to standard pass mark applicants.View the official source.

For each school's test timetable, see the Wiltshire dates page. To weigh up the journey and your preferences, use the Wiltshire 11+ plan.