Wiltshire (Salisbury) · grammar school

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School

A boys’ grammar school in Salisbury for ages 11–18, with a sixth form. Places in Year 7 are given through its 11+ entrance test.
BoysAges 11–18Sixth formChurch of England
Overview

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School at a glance

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School is a boys’ grammar school in Salisbury for students aged 11 to 18, with about 1190 pupils. It has a Church of England religious character. Year 7 places are given through its 11+ entrance test, and the school has a sixth form.

For September 2026 entry it offered 157 places and was the first choice of 213 families — about 1.4 for every place. 43% of all applications came from families in other council areas.

In 2024/25, 97% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged B+ per entry, and 33% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 59% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).

Admissions

Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given

Test
Separate tests at each school
Set by
GL Assessment papers, set separately by each school
What it covers
Verbal skills, maths and non-verbal reasoning

At this school: Sets and marks its own test.

How places are given

Each school sets its own qualifying standard and admissions criteria.

How to register and apply

Register directly with each school, usually by the start of September of Year 6, and name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.

Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.

Entry scores

Scores needed for a place

We have not yet added published entry scores for this school. Many schools publish the lowest score offered a place each year in their admissions pages — check the school’s website, and see how places are given above.

Demand

How many families apply

EntryPlaces1st choices1st choices per placeAll applications
Sept 20261572131.4249
Sept 20251572141.4235
Sept 20241572131.4249
Sept 20231592121.3246
Sept 20221582031.3236
Sept 20211592671.7339

Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.

Results

Exam results

GCSE, 2024/25 · 157 pupils

Grade 5 or above in English and maths

This school97%
England45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths

This school99%
England65%

Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)

This school73.1
England46.1
YearGrade 5+ Eng & mathsAttainment 8Progress 8EBacc points
2024/2596.8%73.1—6.85
2023/2495.5%72.3+0.556.44
2022/2394.0%71.9+0.556.57

A level, 2024/25 · 196 students

Average grade
B+
England: B-
AAB or better*
33%
England: 18%
Value added
+0.12

*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.

Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.

After sixth form

Where students go next

University
59%
Apprenticeship
1%
Employment
22%
Any sustained destination
84%

Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (191 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.

Key facts

Admits at 11
Boys
Ages
11–18
Sixth form
Yes
Religious character
Church of England
Pupils
1,193 (capacity 1,200)
Free school meals
3.6% of pupils eligible
School type
Academy converter
Trust
Single-academy trust
Local authority
Wiltshire
Constituency
Salisbury

From the Department for Education’s register (URN 136500), October 2026.

Free · 15 minutes · Years 3–5

Thinking about Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School?

See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.

Take the free check