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Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School

Wiltshire, SP1 2EDSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Nov 2022
Progress 8
+0.55
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
214 1st-choice / 157 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#439 of 3,141 nationally

About Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School is a boys' state secondary in Wiltshire, and it sits second among the 26 same-type schools in the local authority, according to Progress 8 scores. The only school ahead of it is South Wilts Grammar School, with St Laurence School and St John's Marlborough completing the top four. It also ranks 26th out of 306 schools in the South West region and 439th nationally out of 3,141, placing it comfortably in the top 25 per cent of schools across England. The school is one of only three outstanding-rated schools in the Wiltshire local authority, a status it has held across both its most recent Ofsted inspections. Headteacher Michael Thorne leads a school of 1,188 pupils, close to its capacity of 1,200, and the religious character is Church of England. With just 4.1 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less disadvantaged than many local schools.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressExeter Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2ED
HeadteacherMichael Thorne
Local AuthorityWiltshire
Number of Pupils1,188
Free School Meals (FSM)4.1%
School Capacity1,188 / 1,200 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

15 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 23 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
GymnasiumLibrarySixth Form CentreArt StudiosTennis CourtsAstro TurfSwimming PoolSports HallICT SuiteTheatreDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

HockeyCricketRugbyGymnasticsDanceRounders

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubChoirBook ClubGardeningModel United NationsOrchestraArt ClubYoung EnterpriseDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:50

Source: bishopwordsworths.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School

Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.