South Wilts Grammar School
116%
Capacity
1,185
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About South Wilts Grammar School
South Wilts Grammar School’s headline academic metrics stand out sharply against the Wiltshire local authority average. While the LA average Progress 8 score sits at -0.01, this girls’ grammar school achieves a Progress 8 score of 0.79, placing it in the ‘well above average’ national banding. That gap of 0.8 is substantial and reflects a school where pupils make significantly more academic progress than their peers across the county. The school ranks first out of 26 secondary schools in Wiltshire on this measure, and sits in the top 4% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 75 is also notably high, and 99.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. With 56.9% of pupils entered for the EBacc and 55.6% achieving it at grade 4 or above, the school clearly prioritises a broad academic curriculum.
At A-level, the school’s performance is solid if less spectacular. The average points per entry is 39.24, equivalent to a B grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B as well. The value-added score of -0.03 is rated as ‘average’, meaning students make roughly the expected progress from their starting points in sixth form. This is a slight contrast to the exceptional progress seen at GCSE, but still places the school comfortably within the Wiltshire grammar school tier. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection in 2019 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes. An ungraded inspection in 2025 noted that the school had ‘improved significantly’ since then, though the overall rating remains Good. The previous inspection in 2007 had rated it Outstanding, so the current Good rating reflects a change in inspection standards rather than a decline in performance.
The school is oversubscribed, with 278 applications for 160 places in 2025/26, and 244 of those were first preferences. It operates as a selective girls’ grammar school for ages 11-18, with a sixth form centre on site. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and science labs, and the school offers a wide range of clubs from Model UN to Young Enterprise. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 95% would recommend the school, and 97% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. The school supports a range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder and speech, language and communication needs, though only 13% of parents responding had a child with SEND. With just 2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less diverse than the local average, but the school’s academic results and strong parent satisfaction make it a compelling choice for families seeking high attainment in a structured, selective environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Stratford Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3JJ |
| Headteacher | Amanda Smith |
| Local Authority | Wiltshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,185 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 2.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,185 / 1,022 (116% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Jan 2025): Improved significantly
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.79)
193rd of 3,141
Nationally
11th of 306
In South West
1st of 26
In Wiltshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
42.2
'22/23
38.2
'23/24
39.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2385%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 149 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)85%
- Sixth form college9%
- FE college1%
- Employment1%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 173 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
46%
Russell Group
47%
Top-third HE
7%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)55%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Biology68
- Mathematics68
- Psychology54
- Physics41
- Chemistry37
- History30
- Geography26
- English Literature24
- Design and Technology (Product Design)19
- Business Studies:Single16
- English Language16
- Government and Politics16
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
252 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed160
278
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
244 families put this school as their 1st choice (88% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.9%
- Asian13.2%
- Mixed4.9%
- White (other)4.1%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Wilts Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Stratford Road, Salisbury
Wiltshire, SP1 3JJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at South Wilts Grammar School!
Write a Review