Grammar Schools in Wiltshire
Salisbury's two grammar schools test on the same morning and use the same provider, which makes them look like one system. They are not. The papers differ in number, subject split and length, and because the schools take opposite intakes, no child ever has to choose between them.
Where the official practice material is
GL Assessment
Free familiarisation booklets that show the question types, the timings and how the answer sheet works. GL do not release past papers, so anything sold as a GL past paper was written by somebody else.
What families in Wiltshire need to know
- There is no shared Salisbury test. Bishop Wordsworth's is a boys' school and South Wilts a girls' school, so the shared date creates no clash.
- The papers genuinely differ. Bishop Wordsworth's sets two multiple-choice papers totalling an hour and a half - non-verbal reasoning with maths, then English with verbal reasoning. South Wilts sets three: maths 50 minutes, English 45, verbal reasoning 50.
- Both discount the pass mark for Pupil Premium candidates, but by different amounts. Bishop Wordsworth's lowers it by 10% and reserves 10 places; South Wilts lowers it by 3%, also with 10 places.
- South Wilts applies a residence-duration rule that catches families out: the child must have lived at the address since 1 May 2026, in an owned or leased permanent home. Its sibling link does not apply if the older child is in Year 11 or Year 13.
- Bishop Wordsworth's changed its oversubscription rule from 2026: if oversubscribed, priority goes to the 480 boys living closest to the school's Exeter Street gate. It must also be named first preference on the council form to receive an offer.
- Neither school publishes a numerical qualifying score in advance; the standard is set by each school after marking.
The 2 grammar schools in Wiltshire
Admissions details change year to year. Always confirm dates and criteria on the school's own admissions page before applying.
| School | Town | Admits |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop Wordsworth's School | Salisbury | Boys |
| South Wilts Grammar School | Salisbury | Girls |
Each name links to that school's own admissions page. Every school here sits the GL Assessment test.
Preparing for the 11+ in Wiltshire?
GG Maths coaches the maths and reasoning side of 11+ entry online, for families anywhere in the UK. Sessions are built around the format your child will actually sit, not generic practice papers.
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