South Wilts Grammar School

South Wilts Grammar School, formerly South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, is a grammar school in Salisbury, south Wiltshire, England, for pupils aged 11 to 18. Established in 1927, the school converted to an academy in 2011. In 2020, the name was changed to South Wilts Grammar School to reflect the admission of male students into the sixth form in September of that year.

South Wilts Grammar School
Location
Stratford Road Salisbury , Wiltshire , SP1 3JJ England
Coordinates	51°04′47″N 1°47′57″W
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	Learning for today, preparing for tomorrow
Established	1927; 98 years ago (1927)
Specialist	Mathematics and Computing College
Department for Education URN	136391 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chair of trustees	Liz Ogilvie[1]
Headteacher	Amanda Smith[2]
Staff	over 100
Gender	Girls ( boys only in 6th form not lower school )
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	1,130[3] (October 2024)
Houses	Avon , Bourne , Ebble , Nadder , Wylye
Colour(s)	Green and blue
Website	www.swgs.wilts.sch.uk

History

Opened in 1927 on a site about one mile north of the centre of Salisbury, the school was originally combined with Bishop Wordsworth's School. The two schools have close links.^[4]

South Wilts gained specialist status in mathematics and computing in 2003,^[5] and in 2010 the International School Award.^{[citation needed]} It became an academy in January 2011.^[6]

In 2009, it was the top-achieving school in Salisbury, including independent schools.^[7][8] Entry is by a selective entrance examination known as the eleven-plus.

Since September 2020, the school admits boys to its sixth form.^[4]

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at South Wilts Grammar School for Girls

• Anna Brecon, Emmerdale actress
• Carolyn Browne, former Ambassador to Azerbaijan
• Sally Clark, lawyer^[9][10]
• Helen Dawes, Anglican priest and academic
• Norvela Forster, MEP from 1979 to 1984 for Birmingham South
• Penny Tranter, BBC weather forecaster

Teacher misconduct cases

In 2015, Debbie Evans, who had been head of art at South Wilts until she resigned in 2013, was banned from teaching for life after being found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct for having a two-year affair with an ex-student.^[11]

In April 2018, computing teacher Ashley Bakewell admitted to taking inappropriate photos of female pupils at South Wilts without their knowledge, stating that he was particularly attracted to their long hair. He was banned from teaching indefinitely.^[12][13]