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Original poster

Wiltshire grammar school. Honest views.

31 replies

Beehiveme · 07/07/2024 17:21

Hi, we went to visit a all girls grammar in the next county last week. We are in a non grammar county. Our daughter is very bright and it's been mentioned to us as a possibility for her.
Honestly on distance it's a bit of a long shot anyway but I was expecting to be wowed.
The reality is I'm not.
It's a long way really, the walk from the train station in the town to school is pretty grotty really and about 20 min from station to school.
Obviously it's selective so great results, but I don't actually think the results differ from the top sets from our local comp.
It was quite run down, facilities actually less impressive than other schools we have looked at.

I don't know if it's actually worth it.
DH and I also had a massive row on way home as I had been pushing for this school and he was really rather unimpressed by school and thought the commute was not appropriate for DD.

The school is in Salisbury. We live just north of Winchester. Our DS is top sets in a Winchester comp but due to age gap DD will not get sibling link and we are not officially catchment. This is why we are looking at all options.

I really want to know others views on this. Local people will know the school without me naming it.
Should we plough ahead with 11+ and small chance. Or will a very able child do just as well in a Hampshire comp???
I want to know if others have felt the same really.

I want to give DD the best possible chances in life and had thought a girls selective would be best?

We have looked at all comps in and around Winchester and all had been impressive with articulate kids showing us around.
Our own son is thriving and claims he has never had any disruption in his classes. He is happy.
We have seen st Swithurns which if we were rich would 100% go for. Sadly we are not!!

So honestly those who have also seen this school. What do you really do think of it?? Is it some amazing educational facility or is it just doing well because it's full of clever girls.

OP posts:
Bobbydazz · 07/07/2024 18:05

On the plus side, there are lots of pupils that travel by train to the school. I see the girls making the walk most morning but, as you say, it is quite a way.

I don't have personal experience of the school but I do know someone who goes to 6th form there and she suffers the same issues as my daughter does at the local comprehensive 6th form, lack of teachers, lessons being cancelled at short notice.

I think if you are not impressed with the facilities or the commute, you would be better sending to a more local school.

combinationpadlock · 07/07/2024 17:59

Grammar schools have the lowest funding of all. They are almost all run down with poor resources.

Crescendough · 07/07/2024 17:57

Former pupil here from the girls’. BW has an enduringly good rep and deservedly so.

The girls’ one, it’s a mixed bag. Some of the staff are the same as when I was there in the 90s! We know someone who worked there in recent years, it sounded unchanged from when I was there, quite set in their ways about some matters. The worst being their dismissive attitude towards “comprehensive children”. Academically, it was good but no better than the top set of a good comp.

The standards tended to drop significantly in 6th form when it was opened up to more students if they got the required grades.

Years 7-11 were fiercely competitive but none of us really knew what we were competing for. And if you ever got a B for a test we were told it was a failure.

Some things it was and is still good for eg music. The department and provision is more what you’d expect from a private school and that side of it is great. It’s for that reason alone I’d have considered it for mine if we lived closer.

If you’re not blown away by it, and there are places which are easier to get to, I’d gently suggest that looking elsewhere is an idea.

I wasn’t unhappy there, and got some great opportunities but was immeasurably happier when for 6th form I left and went to the place I’d really wanted to go to from primary school in the first place!

Original poster
Beehiveme · 07/07/2024 17:35

Yes I hear the boys is good, we had never wanted single sex for DS so never viewed BW.
I was rather surprised by the girls school as I was expecting so much more.

I guess I just feel guilty for not giving DD the chance.

OP posts:
modgepodge · 07/07/2024 17:29

I know the school you refer to as I looked round it for myself and sat the 11+ 25 years ago! So I cannot give you any advice on the school itself. But, the commute sounds a pain. This might be worthwhile if you loved the school - but you don’t. It might be worthwhile if you hated your local options - but you dont. I honestly can’t see any reason why you’d apply to this school!

middleagedswiftie · 07/07/2024 17:26

My sons are at the boys’ grammar in Salisbury and I rate it incredibly highly. I never hear people talk about the girls’ school in the same glowing terms. I think Winchester comps are brilliant - I would opt to go there.