Bishop Words worth school

[Sunm]

Hello lovely people. I am based in Southampton and looking for some info re Bishop Words worth school. My son is in yr4 and we don’t live in the catchment area too. I am hoping to coach him from home only for the 11+ exam for the school. I really want to know the overall experience from anyone who is sending their children to the Salisbury girls or boys grammar school. It’s important to know what I am getting into like is school really good, how much is the competition for the exam, home prep for exam should be enough and has anyone who got selected from Southampton who travel to school. Any insights will be great 🙏. Thank you

I’d be surprised if you got in from Southampton but someone else might have advice on this? Given they are very popular and do try and stick to the catchment then according to distance (after meeting the other criteria ).

The competition for places is HUGE! We contemplated Salisbury Grammar for our daughter this year but with nearly 300 girls applying for so few places we knew that even if she passed the exams (pass rate is high at 70 odd % this year) we would be way out of the last offered place and we are only 15 miles from Salisbury. Home prep may well be enough but we know many who have had tutors from the start of yr 5.

www.wiltshire.gov.uk/media/6992/Secondary-schools-in-Wiltshire/pdf/Secondary_Insert_2022_completed.pdf?m=637650647988400000

This shows the allocations for previous years. In 2021 it appears that the last place offered was 20 miles out, but that's some way short of the 30m to Southampton. It's very unlikely I think.

Where in Southampton are you? Which would be your closest schools otherwise? I know S'oton schools are/were patchy.

Romsey and Mountbatten schools in Romsey currently still take a number of children from out of catchment Southampton (though with the new housing that may change over time). Both are v. good comprehensive schools.
Thornden probably not possible unless in catchment. Have heard good things about Toynbee (no idea how far out it admits from).

I am based near common. Saint Marks are building new secondary school and have heard about Cantell too. For Romsey and Mountbatten too it needs relocation. I heard at my work place that couple of girls got admission in Salisbury grammarl school (girls) from Shirley area so thought may be there is a chance to work our way through.. ofcourse scoring high is always the priority. I would try and do stuff from home this year and see how much my son can take it if he shows good improvement then might go for tution else will drop it. Really appreciate all the inputs I have received. Thank you everyone

I don't think the as crow flies distance is as far as Patricia thinks, so it might be possible.
Remember that some students will get in outwith the distance criteria eg adopted (or teacher's child if that is on their list, I haven't checked).

However doing the home coaching when you are right at the edge of likely distance does mean that even if your DS passes well he may not get a place - do you think that would be 'fair' on him? (That's not a loaded question, it might be stuff you would be doing anyway, but you might need to be careful how you couch it all to him).

You may also need to think about the travel time and where friends might live.

Just checked the out of catchment figures for Romsey (5.78m) & Mountbatten (3.9m). I think that is tighter than a few years back.

(With the Hants secondary schools there is a way round, which would be to see if a linked primary school has a place, and move there ...)

Hi @Sunm , I am currently in the same situation where my son in going into yr 5. We live in Southampton and we are considering attending Bishop Wordsworth School (BSW). Please how did it go with getting admission into BSW? Your advise will be appreciated 🙏.

Hi, we will be sitting exam in next two weeks.

I cannot give you current info but I attended south wilts in the late 90s and some girls came from near southampton and Andover when I was there. So not unheard of

I wish your son success in the exams!

Our DS is there; most of his friends there live in Salisbury itself and we live just outside the catchment map but only by a mile or two. I do think DH told me one boy in his year comes from Southampton but I don’t know many people there to know . The school has info on its website about how many boys applied each year , eg 348 took the exam in 2021 and 355 last year.
We didn’t tutor DS as took the view that if he got in by himself he would likely suit the school but I know a lot of people do . It seems to have really committed teachers and a very good atmosphere and certainly DS really enjoys it (and he’s not a boy who’s always loved school either). You ask whether it’s really good , I don’t know what it’s ‘value added ‘ is as being so selective must certainly make it more likely to get good results. DS’ friends seem to have a very good attitude to work etc. and pastoral care seems excellent too .

@Mynamegone thank you for sharing your personal experience. We are extremely out of catchment but hoping to make it. If not it will still be knowledgeable experience for DS.

Hi, how do you DS do in the exam? Did you get a place at the end?

@CoolRoseZebra Hey, he achieved above the cut off, now waiting for national allocation day on 1st March to know if he got the place or not. Thank you

@Sunm good luck to your son. My boy is on the same boat and been offered a place, got confirmation this morning , we are very happy 🙂

Hi @Sunm and @CoolRoseZebra Congratulations on your sons passing the exams, and getting places. We'd appreciate any preparation advice and tips as my son is now preparing for the exams at BSW. Thanks.

@CoolRoseZebra do you also live in Southampton?

Many Congratulations..

Hi @Aimio , thanks. Yes we live in Southampton, Shirley. Re preparation, getting used to NVR and VR is important as this is not taught in the class.

We used GL Assessment 11+ Practice Papers Bundle (12 Packs), these are very good. We did few mock exams too in an exam condition, they were really useful and helped with time management . Most importantly, don’t push too hard, but have a constant routine. My boy did half a hour every day for few months and he was stress free. Good luck to your son.

@Sunm Thanks for the post. Am new to the uk education system. I recently started working in Southampton. Am in a huge dilemma if I should relocate near the Salisbury catchment area from Southampton. My son will appear in 2025 for the exam. please do update regarding your son ‘s placement at BW school

Congratulations to him on securing a good score .

Hi @Krithika relocation is totally up to you, you will be able to see the catchment map for Bishop wordsworth on the website. This year they have taken plenty children from Southampton and Eastleigh too which was a good thing as we were not planning on relocating near/to Salisbury. I have heard Chandlers ford comes under the catchment and parents do relocate there quite often.

Hi @Sunm , thanks. I’m guessing your boy got the offer too? What’s your thought on travelling from Southampton to Salisbury? Would be happy to catch up with. Thanks

Hi@CoolRoseZebra @Sunm please could you share your thoughts/plans on the travel arrangements to Salisbury from Southampton. Thanks.

Also please could you help to connect me any parents you know from Chandler's Ford as I currently work there and I'm looking to move there this summer. Many thanks for your help.