Bishop Wordsworth

[Esmereldapawpatrol]

Just wondering if anyone on here has a child at this school and how it is?

We live in the area, obviously would need to pass the 11+

Our local comprehensive is a good school but it's a big school with 2000+ pupils and I am worried DS will get lost. He's a bright boy but lacks a little in motivation so we are considering our options.

I’d say it’s a highly-regarded school and certainly people travel long distances to attend. In a very affluent area BWS and its sister school South Wilts Grammar are seen as a decent alternative to independent schools, and many use them who could have taken the fee-paying route without a struggle. In reality the presence of two high-performing grammars in Salisbury will have a negative impact on the local non-selective state schools by diverting lots of the brightest children so if your DS is academic it’s perhaps the optimum choice. I’m not a BWS parent btw, just someone living in the catchment area, so won’t claim in-depth knowledge

I have a son in Year 7 there so we’re only at the start of the journey but so far very happy.
He’s enjoyed all the sport and says the teachers are nice. We don’t really know how he’s doing yet but getting a grade card next week so we’ll see. He was in a small prep school before and it hasn’t been that much of a change for him - it’s definitely helped that he’d already done Latin, rugby, MFL etc.

Thanks for the feedback.

What did you do prepare for the 11+? I have no experience what so ever!!

Most of his friends were tutored from the start of year 5 (some earlier). We did it ourselves using 10 minute practice papers and books we got from Amazon. You’ll see early on which sections your child will find the hardest.

@Esmereldapawpatrol if you want to go down the paid tutoring route you have to book in with the tutor quite early on. I know that a couple called the Stringers are very sought after but as we didn’t use anyone external I can’t recommend them personally.