South wilts girls SWG

[kindercatmum]

Hi,
I am looking for some advice of SWG Salisbury please.
Firstly we are a few years off applying so really want some insight into preparation and how people find the school.
Also we are out of the catchment but by the last figures on distance on the website we could perhaps still get in. We are walking distance from a station with trains into Salisbury so very doable.

Do the waiting list places move much? ( I am assuming due to distance if DD passed the test we would go on waiting list rather than get a place straight away).

How hard is the test ? my DD is top of class in state primary but obviously will need prep.

What are the girls like? Bullying? Mental health issues, materialism etc

Are trains safe for them? Worried about the county lines issue in Salisbury to be honest.

Please any info or tips would be very welcome.
Also if you have a DD there how far away are some girls really coming from ?

We are in Hampshire but our local school just seems to be struggling now.

I know a girl who commuted from Romsey via train, and I'd certainly have no issue using that line to Salisbury.
However I'm assuming you aren't in Romsey as as far as I'm aware there is nothing miss with either of our Secondary schools.

No not Romsey.

Well SWGS good school 11-16 but lots of mental health problems. Results matter more than anything. Rumour is it is off boil at A level. Go to Boys Grammar then.
If your daughter top of class and gets prep she should get in.
Not much bullying.

Thank you. We would probably use Peter Symonds for 6th form to be honest.
The mental health issues do worry me, I obviously want my DD to be happy and well balanced 😮

Fair enough. Peter Symonds very large and doesn’t offer the extra curricular of BWS. BWS obviously not SFC but it out performs Peter Symonds by some margin.
My dd went to SWGS and didn’t enjoy it much. My son adored BWS.

Many of the Hants comps are pretty good. Are you particularly wanting all girls?
Have you looked at how well your local comp(s) do with high achievers? If not you may have a nice surprise.

Hi,
I'm interested to hear about the county lines issues in Salisbury you've heard of. I'm a bit of an outsider as I'm not from originally from Wiltshire. Locals are very protective and shut down any negative talk about their "city" but I would like my two to be safe. I certainly see cuckooing sometimes being round the corner from a council estate, I've seen large knives, I see also plenty of dealing and the new build estates have their issues too with isolation. I try and report what I can but feels like I'm wasting my time.

I do find with Salisbury the large military presence influences the town in terms of culture at school, the economy and housing. I have spoken to other mums about this the rare few I know who are not military or public sector ie workers at the only other large employer the District Hospital (very rare in Salisbury for anyone to have I suppose an ordinary middle class private sector job like you'd see in the suburbs of London) and it irks them too especially the prospect that maybe their child will join the army as it's seen as a good earner in areas where there isn't much else going for it. A lot of service children especially at officer level appear more wealthy in an area of low opportunity and more supported generally in terms of sports and reduced fee places at local private schools that are packed with military kids. It would look very different to a child if they had friends with parents who did all sorts of different jobs as they'd see in a major city. Personally I am seriously considering moving out for 6th form, back to somewhere more urban, with a more balanced local economy, possibly even London just to open their horizons and inspire their future ambitions.

FYI my son is at BWS and my daughter will be at SWGS.

Hi,
I'm also interested in SWAGs. How far are girls really coming from. The last distance offered on the information seems to relate to offer day rather than the reality ones waiting lists move? Is it mostly Salisbury girls in reality?
Also how competitive is it really?
I have also heard repeatedly of the mental health by issues. ???
Any info would be great. We are not local so definitely will be an out of catchment application.

A lot of kids travel from Andover if you're in that area. It's common for Andover kids to get places even though they are quite far out of catchment. Those that miss out do sometimes get in off the waiting list. (Some parents apply for grammar but end up sending to private school, people move etc).

I know of one girl that disliked the school and many who are thriving there. I think large groups of girls travel together on the train so that reassures the parents somewhat.

Thank you. we are a bit further than Andover but only one train stop.
It's hard to work out if a realistic option.
I think it would suit DD though.

I knew one very academic but quiet girl who was travelling an hour by train to get there. She was unhappy at the school and exhausted from commuting. Left for a good comprehensive in the end