Good girls schools near Salisbury/Wiltshire/Andover

[QueenZoflora]

Hi all,

Have been researching this topic to death online and wondered if anyone in the area could help! Our family is looking to relocate to Wiltshire - however, we need to base wherever we move to around where has a good primary and decent secondary school for our daughter. She's very bright, and moving after this to get closer to a catchment area probably isn't an option financially, so we want to get it right. I have fallen in love with the village of Abbots Ann but am seeing conflicting information online about which senior schools are good that she'd be likely to get into? Would really appreciate any advice from people.who live nearby and know the area. Many thanks!

On the Hampshire website, the village of Abbots Ann falls squarely in the defined catchment area of John Hanson Community College?
https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/findaschool/schooldetails?dfesno=4001

Which in the 2027 / 28 admissions policy, is criterion 5 (assuming no sibling attending).
https://www.jhanson.hants.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Admissions-policy-2027-2028-1.pdf

Being in catchment cannot guarantee a place at a school; de jure, only having an EHCP naming the school can, but de facto, most schools where there is a catchment go down to at least siblings in catchment for the cut-off on national offer day, many to somewhere in other applicants. You would need to check with the school / LA re actual last place offered details.

If the address is in a defined catchment for one school, then barring other criteria such as religious affiliation, a parent being employed by the school etc, for other schools, the criterion would probably be the lowest for that school (usually All other applicants, ranked by home-school distance).

(Caveat, I have no personal knowledge of the area - I just put an address in the village into the catchment area checking tool on the Hampshire website).

You have to assume you will be in the catchment school. So pick on that as your base.
This year yes children have got into schools out of catchment but the schools are likely to reduce PAN in coming years due to the lower birth rates. So do not assume this will be possible when your child needs a secondary place.
If you want Private that's a different matter and you can select whatever you want.
Which schools are you actually thinking of?

If she’s bright enough for the 11+ then there’s South Wilts Grammar in Salisbury?

This is so helpful, thank you!

SWGS is the one we were looking at but have seen mixed comments about it online - do you know if it's any good? And what would the alternative be if she didn't get in? Seems so advanced to be talking about these stuff while she's still so little! I do think she's bright but then I'm her mum ..

SWGS, do you know much about it? Worried it could be a bit pressure cooker-y?

I would look over at your transport options.
If you have a child who would pass The Eleven Plus thsn South Wilts is a good option, though is and always has been slightly mental health affected. It's about half an hour by car though.
Otherwise, you might as well just stay in Andover.

Also, if your child is like-year five or six now there's no guarantee that even if they pass the test that they will get in if there are children who live nearer. It's all a bit of a gamble.
As far as single sex schools, they are dying breed

Honestly SWAGs has always had a bit of a reputation of MH issues. Everyone is tutored to get in so it's a school of bright girls and pushy parents. Facilities are a bit old and tatty etc.
The Winchester schools are all very very good. If you move more in that direction you will not have any issues and avoid the 11 plus completely. Have a look at them before you think of moving.

I think you mean tutored to pass the test.