Wiltshire 11 Plus Registration 2026: Key Dates and How to Apply

There are two grammar schools in Wiltshire, both in Salisbury: Bishop Wordsworth's School (boys) and South Wilts Grammar School (girls). Each school has its own separate Wiltshire 11 plus registration process. Both registration windows close on 1st September 2026. Both schools hold their exam on 26th September 2026. Results are released in mid-October 2026. Both schools use GL Assessment papers, but the subjects tested are different for each school. 

Only two grammar schools in the whole of Wiltshire. Two different exams. Two separate registration windows. This guide gives you everything you need to know about the Wiltshire 11 plus, registration dates, what each exam covers, how scores work, what the pass mark means, and how to prepare your child for September 2026. 

Key facts

• Grammar schools: 2 - Bishop Wordsworth's School (boys) and South Wilts Grammar School (girls) 

• Location: Both schools are in Salisbury, Wiltshire 

• Test provider: GL Assessment (both schools) 

• Registration: Separate process for each school 

• Registration closes: 1st September 2026 (both schools) 

• Exam day: 26th September 2026 (both schools)

• Results day: Mid-October 2026 (both schools)  

• Application deadline: 31st October 2026 (secondary school CAF)

Wiltshire grammar schools

Wiltshire has just two grammar schools. Both are based in Salisbury, both are single-sex for Years 7 to 11, and both have mixed sixth forms. They are academically selective, meaning your child needs to sit an entrance test and meet a qualifying standard before you can apply for a place.

Bishop Wordsworth's School

• Mixed sixth form

• Two GL Assessment papers

• Tests verbal skills, non-verbal reasoning, and maths

• Registration opens 25th March 2026

• Results sent 16th October 2026

South Wilts Grammar School

• Mixed sixth form

• Three GL Assessment papers

• Tests maths, English and verbal reasoning

• Registration opens 1st June 2026

• Optional familiarisation session 19th September 2026

Wiltshire 11 plus 2026 dates

• 25th March 2026: Registration opens (BWS)

• 1st June 2026: Registration opens (South Wilts)

• 1st September 2026: Registration closes

• 19th September 2026: Optional familiarisation session (South Wilts)

• 26th September 2026: 11 plus exam day (Both schools) 

• 16th October 2026: Results sent to parents (BWS) 

• Mid-October 2026: Results sent to parents (South Wilts)

• 31st October 2026: Secondary school common application deadline 

• 1st March 2027: National secondary school offers day 

How to register for the Wiltshire 11 plus

Registration for the Wiltshire 11 plus is free. But because the two schools run completely separate processes, you need to register through each school's own website. Here is how to do it.

1. Decide which school or schools you are applying to

Bishop Wordsworth's School is for boys. South Wilts Grammar School is for girls. If you are applying to both, you will need to complete two separate registrations in two separate time windows.

2. Register through each school's website

Visit the website of each school you are applying to and complete their online registration form during the correct window. Bishop Wordsworth's School registration opened on 25th March 2026. South Wilts Grammar School registration opened on 1st June 2026. Both close on 1st September 2026. 

3. Accept the South Wilts familiarisation invitation (optional)

If you are registering for South Wilts Grammar School, the registration form will include an option to attend an optional familiarisation session on 19th September 2026. This involves a practice verbal reasoning paper in an exam-style setting. It is not marked and does not affect your child's result, but it is a great way to reduce nerves before the real exam. 

4. Receive exam day details

After registering, each school will send you details about where and when your child will sit the exam. Both schools hold their exam on 26th September 2026. 

5. Ask about access arrangements if needed

If your child has a special educational need or disability that might affect how they sit the exam, contact the relevant school before registration closes on 1st September 2026 to ask about access arrangements.

What does each Wiltshire 11 plus exam include?

This is where the two schools differ significantly. Both use GL Assessment papers, but they test different subjects. It is very important to know which subjects your child will be tested on before you start preparing, because the preparation plan for each school is quite different.

Bishop Wordsworth's School - two papers

Boys applying to Bishop Wordsworth's School sit two GL Assessment papers on 26th September 2026. Each paper lasts around 50 to 55 minutes with a short break in between.

Verbal Skills

• Reading comprehension

• Spelling, punctuation and grammar

• Verbal reasoning

• Around 50 to 55 minutes

Non-Verbal Reasoning and Maths

• Key Stage 2 maths

• Non-verbal reasoning

• Shapes, patterns and diagrams

• Around 50 to 55 minutes

South Wilts Grammar School - three papers

Girls applying to South Wilts Grammar School sit three GL Assessment papers on the same day, Saturday 26th September 2026. Each paper has a short break after it.

Maths

• Key Stage 2 maths curriculum

• Number and algebra

• Measures, shape and space

• Data handling

• 50 minutes

English

• Reading comprehension

• Spelling

• Punctuation and grammar

• 45 minutes

Verbal Reasoning

• Word patterns and logic

• Letter and number codes

• Sequences and deductions

• 50 minutes

How is the Wiltshire 11 plus scored?

After the exam, answer sheets from both schools are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology. This is a scanning system that reads the marks your child has made on their multiple-choice answer sheet. Once raw scores are produced, they go through age standardisation.

What is age standardisation?

Children in Year 6 can have birthdays almost a year apart. A child born in September 2015 has had significantly more time to develop than a child born in August 2016, even though they are in the same school year. Age standardisation adjusts each child's raw score based on their exact age on the day of the exam. This makes the comparison fair for all children regardless of when their birthday falls.

A standardised score of 100 means your child is working at exactly the average level for their age group. Scores above 100 are above average for their age. Scores below 100 are below average. Grammar schools typically look for children performing well above average - usually in the top 10 to 25 percent of their age group.

What is the Wiltshire 11 plus pass mark?

There is no single fixed pass mark for the Wiltshire 11 plus that is set before the exam. This is one of the most important things for parents to understand, because it is different from how some other areas work.

Here is how it actually works. After all papers have been marked and scores have been age-standardised, each school takes all the results and places them in rank order. The school then sets its qualifying score based on that year's results. Because the score depends on how well all the children perform in that specific year, it can shift slightly from one year to the next.

Meeting the qualifying standard does not guarantee a place. Both Wiltshire grammar schools can be oversubscribed, meaning more children qualify than there are places available. When this happens, each school uses its own admissions criteria to decide who gets a place. These criteria include factors like looked-after children, children who are eligible for Pupil Premium and, in some cases, distance from the school. Some priority groups may also qualify under a lower threshold. Always read each school's admissions policy carefully before deciding which schools to list. 

How to apply to Wiltshire grammar schools after results day

Passing the qualifying standard is not the same as getting a place. After results are released, you apply through the normal secondary school admissions process. Here is what to do.

1. Receive your child's result (mid-October 2026)

BWS results arrive on 16th October 2026. South Wilts results arrive in mid-October 2026. You will see your child's standardised score and whether they have met the qualifying standard for the relevant school. 

2. Read each school's admissions policy

Before listing a school on your application form, check its admissions policy on the school's website. This tells you exactly how the school prioritises applicants if it is oversubscribed, and whether your child meets any priority criteria. 

3. Complete your common application form (31st October 2026)

List your preferred schools in order of preference through your home local authority website. The deadline is Saturday 31st October 2026. You can list up to six schools. Put your most preferred school first. Missing this deadline can seriously affect your child's chances. 

4. Wait for offers day (1st March 2027)

All secondary school offers are released on 1st March 2027. You will receive one offer. If your preferred school does not offer your child a place, your child will be offered a place at another local school, and you will be given information about how to appeal. 

How to prepare your child for the Wiltshire 11 plus

The Wiltshire 11 plus is competitive. There are only two grammar schools in the entire county, which means spaces are limited and demand is high. Both schools test a mix of subjects that includes verbal reasoning and either non-verbal reasoning or English and maths. Getting properly prepared takes time and the right approach. Here is how to do it well.

Start in Year 4 or Year 5

Aim to begin at least 12 months before the September exam. Short sessions of 20 to 30 minutes every day add up quickly and are far more effective than long cramming sessions close to the date. Our 11 plus tuition is built around a steady, confidence-building approach that starts with the basics and builds up from there.

Know your target school's subjects

Bishop Wordsworth's School tests verbal skills and non-verbal reasoning plus maths. South Wilts tests maths, English and verbal reasoning. These are different preparation paths. Make sure you know exactly which subjects your child needs to prepare for before you build a revision plan. Preparing for the wrong content wastes valuable time.

Build maths confidence early

Both schools test some form of maths. The maths papers cover the full Key Stage 2 curriculum. Make sure your child is secure in all the key topics: number, fractions, algebra, measures, shape and data before moving on to timed practice. Gaps in the basics will cost marks under exam conditions, so identify and fix them as early as possible.

Practise verbal reasoning from scratch

Verbal reasoning is not taught in school, and most children have never seen it before they start 11 plus preparation. The GL Assessment format uses specific question types, codes, sequences, and word patterns that take time to get used to. Our free 11 plus practice papers are a brilliant starting point to introduce your child to these formats without pressure.

Practise under exam conditions

Knowing the material is only half the battle. Both schools have strict time limits. Children who are not used to working at pace under pressure often underperform even when they know the answers. Our 11 plus mock exams put your child in a real exam environment and give you a detailed breakdown of which topics to focus on next.

Use the summer to get ahead

With the exam on 26th September, the summer holidays are the most important revision window of the year. Our 11 plus intensive summer course gives your child focused, expert-led preparation in the final weeks, covering content, question technique and timed practice in one structured programme before school goes back.

For one-to-one support designed specifically around the GL Assessment format used by both Wiltshire grammar schools, our 11 plus tutors begin with a full diagnostic assessment and build a personalised plan around exactly where your child is right now. We do not use generic plans. Every session is targeted at the subjects and question types that matter most for your child's target school. 

Final thoughts

The Wiltshire 11 plus is one of the most important decisions a family in Wiltshire can make in primary school. With only two grammar schools in the entire county, both in Salisbury, spaces are limited, and competition is real. The two schools test different subjects, have separate registration windows and set their own qualifying scores each year.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we have been helping children earn grammar school places across the UK. Whether your child is just starting out or needs a focused final push before September, we have a programme that works around exactly where they are right now.