The hardest schools to get into in Wiltshire
Secondary: 230 families put South Wilts Grammar School first in 2026 and 157 of them (68%) were offered a place - places depend on the 11-plus.
Reception: 32 families put The Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy first in 2026 and 20 of them (63%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Wiltshire with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Wilts Grammar School · Salisbury · grammar (11-plus) | 230 | 157 (68%) | 158 |
| 2 | Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School · Salisbury · grammar (11-plus) | 213 | 157 (74%) | 157 |
| 3 | Lavington School · Devizes | 205 | 154 (75%) | 168 |
| 4 | St John's Marlborough · Marlborough | 308 | 263 (85%) | 265 |
| 5 | Hardenhuish School · Chippenham | 272 | 233 (86%) | 236 |
| 6 | The Corsham School · Corsham | 229 | 214 (93%) | 222 |
| 7 | St Augustine's Catholic College · Trowbridge · faith | 178 | 167 (94%) | 170 |
| 8 | Bradon Forest School · Swindon | 163 | 162 (99%) | 174 |
| 9 | Malmesbury School · Malmesbury | 257 | 257 (100%) | 270 |
| 10 | Royal Wootton Bassett Academy · Swindon | 222 | 222 (100%) | 230 |
| 11 | The John of Gaunt School · Trowbridge | 221 | 221 (100%) | 226 |
| 12 | St Laurence School · Bradford-on-Avon · faith | 196 | 196 (100%) | 219 |
| 13 | Kingdown School · Warminster | 195 | 195 (100%) | 203 |
| 14 | Wyvern St Edmund's Academy · Salisbury · faith | 194 | 194 (100%) | 219 |
| 15 | The Stonehenge School · Amesbury | 185 | 185 (100%) | 195 |
| 16 | Kingsbury Green Academy · Calne | 184 | 184 (100%) | 189 |
| 17 | Sheldon School · Chippenham | 178 | 178 (100%) | 211 |
| 18 | Matravers School · Westbury | 164 | 164 (100%) | 167 |
| 19 | Melksham Oak Community School · Melksham | 157 | 157 (100%) | 168 |
| 20 | The Wellington Academy · Ludgershall | 143 | 143 (100%) | 151 |
| 21 | Abbeyfield School · Chippenham | 131 | 131 (100%) | 135 |
| 22 | The Trafalgar School at Downton · Salisbury | 130 | 130 (100%) | 144 |
| 23 | The Clarendon Academy · Trowbridge | 115 | 115 (100%) | 117 |
| 24 | Sarum Academy · Salisbury · faith | 105 | 105 (100%) | 116 |
| 25 | Devizes School · Devizes | 104 | 104 (100%) | 136 |
| 26 | Avon Valley Academy · Salisbury | 99 | 99 (100%) | 107 |
| 27 | St Joseph's Catholic School · Salisbury · faith | 86 | 86 (100%) | 102 |
| 28 | Pewsey Vale School · Pewsey | 39 | 39 (100%) | 56 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Wiltshire
What is the hardest school to get into in Wiltshire?
For secondary places, 230 families put South Wilts Grammar School first in 2026 and 157 of them (68%) were offered a place - places depend on the 11-plus. For Reception, 32 families put The Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy first and 20 of them (63%) were offered a place.
South Wilts Grammar SchoolThe Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy
How many families in Wiltshire get their first-choice school?
93.9% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 95.6% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Wiltshire published it in its admissions booklet.