South Wilts Grammar School for Girls
Encyclopedia
South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, or just South Wilts Grammar School or SWGS, is a secondary school in Salisbury
, south Wiltshire
, England
. It is an Academy with specialist Mathematics and Computing College
status.
, with which it still has close links. The two schools' sixth form
ers still share some lessons, travelling between the two schools, which are a 20 minute walk apart. Since its opening, the school has continued to develop, with a new building and school hall being opened in the 1960s and 1970s, and three new buildings being opened in the 21st century. The newest buildings added to the school complex are a single storey maths block opened early 2004, a sixth form block to accommodate the sixth form and a music block. As well as new buildings the school has recently undergone refurbishment with the old wooden science labs being replaced and the majority of classrooms being equipped. In 2009, a single storey 'Learning Resource Centre' or 'LRC' was added with an extensive library, containing a vast number of computers and a handful of classrooms.
It gained specialist status in mathematics and computing in September 2003. It recently achieved 'Healthy School' status and abolished unhealthy food and snacks. It also made it mandatory for all girls to wear kilts as part of the students school uniform. In 2010, South Wilts gained the International School Award
, and a part of the South West Academic Trust in 2008.. South Wilts became an academy in January 2011.
For many years South Wilts has topped the government's league tables, with excellent public examinations results. It is the top achieving school in Salisbury, including close-by independent schools. This is seen as illustrating the high standard of teaching at the school, building on the girls' own above-average aptitude, for which they are selected
by entrance examinations. To enter the school, girls must pass the 11+ exam taken in Year 6
, the 12+ taken in Year 7
, the 13+ in Year 8
, or the 14+ in Year 9
. South Wilts does not allow students to apply in Years 10 or 11.
Music is another main area of extra-curricular activities, with the school having a Training Band, Wind Band, Orchestra, Guitar group, Junior Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Choir and A Cappella.
In Year 12, students have the chance to be a member of the school's Young Enterprise team which regularly win prizes.
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, south Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is an Academy with specialist Mathematics and Computing College
Mathematics and Computing College
Mathematics and Computing Colleges were introduced in England in 2002 as part of the Government's Specialist Schools Programme which was designed to raise standards in secondary education. Specialist schools focus specifically on their chosen specialism but must also meet the requirements of the...
status.
History
Opened in 1927 the school was originally combined with Bishop Wordsworth's SchoolBishop Wordsworth's School
Bishop Wordsworth's School is a Church of England boys' day grammar school located in Salisbury, England. In 2010, there were 748 pupils aged between 11 and 18. The school is regularly amongst the top-performing schools in England, and in 2011 was the top school performer for the English...
, with which it still has close links. The two schools' sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
ers still share some lessons, travelling between the two schools, which are a 20 minute walk apart. Since its opening, the school has continued to develop, with a new building and school hall being opened in the 1960s and 1970s, and three new buildings being opened in the 21st century. The newest buildings added to the school complex are a single storey maths block opened early 2004, a sixth form block to accommodate the sixth form and a music block. As well as new buildings the school has recently undergone refurbishment with the old wooden science labs being replaced and the majority of classrooms being equipped. In 2009, a single storey 'Learning Resource Centre' or 'LRC' was added with an extensive library, containing a vast number of computers and a handful of classrooms.
It gained specialist status in mathematics and computing in September 2003. It recently achieved 'Healthy School' status and abolished unhealthy food and snacks. It also made it mandatory for all girls to wear kilts as part of the students school uniform. In 2010, South Wilts gained the International School Award
International School Award
The International School Award is a British Council accreditation scheme rewarding schools with a notable global element in their curriculum.The scheme began in 1999 and since then, over 1000 International School Awards have been granted....
, and a part of the South West Academic Trust in 2008.. South Wilts became an academy in January 2011.
For many years South Wilts has topped the government's league tables, with excellent public examinations results. It is the top achieving school in Salisbury, including close-by independent schools. This is seen as illustrating the high standard of teaching at the school, building on the girls' own above-average aptitude, for which they are selected
Selective school
A selective school is a school that admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems....
by entrance examinations. To enter the school, girls must pass the 11+ exam taken in Year 6
Year Six
Year Six is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the sixth year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between ten and twelve.-Australia:...
, the 12+ taken in Year 7
Year Seven
Year Seven is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the seventh year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between eleven and thirteen.-Australia:...
, the 13+ in Year 8
Year Eight
Year Eight is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the eighth year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between twelve and thirteen.-Australia:...
, or the 14+ in Year 9
Year Nine
Year Nine is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the ninth year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between thirteen and fourteen....
. South Wilts does not allow students to apply in Years 10 or 11.
Notable former pupils
- Anna BreconAnna BreconAnna Brecon is an English actress, known for portraying Lady Tara Thornfield in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.-Background:...
, Actress EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972... - Carolyn Browne, Ambassador to Azerbaijan since 2007
- Sally ClarkSally ClarkSally Clark was a British solicitor who became the victim of an infamous miscarriage of justice when she was wrongly convicted of the murder of two of her sons in 1999...
, British lawyer - Norvela ForsterNorvela ForsterNorvela Felicia Forster was a United Kingdom businesswoman, exporter and politician.-Education:Born in Gillingham, Kent, Forster attended South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Salisbury, and Bedford College, University of London where she was President of the Union Society and obtained a Bachelor...
- MEPMember of the European ParliamentA Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
from 1979-84 for Birmingham South - Josie Keck, UK's Strongest Woman
- Hattie Ladbury, Actress (Casualty, Midsomer Murders)
- Penny TranterPenny TranterPenny Tranter is a former BBC Weather forecaster.She was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland. She first became interested in the weather as a teenager and, after attending South Wilts Grammar School in Salisbury, went on to obtain a BSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of East...
, BBC forecaster
Extra-curricular activities
The school participates in many activities, especially sport: Hockey, Netball and Basketball, as well as Cross Country and Orienteering. Cross Country and Orienteering have helped decorate the walls with girls competing in national events. Girls may also take part in Swimming, Tennis, Athletics, Football, Tag Rugby, Trampolining, Dance, Badminton, Volleyball, Lacrosse and Gymnastics. There is also an annual ski trip to Sunday River, USA.Music is another main area of extra-curricular activities, with the school having a Training Band, Wind Band, Orchestra, Guitar group, Junior Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Choir and A Cappella.
In Year 12, students have the chance to be a member of the school's Young Enterprise team which regularly win prizes.