Best secondary schools in Salisbury (2026)
Salisbury has 5 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is South Wilts Grammar School, in the top 2% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 53.3, against 46.1 for England. 2 are in England's top 10%, and 1 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 2 grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 2% in England |
South Wilts Grammar School Salisbury · Grammar · Girls |
75.1 | 77.0 | 99% | Good | |
2 Top 3% in England |
Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School Salisbury · Grammar · Boys · Church of England |
72.4 | 73.1 | 97% | Outstanding | |
3 Bottom 35% in England |
Wyvern St Edmund's Academy Salisbury · Church of England |
42.5 | 42.2 | 40% | Not judged | |
4 Bottom 27% in England |
St Joseph's Catholic School Salisbury · Roman Catholic |
40.3 | 40.4 | 39% | Requires improvement | |
5 Bottom 3% in England |
Sarum Academy Salisbury · Church of England |
33.4 | 33.7 | 24% | No rating |
Other towns in Wiltshire
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Salisbury?
On exam results over the last three years, South Wilts Grammar School is the top-ranked secondary school in Salisbury, in the top 2% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.