Schools in Wiltshire
247 schools in 27 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Wiltshire at a glance
- Schools
- 247 201 state primary, 28 state secondary, 2 sixth-form or college and 16 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 88% 173 of the 196 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 22 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 43 Of 222 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 0% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 0 of 229 state schools that take an intake. Wiltshire's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Wiltshire
Primary
| Place in Wiltshire | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George's Church of England Primary School, Semington | Trowbridge | 1st (1/185) |
| 2 | Stanton St Quintin Primary and Nursery School | Nr. Chippenham | Top 2% (2/185) |
| 3 | The Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy | Devizes | Top 2% (3/185) |
| 4 | Winterbourne Earls Church of England Primary School | Salisbury | Top 3% (4/185) |
| 5 | Ashton Keynes Church of England Primary School | Swindon | Top 3% (5/185) |
| 6 | Horningsham Primary School | WARMINSTER | Top 4% (6/185) |
| 7 | Broad Hinton Church of England Primary School | Swindon | Top 4% (7/185) |
| 7 | St Mary's Broughton Gifford Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School | Melksham | Top 4% (7/185) |
| 9 | St. Peter's CE Primary Academy | Salisbury | Top 5% (9/185) |
| 10 | Sutton Benger Church of England Primary School | Chippenham | Top 6% (10/185) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Wiltshire primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Wiltshire | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Wilts Grammar School | Salisbury | 1st (1/28) |
| 2 | Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School | Salisbury | Top 8% (2/28) |
| 3 | St John's Marlborough | Marlborough | Top 11% (3/28) |
| 4 | Royal Wootton Bassett Academy | Swindon | Top 15% (4/28) |
| 5 | Hardenhuish School | Chippenham | Top 18% (5/28) |
| 6 | Malmesbury School | Malmesbury | Top 22% (6/28) |
| 7 | Lavington School | Devizes | Top 25% (7/28) |
| 8 | St Augustine's Catholic College | Trowbridge | Top 29% (8/28) |
| 9 | St Laurence School | Bradford-on-Avon | Top 33% (9/28) |
| 10 | Matravers School | Westbury | Top 36% (10/28) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Wiltshire secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Bradford-on-Avon 5 schools · best schools
- Calne 11 schools · best schools
- Chippenham 28 schools · best schools
- Corsham 6 schools · best schools
- Devizes 18 schools · best schools
- Malmesbury 8 schools · best schools
- Marlborough 13 schools · best schools
- Melksham 10 schools · best schools
- Pewsey 6 schools · best schools
- Salisbury 59 schools · best schools
- Swindon 13 schools · best schools
- Trowbridge 23 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Wiltshire council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Wiltshire council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Wiltshire council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Wiltshire council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Wiltshire council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Wiltshire council |
Every Wiltshire admission date · After offer day in Wiltshire: replies, waiting lists and appeals
Wiltshire catchment maps: the 214 school catchments we hold, with each map's source and year.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 0 of 229 state schools (0%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Wiltshire: we hold checked fees for 6 of 16 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 216 nurseries and pre-schools in Wiltshire, with fees held for 8. Nurseries in Wiltshire by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Wiltshire
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.