LEARNING FOR TODAY, PREPARING FOR TOMORROW South Wilts is a progressive grammar school, with a vibrant and energetic learning environment. The academic success achieved by South Wilts students, coupled with the exceptional support and guidance offered, ensures that students leave fully equipped for adult life in a modern world. We encourage responsibility in our students so that they can flourish in a supportive and nurturing environment. Our relationship with parents is very important and students are encouraged to be involved in the local community. Students leave South Wilts as resilient young people with the resources and skills to thrive, whilst having compassion for others. They are empowered to make a difference to the world in which they live. STUDENT NUMBERS 1128 students on roll, including 346 in the sixth form. Planned Admission Number is 160 in Year 7.
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LEARNING FOR TODAY, PREPARINGFOR TOMORROW
South Wilts is a progressive grammar school, with a vibrant and energetic learning environment.The academic success achieved by South Wilts students, coupled with the exceptional supportand guidance offered, ensures that students leave fully equipped for adult life in a modern world.We encourage responsibility in our students so that they can flourish in a supportive andnurturing environment. Our relationship with parents is very important and students areencouraged to be involved in the local community.Students leave South Wilts as resilient young people with the resources and skills to thrive, whilsthaving compassion for others. They are empowered to make a difference to the world in whichthey live.
STUDENT NUMBERS1128 students on roll, including 346
in the sixth form.Planned Admission Number is 160 in
Year 7.
TUTOR GROUPS AND PASTORAL SUPPORTEvery student at South Wilts is placed in a tutor group; the tutor is responsible for their well-beingand for monitoring their academic progress. The tutor looks after all aspects of the students’welfare, including checking attendance and homework diaries as well writing an annual report. Inboth Key Stages 3 and 4 the Heads of Year and the Pastoral Support staff work closely with thetutors and the Deputy Head responsible for pastoral care. Settling into the school in Year 7 is very important and so students are invited into the school for aday in the Summer Term prior to entry and, with their parents, attend an Induction Evening beforestarting at South Wilts. The first day of term in September is also exclusively for Year 7. There aresixth form prefects for every Year 7 form and they help students settle in and enjoy their time atSouth Wilts. Other prefects have a special responsibility for those who join South Wilts after Year 7. Students are supported in all areas of their lives at school. Beyond the teaching staff there areSixth Form students trained as academic mentors who work with students to help with theirgeneral organization and individual subjects. There is also a peer listening service and an emailadvice line under the watchful eye of a member of staff. Additionally there are areas such as theKey Stage 3 Pastoral Area or Flexible Learning Space that students can access if they needsupport.The school also offers additional support through a confidential counselling service to helpindividual students cope with emotional challenges and issues. In addition, the Lay Chaplain isavailable, offering support and a listening ear with a Christian perspective but will not be seekingto influence the views of students themselves. The School Nurse is also available for a drop-insession once a week, where all health related matters can be discussed in confidence.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDSAt South Wilts we see the support of students with any individual educational needs as extremelyimportant. We use specialists in this field to identify specific learning needs and to plan and carry outappropriate support. Whilst it remains the responsibility of the individual class teacher to cater for theneeds of each student, they receive expert guidance on strategies to support those with any kind of specialneed. We also identify and follow up students’ special educational needs through the recommendations offeeder schools, school performance data and liaison with parents. Progress of those individuals with aspecial need is carefully monitored and an on-going dialogue is held with parents. Parents and staff worktogether with the exams officer to ensure any special access arrangements for public exams are put inplace.
FINANCIAL SUPPORTThe school has a strong belief in free education and goes to great lengths to ensure that home financialcircumstances are not a barrier to any student wishing to attend the school or take part in all theopportunities available.Support for students who are in receipt of the Pupil Premium includes payment for educational trips, musictuition, revision guides and public transport costs. We also provide additional printer credits, mentoring,careers guidance and pastoral support.Support for students who are in receipt of eligible benefits for Free School Meals includes educationaltrips, music tuition, revision guides and school uniform and Free School Meals. Families in receipt of otherbenefits may be entitled to assistance with music fees and uniform costs.Other parental financial support requests will be considered on an individual basis. If you think your childmay be eligible for the Pupil Premium or for free school meals, or you require any other advice or guidanceabout financial support, the school Finance Office will be pleased to help.The school offers a range of educational trips to enhance the education of its students and costs are keptto a minimum. However, to be able to run such activities, the school relies on voluntary contributions fromparents, and if there are insufficient contributions, some educational visits and activities may not bepossible. We can offer payment plans for the bigger trips, you just need to contact the Finance Office.
HOMEWORKHomework is an integral part of the learning process and there is a homework timetable for all years. Interm one Year 7 students can generally expect to be set 20 minutes homework per subject every twoweeks, increasing to 30 minutes in term two. In Years 8 and 9 homework is approximately 30 minutes persubject. Some core subjects will set homework every week. At Key Stage 4, homework is approximately 40minutes per subject per week.
SCHOOL DAY8:45am – 9:05am Registration and Assembly9:05am – 9:40am Period 19:40am – 10:20am Period 210:20am – 10:40am MORNING BREAK10:40am – 11:15am Period 311:15am – 11:55am Period 4 11:55am – 12:55pm LUNCH12:55pm – 1:35pm Period 5 and registration1:35pm – 2:15pm Period 62:15pm – 2:35pm BREAK2:35pm – 3:10pm Period 73:10pm – 3:45pm Period 8
KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUMIn Key Stage 3, all students study these subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Computing, French andGerman, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Art, Music, PE, Drama, Design & Technology and PSHE.In Year 7, some of the year group study French and some study German. In Year 8, students add the otherforeign language, either French or German. From Year 9, students are set in Mathematics, and they beginGCSE Sciences – Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
FRIENDS OF SOUTH WILTSThe school is supported by a very active Parent Teacher Association called the Friends of South Wilts.They work tirelessly to support the school in many ways, including considerable fundraising to help enricheducation of the students. Parents are warmly welcomed to support the Friends in any way they can.
EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIESEducation at South Wilts is enhanced by a vast range of enrichment opportunities both inside andoutside the classroom. Preparation of young people for life is central to the work we do and so weprovide opportunities to promote leadership, community engagement, resilience andresponsibility.
MUSICMany students of all ages and abilities takepart in a wide range of activities offered by theMusic Department, including two orchestras, awind band, a jazz band and three choirs. Thesegroups perform in many concerts both withinthe school and in a variety of venues inSalisbury as well as singing services inSalisbury Cathedral. Visiting music teachersgive individual instrumental lessons; a fee ischarged for this tuition.
DRAMAOur Drama department is very active, providingmultiple extra-curricular opportunities acrossthe school. KS3 Drama Club, run by the sixthform Drama prefects, is very popular, as is ‘TheSWGS Theatre Company’; a club for Years 9-13specialising in producing Theatre in Educationpieces for the wider school community. Wholeschool productions regularly occur and involvea large number of students. Recentperformances include ‘Bugsy Malone’ and‘Beauty and the Beast’. Students also enrichtheir learning with frequent visits to both localand national theatres.
ARTThe Art department participates in the annualSalisbury Schools Art Exhibition where ourstudents’ work is showcased in the YoungGallery in Salisbury. We invite students to enternational competitions such as the RoyalAcademy Young Artists’ Summer Show and theMind for better mental health competition. KS3lunchtime Art Clubs are run by our Art prefectsand KS4 students have the opportunity to learnoil painting.
We hold the Artsmark Award at Gold Level in recognitionof the outstanding work done in music, art, drama and
other aspects of the curriculum and extracurricularactivities. Within school we offer students the opportunity
to gain the Arts Award and, as part of this, support themboth in their own experience of the arts and their
leadership of others in this field.
EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
PEPE provides opportunities for all students togain a sense of achievement and enjoyment ofphysical activity through a variety of roles suchas performer, coach or official. School sportsteams compete at a high standard and have anexcellent reputation in the area. There areplenty of opportunities to join clubs, on arecreational or competitive level, in a widerange of activities. We enjoy close links withlocal sports clubs and there are residentialtrips on offer, including visits in the UK andfurther afield.
MATHEMATICSMathematics offers a wealth of enrichmentopportunities. Many students participate in theUKMT Maths Challenges and the UKMT Teamchallenges. We participate in enrichmentevents run by the Further Maths SupportProgramme, and we have a keen group ofcode breakers who take part in the NationalCipher Challenge.
ENGLISHThe English Department works very closelywith our fantastically well-stocked LRC andknowledgeable librarian to provide a range ofextra-curricular activities. This includes theYear 7 Book Club and the Carnegie AwardShadowing group, as well as local bookawards and fun activities on World Book Day.We also run writing groups for different yeargroups and, for the past few years, studentshave had the opportunity to write a novel in amonth.
SCIENCEThe Science department organises an annualScience Day for Year 10, bringing scientistsfrom a variety of different fields into school.The KS3 Science club looks at some funaspects of the subject from walking on custardto making slime!
RELIGIOUS STUDIESIn Religious Studies, all Year 7 classesparticipate in the Spirited Arts Competition.Year 10 students also participate in a visit toSalisbury Cathedral.
MODERN FOREIGNLANGUAGES
To enhance their foreign language skills,students can take part in nationalcompetitions, such as the Spelling Bee, theTranslation Bee and Linguistics Olympiad.They gain insight into French and Germanculture, through pen-pal contacts, celebratingfestivals and reading authentic texts. TheEuropean Day of Languages offer students thechance to learn about new languages andcustoms.
Beyond the curriculum we also promote activities with broad educationalvalue. The school has a tradition of charitable activities, with studentsorganising a wide variety of events that raise thousands of pounds for
charities. Charity prefects also organise major events such as quiz nights.There are a huge range of overseas trips and in recent years, students have
travelled to Iceland, Flanders Fields, Germany, Austria and Spain.
DESIGN ANDTECHNOLOGY
The vibrant Design and Technologydepartment offers a wide range of projectsand design experiences; we operate an opendoor policy during lunchtimes to maximize ourstudents’ opportunities. In addition, we offerenrichment in the form of lunchtime clubs,participation in nationwide competitions suchas Design Ventura and various trips includingthe Young Designers exhibition and Food tripsto the Good Food Show and a culinary tour ofBarcelona.
EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIESGEOGRAPHY
Geography offers a wide variety ofopportunities beyond the classroom. At KS3,students use the school grounds to collectdata and hone their geographical skills whilstalso attending trips to Lulworth Cove andLongleat Safari Park. During GCSE Geography,students explore the south coast includingHengistbury Head, Sandbanks and Studland aswell as investigating the changing urban areaof Bristol.
HISTORYThe History department places great emphasison the importance of extra-curricularopportunities. In school, KS3 students canattend History club, taking part in a variety ofdiscussion and craft activities. Year 7 studentsattend a Medieval mosaic workshop with alocal artist, and higher years attend talks byvisiting speakers. External trips are runthroughout the key stages; Year 7 Old Sarum,Year 8 Hampton Court, Year 10 Battlefields tripto France and Belgium, Y12 Chalke ValleyHistory Festival and Y13 Washington DC.
BUSINESS, COMPUTERSCIENCE ANDECONOMICS
Business, Economics and Computer Scienceoffer a wide range of trips and extracurricularactivities, including visits to the Olympic Park,the Bank of England and the JCB and JaguarLand Rover factories. We have had richsuccess in competitions too, including beingNational Finalists in the ICAEW’s Businesscompetition, Microsoft’s STEM StudentChallenge and GCHQ’s Cyber Firstcompetition.
COMMUNICATIONWe believe that good communication with home is vital to support our students. We send all ourcommunications home via email, and ask parents to complete annual questionnaires. A schoolnewsletter is distributed every mini-term, celebrating the many and varied opportunities that have beenundertaken. We post a wealth of important information on our school website including all policies,subject summaries and forms to complete. In addition, we have a Parental Portal allowing parentselectronic access to their child’s timetable, attendance, reports, exam timetables and assessmentinformation. Our Pastoral Support staff are available on the phone during the school day for any queries,and will pass these onto the relevant members of staff. We have an Instagram page and a Twitter feedwhich are updated regularly and students are able to send in photos to be shared on these platforms. ParentPay is used for communication and finance. Parents are requested to use the ParentPay facility topay for trips, printer credits, work experience, exam resits, and items such as revision guides andequipment.
UNIFORMThe school has an on-site school uniform shop where items can be purchased. For opening times,please see the school website. Parents who are in receipt of some state benefits are entitled to financialhelp with school uniform. Please apply to the Finance Office. Second hand uniform is also available fromMrs Lawrence who can be contacted on [email protected] and can be found in the reprographicsoffice. Proceeds of second hand uniform go to Friends of South Wilts. Make-up and extreme hair colour or style are not allowed. Jewellery is limited to one pair of studearrings, a small ring and a plain chain. Please refer to the dress code on the website for details.
11+ test registration formSpecial access form11+ information leafletExamples of 11+ questions
To gain a full overview of the 11+ process and how to apply for entry toSouth Wilts, please visit our website: www.swgs.wilts.sch.uk
Special Access form deadline: Thurs 1st Jul 2021
Test registration deadline: Wed 1st Sept 2021
Familiarisation test for registered candidates: Sat 18th Sept 2021
11+ test date: Sat 25th Sept 2021
Test Results posted: Fri 8th Oct 2021
PLEASE NOTE the dates above are when we plan to hold the tests andinform parents of the results, but are subject to change due to the on-goingsituation with Coronavirus. We will be following national guidelines. Pleasecheck the admissions section on the school website for any updates.
Deadline for application to your Local Authority: 31st October 2021
National Offer day: Tuesday 1st March 2022
Additional important information:All information is accessible on the school website: www.swgs.wilts.sch.uk
Paper copies of the following documents will be available by contactingMrs Ingram, Admissions Officer at South Wilts:
If you require any of this information in an alternative format, pleasecontact the school.
