The Bishop’s School, as it was then called, opened on its current site on the 16th April 1890 with 45 boys. Girls were welcomed in 1902 and the school was coeducational until 1927, when the girls departed to their new school on Stratford Road. Originally there were boarders, but since the Second World War we have catered for day pupils only. We now have around 1200 pupils across the school, about 400 of whom are in the Sixth Form.
In Years 7–11 we cater for boys only, but since September 2020 we have welcomed girls to our coeducational sixth; approximately 30% of Years 12 and 13 are female students.
The legacy of Bishop John Wordsworth and our heritage and traditions are something we are very proud of. The marriage of old and new, historical roots and innovative development makes for a unique educational experience for every one of our students. We want to make being at Bishop's special for all of our boys and girls.
With our privileged location within the Close and monthly school services in the splendour of the Cathedral, lasting memories are created for current and former students alike. Our students aim high and achieve amazing things every year. We are hugely proud of all of them and of our place at the very heart of Salisbury's society and culture.
Sport plays a central role in the school's aims to encourage all our pupils to develop their potential by setting themselves the highest standards of excellence and achievement with integrity and confidence.
port plays a central role in the school's aims to encourage all our pupils to develop their potential by setting themselves the highest standards of excellence and achievement with integrity and confidence. The school's broad range of sport activities provides students with a well-rounded, balanced education catering for a wide range of talents and interests and adds great enjoyment to students school life.
We are committed to providing inclusive, challenging and enriching Physical Education and sporting opportunities, which promote high standards of performance and a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity for life, to inspire and motivate all our pupils to lead happy, purposeful and responsible lives.
We strive for national recognition across a wide range of sports and compete on a local, regional and national level, with a multitude of sports available and success achieved across the board. We also encourage our students to compete outside of school in order to gain an invaluable team and social experience. This enables both BWS and the clubs to benefit from a more knowledgeable, experienced and skilled pool of talent.