Great Wishford CofE (VA) Primary School

  “No challenge too big, no child too small.”

The School

Great Wishford Primary School is a Church of England Aided School. The school is situated in the delightful semi-rural setting in the attractive village of Great Wishford approximately 6 miles north west of Salisbury in the Wylye Valley. 

Great Wishford School has a long and interesting history and is one of the oldest working schools in Wiltshire. The original listed building, adjacent to the road, dates from 1722. A Victorian addition now forms the staff room and kitchenette. In 1961 the school was significantly enlarged by the addition of three classrooms, an entrance foyer and classroom facilities. In 1997 a conservatory was added which is called Woodpecker Classroom and has an outdoor classroom and enclosed garden attached to it.  Additional building work in 2005 saw the addition of a fourth classroom and a new hall and re-designed Reception/Year 1 classroom and outdoor area.  A new library and meeting room has also been developed to further improve the learning environment for our pupils and staff.

The school grounds are extensive and have been developed over the years. They include a tarmac play area, a very large grassed area for sports and games, an Early Years enclosed garden with an all- weather surface and garden areas off all the lower ground floor classrooms. The wild area continues to develop with the inclusion of a ‘Chill out Zone’, a log creative play zone, a story-telling seating area and a trim trail. Playtimes and lunchtimes are structured to allow for a variety of physical activities through designated activity zones. Throughout the year children are encouraged to be active and wellingtons help to ensure that all the grounds can be accessed at all times.

Currently, there are 107 pupils on roll aged 4 to 11 years of age. Children transfer to a wide range of secondary schools which now include Sarum Academy,  Warminster Kingdown, Lavington, Devizes, Stonehenge, Amesbury, St. Edmunds Girls, St. Josephs RC  or South Wilts and Bishop Wordsworth Grammar schools if pupils are entered (by parents) and are successful at the 11+ examination. Our pupils come from the villages of Great Wishford and the surrounding villages of South Newton, Stoford, Stapleford, Berwick St. James and Winterbourne Stoke. We also have had children from Wilton, Warminster, Amesbury and Netherhampton as well as areas of Salisbury. 

Alongside our aspiration for every pupil we have, as a Church school, a caring ethos expressed in the quality of relationships. It is our intention that Christian values should quietly permeate the whole process of education and enhance the quality of curriculum on offer.  Daily Collective Worship is led by the Head teacher, staff, clergy and ‘The Open Book’ Community Group. We also welcome outside speakers from a range of organisations.

The school in the wider community

The school has close links with the village church. We have a committed Governing Body and enthusiastic ‘Friends’ group.

Grovely Pre-school rent our Early Years room and feed into the school. They were graded ‘Good’ in their last inspection.

The school has many connections with the wider community and takes part annually in the traditional village Oak Apple Day celebrations on May 29th. The Oak Apple museum is located the school.

We have links with Salisbury Playhouse through the small schools music festival and the Playhouse drama project . The school participates in a wide range of competitive sporting events both internally and through our cluster.

The school achieved a ‘Good’ OFSTED grading in January 2014.  We recently joined the Acorn Education Trust and with its support, the school community is united in its drive to raise standards, embedding good practice and building on it. We look forward to the opportunities that membership of the Academy Trust will bring.