THE number of privately educated pupils at Bishop Wordsworth’s School has fallen for the fourth consecutive year.

Figures obtained by the Journal, via a Freedom of Information request, show that of the Year 7 intake starting in September, 19 per cent went to a private school, compared to just under a third in 2012.

The number of girls privately educated at South Wilts School remained at 21 per cent for a second year — up from 13 per cent in 2012.

St Mark’s Junior School sent a total of 23 children combined to the grammar schools, the most out of any schools in Salisbury. The large city centre school has three classes per year, equal most out of any in the area. Harnham Junior provided the second most pupils with 17 — the school also has three form entry.

Of single class schools Downton and New Forest primary schools both sent five pupils each to Bishop Wordsworth’s while Whiteparish All Saints sent seven pupils to South Wilts.

Leaden Hall was the leading private school for girls, sending seven to South Wilts — mixed school Leehurst Swan sent nine pupils to Bishop Wordsworth’s. It is the first time in four years state school St Mark’s has sent more boys to grammar school than Leehurst Swan.

Analysis also shows the number of children going to Bishop Wordsworth’s from schools outside postcodes SP1 to SP6 was 19 per cent.

The same statistic reveals 20 per cent of girls from South Wilts went to school away from Salisbury and the surrounding areas.

One South Wilts pupil attended primary school in Calne while Hurstbourne Tarrant Primary School, around a six miles north east of Andover sent two pupils to Bishop Wordsworth’s in addition to one last year.

Highfield Primary School in the centre of Southampton has now sent four pupils to Bishop Wordsworth’s in four years.

Both grammar schools also receive far less deprivation pupil premium, calculated by children eligible for free school meals, than the national average.

Only 1.6 per cent of children at Bishop’s and 3.2 per cent at South Wilts are eligible. The average across Salisbury schools is 16 per cent. The school which claims the most pupil premium is Sarum Academy with 45.5 per cent.

Bishop’s received an added £9,350 from the government in funding through the pupil premium. South Wilts got £18,700. In comparison Sarum Academy received £146,795.

For a full list of the 2015 Year 7 intake for both South Wilts and Bishop's click here.