Welcome

At The Downs School, we give all our students the very best start in life, to help them develop into well-rounded young adults, able to venture into a rapidly changing world with confidence and determination.

These principles are summed up in our vision:

'Educating today’s young people for the world of tomorrow'.

Set in the heart of the West Berkshire Downs, The Downs School is a special place where, I am proud to say, the staff are totally committed to excellence and achievement at all levels.

Ofsted has judged us as “outstanding” in every category, but we are not a school that wants to stand still. We know that there is always more to do to ensure that every child’s educational experience is rich, character-building and of the highest possible standard. We are striving to move “beyond outstanding” through our philosophy of:

“Learning together, learning for life”.

The school provides a balanced approach to the pursuit of excellence by offering an interesting, challenging and lively curriculum.

Students gain academic, creative, sporting and social skills, both in and out of the classroom, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience for all.

In 2022 both our GCSE and A Level students achieved a remarkable set of exam results, reflecting the real dedication they have shown to their studies, as well as the incredible resilience they have shown in sitting their first formal exams and assessments after the disruption of the pandemic.   At GCSE an incredible 16% of all examinations taken resulted in grades 8 or 9 (A* and above); 30% of entries were grades 9 - 7 (A and above); 71% of entries were grades 9 – 5 (A*-B); and 86% of entries were grades 9 – 4 (A*-C).

In all, 84% of students achieved at least the standard pass 4 – 9 (C to above A*) in English and Mathematics, and some 62% achieved the strong pass 5 – 9 (B to above A*) in both subjects.

At A Level an impressive 13% of entries gained A* grades, 41% A*-A grades, 73% A*- B grades and 92% A*-C grades.  At BTEC 58% of entries gained a Distinction*-Distinction. The A*-B results are even more outstanding because they are actually higher than last year’s Teacher Assessed Grades.

Our high-performing school is founded on the strength of relationships between staff, students and parents. We respect the trust placed upon us by parents who actively choose our school for their children. We work in partnership with our students who contribute to the decision-making in the school, ensuring that they feel valued and confident. Despite our size, we pride ourselves on our small school feel.

I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher of such a vibrant school community and encourage you to make a visit to see us in action; we very much look forward to welcoming you and your family to The Downs School.

Mr C Prosser - Headteacher