Exam results, performance tables and destinations info

The Downs School is a high performing school, with a consistently strong record of academic success at both GCSE and A Level. We are very proud of the high percentage pass rates achieved by our students, due to the excellence and diligence of our teaching staff, the hard work of our students and the partnership between staff and parents.

KS4 Results

The Downs School is celebrating as its Year Eleven students receive some phenomenal GCSE and vocational results.

An incredible 18% of all examinations taken resulted in grades 8 or 9; 33% of entries were grades 9 - 7; 72% of entries were grades 9 – 5; and 84% of entries were grades 9 – 4. 67% of students achieved grades 5 and above in both English and Mathematics.

Headteacher Chris Prosser commented, ‘Despite the well-publicised harsher grading standards this year, our wonderful students have performed brilliantly, achieving even stronger results than were achieved last year. Our students continue to build on our tradition of academic excellence and exceeding our expectations.  I am so proud of each and every one of them: they are all resilient, inspiring and talented young people.

‘The students, staff and parents all worked so hard to make these results happen. It has been a real team effort! Our students’ achievements epitomise what The Downs School stands for: strong partnerships, resilience and desire to achieve at all levels. As a school community we feel a huge sense of achievement because we know that all our Year 11 students have the knowledge, skills and attributes to allow them to achieve success in the next stage of their careers. I am pleased to say that many of them will be continuing this journey with us, staying on in The Downs School Sixth Form.’

Key Stage 4 (GCSE and L2 BTEC)
Performance Measure	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Progress 8 Score	0.30	0.16	0.35	0.07	N/A	N/A	0.38	0.43
Attainment 8 Score	57.2	53	54.5	53	56.98	60.16	55.74	57.07
% students attaining 4+ in English and Maths	74%	79%	85%	80%	83%	89%	84%	86%
% students attaining 5+ in English and Maths	N/A	58%	59%	56%	64%	75%	62%	67%
EBacc APS	N/A	4.75	4.74	4.63	4.95	5.22	4.71	5.17
% students entered for EBacc	N/A	42%	41%	36%	35%	37%	29%	55%

Headteacher Chris Prosser said, ‘Congratulations to all our students on achieving such an incredible set of results, in what has been a really challenging two years.  The resilience they have shown under such conditions is remarkable.  They are all exceptional, inspiring and talented young people and we couldn’t be prouder of them.  My biggest pleasure is knowing that all our students are fully equipped to achieve great things in their chosen destinations, whether that will be university, apprenticeships or employment; I look forward to hearing about their future successes’.

Head of Sixth Form Pete Hogan said, ‘These are amazing results which all the students should be incredibly proud of. It cannot be underestimated the impact of not having sat their GCSE exams and having experienced a period of online learning during Year 12. The collective positive ethos has always been impressive in this wonderful cohort of students, and it has been a pleasure to be their Head of Sixth Form over the last two years. Their hard work, courage, and sheer ambition have paid off.  I know that all the staff at The Downs Sixth Form are so pleased for them and wish them all the very best for the future’.

Leavers Destinations Information 21/22 - Year 11

Number of students	Joined The Downs School Sixth Form	Joined another Sixth Form	Continued education abroad	Joined FE College	Started apprenticeships	Employment	NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
180	105	35	0	32	5	2	2

 

Leavers Destinations Information 21/22 - Year 13

Number of students	Went to university*	FE College	Gap Year	Employment	NEET	Apprenticeships
149	119	2	11	3	1	12

*53% of students accepted a place at a Russell Group/1994 Group University; 2 went to Oxbridge; 8 took up places on Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine courses

Given the uneven impact of the pandemic on school and college performance data, the government has said you should not make direct comparisons between the performance data for one school or college and another, or to data from previous years.