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

Celebrations are underway at The Downs School, as students mark yet another year of GCSE and vocational examination success, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

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.

Headteacher Chris Prosser commented, ‘Throughout their school careers, the students in this Year Group have always demonstrated our values and excelled in everything they have done. They have been a huge credit to the school.  I am so pleased they achieved the exam results they deserve. My staff and I could not be more proud of them. They have faced up to all the challenges of the pandemic with immense resilience, determination and courage.

‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of staff who have worked so hard to teach and support the students in this Year Group. It is also a time to celebrate the really successful partnership we have forged with our students’ parents and carers. These results are a real team effort.’


148 students sat A Level examinations or BTECs at The Downs School this year and once again the students have achieved an outstanding set of 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.  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.
 

Key Stage 4 (GCSE and L2 BTEC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Measure

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.30

0.16

0.35

0.07

N/A

N/A

0.54

Attainment 8 Score

57.2

53

54.5

53

56.98

60.16

55.74

% students attaining 4+ in English and Maths

74%

79%

85%

80%

83%

89%

84%

% students attaining 5+ in English and Maths

N/A

58%

59%

56%

64%

75%

62%

EBacc APS

N/A

4.75

4.74

4.63

4.95

5.22

4.71

% students entered for EBacc

N/A

42%

41%

36%

35%

37%

29%

 
 
KS5 Results
 

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’.

Key Stage 5 (A Level and L3 BTEC)              
Performance Measure 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Number of students 169 139 142 120 159 155 148
ALPS score (teaching quality score) At around 50th percentile In top 25% of schools In top 25% of schools In top 40% of schools In top 5% of schools In top 5% of schools 2
Average Point Score per student 32.4 (C+) 33.8 (C+) 37.4 (B-) 36.57 (B-) 40.35 (B) 43.01 (B+) 41.49 (B)
A* grades 5.2% 6.3% 8.8% 9.4% 12.3% 19.6% 13%
A*-A grades 26.2% 30.8% 32.6% 27.2% 38.8% 49.6% 41%
A*-C grades 79% 80.6% 82.4% 74.1% 88.7% 90.5% 92%
Pass rate 98.1% 97.3% 97.7% 99.1% 100% 100% 99%

 

Leavers Destinations Information 2122 - 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 2122 - 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.

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