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.
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Key Stage 4 (GCSE and L2 BTEC) |
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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 |
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% 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% |
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EBacc APS |
N/A |
4.75 |
4.74 |
4.63 |
4.95 |
5.22 |
4.71 |
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% students entered for EBacc |
N/A |
42% |
41% |
36% |
35% |
37% |
29% |
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.
