Welcome to The Downs School
At the Downs School we are fully committed to the vision of 'Educating today’s students for the world of tomorrow', continuing to build on our long-standing track record of outstanding outcomes for our students. Through support, advice and guidance we help our students to become the young adults they aspire to be, preparing them to be valuable members of society and supporting them to reach their destinations of choice. Our holistic approach, through excellent academic teaching, personal development, extensive leadership opportunities, and our FutureU programme ensures that students develop and display the skills and attributes fundamental to their future success.'Students’ outcomes in A level and applied vocational qualifications are exceptional.' Ofsted, 2024
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Boarding Type
No Boarder
School Type
Foundation school
Suitable Ages
11 to 18
Gender
Mixed
No. of Students
1,437 Total
No. of Boys
758 (52.7%)
No. of Girls
679 (47.3%)
Academic Excellence
GCSE Results
Latest Examination
26.7%
Students achieving A*/A grades (9/8/7)
A-Level Results
Sixth Form Performance
A* grades
13.83%
A*/A grades
31.07%
Leavers' Destinations
Destinations after GCSEs
Staying in education
88%
School
79%
England
Apprenticeships
2%
School
3%
England
Further education
School sixth form
Sixth form college
Other education destinations
Destinations after A-Levels
UK higher education
49%
School
1%
England
Apprenticeships
4%
School
19%
England
Higher education or training
Further education
Employment
Not sustained in education/employment
Courses
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Exciting Events Ahead!
A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.
Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.
Updates Coming Soon!
A detailed admissions process on ApplicaaOne is coming soon.
Please see our website for more information on our admissions process.
Term Dates & Half-Term Holidays
Planning ahead for school holidays? Below are the term dates and half-term dates for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Autumn
1 terms
Half Term 1
Sep 4 - Dec 18
Spring
1 terms
Half Term 1
Jan 5 - Mar 27
Summer
1 terms
Half Term 1
Apr 13 - Jul 21
Half-Term & Holiday Dates
Autumn Half Term
Oct 24 - Nov 3
Christmas Holiday
Dec 19 - Jan 2
Spring Half Term
Feb 16 - Feb 20
Easter Holiday
Mar 30 - Apr 10
Summer Half Term
May 25 - May 29
Alumni Stories
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Updates Coming Soon!
We’ll be sharing information about the destinations of our alumni here soon.
Enrichment Activities
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Exciting Enrichment Activities Coming Soon!
Stay tune! We'll be sharing information about exciting enrichment activities soon.
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About School
| Region | South East |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Mixed |