Downsway Primary School

About Downsway Primary School

Downsway Primary School sits comfortably above the West Berkshire average for its key stage 2 results, with 70% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the local authority average of 57%. That 13-point gap is a meaningful indicator of solid, consistent teaching. The school also performs well on the higher standard, with 7% of pupils achieving that top tier across all three subjects. In reading and maths specifically, average scores of 107 and 106 respectively suggest pupils are generally hitting above the national benchmark. Within West Berkshire, Downsway ranks 17th out of 57 primary schools, placing it in the top third locally and the top 30% nationally. It is not among the very highest performers — the top three schools in the area all score above 80 on the ranking metric — but it is a reliable, above-average option for families who want results that clearly exceed the norm.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2013, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, so the quality of education has held steady over a decade. The previous inspection in 2011 had rated it Requires Improvement, meaning the school has clearly turned a corner and sustained that improvement. On the academic side, the key stage 2 data shows particular strength in reading, where 83% of pupils met the expected standard and 33% reached the higher standard. Maths is slightly behind, with 80% at expected and 30% at higher. Writing is the weakest area, with 73% at expected and just 7% at higher. There is no progress score data available, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw outcomes are solid.

Downsway is a small school, with 214 pupils against a capacity of 216, and it is oversubscribed: for 30 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 93 applications, all of whom put it as their first preference. That is a 3.1 oversubscription ratio, so securing a place is competitive. The school offers a range of facilities including a forest school, music rooms, a gymnasium and a chapel, and runs clubs in science, drama and choir. Sports provision covers football, dance, gymnastics, tennis, cricket, cross country and rounders. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, hearing impairment, autism and other difficulties. This is a school that suits families who want strong but not elite academic outcomes, a full extracurricular offer, and a clear track record of sustained improvement in a popular local setting.

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