The Downs School
110%
Capacity
1,437
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About The Downs School
The Downs School in West Berkshire earned an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2024, with every assessed category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision — judged Outstanding. Leadership and management were rated Good. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.32 is the most telling academic metric, placing it well above the local authority average of 0.02 and ranking it second out of nine secondary schools in West Berkshire. Nationally, it sits in the top 25% of schools for Progress 8, and within the South East region it ranks 125th out of 461 schools. This means pupils here, on average, achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points nationally — a strong signal of consistent academic value added.
At GCSE, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 52.6, and 78.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 4.86, and 70.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, though only 38.3% achieved a grade 5 or above in it. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly strong: the average A-level grade per entry is B-, with a points per entry score of 38.15. The best three A-levels average out to a grade B, and the school’s value-added score of 0.18 is rated above average. Ofsted noted that sixth-form provision is Outstanding, and 24.3% of entries achieved at least AAB. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 93% would recommend the school, and 91% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there.
The school is oversubscribed, with 419 applications for 201 places in 2025/26, and 190 first-preference offers made from 244 first-preference applications — a ratio of just over two applicants per place. Facilities include a sixth-form centre, sports hall, astro turf, science labs, and art studios, and the school runs clubs ranging from Duke of Edinburgh and Model UN to choir and debate. The SEND register covers a broad range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 10.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively mixed intake. The Downs is a good fit for families who want a large, high-performing comprehensive with a strong sixth form and a clear track record of academic progress above the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Manor Crescent, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG20 6AD |
| Headteacher | Chris Prosser |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,437 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,437 / 1,307 (110% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.32)
804th of 3,141
Nationally
125th of 461
In South East
2nd of 9
In West Berkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.6
'22/23
39.6
'23/24
38.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 178 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)69%
- FE college12%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment3%
- Sixth form college2%
- Not sustained2%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 148 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
29%
Russell Group
34%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)58%
- Employment29%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology52
- Mathematics38
- Geography30
- Economics28
- History28
- Psychology27
- Biology26
- Physics26
- Chemistry21
- Business Studies:Single19
- Law18
- Logic / Philosophy18
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
309 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed201
419
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
244 families put this school as their 1st choice (58% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:15
Source: thedownsschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.3%
- White (other)5.2%
- Mixed3.7%
- Asian1.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Downs School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Manor Crescent, Newbury
West Berkshire, RG20 6AD
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