Downe House, Thatcham
Downe House is an independent school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Thatcham. It has a Church of England religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2024.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Downe House in detail
Downe House in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 14 November 2026, an open evening on Saturday 14 November 2026, an open day on Saturday 23 January 2027 and an open evening on Saturday 23 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in West Berkshire
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Downe House can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Downe House are Brockhurst and Marlston House Schools (1.6 miles), St Gabriel's School (4.5 miles) and Elstree School (4.9 miles).
Brockhurst and Marlston House SchoolsSt Gabriel's SchoolElstree School
Where pupils go next
Of the 88 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 48% went on to university or other higher education and 15% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 141 pupils (26.4%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Newbury Racecourse Rail Station, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Downehouse School, 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Downe House stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, other theft and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Berkshire (26).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
12 November 2024
Regulatory Compliance
15 September 2021
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
28 February 2017
Focused Compliance Inspection
28 February 2017
About
Downe House School is a private girls' boarding and day school in Cold Ash near Newbury, Berkshire, for girls aged 11–18. Entrance is selective, and the school has an enrollment of 559.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£34,863
about £11,621 a term
Boarding fees, per year
£63,228
| Full boarding fees per term | £63,228 a year |
| Day fees per term | £34,863 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in West Berkshire - 3 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Latest from Downe House
It’s a Knockout!
22 Sep 2026
Academic Enrichment Fair
18 Sep 2026
GCSE Results 2026
20 Aug 2026
A Level Results 2026
13 Aug 2026
Inspiring People
22 Jun 2026
Working with Parents
15 Jun 2026
From Downe House's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Downe House
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
88%
Available places
535 pupils
610 places
75 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Thatcham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thatcham
Across West Berkshire council
Places available
2,143
Applications
1,680
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across West Berkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
141
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
26.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
535
Total Pupils
0
Boys
535
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Downe House
What are GCSE results like at Downe House?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Downe House can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Downe House last inspected?
Downe House is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2024.
How many pupils go to Downe House?
Downe House has around 535 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Downe House?
Downe House is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Downe House?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Downe House?
Downe House is at Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9JJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)