Downs Barn School, Milton Keynes
Downs Barn School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 7 in Milton Keynes. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2024. It was 70% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Milton Keynes (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Downs Barn School in detail
Getting a place at Downs Barn School
For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Downs Barn School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Downs Barn School are Southwood School (0.3 miles, Good, 75% reading, 83% maths); St Monica's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 82% reading, 80% maths); Brooksward School (0.6 miles, 80% reading, 82% maths); and Germander Park School (0.7 miles, Good).
Southwood SchoolSt Monica's Catholic Primary SchoolBrooksward SchoolGermander Park School
Who goes there
70.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (41%), Black (23%) and White British (14%).
In 2026, 11 pupils (11.5%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Downs Barn School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Milton Keynes Central Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Darley Gate (nw-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 424 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Milton Keynes (156), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Downs Barn School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
28.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.3
Avg class size
20.0
Infant (KS1)
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Downs Barn School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Downs Barn School.
- Genesis Childcare640m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Downs Barn School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Downs Barn School is in Milton Keynes; for families living there:
- Milton Keynes's school travel policy: School Travel Support Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 8 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 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
Your chances of a place at Downs Barn School
Will you get a place at Downs Barn School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Downs Barn School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Downs Barn School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Downs Barn School.
- Milton Keynes publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Downs Barn School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Downs Barn School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Milton Keynes got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
53 pupils
76 places
23 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Milton Keynes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Milton Keynes
Across Milton Keynes council
Places available
4,130
Applications
3,155
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Milton Keynes council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
11.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
96
Total Pupils
47
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
16.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,293
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,365
Per pupil
£522k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.2%
Overall absence
29.5%
Persistent absence
44
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Downs Barn School
Questions parents ask about Downs Barn School
What is Downs Barn School's Ofsted rating?
Downs Barn School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024.
What is the catchment area for Downs Barn School?
No fixed boundary. When Downs Barn School is oversubscribed, Milton Keynes allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Downs Barn School?
Downs Barn School was not full in 2025: it ran at 70% of its 76 places.
How big are the classes at Downs Barn School?
Classes at Downs Barn School average 21.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Downs Barn School?
Downs Barn School has around 96 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Downs Barn School?
7.2% of sessions were missed at Downs Barn School in 2024/25. 29.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Downs Barn School?
Apply through Milton Keynes's coordinated admissions process, naming Downs Barn School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Downs Barn School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Downs Barn School: Genesis Childcare (640m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Downs Barn School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 8 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Downs Barn School?
Downs Barn School is at 69 Downs Barns Boulevard, Downs Barn, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK14 7NA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)