The Downs School has closed (Tuesday 31 March 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now The Downs School.
The Downs School, Newbury
The Downs School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Newbury. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 2nd-highest of the 5 schools in Newbury with published results, and 514th of 3,298 across England. For 2025 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was 98% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
- Progress (2024)
- Above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 4 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to West Berkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
The Downs School in detail
The Downs School in its own words
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 17 November 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 2 December 2026. 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
In 2026, pupils at The Downs School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.3 in West Berkshire and 47 across England.
65% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in West Berkshire and 47% in England.
That is up from 53.4 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.32: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40.9, against 56.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.3 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.
Getting a place at The Downs School
For September 2025 entry, 244 families put The Downs School as their first choice and 419 named it as one of their preferences, for 201 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 54 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
What parents say
309 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Downs School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 206 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 22% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.
Of the 161 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 59% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 29% into work. 41% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
8.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 158 pupils (11%) received SEN support and 41 (2.9%) 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 autism.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Downs School.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Downs School, 190 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Berkshire (26).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Downs School issued 56 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2013 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
About
The Downs School is a comprehensive secondary school in the village of Compton, Berkshire, England. It is a state school run by West Berkshire Education Authority.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
8.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
309 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from 0.78 to 0.32 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 57.1 to 54.7 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 65% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 54.7 | 65.4% |
| Disadvantaged(20) | - | 40.9 | 30% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(185) | - | 56.2 | 69.2% |
| Boys(115) | - | 53.9 | 65.2% |
| Girls(90) | - | 55.8 | 65.6% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(203) | - | 54.7 | 65.5% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 7 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 206 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
56
Suspensions
3.90%
Suspension rate
22 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,437 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with The Downs School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Downs School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Downs School is in West Berkshire; for families living there:
Apply to West Berkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at The Downs School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
1,439 pupils
1,474 places
35 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Newbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newbury
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.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
158
SEN Support
41
EHC Plans
13.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,434
Total Pupils
763
Boys
671
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
94
Teachers
15.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,555
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,642
Per pupil
£7211k
Total funding
£115k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.0%
Overall absence
15.4%
Persistent absence
1,059
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about The Downs School
What are GCSE results like at The Downs School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Downs School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 54.7. 65% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Downs School's Ofsted rating?
The Downs School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Downs School?
No fixed boundary. When The Downs School is oversubscribed, West Berkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at The Downs School?
The Downs School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at The Downs School?
Classes at The Downs School average 23.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Downs School?
The Downs School has around 1434 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Downs School?
7% of sessions were missed at The Downs School in 2024/25. 15.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Downs School?
Apply through West Berkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Downs School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
Where is The Downs School?
The Downs School is at Manor Crescent, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 6AD.