The Downs School, Newbury
Data last updated 16 Mar 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
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.
A plain-English summary of the full inspection report is coming soon.
At a Glance
10.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
309 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
21.6
Avg class size
57
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
110%
Over capacity
1,437 pupils
1,307 capacity
130 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Newbury
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Newbury
Admissions Demand - West Berkshire
Places available
2,143
Applications
1,749
Got 1st preference
88.3%
Got preferred school
97.4%
Secondary admissions across West Berkshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.01311%
Overall absence
15.39188%
Persistent absence
1,059
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Downs School
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.