The Trafalgar School at Downton, Salisbury
The Trafalgar School at Downton is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Salisbury, part of Magna Learning Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2023. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 4th-highest of the 7 schools in Salisbury with published results, and 1,698th of 3,298 across England. It was full in 2025, at 106% of capacity.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 offers for September 2027: Monday 1 March 2027
Applications closed on 31 October. Late applications are still accepted but considered after on-time ones.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
The Trafalgar School at Downton in detail
The Trafalgar School at Downton in its own words
In its own words: "As a community we both understand and accept our responsibilities for the environment. Our Great Green Charter demonstrates our commitment to global citizenship and sustainability."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at The Trafalgar School at Downton averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Wiltshire and 47 across England.
45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Wiltshire and 47% in England.
That is up from 44.3 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.02: pupils made about 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 28.4, against 49.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 20.7 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.
Getting a place at The Trafalgar School at Downton
For September 2026 entry, 130 families put The Trafalgar School at Downton as their first choice and 369 named it as one of their preferences, for 144 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at The Trafalgar School at Downton
The trust
The Trafalgar School at Downton is one of 11 schools run by Magna Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41 in 2024/25.
Where pupils go next
Of the 146 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.
Who goes there
13.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 96 pupils (11.9%) received SEN support and 62 (7.7%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Trafalgar School at Downton.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Trafalgar School (gnds), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 9 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Wiltshire (34).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Trafalgar School at Downton issued 109 suspensions, 13.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to The Trafalgar School at Downton are Downton CofE VA Primary School (0.2 miles) and Morgan's Vale and Woodfalls Church of England Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Downton CofE VA Primary SchoolMorgan's Vale and Woodfalls Church of England Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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
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
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The Trafalgar School at Downton is truly a community school. Honest and just leadership is at the heart of this improving organisation. Senior leaders know their school and the community exceptionally well. They have utilised this to improve provision effectively following the last inspection. Consequently, the way the curriculum is taught has improved rapidly. Pupils learn the curriculum well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Pupils value the family ethos of this school. They contribute to calm, purposeful lessons. Pupils are attentive and conduct themselves well. Many aspire to achieve and take pride in their work, particularly in subjects where teachers' expectations are highest. Pupils rightly say they feel safe. Occasionally, pupils need reminding to adhere to the school's high expectations of behaviour. Most pupils and parents rightly say that bullying is not an issue. When it does happen, leaders take appropriate action.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders' work on the curriculum is rooted in the high ambition of helping pupils achieve a 'life fulfilled through empowerment'. Leaders secure this by prioritising a broad and balanced learning experience for all pupils, including those with SEND. Leaders are appropriately focused on raising expectations and improving consistency in provision. Trustees and local governors add value to leaders' work through careful and precise challenge. They look to ensure all pupils achieve as well as they can academically and holistically.
Subject leaders are supported well to plan effective sequences of learning in their subjects. They provide regular and ongoing high-quality training to help teachers strengthen their subject knowledge and be effective teachers for pupils with SEND. Consequently, teachers are skilled and know what is expected of them. They rightly feel valued as members of this ambitious learning community.
From Ofsted's July 2023 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
About
The Trafalgar School at Downton is a coeducational secondary school in Downton, in the south of the English county of Wiltshire.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
13.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from 0.18 to -0.02 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 47.4 to 45.7 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 50% to 45% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 45.7 | 44.6% |
| Disadvantaged(26) | - | 28.4 | 15.4% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(131) | - | 49.1 | 50.4% |
| Boys(75) | - | 41.9 | 37.3% |
| Girls(82) | - | 49.1 | 51.2% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(149) | - | 46.4 | 46.3% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 146 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
0
Permanent exclusions
0.00%
Exclusion rate
109
Suspensions
13.73%
Suspension rate
46 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 794 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with The Trafalgar School at Downton
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to The Trafalgar School at Downton, with their latest published grades:
- Giant Steps Nursery - Day nursery, under 0.1 milesOfsted, 16 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Giant Steps on The Borough - Day nursery, 0.2 milesOfsted report card, 16 June 2026: Strong standard in 3 areas, Expected standard in 3 areas; safeguarding standards met
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Trafalgar School at Downton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Trafalgar School at Downton is in Wiltshire; for families living there:
Apply to Wiltshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at The Trafalgar School at Downton
Will you get a place at The Trafalgar School at Downton?
For 2026 entry it had 130 first choices for 144 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
106%
Over capacity
790 pupils
745 places
45 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Wiltshire council
Places available
6,150
Applications
4,934
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All secondary applications across Wiltshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Downton Secondary planning area (Wiltshire) will need 75 more secondary places than it is due to have in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
96
SEN Support
62
EHC Plans
19.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
808
Total Pupils
409
Boys
399
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
53
Teachers
15.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,221
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,708
Per pupil
£5606k
Total funding
£123k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
22.5%
Persistent absence
826
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Trafalgar School at Downton
Questions parents ask about The Trafalgar School at Downton
What are GCSE results like at The Trafalgar School at Downton?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Trafalgar School at Downton achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.7. 45% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Trafalgar School at Downton's Ofsted rating?
The Trafalgar School at Downton was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2023.
Is it hard to get a place at The Trafalgar School at Downton?
The Trafalgar School at Downton was full in 2025, at 106% of its 745 places.
How big are the classes at The Trafalgar School at Downton?
Classes at The Trafalgar School at Downton average 26 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Trafalgar School at Downton?
The Trafalgar School at Downton has around 808 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Trafalgar School at Downton?
8.6% of sessions were missed at The Trafalgar School at Downton in 2024/25. 22.5% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near The Trafalgar School at Downton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Trafalgar School at Downton?
The Trafalgar School at Downton is at Breamore Road, Downton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 3HN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)