Schools by area › Luton › Downside Primary School
Downside Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Community school
Chaul End Lane, Luton LU4 8EZ · downside-primary.co.uk · 01582 587160
Overview
- Ofsted
- Improved significantly
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 79%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Luton 65%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,015
- 97% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Luton
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 20.5%
- First language not English
- 35%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 126 families put the school first and 133 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 133 | 126 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 127 | 122 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 131 | 127 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 138 | 134 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 116 | 113 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 79% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 14% the higher standard. Across Luton it was 65%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲79% | 62% | ||
| ▲14% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 6 November 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Downside Primary School was: Improved significantly.
- Outcome
- Improved significantly
- Inspected
- 5 Nov 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective May 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good May 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (32 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 88%
- Replies
- 32
- 3% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 87% who raised concerns
based on the 59% who had a child bullied