Schools by area › West Berkshire › The Downs School
The Downs School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Manor Crescent, Compton, Newbury RG20 6AD · thedownsschool.org · 01635 270000
On the mapSearch near RG20 6AD
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 53.4
- average Attainment 8 score. West Berkshire 48, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Capacity
- 1,307
- Local authority
- West Berkshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 249 families put the school first and 204 places were offered; 79% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 204 | 249 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 201 | 244 | 1.2▲ | 78% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 205 | 259 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 205 | 234 | 1.1▲ | 82% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 206 | 250 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 53.4, and 54.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Berkshire it was 48, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (39.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲53.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲54.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲77.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲72.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.98 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 110102)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 70.4 | −2.2 |
| Sixth form college | 1 | −0.1 |
| Further education | 21.8 | +8.4 |
| Other education | 1 | −0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.9 | +1.2 |
| Employment | 0.5 | −4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 0.5 | −3.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.9 | +0.2 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 110102)
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186 students | B (39.1) | Above average +0.18 | |
| 186 students | B (39.2) | Above average +0.18 | |
| 58 students | Dist- (31.8) | Average +0.09 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 152 | B- (38.2) | +0.18 |
| 2022/23 | 148 | B (39.6) | — |
| 2021/22 | 138 | B (41.6) | — |
| 2018/19 | 119 | B- (35.8) | -0.03 |
| 2017/18 | 145 | B- (37.5) | +0.14 |
| 2016/17 | 149 | C+ (33.8) | +0.04 |
| 2015/16 | 180 | C+ (32.5) | -0.07 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 110102)
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 59 | +2 |
| Further education | 0.6 | −0.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.1 | −0.9 |
| Employment | 28.6 | −1.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.8 | +2.8 |
| Activity not captured | 1.9 | −1.4 |
Published for the predecessor school (URN 110102)
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Downs School on 1 October 2024 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 1 Oct 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 110102)
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jun 2013
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 110102), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Jun 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 110102)
Nov 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 110102)