What is The Downs School's Ofsted rating?

The Downs School received a Outstanding rating from Ofsted following its 2013 inspection.

What do parents say about The Downs School?

Ofsted Parent View (Sept 2025, 309 responses): 93% of parents would recommend The Downs School.

What are The Downs School's latest exam results?

The Downs School: GCSE 2024/25: Attainment 8 53.3. Check the source and academic year shown with each result.

Where is The Downs School located?

The Downs School is a secondary school in Newbury, West Berkshire (RG20 6AD).

How many pupils attend The Downs School?

The Downs School has around 1,437 pupils on roll according to the latest school census data.

How can I compare The Downs School with other schools?

View The Downs School's full profile on FavSchools for available results and school details, then use the comparison tool or interactive map to explore nearby alternatives in West Berkshire.

SecondaryData as of May 2026

The Downs School

Manor Crescent, Compton, Newbury, RG20 6AD

Foundation school · Ages 11–18 · Non-selective · Mixed

Ofsted

Outstanding

Jun 2013

Historical inspection outcome; read the latest report for the full findings.

Academic picture

53.3school · 46.0 national reference

Attainment 8 · 2024/25. Average GCSE points across eight subjects, not a percentage.

Why is Progress 8 unavailable?

Progress 8 is unavailable nationally for this year because the cohort's KS2 baseline tests were cancelled. This is not a negative judgement on the school.

Explore results and trends

Before you apply

Confirm entry-year admission rules, places and selection requirements with the school or local authority.

Exam Results

Official performance data from the Department for Education

GCSE Results (Secondary)

Key performance measures— 2024/25

Attainment 8

53.3

Progress 8?

N/A

9-7 Grades

30.7%

Basics 9-5

53.4%

Exam attainment

Attainment 8 · GCSE points across eight subjects, not a percentage or a measure of progress.

School · 2024/25

53.3

National · same year

46.0

SchoolNational reference

View data by year

Attainment 8 values by academic year
Year	School	National
2022/23	57.1	46.4
2023/24	52.6	46.4
2024/25	53.3	46.0

Learning progress

Progress 8 · Progress compared with pupils who had similar prior attainment. Zero is the national progress baseline.

School · 2024/25

Not available

National · same year

Not available

SchoolNational reference

View data by year

Progress 8 values by academic year
Year	School	National
2022/23	+0.78	0.00
2023/24	+0.32	0.00
2024/25	Not available	Not available

Progress 8 is unavailable for 2024/25 because the cohort's KS2 baseline tests were cancelled nationally. Missing values are not zero.

Grades at or above each threshold

These percentages overlap: grades 9–7 are also included in 9–5 and 9–4. Do not add the lines together.

9–7% / 9–5% / 9–4% available from 2023/24; no grade breakdown for 2022/23

EBacc Measures

EBacc Entry

72.3%

EBacc APS

4.97

EBacc 9-5

29.1%

EBacc 9-4

43.2%

How to read Progress 8 vs Attainment 8Two numbers, two different stories. The 6-min explainer for parents.

A-Level Results (Post-16)

Key A-Level performance measures— 2024/25

APS per Entry

39.09

A*-A Grades

37.7%

A*-B Grades

64.3%

AAB+ %

26.3%

APS per Entry

National avgSelective avg

Grade Distribution (%)

A*-A% / A*-B% available from 2023/24; no grade breakdown for 2022/23

Based on 197 students entered

Community & Reviews

What parents say and who teaches here

Location & Area

Explore the neighbourhood around the school

Data shown for guidance only · confirm details with the school before applying

Nearby secondary schools

Closest alternatives within 15 km.

Priors Court School

6.7 km away · Other independent special school

Cranford School

8.27 km away · Other independent school

Downe House

8.63 km away · Other independent school

St Birinus School

9.84 km away · Academy converter

Good

Mary Hare School

9.97 km away · Non-maintained special school

Good

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