WHAT? WHERE?

A co-ed day school for pupils aged 7-16, Downsend School in Leatherhead has undergone some major transformations over recent years. In 2020, the school expanded to offer a GCSE programme – now fully ensconced and thriving. And this combined with the addition of a wonderful array of new facilities has really elevated the school.

It’s a dynamic school that expertly blends tradition with modern, forward-thinking and holistic education, and a truly global outlook. Downsend School has one eye firmly focussed on the future and programmes are in place to prepare pupils for everything that will bring.

The main school is on the A24 Leatherhead Road, minutes from junction 9 of the M25, giving easy access to Dorking, Epsom, Cobham and surrounding villages. This is home to pupils from Years 3 to 11.

The main school is divided into the Junior and Senior schools which are in separate, but connected buildings. There’s a real feeling of unity here.

Of the 660 children, it’s a pretty even mix of girls and boys. There are between 3-4 classes in each year group, with an average class size of 17 students. It was an all-boys school until 1988, when girls joined.

FACILITIES

Downsend is set on a 13 acre site, and it makes the most of every inch of space. The main school building was originally the home of the Linford family, who owned the school and who headmastered over three generations.

You’d expect any school charging almost £20k a year to have some decent sport, drama and music facilities, and Downsend has invested heavily in the last few years. It’s all looking spick and span – and very impressive.

A new building opened in 2023, and is cleverly interconnected with the existing buildings to create the school’s main entrance. You’ll also find a Creative Arts Centre, here with a standout theatre space and music facilities that include a recording studio, music tech room, music classrooms and five practice rooms.

The school has also invested heavily in the STEAM classrooms creating light, bright and wonderfully flexible spaces which are designed to bring science, technology, engineering, art and maths to life. There are five science labs – for Junior and Senior pupils – plus a new DT suite, arts studio and textile studio.

Towards the end of 2023, another new wing with five classrooms – mostly for teaching modern foreign languages – was also unveiled.

There’s the usual array of sports facilities which includes outdoor tennis/netball/basketball courts plus, a modern sports hall and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool. There are outdoor grass pitches, cricket nets, an Astroturf pitch, a 200m grass athletics track, and a Sports Pavilion with changing facilities, spectator areas and a café. There’s also a Forest School on the site.

SPORT

With these impressive facilities, it’s no surprise sport is part of the school’s DNA. Downsend prides itself on a holistic approach that supports all abilities. The aim is the same for all: to promote positive wellbeing and develop character and resilience through sport.

That said, they school isn’t adverse to topping up an already bulging trophy cabinet. And it has notched up some impressive wins including in 2022 the ISFA U11 boys’ national football champions, IAPS U13 boys’ national football champions, the IAPS U12 girls’ national hockey champions, and an IAPS national swimming champion.

Downsend offers football, rugby (in specific age groups), cricket, hockey, and swimming alongside athletics, gymnastics, badminton, basketball, cross-country, biathlon, and tennis. It was one of the first independent schools to move to a mixed-sex cricket season, where teams are selected for ability, rather than gender. All pupils have at least three hours of PE/games a week as part of the curriculum. And there are also extra-curricular clubs and matches.

In 2022, Downsend was shortlisted in the Independent Schools of the Year award for Sporting Achievement.

THE ARTS

There’s a strong emphasis on drama – the swanky new theatre says it all really – and a musical production is staged every term by each of the year groups. Mr Thorpe says the children don’t have to get involved, but most choose to – whether it’s behind the scenes or in the leading roles.

Music wise, all children receive regular periods of class music. In Year 3, students join the Music Scheme learning an instrument (trumpet, violin, clarinet or flute) and many continue into Year 4 and beyond. Individual tuition is also available from specialist peripatetic tutors – taught in the school’s sound resistant music pods. The highlight of the school’s musical year is Downsend Rocks, a no-holds barred musical extravaganza featuring entirely student-led rock bands.

Creativity runs throughout the whole school, and as well as the performing arts, Art and Design is also a focus. As well as timetabled classes, children are encouraged to take part in the House Art competition. There are also plenty of co-curricular clubs ranging from pottery and textiles to architecture.

LITTLIES

There are three pre-preps in this stable of schools – all known as Little Downsend. They’re located on three sites in Ashtead, Leatherhead and Epsom.

Leatherhead and Epsom take children from age two in the nursery to age seven (Year 2) at which point the majority move on to Year 3 at the main Downsend School.

Ashtead is open to children from six months to four years.

Read our separate review of the Downsend Pre-preps here.

SIXTH FORM

Downsend has ambitions to introduce a Sixth Form, but as yet there is no timeline in place. Watch this space!

ACADEMICS

Teaching at Downsend is innovative and forward-thinking. The school has moved from knowledge-based learning to a skills-based curriculum as part of its new Future Skills vision. This has the ultimate aim of equipping children with the skills they need to embrace everything the future has to offer and thrive.

The Future Skills initiative was introduced after extensive research by the school that took in information from universities, industry and big business, the World Economic Forum, educators and think tanks. The outcome is a programme that aims to inspire a global perspective, stimulate creativity, and help develop emotional intelligence and the skills to understand technology, both now and in the future.

Downsend seeks to turn out well-rounded, well-educated children. And while academic achievement is important the focus is not purely on results, with skills, talents and personal strengths considered equally important.

Having said that though, the children work hard and the results speak for themselves. In 2023, 97% of all GCSE grades were a 9-4 (A*-C) and £37% were 9-7 (A*-A). Pupils in 2023 went on to a wide range of schools in Sixth Form including Cranleigh School, Reed’s Cobham, City of London Freemen’s, Lancing College, St John’s Leatherhead, Seaford College and Ewell Castle School, as well as Howard of Effingham and St Andrews, Reigate College, Esher College, Godalming College and Hartpury College.

In previous years pupils have gone on to RGS Guildford, Charterhouse, Whitgift School, King’s College Wimbledon, Epsom College, St Teresa’s Effingham and Box Hill School.

PASTORAL CARE

Downsend’s motto Inspiring Young Minds is at the core of the school’s values with the aim to instil a love of learning and confidence in each child. With that in mind, Downsend is about as far from an academic hot-house as it could possibly be. And there’s a deliberate emphasis on creating an environment that’s stress-free and happy.

Pastoral care is built into the school’s ethos permeating through every level. Pupils are tracked emotionally and academically, each with a personalised action plan which means problems are pre-empted and dealt with. Tangible things such as the structure of the school day – where a 30-minute form time is built in before lessons start each morning and pupils are given a break after every two lessons – have been established to make it as easy as possible for pupils to succeed.

Pupil voice is also important and there are various student councils including the eco council for the children to join and have their say.

In 2023, Downsend was recognised by Unicef as a ‘rights respecting’ school, a celebration of the school’s commitment to creating a safe and inspiring place to learn.

THE HEAD

Ian Thorpe has been at Downsend for 10 years and is proud of what he’s achieved here – with just cause. He’s an innovative thinker, and this shines through within the school.

Chatty, easy-going and approachable, he has the respect and admiration of the children. And he’s not too busy for anyone – pupils, parents and prospective parents – which is hugely impressive.

A passionate advocate of a broad, holistic education, he says he doesn’t run the school for the scholarships. However, it’s an affirmation that they’re getting it right. “Our job is to prepare the kids for the future,” he says. Mr Thorpe has spent his entire career in Prep schools. He’s been Deputy Head at Witham Hall in Lincolnshire and at Caterham School, Head of Junior School at City of London Freemen’s School, and was Headmaster at Chinthurst School in Tadworth before coming to Downsend.

WRAP AROUND CARE

There’s an Early Bird Club and Breakfast from 7.30am and the school’s doors open at 8am for supervised play. There’s a staggered end to the day, depending on your year group, with an Extended Day until 5.45pm.

There’s also the usual array of after-school clubs (cookery, electronics and robotics, golf, gymnastics, pottery and squash to name a few).

ISI REPORT

The most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection was in March 2023 which found the school to be ‘excellent’ in all areas – you can read the report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones are not permitted in the school. Pupils hand them to their Head of Year at the start of each day and collect before they go home. Pupils from Year 3 up use tablets or laptops to aid learning – and online safety is integrated into their learning.

TRANSPORT

There’s a network of busses to pick up and drop off Downsend children. Routes go to Stoneleigh, Epsom Downs and Epsom, Stoke D’Abernon, East Horsley, Fetcham and Leatherhead Station, Tolworth, Esher, Claygate and Chessington, Banstead, Sutton, Cheam and Ewell, Reigate, Betchworth, Leigh and Dorking. A free bus also runs between the school and Leatherhead and Ashtead stations.

FEES

2023-24: Average and on an increasing scale as you go up the school. In Years 3-4 it’s £6,570 at term, rising to £6,591 for Years 5-6; £6,725 for Years 7-8 and £7,445 for years 9-11. There’s an increasing discount for second (5%), third (10%) and fourth (15%) siblings. Transport is an additional cost.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents are impressed at the school’s innovative and forward-thinking approach to education, and its ability to evolve. The holistic approach to learning was praised by one parent, who said Downsend prepared children well for the outside world. Another parent noted the school’s ability to help children believe in themselves, boosting confidence and happiness. They said children felt valued and were able to shine.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Children who like a down-to-earth, family-oriented school – there’s a real sense of community here. Parents who care about the academics but don’t want to hothouse or force their kids to grow up too fast.

Not for: Those who like the ‘grandness’ of country private schools. The main building is attractive, but while the school couldn’t want for anything more in terms of facilities, it’s not on a huge site

Dare to disagree?! Have a look yourself. Book a personal tour – available all year round – and there are open events on Fri 14 March and Sat 7 June 2025. Book here.

Downsend School, 1 Leatherhead Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8TJ. Tel: 01372 372197. downsend.co.uk

Downsend School, Leatherhead

You may also like