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The Downs School is a non-selective secondary school maintained by the local authority (West Berkshire). It has about 1,360 boys and girls aged between 11 and 18. In June 2013 the school was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Particular strengths include Attainment, Attendance, Destinations and Sixth form. Relative weaknesses include Admissions.
The school's overall score (out of 100) is given below. Coloured segments show the contributions of each indicator, explained in more detail below. Hover over the segments for details. Personalise the score by clicking on the button to set your own priorities.
Choose what matters most to you with the menus below. By default, all indicators are set to ‘Relevant’ and are weighted equally in calculating overall scores for each school. Choose ‘Important’ for higher priorities and ‘Unimportant’ or ‘Ignore’ for lower priorities.
Other schools nearby
Overall scores for nearby schools are shown. Hover over the circles to see school names; click on them to go the corresponding school pages. Use the button on the left to personalise these scores based on your own priorities.
| Distance (miles) |
Score | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | St Birinus School | |
| 6.3 | UTC Oxfordshire | |
| 6.4 | Aureus School | |
| 6.5 | Didcot Girls' School | |
| 7.5 | Trinity School | |
| 7.7 | Kennet School | |
| 8.1 | Langtree School | |
| 8.3 | Wallingford School | |
| 8.9 | Theale Green School | |
| 8.9 | Denefield School | |
| 9.1 | St Bartholomew's School | |
| 9.1 | King Alfred's |
Overall scores for nearby schools are shown. Click on school names to go their corresponding pages. Use the button on the left to personalise these scores based on your own priorities.
Attainment: Excellent. Attainment at the ages of 16 and 18 are both excellent. (This doesn't take into account pupils' prior performance. For that, see Progress.)
Attendance: Excellent. Pupil absence rates and the incidence of persistent absence are both very low.
Destinations: Excellent. The proportion of students going on to education or training at 16 is very high, while at 18 (allowing for attainment) it is roughly average. Show details
Sixth form: Above average. Attainment is excellent, progress is about average and destinations at 18 (allowing for attainment) are about average.
Progress: Above average. Up to age 16 it is excellent, while at ages 16-18 it is about average. (This takes into account pupils' prior performance. For information about actual grades, see Attainment.)
Finances: Above average. The school budget has been roughly in balance
Representation: In balance. The socio-economic mix is slightly out of balance with the local community, while ethnic representation is in balance with the local community. Show details
Disadvantaged pupils: Above average. Progress up to age 16 is above average. Destinations at 16 are excellent. Progress at 16-18 is poor. Destinations at 18 (allowing for attainment) are about average.
Environment: About average. Air pollution and traffic accidents are very high, while crime is very low.
Admissions: Poor. The occupancy rate is very high and the offer rate is very low. There is no compulsory entrance exam.
Schools often provide or emphasise different subjects, especially in fields such as languages and the arts. The charts below show the relative popularities of exam subjects commonly sat at this school.
Popular GCSE subjects
Proportions of pupils entering in 2023
Popular A-level subjects
Proportions of pupils entering in 2023
Further information about this school
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