The Downs School
About the school
The Downs School is an open secondary school in West Berkshire.
Latest Ofsted inspection
Published Ofsted information, current as at 31 July 2026. Inspection outcomes are not performance rankings.
- Latest inspection
- 1 October 2024
- Published
- 10 November 2024
- Inspection type
- S5 Inspection
- Latest outcome
- Not judged
Previous inspection framework
These judgements are retained by Ofsted from an earlier inspection framework.
Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Yes
Early years
Not applicable
Sixth form
Outstanding
Results and school context
GCSE and key stage 4
Attainment 8
The average score per pupil across eight approved qualifications, including English and maths. A higher score represents stronger attainment; it is not a percentage.
- School
- 53.4
- West Berkshire
- 48
- England
- 46.1
Progress 8
An estimate of pupils’ progress from the end of primary school to the end of key stage 4, compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Zero is the national average; positive scores indicate above-average progress.
The DfE has not published this measure for 2024/25.
- School
- N/A
- West Berkshire
- N/A
- England
- N/A
English and maths grade 5+
The percentage of the key stage 4 cohort achieving a strong pass—grade 5 or above—in both GCSE English and GCSE mathematics.
- School
- 54.40%
- West Berkshire
- 48.40%
- England
- 45.40%
English and maths grade 4+
The percentage of the key stage 4 cohort achieving a standard pass—grade 4 or above—in both GCSE English and GCSE mathematics.
- School
- 77.20%
- West Berkshire
- 68.50%
- England
- 64.80%
EBacc entry
The percentage of pupils entered for all English Baccalaureate subject areas: English, maths, sciences, a language, and history or geography.
- School
- 72.30%
- West Berkshire
- 43.40%
- England
- 40.50%
EBacc average point score
The average point score per pupil across the English Baccalaureate subject areas. It reflects attainment and is not a percentage.
- School
- 4.98
- West Berkshire
- 4.29
- England
- 4.09
A levels and sixth form
Average A-level grade
The average point score achieved for each A-level entry, translated into its equivalent grade such as B or B+. It is not the average grade per student.
- School
- B
Average A-level points
The average points achieved for each A-level entry. It uses the same underlying result as the average-grade measure, shown numerically.
- School
- 39.09
AAB or better
The percentage of A-level students achieving at least three A levels at grades AAB or better, including at least two facilitating subjects.
- School
- 26.30%