Number of pupils: 340
Percentage of boarders: 78%
Percentage of international pupils: 40%
Av. class-sizes: senior school: 15 // 6th form: 11
Closest international airport: Bristol Airport, 45 minutes away by car
Fees per term in 2023/24: £13,550
The school offers GCSEs and A-Levels.
Downside School achieves consistently good academic results. In 2023, its GCSE results yielded 42% 9-7 grades and its A-Levels 38% A-grades. A considerable achievement, given that the school is relatively non-selective.
French, German, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Mandarin, Polish, Portugese and Arabic on offer. Good EAL and SEN provision on offer.
78% of pupils board, making Downside close to a full boarding school. Six boarding houses, all cozy. Weekend trips and over 50 activities keep all boarders occupied. Pupils share with one or two others.
Exeat weekends are compulsory.
Downside School has a lovely, unpretentious vibe to it. The school is small and thanks to the Catholic roots, there is a very stong school community where pupils look out for each other. The pastoral care is excellent. The large boarding community supports this close-knit spirit further.
Sports is an integral part of school life here. As well as rugby, hockey, football and cricket for the boys and hockey, netball, tennis and rounders for the girls, there’s a wealth of other sports on offer, including aerobics, athletics, badminton, cross-country, fencing, squash and swimming. Hockey is especially strong!
You would expect it at a school with strong Catholic foundations: music is strong here. An orchestra, jazz band, choirs...the list goes on! Over 50% of pupils play at least one instrument here.
The boarding accomodation could be a bit more up-to-date, but that's pretty much it!