History

Downsend was founded in Leatherhead in 1891 as a non-denominational, preparatory school for boys aged 8 to 13. The creation of three pre-preparatory 'Lodges', starting with Leatherhead Lodge in 1979, extended the age range down to two and half years. This was reduced to two years of age in 2006. The school first opened its doors to girls in the mid 90's and became fully co-educational in 2001.

Educationally, Downsend has always been progressive while retaining the best of traditional methods. Pioneers in the teaching of modern mathematics in the 1960's and of science in the 1970's as well as in the introduction of information and design technology in the 1980's and 1990's, the school greeted the millennium with an extensive building programme to ensure its facilities are among the best in the country.