Welcome to Downsend School
Downsend is an innovative and forward-thinking independent school with a vision. A vision to inspire pupils to embrace the future, to create incredible people who make change in a rapidly evolving world.
From Nursery to Sixth Form, we prepare our young people for the future with a creative and problem-solving approach. We think big, we celebrate innovation and we never hold back.
It is an exciting time to be a Downsendian as our Sixth Form opens in September 2025. Downsend Sixth will complete the journey for pupils from the ages of 6 months to 18 and marks an exceptional moment in our history.
A new era for Downsend
Downsend Sixth launches September 2025! Our brand new, purpose-designed, Sixth Form Centre will offer the very best of both worlds. Our new campus will offer young people the perfect environment for both academic success and personal growth.
Our Awards.
Highly Commended
FACILITIES & LOCATION
Excellent learning locations.
Innovative modern spaces bring specialist teaching to life at the Main School, while Little Downsend offers a home from home for our littlest children, with outstanding outdoor spaces for exploring and learning.
Accreditations
Follow Downsend on Social Media
It’s that time of year for Year 9 as they took on the final stage of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award – the expedition! A chance to head into the great outdoors, work as a team and test their limits.
A completely self-sufficient journey - carrying their kit, navigating their route, cooking their own meals and camping under the stars.
Well done to everyone for stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing the challenge!
#DofE #BronzeExpedition #ChallengeAccepted #OutdoorAdventure #Teamwork #DofEJourney #FutureSkills
Year 3 step back in time at Butser Ancient Farm! Exploring life as it was thousands of years ago in the Stone Age by wandering through real reconstructed ancient homes, trying our traditional crafts and skills, and seeing how people cooked, built and survived.
Highlights of the day included using flint to make fire, and crafting copper wire jewellery – bringing learning to life in a unique and memorable way.
#ButserAncientFarm #LivingHistory #HandsOnLearning #HistoryInRealLife #FutureSkills
We warmly invite you to a private viewing of the work of our exceptional GCSE Art, Craft & Design & GCSE Design Technology students.
Date: 12th June 2025
Time: 6pm-8pm
Linford Theatre, Downsend School, 1 Leatherhead Rd, Leatherhead KT22 8TJ
Refreshments will be provided by our talented Year 9 and 10 GCSE Food & Nutrition students.
We would like to extend the invitation to our wider community, if you are not a current parent and would like to join us email admin@downsend.co.uk or tap on the link in our Linktree to book your place.
#downsendschool #wearecognita #creative #artexhibition #designexhibition #surreyschools #surreyhills
This week, we’re proud to celebrate Volunteers’ Week – a time to recognise and thank those who generously give their time to support others.
Thank you to every volunteer and supporter who continues to make Downsend a vibrant, compassionate, and forward-thinking school community. At Downsend, we’re incredibly grateful to our students, parents, staff, and wider community who volunteer for meaningful causes. From climbing Snowdonia to raise awareness, supporting refugees, or visiting care homes, your efforts make a real difference.
Thank you to everyone involved in projects supporting our student-chosen charities: @dementia_uk and @hillside_animal_sanctuary
A special thanks to our Downsend Parents’ Association (DPA) for their ongoing support, from running the preloved uniform shop and funding the school’s floodlights and wooden play area to organising fantastic social events!
#downsendschool #wearecognita #cognitaschools #volunteer #volunteersweek #seniorschool #juniorschool #parentsassociation #surreyhills #surreyschools
What an incredible evening at our first-ever Downsend Talent Showcase!
Just before the half term our amazing Junior School children wowed the audience with everything from singing and dancing to acrobatics, piano recitals, and even Rubik’s Cube solving!
The talent on stage was so outstanding, there was no need for a winner—every performer was a star in their own right.
This is what Downsend is all about: giving every child the chance to shine and celebrating what makes them unique. Well done to everyone who took part—you made us so proud!
#downsendschool #wearecognita #surreyschools #surreyhills #independentschool #privateschool #juniorschool #cognitaschools #creativearts
What a fantastic way to kick off the second half of the Summer Term 2025!
We’re proud to share that Downsend School has been awarded the Gold Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK, the highest stage of the award.
We started this journey back in 2022 as a commitment to our school aims, ‘to inspire a global perspective’ and ‘to shape incredible people’ – and from bronze through to gold, the team and pupils have embraced every element, learning more about themselves and as a result becoming informed global citizens who are advocates for social justice, fairness and their rights as children to have a voice, a say and be involved in strategic decision-making.
This is a remarkable achievement, and we are exceptionally proud to call Downsend School a Gold Rights Respecting Award holder.
#downsendschool #unicef #unicefuk #unicefgold #futureskills #rightsrespectingschool #empoweringculture #independentschool
Our Year 2 pupils had an amazing day at Barnes Wetlands! From balancing on wobbly bridges during the Wild Walk to discovering pond creatures and watching otters being fed, it was a day full of adventure, curiosity, and hands-on learning.
#littledownsend #downsendschool #prepschool #juniorschool #surreyschools #barnes #london #wildlife
Join us for our Open Morning – Saturday 7 June.
Come and see Downsend in action. Meet our brilliant students, hear from our new Executive Head and leadership team, and get a feel for what makes our school such a vibrant, forward-thinking place to learn.
Whether you’re exploring options for Year 3, Year 7 or Downsend Sixth, this is a chance to see how we support every young person to thrive - and what future-ready really means at Downsend.
You’ll meet:
Bex Tear, Executive Head of Downsend
Sally Johnston, Head of Junior School
Pete Nathan, Head of Senior School
And from the Downsend Sixth team:
Marc Broughton, Head of Downsend Sixth
Emily Cooper, Deputy Head of Downsend Sixth
Charlotte Hopkins, Head of Futures
Tap the link in our bio to reserve your place – we look forward to welcoming you.
#downsendschool #wearecognita #juniorschool #seniorschool #sixthform #futureready #boxhill #surrey #surreyschools #privateschool
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