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.
Downsend is future focused in a rapidly evolving world.
From Nursery through to the Senior School, day to day life at Downsend is fast-paced, inspiring and immersive. We bring learning to life, providing opportunities for growth at every age.
We're passionate about providing the best, most innovative experience possible. Find out more about our Future Skills Vision below:
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.
Head's Welcome
Meet the Head.
Described by the Good Schools Guide as ‘refreshingly candid, with a knack for getting what he wants’, Ian Thorpe has been Head at Downsend for 10 years. A forward-thinking Head, Ian has been responsible for significant change at Downsend.
His can-do attitude, relentless energy and good humour, coupled with an impressive track record from Chinthurst, City of London Freemen's and Caterham School, mean that Downsend benefits from the best of both worlds – the ability to choose the best of the sector, whilst also innovating to do things differently.
From September 2025
Meet the Incoming Head.
As one door closes another opens, and we are delighted to welcome Mrs Rebecca Tear as the incoming Executive Head of Downsend School. Joining us in September 2025, Mrs Tear is an experienced and inspiring leader, with a wealth of expertise. Known for her innovative and forward-thinking approach, Bex has guided academic success, developed broad and engaging curricula, and built strong relationships with school communities.
With her energy, passion for life-long learning and focus on preparing pupils for the future, Mrs Tear is ready to lead Downsend into an exciting new chapter, perfectly aligned with our Future Skills vision.
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.
Passionate and inspiring leadership, down to earth, fantastic facilities and a modern, forward-thinking approach.
– A Downsend Parent
Our Schools
Little Downsend Ashtead (0 - 4 years)
Little Downsend Ashtead is a Nursery and Pre-School for children aged 6 months to 4 years old.
A short walk from Ashtead Village, with its independent shops and cafes, Little Downsend Ashtead is perfectly located for new parents looking for a nursery within walking distance that has a quiet, welcoming presence.
Little Downsend Epsom (2-7 years)
Little Downsend Epsom is a Nursery and Pre-Prep for children aged 2 years to 7 years.
Occupying a beautiful piece of land with a grassy field, garden and play areas, both children's and parent's needs are catered for in quiet surroundings.
Little Downsend Leatherhead (2-7 years)
Little Downsend Leatherhead is a Nursery and Pre-Prep for children aged 2 years to 7 years.
The largest of the three schools, Little Downsend Leatherhead benefits from a huge play area, an acre of grassy fields, forest school, stage and climbing equipment.
Downsend School (8 - 16 years)
Downsend School houses Year 3 to Year 11. Featuring a brand-new Creative Arts Centre, extensive sporting facilities, 25m pool and a wide range of specialist labs and studios, Downsend offers pupils an exciting place to learn. Conveniently located just outside Leatherhead, the campus has a leafy, suburban feel whilst being easy to get to by car, train or bus.
Downsend Sixth (16-18 years)
Launching in September 2025, Downsend Sixth will provide an outstanding A Level experience in a purpose-designed building a short walk from Leatherhead train station and opposite Leatherhead Leisure Centre. State of the art specialist teaching rooms including Science Labs and an Innovation Suite will complement contemporary quiet study spaces and a collaborative Common Room and Café.
Accreditations
Follow Downsend on Social Media
What a fantastic morning at Little Downsend Epsom! We loved welcoming prospective parents and children to our Discover Little Downsend event. We hope you enjoyed discovering more about our award-winning nursery and school and seeing firsthand how we nurture and inspire young learners to thrive.
From meeting our wonderful teachers to exploring our modern, spacious classrooms and beautiful garden, it was a joy to share our vibrant learning environment with you!
If you missed today’s event, don’t worry! Our next Open Morning is on 14th March at Little Downsend Leatherhead. There’s still time to secure your spot and experience the magic of Little Downsend for yourself.
Book now via the link in our bio - we can’t wait to meet you!
#downsendschool #littledownsend #wearecognita #nursery #school #epsom #ewell #openmorning #surreyschool #esher #surbiton #alexandrapark #epsomschools #surreyhills #worcesterpark #cheam

Last week, we were thrilled to welcome our Year 1 students from Little Downsend Epsom and Leatherhead for another exciting Transition Event at Downsend School. This time, they unleashed their creativity through two workshops inspired by Judith Kerr’s beloved book, “The Tiger That Came to Tea.”
In the drama workshop, led by Natalie from @perform_uk , the children brought the story to life by creating and retelling key scenes. They embraced every moment with enthusiasm, collaborating and having fun with their friends.
Over in our spacious Junior School Art Room, the Head of Year 3, Mr. Popham, guided the students through an art project focused on tigers and their habitats. Using leaves and a vibrant palette, some students even ventured into pop art with bold, bright tiger designs - showing hints of future artistic talent reminiscent of David Hockney and Elaine Sturtevant!
These transition events, in addition to their regular sports lessons at Downsend, help strengthen the bond between our young students and their future teachers, easing their journey into Year 3.
#downsendschool #littledownsend #nursery #juniorschoool #seniorschool #judithkerr #thetigerwhocametotea #surreyschools #boxhill
#cognitaschools #wearecognita
@wmcollinsbooks @perform_uk

Our Year 6 Digital Leaders are continuing to inspire and support our Junior School community. In preparation for yesterday’s Safer Internet Day, they delivered outstanding presentations during two assemblies for all Junior School year groups.
This year’s Safer Internet Day focuses on the issue of online scams. It provides guidance for young people on how to protect themselves from these scams and offers information about the support available to them.
Mrs. Carmody, Leader of Junior School Computing, said, “At Downsend, we take pride in fostering many wonderful aspects, including Building Digital Mastery and Shaping Incredible People. We are committed to promoting online safety and supporting the online safety curriculum all year round.”
#downsendschool #juniorschool #seniorschool #wearecognita #cognitaschools #saferinternetday #surreyschools #futureready #surreyhills #surbiton #esher #digitalmastery #independentschool

🥳🙌🏽💫Yesterday, the U13A team won their semi-final match and officially reached the final of the U13 ISFA Shield. It’s an amazing result and after the half-term break, they will play against Wolverhampton Grammar School. Good luck in the final!
#downsendschool #teamdownsend #wearecognita #footballteam #footballsurrey #surrey #seniorschool #isfa #independentschool #boxhill #epsomfootball #cobhamfootball #privateschool #football #balham #clapham #surbiton #ewell #surreyhills

Today marks Safer Internet Day, the UK’s largest celebration of online safety! This year’s theme, “Too Good to Be True? Protecting Yourself and Others from Scams Online,” encourages us all to think critically about what we see and share in the digital world. According to research from Ofcom and Childnet, 86% of 3–4-year-olds have access to a tablet at home, and 21% have their own - making early digital education more important than ever.
With this in mind, we’re excited to launch ‘Little Downsend Digital Diaries’, a brand-new mini-series from our Little Downsend schools where we’ll be sharing our digital adventures and top tips for staying safe and making the most of technology. See our first edition here, and stay tuned to hear more from our young explorers as they navigate the online world with curiosity and confidence!
#downsendschool #wearecognita #littledownsend #saferinternetday #nursery #juniorschool #seniorschool #surrey #surreyschools #futureready #surreyhills #cognitaschools #tadworth #kingswood #banstead #cheam #surbiton #esher

Last week, our Year 3 and Year 4 students along with Y9 GCSE Music students visited GLive in Guildford, where they enjoyed a spectacular orchestral concert. They explored a wide range of instruments, discovering how each one plays a role in creating beautiful, harmonious music. From the soaring strings to the bold brass, the children were fascinated by the teamwork behind every note - and even learned how to conduct the orchestra themselves!
One of the day’s highlights was when our students became part of the performance, singing along to the lively and fun song “Wigwam” with great enthusiasm. Their energy and joy filled the concert hall, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces!
#downsendschool #wearecognita #cognitaschools #juniorschool #seniorschool #surreyschools #guildford #glive #musicconcert #surreyhills #gcsemusic #liveconcert

Our U16A Football Team has recently secured a place in the semi-finals of the ESFA Cup after outstanding performances in five rounds leading up to this achievement. Congratulations to the team! Best of luck to everyone involved in the next round, which will take place after the half-term break!
#downsendschool #teamdownsend #wearecognita #cognitaschools #football #esfacup #seniorschool #surreyschools #surreyhills #cobham #boxhill

Today, we were delighted to welcome our offer holders to ‘Discover Downsend’, an exciting morning of hands-on learning and new experiences!
SeniorSchool students embarked on ‘A Journey to Mars’ with Mr. Gibbons, Head of Science, exploring the practical side of space science. They also got inventive with Mrs. Hambleton, Head of Design Technology, in a session called ‘Fighting Bioplastics with... Potatoes!’
Juniors unleashed their creativity and teamwork skills in a high-energy dance workshop, embracing movement and expression.
It was fantastic to see our future Downsend students collaborating, getting to know our teachers, and immersing themselves in our vibrant school community. We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon!
#downsendschool #wearecognita #juniorschool #seniorschool #privateschool #independentschool #surreyschools #surreyhills #boxhill #science #wellbeing #holisticeducation

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