Sixth Form Enquiries: 01372 385400
General: 01372 372197
Header strapline image

Welcome to Downsend School

Inspiring Young Minds. Creating Incredible Futures.

Downsend is an innovative and forward-thinking independent school, with a new vision; to inspire a generation to embrace the future, shaping incredible people who will make change in our world.

At Downsend, 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.

All four schools in the Downsend family have been judged to be ‘excellent in all areas’ by the Independent School Inspectorate and we are delighted to have been shortlisted as 'Co-educational Independent School of the Year' in the Independent School of the Year Awards 2024.

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:

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.

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.

A NEW ERA

A new era for Downsend, welcoming babies to the family.

We are delighted to now welcome babies to the Downsend family. Little Downsend Ashtead is proud to provide an exceptional foundation for children aged 6 months to 4 years.

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.

Accreditations

                                          

Follow Downsend on Social Media

Don’t forget - our Open Morning is tomorrow at Downsend Main!

Join us at 9.30am to explore our inspiring learning spaces, meet our passionate staff, and see what makes Downsend truly different.
 
Book your place now at downsend.co.uk

#DownsendSchool #OpenMorning #SurreySchools #IndependentSchool #WeAreCognita #Leatherhead
We’re proud to share that Little Downsend has once again been shortlisted as a finalist for the ISA Award for Future Readiness 🎉
 
Following our win last year, this recognition reaffirms our ongoing commitment to helping every child grow. We’re always thinking ahead to ensure our children are confident, curious and ready for their next step. 
 
Come and see it in action.

Join us at one of our upcoming Open Events this autumn and discover how we’re shaping the future, one little learner at a time.
 
Leatherhead - Friday 10 October
Epsom - Thursday 16 October
 
Visit downsend.co.uk to book your place.

#DownsendSchool #LittleDownsend #Surrey #Leatherhead #IndependentSchool #DownsendSixth #ISAAwards2025 @isaschools
A big congratulations to our Year 10 student, Kenzo 🎉

Over the past year, he has competed across Europe - racing in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark and Sweden in the Champion of the Future karting series, alongside 200 drivers from 48 countries.

We’re thrilled to share that Kenzo was crowned Champion of the entire competition last weekend in Sweden. 🏆 

Well done, Kenzo! 

#DownsendSchool #StudentSpotlight #WeAreCognita #DownsendSixth #TalentBeyondTheClassroom
Today, our Year 9 students embraced their Entrepreneurial Mindset at a dynamic Future Skills Day hosted at Downsend Sixth, a space designed to inspire innovation and forward thinking.

From designing toothbrushes for young children to reimagining essential services and creating the backpack of the future, pupils tackled real-world challenges that demanded creativity, collaboration and critical thinking - the very skills they’ll need to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

This exciting opportunity is part of our whole-school Future Skills programme, bringing learning to life in environments that feel more like modern workplaces than traditional classrooms.

There’s more to come, with every Senior School year group set to experience learning at Downsend Sixth over the months ahead.

#downsendschool #wearecognita #surreyschools #independentschool #downsendsixth
Welcome back!
 
We hope everyone had a refreshing summer break - and a special welcome to all the new families joining Downsend this year.
 
As we kick off the autumn term, we’re ready for new adventures, inspiring lessons and the chance to grow, achieve and shine. There’s so much ahead to look forward to - let’s make it a great one!

#DownsendSchool #DownsendSchoolSurrey #DownsendSixth #SixthFormSurrey #ACognitaSchool #AutumnTerm
This week, we welcomed our first families through the doors of our brand-new Sixth Form in Leatherhead.
 
Join us for our Open Evening on Thursday 25 September or book a personal tour to see how we’re preparing students for the future.

Visit downsend.co.uk to book.

#DownsendSchool #DownsendSchoolSurrey #DownsendSixth #SixthFormSurrey #ACognitaSchool
We're thrilled to welcome Lea Blanchard to the Downsend Sixth team. 

As Futures Coordinator, Lea will play a key role in helping our students explore next steps after sixth form, from UCAS applications to apprenticeships and everything in between.

With a keen eye on the evolving world of work, Lea will also support our Future Skills programme, helping students build confidence, develop connections and prepare for life beyond Downsend.

We can’t wait for our students to benefit from her knowledge, energy and support. Welcome, Lea! 

#DownsendSixth #DownsendSchool #DownsendSchoolSurrey #SixthFormSurrey #ACognitaSchool

Learn more.

Downsend School

Sixth Form Enquiries: 013723 85400
General: 01372 372197