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.
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
We’re thrilled to announce that Little Downsend Leatherhead student, Isla, Year 1, has been named a winner in the national Are Ye Fantastical? costume design competition, hosted by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. (@shakespearebtrust)
As part of Shakespeare Week, our Year 1 and 2 pupils were challenged to design a costume for Queen Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Each child created a full design portfolio consisting of mood boards, watercolour work, sketches and their final design.
Isla’s bold and imaginative design now features in the online exhibition alongside professional illustrators including Jane Ray and Marcia Williams - a remarkable achievement at just 6.
We’re also incredibly proud of Clemmie, Year 2, who was selected as a runner-up, and that all 9 of the shortlisted entries for Little Downsend Leatherhead were rated `Highly Commended`. Well done Saorla, Nora, Hughie, Arthur, Ethan, Holly and Connie!
You can view the full exhibition via the link in our bio.
Congratulations and a big well done to all our young designers - your talent is truly fantastical!
#DownsendSchool #ShakespeareWeek #AreYeFantastical #CreativeLearning #CostumeDesign #IndependentSchool #FutureReady #ShakespeareBirthplaceTrust #LittleDownsendLeatherhead
In this video, Emily Cooper, Deputy Head of Downsend Sixth, shares how the D6 Electives programme empowers students to personalise their journey.
From Sports Leadership to Digital Literacy, Sustainability and more - our electives give students space to explore, grow and develop skills that truly matter beyond the classroom.
Downsend Sixth opens September 2025. To book your campus tour today, visit downsend.co.uk
#DownsendSixth #D6Electives #DownsendSchool #ACognitaSchool #SixthFormSurrey
With exams behind them and their time at Downsend complete, our Year 11s have been taking a moment to reflect.
In the third part of our leavers` series, they share what they`ll miss the most - the places, people and moments that defined their day-to-day life at Downsend. Here’s what they had to say...
#Downsend #DownsendSchool #Year11Leavers #Year11Leavers2025 #EndOfTerm #ACognitaSchool
The D6 Futures Programme is dynamic, engaging and highly tailored. Providing students with a multi-faceted toolkit to take on their future with confidence. From practical sessions on personal finance and time management to Higher Education and career support, our Futures programme is designed to for real people in the real world.
Downsend Sixth opens September 2025. To book your campus tour today, visit downsend.co.uk
#DownsendSixth #FutureSkills #FutureReady #D6Core #Leadership #Innovation #Creativity #SixthForm #StudentSuccess #HolisticEducation #SixthReady #D6Futures
Yesterday marked the end of another hugely successful academic year – and also the last opportunity for parents to see Mr Ian Thorpe before he steps down as Headmaster of Downsend School this summer.
We’d like to take this moment to thank Ian for his dedication and leadership over the past 12 years, which have seen exciting growth, innovation, and so many proud achievements. From academic success and creative milestones, to the opening of our flagship Creative Arts Centre – and now the countdown to Downsend Sixth this September – Ian has played a key role in shaping the vibrant, ambitious school we are today.
We were delighted to celebrate this next chapter with a relaxed and joyful farewell in the sunshine yesterday - a lovely summer soirée at the Pavilion and on the school fields, where staff and parents came together to share their thanks and well wishes.
As we look ahead, we are excited to welcome Mrs Bex Tear as our new Executive Head, bringing fresh ideas, energy and vision for the future of Downsend.
With our Sixth Form opening in September, and our continued focus on innovation, growth, and delivering real-world Future Skills, it’s a truly exciting time to be part of the Downsend journey.
#ThankYouMrThorpe #DownsendSchool #ExcitingTimesAhead #DownsendSixth #IndependentEducation #Leatherhead #FarewellIanThorpe #NewChapter
Our Bee Barrel, a fantastic collaboration between Junior and Senior School students, is now on display at the Hampton Court Garden Festival!
Designed by Evelyn H (Y6) and Daisy M (Y10), the project saw Eco Club members create mood boards, plant pollinator-friendly flowers, and make bee houses from tin cans. Junior students, with help from Mr Gardener and Mrs Corr, added handmade clay bees. Mrs Ludlam and her son Oscar assembled the final piece for the Schools’ Zone.
The festival runs until Sunday—don’t miss it if you can visit!
#downsendschool #juniorschool #seniorschool #hamptoncourt #hamptoncourtpalace #gardenfestival #creativethinking #futureskills
Our D6 Electives programme is designed in line with the Downsend Future Skills vision - to give students in the Sixth Form the opportunity to broaden their knowledge , challenge themselves, and get ahead by gaining additional UCAS points. We’ll be offering:
💡Critical Thinking A/S Level
📒Extended Project Qualification
🖥️International Certificate for Digital Literacy
🏅Level 3 Sports Leadership
🌱Level 3 Sustainability
And at the end of the elective programme, students share their work with the incoming Year 12, in the Downsend Sixth Incredible Expo, a chance to inspire, mentor and build their all important public speaking skills.
Visit our link in bio to find out more.
#DownsendSixth #FutureSkills #FutureReady #D6Core #Leadership #Innovation #Creativity #SixthForm #StudentSuccess #HolisticEducation #SixthReady#D6Electives #CriticalThinking #EPQ #ICDL #SportsLeaders #sustainability #ucas
We’ve been shortlisted!
We’re thrilled to announce that Downsend School has been shortlisted for the Independent Schools of the Year (ISOTY) Award in the Performing Arts category!
This recognition reflects the strength of our Performing Arts provision, curriculum, teaching and exceptional extracurricular offering – all brought to life in our flagship Creative Arts Centre, now the buzzing hub of school life.
From centre-stage performances to behind-the-scenes creativity, the arts are truly at the heart of what we do – and we couldn’t be prouder.
#downsendschool #surreyschools #downsend
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