Inspection reports
Across every school in the Downsend group, our inspections tell a consistent story. From our ISI excellent ratings in 2022 and 2023, through to our most recent inspections in 2025 and 2026, every visit has reflected the quality of education and care we provide.
Inspections are carried out by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and, for our early years settings, by Ofsted. They assess everything from the quality of education and pupils' personal development, to safeguarding, leadership and wellbeing. You can read all of our reports in full below.
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OFSTED INSPECTION REPORTS 2026
Strong Standards
This inspection was conducted under Ofsted's new reporting framework, which assesses schools across a five-point scale, from Exceptional and Strong Standard through to Needs Attention and Urgent Improvement.
Ofsted's baseline expectation is for schools to achieve the Expected Standard, making our Strong Standard result a real recognition of the quality of provision at Downsend.
Read our full report below:
ISI INSPECTION REPORTS 2025 AND 2026
Exceptional Standards
This inspection was conducted under the new ISI framework introduced in 2023, which assesses schools across five key areas:
1. Leadership, management, and governance
2. Quality of education
3. Pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
4. Pupils’ social and economic education
5. Safeguarding
Read the full reports:
INSPECTION REPORTS 2022 and 2023
Excellent in every area
The reports are split into two parts. The Regulatory Compliance Inspection Report can be found in pages 1-7 and focuses on the schools’ compliance with standards on safeguarding, health and safety, suitability of staff, provision of information, handling of complaints and leadership. Every school in the Downsend group was found to be fully compliant and judged to have met all standards.
The Educational Quality Inspection Report contains the rich narrative of pupils’ achievement and development, the ethos of the school and the exceptional experience that we aim to deliver at Downsend in every single year group from Nursery to Year 11. In every area, in every school, the judgement was found to be excellent.
Read the full reports:
INSPECTION REPORTS 2018 and 2014
In 2018, all Downsend Schools received a Regulatory Compliance Inspection.
Downsend met the standards in the schedule to the Education Regulations 2014, following lesson observations, examining samples of pupils’ work and formal interviews with staff, pupils and governors.