Downside School
School summary
Tracing its roots to 1606, Downside School carries one of the longer pedagogical histories in English education and remains a Roman Catholic foundation to this day. This is a small, mixed school of around 254 pupils, spanning ages 11 to 18, with boarding available alongside day places. The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged it good overall in its most recent inspection, with personal development rated excellent and all compliance standards met. With roughly 114 pupils in the sixth form, a significant share of the school's life is concentrated in the senior years.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
49%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
31%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
49%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- good
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 21 June 2023
Teaching & academics
At GCSE, 49% of grades reached the top 9-7 band, comfortably above the national average of 23%, which points to genuine strength at the upper end. Sciences and languages feature heavily among popular GCSE choices, with French, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography and Spanish all well subscribed. At A-level the picture is steadier: 31% of grades were A*-A, slightly ahead of the national figure, though the A*-B rate of 49% sits below the national 55%. Alongside A-levels, the school offers BTEC and the EPQ, and popular sixth-form subjects include Psychology, Economics, Mathematics and English Literature.
Languages
Popular GCSE subjects
Interim Head · Mike Randall
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 114
Popular A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Rugby is the headline sport, and scholarships are offered for sport, music and as all-rounder awards, signalling where the school looks to recognise talent beyond the classroom. Modern languages extend to French, Spanish and German.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1606
- Religious character
- RC
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 35.53%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils may not bring phones into main school buildings during working day. Rules vary by year group: younger pupils hand in devices to house staff, older ones store securely or confine use to Sixth Form Centre. Phones banned from chapel and church, headphones not allowed in public areas, smart watches may be removed.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £26,136 - £31,644
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £39,564 - £52,164
Schools nearby
Newbury Manor School
Frome, South West
All Hallows School
Shepton Mallet, South West
Wells Cathedral School
Wells, South West
Wessex Lodge School
Frome, South West
North Hill House
Frome, South West
Springmead Preparatory School
Somerset, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A historic Catholic school with notable GCSE results and an excellent record on personal development, Downside will suit families drawn to a small, faith-rooted boarding and day community.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Downside School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.