Headteacher Chris Robert Prosser Ofsted Reports Phone +44 1635 270000 | DfE URN 110102 Tables Gender Co-educational Number of students 944 | |
Type Comprehensive foundation school Location Manor Crescent
Compton
Berkshire
RG20 6NU
England Address North Wessex Downs AONB, Compton, Newbury RG20 6NU, UK Motto 'Learning Together, Learning For Life' Similar Kennet School, Trinity School, Mary Hare School, Downe House School | ||
The Downs School is a comprehensive secondary school in the village of Compton, Berkshire, England. It is a state school run by West Berkshire Education Authority.
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Overview
The Downs has approximately 1150 pupils, including 260 in the sixth form. It starts for students in year 7, who are aged 11. For the past 2 years it has been the highest attaining school in West Berkshire using the measure of 5A*-C GCSEs including higher passes in English and mathematics. The school is located on Manor Crescent. The nearest major town is Newbury which is 8 miles away. Other neighbouring towns include Wantage, Didcot, Thatcham and Reading. Within a short walk of the school is the Compton village shop and the large Compton recreation ground. It is just over 2 miles from the East Ilsley junction of the A34.
The head-teacher is Chris Robert Prosser, Previously Deputy Head-teacher before Valerie Holdey's retirement in December 2013.
It is also the last remaining West Berkshire Authority secondary school to retain its own swimming pool after St Bartholomew's School removed its pool in Summer 2009.
Specialisms
The school specialises in languages. This means that pupils are required to study at least one foreign language until they finish GCSEs, with the opportunity of learning others. The school has exchange visits to France, Germany and Spain. Sports tours are also annually organised. Teams have been to Spain, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Malta.
The Downs also has specialisms in science and maths.
Sixth form
The school has a sixth form centre of about 260 students. Previously located on the bottom floor of the Graham Taylor building (GT), It is located in the newly renovated old science block, after moving there when the new Science building (Hubble) was built. Subjects range from all the sciences to politics, economics, law and media studies. The current head of sixth form is Phil Wilson. Its results at A-Level are exceptional for a non-selective state school.