Downsend School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since 2013, Ian Thorpe BA MA (50s). Previously four years as headmaster at Chinthurst School and before that head of junior school at City of London Freemen’s, preceded by stints all over the place, from Caterham Prep, where he was deputy head, to Witham Hall (deputy head and housemaster). Married to ‘very patient’ wife, a teacher at Caterham, attended by two sons. A former grammar school boy, he’s bright, jovial and energetic (looks exactly like sportsman he is, PE his main degree subject at Exeter). If there was a prize for the head that made us laugh the most, he’d certainly make the shortlist; also breaks record for mentioning wellbeing the most times. Hats off for both, we say, especially as our last meeting was via Zoom during the pandemic when both laughter and wellbeing are essential medicines for all. Refreshingly candid and knows how to work the room, with knack of getting what he wants – comes in handy for persuading ‘supportive’ bosses at Cognita, school’s owner, to declare corporate wallet open. Trilingual in French and Dutch (expat upbringing in Belgium) – results in excellent conversion rates for overseas families delighted to find head able to talk the talk in own language. Easily bored, and enjoys a challenge - just as well, what with the school having recently expanded into seniors, for which he says he’s ‘gone around nicking a load of great ideas and stitching them together in Downsend tapestry.’ ‘Driven’ and ‘inspiring,’ say parents. ‘Got the measure of my son straightaway.’ ‘Cares more about the children than what league tables say.’ ‘Not the most polished, but super caring and I’d rather have an authentic leader than one who hides behind policy.’ Parent niggles (of which there are few) leave him unfazed – most logged and sorted, ‘on the spot when he can.’

Head of pre-prep (the three Little Downsends, as the school calls them) since 2017, Vanessa Conlan BEd NPQH (40s). Previously head at Lonesome Primary. Brought up in Surrey, she studied primary teaching with music at Southampton, then kicked off her teaching career in inner London before escaping the rat race to Surrey. Fizzing with enthusiasm and lightbulb moments, she has her work cut out working across three different locations but ‘relishes the challenge’. When not in work, she enjoys reading as well as camping, walking and making dens with her husband and two young sons and is an avid rugby fan after 20 years of playing rugby herself.

Entrance

Main entry points at 2+, 4+, 7+ and 11+, with the odd few joining at 3+ and 13+. Increasingly selective, with assessments including group problem solving activities as well as English and maths papers (2+ and 4+ obviously less formal). Because the school is looking for wider potential beyond academics, all children meet with the head and spend time in classroom. Full in some year groups and currently a waiting list for year 7s (school now welcomes seniors, with the first year 9s having started in 2020). School says sixth form ‘is not out of the question in the future.’ The three pre-preps (known as ‘Little Downsend’s) are all up in terms of applicants too - Ashtead full, Leatherhead close and Epsom moving in that direction.

Exit

Very rare that pupils don’t make it from pre-prep into year 2 though occasionally happens if felt that won’t manage the pace. Ditto for moving from prep to seniors, with around 20 per cent fall out at this stage, mainly to St John’s Leatherhead and Epsom. Around 15 per cent leave after year 8 (a number that has decreased every year since becoming a senior school), again most to the same two schools. Scholarships – around a quarter academic – have historically sat at around 30 a year, although fewer these days as so many pupils stay on.

Latest results

In 2023, 37 per cent 9-7 at GCSE. This was the first cohort to sit GCSEs.

Teaching and learning

In an area bristling with good schools, this one stands out for combining breadth and rigour with fun and forward thinking. Learning by doing is par for the course and, more than that, teachers are encouraged to always have an eye on what will make these pupils stand out in future workplaces. ‘The world is changing and so must we,’ insists head. ‘It’s not about what facts you can remember and reel off, but how you can apply it, use it and debate it.’ Talk of ‘future skills’ and ‘strengthening flight paths’ normally sends us running for the hills (managerial/marketing speak isn’t our thing) but this school is genuinely fresh with innovation and is responding to the outside world, including globally. If a class doesn’t have interaction, collaboration and originality, the teacher is encouraged to rip up their lesson plan and start afresh. Pupils learn about fractions with Dairy Milk, they get outside in the woods to learn about trigonometry, they tune into live debates on American politics and they re-enact major historical battles. ‘If a child’s not being creative, we’re not doing our job,’ says head. Good amount of stretch, report parents, though there were the usual parental groans about one or two of teachers, in this case in science (school says this contradicts recent parent survey). ‘They don’t let you sit back and get too comfortable, they challenge you, so you soar to the best of your ability.’ ‘Downsend is small enough for individual attention and meticulous tracking.’

Lovely to see junior pupils writing letters to favourite authors in English and senior school science lesson practical comparing exhaust fumes of (teacher’s) Jaguar (good) with school minibus emissions (sootier). Lots of praise from pupils, all mentioning ‘happy’ teachers. They tell terrible jokes too, to relieve entrance exam pressure – ‘so bad that they’re funny,’ say pupils. The well-structured curriculum isn’t allowed to blot out cookery and sewing, both on offer all the way to year 8.

French taught from nursery, with Spanish and German added as tasters in year 5 from which pupils pick one in addition to the French. Setting in English and maths from year 4 and science and languages from year 5. Three-year GCSE programme – ‘Why rush them in just two years? It’s not a race that you should charge round only on the last lap,’ believes head. Eleven options on top of core subjects, from which pupils choose four – parents we spoke to hope it’s ‘less limited’ in future. Surprisingly traditional given the school’s ethos - no economics, business studies and suchlike. All take triple science, but a language is not compulsory.

Widespread approval of the school’s response to the pandemic. ‘Online classes and normal timetable from day one,’ said parent, though one felt ‘it’s a shame anything non-academic was optional.’

Learning support and SEN

Around 14 per cent receives some form of support. In pre-prep, support is mainly around speech, language and communication issues which tend to manifest as processing problems further down the line. Support limited to mild end issues, though, and the sparky environment means it’s probably a school to avoid if your child’s SEN makes them a stickler for routine.

The arts and extracurricular

New creative arts centre means bells-and-whistles facilities for music, drama and art. Includes 198 seat theatre, music pods and (the pupil favourite) recording studio. All try out an impressive five instruments for a fortnight each from year 3, deciding on which (if any) one to learn after the two-term exposure. All the usual choirs, orchestra and ensembles, though one parent felt ‘music does tend to be geared towards the more able.’ Must be the first school we’ve come across to have Monty Python’s Spamalot in its performance repertoire – fantastic. West Side story also a regular. Around 25/30 students a year do LAMDA. Art ranges from 2D to tiles and pottery to resistant materials. Product design available at GCSE. For younger ones, specialist teaching in music from nursery, art from year 2 and drama from year 3.

Teaching staff donate minimum of an hour a week to run lunchtime or after-school club (includes green-fingered nurse and science technician who recruit helpers to tend idyllic garden haven). Total of 60 now available – means that a wander round the school after hours can include fish eye balls being dissected next door to flapjacks being made. Other popular choices include chess and street dance. Some, though not all, carry on during lockdowns, with Wake Up and Shake Up attracting 80+ pupils to get dancing before screen-based lessons. Nearly all year 9s do bronze DofE, though silver and gold not on offer yet. Friday afternoons given over to enrichment from year 7 (head now keen to extend to year 5s and 6s) – everything from cooking to (more unusually) French film to the intriguing sounding Science in a Box courtesy of Pfizer.

Residentials kick off with camping on site in year 4, ‘jumping off all manner of things’ at PGL in year 5 and Brecon Beacons in year 6, with lots more besides from year 7 including Normandy, Spain, Madrid for subject enhancement and sports tours to the likes of Barbados (‘Just for quality assurance, I had to go myself, of course,’ smiles head) and Dubai planned for the future.

Sport

Hard to argue with sporting success that regularly makes local headlines – it’s a rare year when school doesn’t secure national title somewhere along the line particularly in football, swimming, cricket and increasingly hockey. ‘If a child is really, really sporty, though, I’m not sure it’s absolutely the best school just because of the size,’ said parent. Inclusive approach towards those at the lower end of ability praised by parents – ‘My son really isn’t sporty and still feels included,’ said one. Football, rugby and cricket (in that order) are main sports for boys, with hockey, netball and cricket for the girls. Girls’ sport as strong as boys – revved up following slightly lukewarm comments in a previous inspection. PE and swimming are more co-ed, and there’s badminton, table tennis and gymnastics among other offerings. ‘Lovely and varied,’ reckoned parent. Facilities include Astro, 25m pool, sports hall, good quality pitches and netball and tennis courts galore.

Ethos and heritage

Founded in 1891 and fully co-ed since 2001. Snapped up by Cognita in early noughties and one of the largest schools in the group. Now expanded to include senior school, with first year 9 cohort having started in 2020. A mini-brand all of its own, the school has also extended tentacles (albeit embracing ones) at the other end of the age spectrum, courtesy of three additional pre-prep outposts, nearest just a few doors down. Were called lodges, name ditched after school sensibly worked out that associations with retirement homes, hunting and freemasonry rather than exuberant education of the very young were very possibly unhelpful, with ‘Little Downsend’ branding eventually settled on. Though size and layout varies (Leatherhead, most generously endowed with space, has delightful tree and topiary-edged field off to side, so able to host own sports day rather than holding it at prep), each offers small-scale cosiness. All are notable for small class sizes, lunch fresh-cooked each day on all three sites, regular visits by minibus to prep for concerts, swimming and sport (including matches between the three), ensuring fear-free transition in year 2. Epsom, the outlier (it’s about five miles from mother ship), is located at end of private road close to well regarded state primary, currently siphoning off a fair few pupils in reception, has more work to do. Parents tend to choose pre-prep that’s an easy buggy stroll away, confident that curriculum and ethos will be pretty much identical in each.

As for the prep - and now seniors – it is seen as the well-balanced option for those searching for something in between colossus and boutique establishment, neither over wood-panelled nor fetishistically au courant. Facilities wise, picture a large lawn with junior school and sports facilities to the left and senior school with new arts centre, science labs etc to the right. Mixed views about communications – some praise, others are sent into a complete head spin with parents’ WhatsApp messages, emails from the head, others from the office and now the Cognita App.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

Carrot-focused discipline, detentions possible but rarely necessary, credits and house points the norm (with highly desirable trip to Guildford Spectrum for the winners). Mental health is always at heart of conversations about pupils and there’s all the usual scaffolding in terms of form tutors, heads of year etc. There’s a counsellor (though only there for a day-and-a-half a week) and some thought provoking assemblies. Resilience is embedded into the curriculum – all helps. No permanent exclusions for years, with temporary exclusions generally totalling around a couple a term at most – most recently for ‘uploading things they shouldn’t to the internet.’

Pupils and parents

The breadth of the Downsend offering means there’s no typical pupil, and that’s just the way parents like it. ‘No moulding,’ said one. All agree there’s a Downsend attitude, though – and that’s to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. Curious and inquisitive types that don’t mind getting dirty will be right at home here. Perhaps not the obvious choice for quiet bookworms, such is the effervescence and joie de vivre the school encourages. School has willingness to accommodate those whose interests don’t follow those of the common herd. You don’t have to love rugby, for example – table tennis or badminton enthusiasts are catered for with equal dedication, while one senior school basketball fanatic dreamed of dedicated hoops that ‘didn’t wobble.’ Families are a more mixed bunch than at other local schools, add parents – some not short of a penny, others scraping the kitty to pay the fees. ‘Could be more work done on ethnic diversity – it’s predominantly white, middle-class,’ felt one.

Money matters

Academic, music, drama, sport and all-rounder scholarships are offered – 10-15 per cent of fees covered, plus enriched experience involving the usual expert mentorship and personalised programmes. Some hardship bursaries offered via Cognita.

The last word

A school that marries traditional and progressive, attracting parents from both camps. Its lens is future focused, global and creative and as such is a breath of fresh air for youngsters especially those with a bit of spark about them.

Special Education Needs