The Downs Malvern A GSG School
- The Downs Malvern
Brockhill Road
Colwall
Malvern
Worcestershire
WR13 6EY - Head: Mr A Cook
- T 01684 544100
- F 01684 544105
- E registrar@thedowns.malcol.org
- W www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk
- A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 3 to 13 with a linked senior school
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Herefordshire
- Pupils: 260 (two-thirds boys); 51 full, 10 flexi boarders
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £6,933 - £16,599; Boarding £12,567 - £22,050 pa
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Linked schools: Malvern College
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Perhaps what best sums up the timeless charm is the little steam train that runs through the school grounds. The oldest miniature light railway in the world, this is a serious educational tool. The children learn to drive and maintain it. The wholesome environment too is fully utilised – the children are outside as much as possible, soaking in subliminally, we would like to think, the awe-inspiring rolling landscape, but also using it for serious geographical and scientific measurements. The head told us, ‘Care comes first and then education’...
What the school says...
The Downs Malvern is a busy, vibrant and successful co-educational preparatory school for boarding and day children, situated on a striking, rural 55-acre campus.
Following an Independent Schools Inspection in May 2012 the Inspectors concluded that, 'The school is highly successful in meeting its aims and offers an excellent educational experience to its pupils. Throughout the school the pupils achievement is excellent and they reach high standards both in their academic work and in a wide range of extra-curricular activities'. ...Read more
What the parents say...
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2009, Alastair (known to everyone as Sam) Cook. Previously head of Pembroke House in Gilgil, Kenya, he is a graduate from Westminster College, Oxford. There is something of the gentleman’s club about his study. The comfortable chairs, old school photos and stirring mountain landscapes speak of a man and school at ease with the world. Alastair Cook certainly is that and much more. He has energetically meshed three schools (The Downs merged with Malvern College Prep in 2008) together into a now seamless unit, worked on relationships with Malvern College to mutual benefit and made himself much respected and loved by parents and the children whom he places firmly at the centre of everything. He teaches, does sport with the pre-preps and runs a swimming club. ‘He is always around when the children...
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Special Education Needs
Children requiring extra learning support are helped both in the classroom by assistants and have one to one support given by specialist staff. Children are assessed informally by staff at school and where necessary external reports are obtained to assist. The school puts appropriate support into place in consultation with parents. English as a foreign language is taught as part of the timetable for those who require it.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | Y |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
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