The Downs School, Downs School

• Location: Compton, Berkshire County, England,
• Number of students: approximately 1430,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

The Downs School — a state school for students aged 11-18. Its main specialization is the teaching of foreign languages, and it also has strong courses in natural sciences and mathematics.

In recent years, The Downs School has been a leader among local educational institutions in terms of the results achieved by senior students taking GCSE and A-Level exams. The school is the only one in the county with its own full-size swimming pool — these and other advantages set it apart from others, attracting dozens of new students every year.

In addition to a rich curriculum, students have access to a wide range of extracurricular activities for the development of their talents and abilities. Qualified specialists teach both core subjects and extracurricular classes, with each aiming to provide comprehensive support to students. Thanks to a focus on modern educational methods and the school's technical equipment, students receive all the necessary tools to achieve academic and personal excellence.

All students receive comprehensive support from qualified teaching staff, administrative personnel, and career mentors, and can attend:

• Additional classes in subjects to revisit difficult topics or expand understanding of a scientific field,
• Thematic seminars with teachers and invited specialists,
• Career seminars on university selection and specialized preparation for admission,
• Optional personal development consultations.

The Downs School offers programs at two academic levels of school education:

• Senior School — Grades 7-11,
• Sixth Form — Grades 12-13.

The Downs School does not provide accommodation.

Two large cafeterias operate on the educational campus, each employing highly qualified cooks and a catering team. Every week they create an updated menu that necessarily includes a range of hot and cold dishes, salads, and snacks, as well as vegetarian options. If a student requires special nutrition, such as vegan or gluten-free, they can apply in advance and receive the necessary meals within 48 hours. The dining halls include display cases with pre-portioned servings, each having an allergen list. Students are welcome to bring food from home if they wish.

Students are offered a wide range of opportunities to develop their talents outside of class hours, from sports sections and thematic clubs to participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and volunteer work.

The infrastructure allows students to try their hand at sports such as:

• Swimming,
• Archery,
• Running,
• Equestrianism,
• Air sports,
• Football,
• Netball,
• Basketball and others.

The Downs School teams compete with other institutions in the county, reach regional and national levels, and can win prestigious team and individual scholarships. Many sports are taught in cooperation with professional schools and coaches who provide students with a high level of training.

Thematic clubs offer students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and improve their skills among like-minded people, for example:

• Photography,
• Chess,
• Cinema,
• Fine arts, painting,
• Dancing,
• Choral and solo singing,
• Debates,
• Journalism,
• Textiles
• Board games,
• Creative writing,
• Cooking, baking.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award unites all extracurricular activities: to earn a bronze, silver or gold award, students must actively participate in a variety of events, including volunteering, sports and leadership projects. One aspect of the award is expeditions, which are regularly organized by teachers: over the past year, students have participated in 70 trips, including four abroad, were able to visit iconic attractions in the region, helped social organizations, studied English at an event dedicated to Shakespeare, and attended a jazz festival.

At The Downs School, there is a house system of seven houses — upon admission, students are assigned to groups with distinguishing features: flags, emblems, mottos. Throughout the year, the Houses participate in friendly competitions, and closer to the summer holidays, winners are awarded prizes. Some of the competitive events held during the school year:

• Sports matches,
• Performing arts competition,
• Visual arts competition,
• Dance competition,
• Charity Day.

• "Outstanding" Ofsted ratings for most assessed criteria, including teaching quality, student achievement, and campus safety,
• Top exam results in GCSEs, A-Levels and BTECs in West Berkshire,
• The majority of sixth formers go to universities of their choice (first choice), including elite Russell Group options,
• A wide range of extracurricular activities: from sports sections and regular excursions to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, volunteering,
• Exchange programs with schools in France, Germany, and Spain based on language learning,
• Sports competitions at interschool, regional and international levels: teams have already visited the Netherlands and Spain, Cyprus and Malta.

The Downs School is located in the small village of Compton, in the west of Berkshire county, and occupies a vast green territory with several large buildings, sports fields and courts, walking areas and outdoor recreation zones. The infrastructure of The Downs School includes:

• Classrooms with interactive and whiteboard boards,
• Computer classrooms,
• Natural and technical science laboratories,
• Music studios, fine and performing arts studios,
• Library with a reading room,
• Two large cafeterias,
• Medical center,
• Sports center with gym and game halls,
• Halls for events,
• Self-study rooms, individual classes with a teacher,
• Academic and administrative support center,
• 17-meter heated swimming pool,
• Three grass football fields, one — with synthetic turf,
• Basketball and netball courts.

The campus is located near public transport stops.

The academic year consists of three trimesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-March,
• Summer: April-July.

The weekly schedule consists of five school days: from Monday to Saturday. The academic workload includes five lessons a day, with extracurricular activities to choose from afterwards. The total time of the school day — from 8:50 am to 3:15 pm.

Approximate list of additional expenses:

• Registration, administrative fees and deposits,
• Meals, accommodation,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Personal learning materials, clothing to comply with the school dress code,
• Individual lessons, training,
• Medical insurance, on-demand service,
• Personal expenses.

The future student's family can visit the campus on Open House Day to meet teachers and inspect the infrastructure and opportunities of the campus. The next step is filling out a registration form, submitting documents, and paying the admission fee, followed by an interview and testing in core subjects. The admissions committee reviews applications in order, sending a response letter with a decision on acceptance.

Most students in grades 7-11 are graduates of local schools, however there is no limit on the number of students in Sixth Form and the area where they live.

The Downs School is considered a non-selective school, therefore it accepts all applicants on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to availability of places.

Senior students achieve excellent results in exams, successfully entering leading universities in the UK and abroad. Over the past year, the list of institutions accepting graduates from The Downs School has included Oxford and Russell Group universities.

The main intake of new students is at ages 11 and 16, however, if places are available, applicants can also join other classes. To enroll, you must provide personal documents, including a passport, medical certificates and insurance, a visa or residence permit, academic transcripts/certificates for previous years of study. If the applicant has already taken GCSE exams or equivalent, their results should be provided.

The Downs School offers scholarships to students aged 16-19 based on their academic merit.

Students in difficult life situations have access to financial assistance in the form of free meals and public transport fares.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision