Welcome to Downsend School

Inspiring Young Minds. Creating Incredible Futures.

Downsend is an innovative and forward-thinking independent school, with a new vision; to inspire a generation to embrace the future, shaping incredible people who will make change in our world.

At Downsend, we prepare our young people for the future with a creative and problem-solving approach. We think big, we celebrate innovation, and we never hold back.

All four schools in the Downsend family have been judged to be ‘excellent in all areas’ by the Independent School Inspectorate and we are delighted to have been shortlisted as 'Co-educational Independent School of the Year' in the Independent School of the Year Awards 2024.

Open Days & Visits

Make an Enquiry

Read our 2023 Inspection Reports

Downsend is future focused in a rapidly evolving world.

From Nursery through to the Senior School, day to day life at Downsend is fast-paced, inspiring and immersive. We bring learning to life, providing opportunities for growth at every age.

We're passionate about providing the best, most innovative experience possible. Find out more about our Future Skills Vision below:

Future Skills Vision

Head's Welcome

Meet the Head.

Described by the Good Schools Guide as ‘refreshingly candid, with a knack for getting what he wants’, Ian Thorpe has been Head at Downsend for 10 years. A forward-thinking Head, Ian has been responsible for significant change at Downsend.

His can-do attitude, relentless energy and good humour, coupled with an impressive track record from Chinthurst, City of London Freemen's and Caterham School, mean that Downsend benefits from the best of both worlds – the ability to choose the best of the sector, whilst also innovating to do things differently.

Our Awards.

ISA Awards 2024: 'Co-educational Independent School of the Year'

Shortlisted

ISA Awards 2022 for Innovation in Independent Education:

Finalist

Microsoft Showcase Schools Incubator Pathway

Muddy Stilettos 2022 Awards for Most Creative Learning Through Play:

Highly Commended

Common Sense Media School: 2021-2023

Eco-Schools Green Flag Award: July 2022

FACILITIES & LOCATION

Excellent learning locations.

Innovative modern spaces bring specialist teaching to life at the Main School, while Little Downsend offers a home from home for our littlest children, with outstanding outdoor spaces for exploring and learning.

Facilities and Locations

Our cutting-edge Creative Arts Centre opened in June 2022.

Little Downsend Ashtead

Little Downsend Epsom

Little Downsend Leatherhead

Downsend Main Campus

A NEW ERA

A new era for Downsend, welcoming babies to the family.

We are delighted to now welcome babies to the Downsend family. Little Downsend Ashtead is proud to provide an exceptional foundation for children aged 6 months to 4 years.

Little Downsend Ashtead

Passionate and inspiring leadership, down to earth, fantastic facilities and a modern, forward-thinking approach.

– A Downsend Parent

Our Schools

Little Downsend Ashtead (0 - 4 years)

Little Downsend Ashtead is a Nursery and Pre-School for children aged 6 months to 4 years old.

A short walk from Ashtead Village, with its independent shops and cafes, Little Downsend Ashtead is perfectly located for new parents looking for a nursery within walking distance that has a quiet, welcoming presence.

Little Downsend Epsom (2-7 years)

Little Downsend Epsom is a Nursery and Pre-Prep for children aged 2 years to 7 years.

Occupying a beautiful piece of land with a grassy field, garden and play areas, both children's and parent's needs are catered for in quiet surroundings.

Little Downsend Leatherhead (2-7 years)

Little Downsend Leatherhead is a Nursery and Pre-Prep for children aged 2 years to 7 years.

The largest of the three schools, Little Downsend Leatherhead benefits from a huge play area, an acre of grassy fields, forest school, stage and climbing equipment.

Downsend School (8 - 16 years)

Downsend School houses Year 3 to Year 11. Featuring a brand-new Creative Arts Centre, extensive sporting facilities, 25m pool and a wide range of specialist labs and studios, Downsend offers pupils an exciting place to learn. Conveniently located just outside Leatherhead, the campus has a leafy, suburban feel whilst being easy to get to by car, train or bus.

Accreditations

Follow Downsend on Social Media

In the recent summer term, many of our Senior School students participated in the annual National Biology Challenge. This year, 45,400 students from Year 9 and Year 10 took part in the challenge. The excellent performance of Downsend`s students was recognized, with two students receiving Gold and seven students receiving Bronze. Congratulations to everyone on this excellent result!

#downsendschool #biologychallenge #privateschool #independentschool #welovescience #surreyschools

@cognitaschools

In the recent summer term, many of our Senior School students participated in the annual National Biology Challenge. This year, 45,400 students from Year 9 and Year 10 took part in the challenge. The excellent performance of Downsend's students was recognized, with two students receiving Gold and seven students receiving Bronze. Congratulations to everyone on this excellent result!

#downsendschool #biologychallenge #privateschool #independentschool #welovescience #surreyschools

@cognitaschools

We were thrilled to welcome our school community, parents, family members, and local schools to our concluding production of the 2023-2024 academic year, ‘The Keymaster’. The play was fantastically performed by our Year 6 students, who all had an opportunity to showcase their talents. We are fortunate to have a theatre on our site and it is important to us at Downsend to ensure all children have the chance to develop their confidence and perform.

‘The Keymaster’ took us on an incredible journey through history, exploring everything from the Battle of Hastings and the Industrial Revolution to the World Wars and a glimpse into a future! Mr. Bryant, Head of Drama, concluded: "The Year 6 students were amazing, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the Senior School." Bravo everyone!

#downsendschool #creativearts #surreyschools #privateschools #independentschool #juniorschool #theatre #creativeeducation

We were thrilled to welcome our school community, parents, family members, and local schools to our concluding production of the 2023-2024 academic year, ‘The Keymaster’. The play was fantastically performed by our Year 6 students, who all had an opportunity to showcase their talents. We are fortunate to have a theatre on our site and it is important to us at Downsend to ensure all children have the chance to develop their confidence and perform.

‘The Keymaster’ took us on an incredible journey through history, exploring everything from the Battle of Hastings and the Industrial Revolution to the World Wars and a glimpse into a future! Mr. Bryant, Head of Drama, concluded: "The Year 6 students were amazing, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the Senior School." Bravo everyone!

#downsendschool #creativearts #surreyschools #privateschools #independentschool #juniorschool #theatre #creativeeducation

Our annual Prize Giving events are always special moments for our community to come together to celebrate achievements, both individual and collective, and this year was no exception. From the uplifting songs in the Junior School, to more serene and complex ensembles in the Senior School, photo montages of every year group and the heartfelt words from staff. This was a day where everyone’s hard work was recognised and we were able to hear the remarkable stories of pupils achieving, participating and excelling, day in and day out. We heard stories of the sparky, the determined, the kind and the resilient – of the Downsendians who have high aspirations for themselves and the people around them. We are proud of you all and wish you the most fantastic Summer.

With special thanks to our friends @leatherheadtheatre for hosting us again 😊

#downsendschool #prizegiving #cognitaway

Our annual Prize Giving events are always special moments for our community to come together to celebrate achievements, both individual and collective, and this year was no exception. From the uplifting songs in the Junior School, to more serene and complex ensembles in the Senior School, photo montages of every year group and the heartfelt words from staff. This was a day where everyone’s hard work was recognised and we were able to hear the remarkable stories of pupils achieving, participating and excelling, day in and day out. We heard stories of the sparky, the determined, the kind and the resilient – of the Downsendians who have high aspirations for themselves and the people around them. We are proud of you all and wish you the most fantastic Summer.

With special thanks to our friends @leatherheadtheatre for hosting us again 😊

#downsendschool #prizegiving #cognitaway

It was no ordinary day for Ewan in Y4, who took on the role as Head for the Day with remarkable ease and composure! Once the practicalities of contracts and staff passes were dealt with, Ewan then took a visit to Little Downsend Epsom to meet with staff, pupils and prospective parents – engaging in great chat and even a science experiment.
The Head for the Day then returned to his office at the Main School, turning his hand to a video message to launch the charity elections, preparing the weekly newsletter and reviewing the Autumn Term menus before then taking on the role of compere for the production of The Little Mermaid. As Mrs Kirkham proudly said in her Prize Giving speech this week ‘this really was future skills in action, with a leadership role firmly in Ewan’s future’.

#downsendschool #cognitaway #inspringyoungminds #futureready #privateschool #independentschool #surreyschools #littledownsend #epsom #surreylife

It was no ordinary day for Ewan in Y4, who took on the role as Head for the Day with remarkable ease and composure! Once the practicalities of contracts and staff passes were dealt with, Ewan then took a visit to Little Downsend Epsom to meet with staff, pupils and prospective parents – engaging in great chat and even a science experiment.
The Head for the Day then returned to his office at the Main School, turning his hand to a video message to launch the charity elections, preparing the weekly newsletter and reviewing the Autumn Term menus before then taking on the role of compere for the production of The Little Mermaid. As Mrs Kirkham proudly said in her Prize Giving speech this week ‘this really was future skills in action, with a leadership role firmly in Ewan’s future’.

#downsendschool #cognitaway #inspringyoungminds #futureready #privateschool #independentschool #surreyschools #littledownsend #epsom #surreylife

We are delighted to announce that 🎉 Downsend School has been shortlisted for Co-educational Independent School of the Year! 🏆 by the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.

#EducationExcellence #independentschool #privateschool #surreyschools #juniorschool #seniorschool #cognitaschools

@cognitaschools

We are delighted to announce that 🎉 Downsend School has been shortlisted for Co-educational Independent School of the Year! 🏆 by the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.

#EducationExcellence #independentschool #privateschool #surreyschools #juniorschool #seniorschool #cognitaschools

@cognitaschools

Before today`s general elections, our senior school pupils had the opportunity to observe democracy in action! They held their own mini-general election to vote for the school charities. The students have been actively learning about how democracy works in the UK and have explored the origins of current voting systems. They also developed a global perspective by comparing other options for voting systems and discussing strategies to encourage more young people to vote. Each year group participated in a hustings event to better understand what each party included in their manifestos and the nominated charities from our school community. It was an exciting and educational day, and the Downsend Senior School was bustling with democratic activity!

#downsendschool #cognitaway #independentschool #privateschool #inspringyoungminds #surreyschools #seniorschool

Before today's general elections, our senior school pupils had the opportunity to observe democracy in action! They held their own mini-general election to vote for the school charities. The students have been actively learning about how democracy works in the UK and have explored the origins of current voting systems. They also developed a global perspective by comparing other options for voting systems and discussing strategies to encourage more young people to vote. Each year group participated in a hustings event to better understand what each party included in their manifestos and the nominated charities from our school community. It was an exciting and educational day, and the Downsend Senior School was bustling with democratic activity!

#downsendschool #cognitaway #independentschool #privateschool #inspringyoungminds #surreyschools #seniorschool

🚗 Life at the Littles 🌎🚀

The topic of ‘journeys’ has been high on the agenda for Rising Reception this term – but not content with just covering modes of transport, our 3 and 4 year olds have been thinking about their own personal journeys, voyages to the moon and discovery of new cultures. They’ve built a giant space station and even their own travel agency. They’ve role-played astronauts, train drivers and pilots – all while neatly linking with their own personal journey which will see them transition to Reception in September. Play and learning, all wrapped up in one imaginative, creative little package!

🚗 Life at the Littles 🌎🚀

The topic of ‘journeys’ has been high on the agenda for Rising Reception this term – but not content with just covering modes of transport, our 3 and 4 year olds have been thinking about their own personal journeys, voyages to the moon and discovery of new cultures. They’ve built a giant space station and even their own travel agency. They’ve role-played astronauts, train drivers and pilots – all while neatly linking with their own personal journey which will see them transition to Reception in September. Play and learning, all wrapped up in one imaginative, creative little package!

Last week, our Year 3 students had a wonderful day at Wakehurst Place, where they explored the gardens and expanded their knowledge about the beautiful trees and plants on the grounds. The children participated eagerly in activities such as dissecting a flower and using a microscope to explore its different parts. It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all!

#downsendschool #cognitaschools #independentschool #wakehurstplace #surreyschools #surrey #juniorschool

Last week, our Year 3 students had a wonderful day at Wakehurst Place, where they explored the gardens and expanded their knowledge about the beautiful trees and plants on the grounds. The children participated eagerly in activities such as dissecting a flower and using a microscope to explore its different parts. It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all!

#downsendschool #cognitaschools #independentschool #wakehurstplace #surreyschools #surrey #juniorschool

Follow on Instagram

Learn more.

Request our brochure

NEXT STEPS

Academic Excellence

Facilities & Location