Welcome to Downsend School

Today, we celebrate our amazing Year 11 students as they close their Senior School chapter at Downsend to begin an exciting new stage in their education. They are incredible and we know they are equipped with vision to inspire to embrace the future.

Some began their journey at Little Downsend, while others joined along the way—but each one has left a lasting mark on our school. It’s been a joy to watch them grow, achieve, and contribute so much to our community.

We’ve had a wonderful day marking the occasion with their proud parents and dedicated teachers—celebrating memories, achievements, and the bright futures ahead!

#downsendschool #gcse2025 #leaversday #wearecognita #futureready #community

Last week, our Year 6 students had an amazing adventure at UKSA on the Isle of Wight! From kayaking and paddle boarding to dinghy sailing and keel boating, they threw themselves into every activity with enthusiasm and teamwork. It was a fantastic week full of fun, new skills, and unforgettable memories with friends!

#downsendschool #wearecognita #UKSA #OutdoorAdventure #Teamwork #Year6Trip #enrichment

Our Year 10 GCSE History, Religious Studies, and Sociology students recently took part in the Testimony 360 project, a national initiative by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Using AI and virtual reality, students engaged in an interactive session with Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg, asking questions and hearing his story. VR elements also allowed them to explore key locations from his life, offering a powerful and emotional learning experience.

We asked our students to share their reflections on the project and the impact it had on them:

“It brought the locations to life and made the events seem real.”

“It made me think about the people behind the world event, getting to interview Manfred using AI felt like I was really talking to him”.

“Using the VR to stand in the concentration camp really made me think”.

“I feel fortunate that we got to have this experience, thank you Mrs Skitt for organising it.”

#downsendschool #wearecognita #futureskills #VirtualReality #VREducation
#EdTech #InnovativeTeaching @holocaustuk

Last week, we were delighted to welcome many guests to our annual Art Soirée at the Linford Theatre, where we showcased the exceptional work of our talented GCSE Art and Design students. The evening was made even more special by our brilliant GCSE Food and Nutrition students, who prepared and served a delicious selection of canapés—including pea, ricotta and mint mini bruschetta, prawn toasts, mini Yorkshire puddings with beef and horseradish, and delicate lavender biscuits with cream for a sweet finish.

We’re incredibly proud of all our exhibitors and hope everyone who joined us enjoyed this celebration of creativity and talent.

(Images appear blurred due to strict regulations surrounding live GCSE coursework.)

#downsendschool #wearecognita #ArtAndDesign #ArtExhibition #StudentArt #YoungArtists
#GCSEArt #ArtInEducation
#creativestudents

Last week, the Junior School proudly hosted our annual Summer Sharing Concerts. Children in Years 3, 4, and 5 wowed us with musical performances and poems inspired by the theme of imagination.

Their creativity, confidence, and dedication were truly inspiring.
At Downsend, we value the concentration, perseverance, and self-belief that the performing arts nurture. This term, the children showed all of these qualities through consistent practice, rehearsals, and a real commitment to doing their best. Performing in front of a packed audience is no small feat, and every child rose to the moment with pride.

Thank you to all the families who joined us in support — we hope you enjoyed the concerts as much as we did!

#downsendschool #wearecognita #creativearts #concerts #juniorschool #surreyschools #surreyhills

New recycling bins have arrived at Downsend!
With the help of our Junior School Eco Committee, the bins have been relocated to key outdoor areas, supporting our ongoing sustainability efforts.
Sustainability is at the heart of school life at Downsend—a commitment recognised nationally when we were named winners in the Waste Reduction category of Keep Britain Tidy’s Eco-Schools campaign.
This year, we’ve worked hard to reduce food waste and improve recycling. These new bins will help us go even further in cutting landfill waste and encouraging everyone in our community to recycle more.
A huge thank you to the DPA for making this possible through their generous support!

#downsendschool #wearecognita #teamwork #collaboration #ecoschools

🏊‍♀️ IAPS National Swimming Finals 👏

London Aquatic Centre - 7 June 2025

Our swimmers did brilliantly at the nationals, racing against 5,000+ students from 290 schools. Competing at the iconic 2012 Olympic pool, where legends like Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos, and Rebecca Adlington once swam, made it an unforgettable experience!

Highlights:

Olivia – 9th in U12 Freestyle Final
🥉Spencer – Bronze in U13 Freestyle + new school record
Archie – Breaststroke Finalist
PBs across relays and individual events.

A huge well done to all swimmers and thanks to the parents for their incredible support! 🌟

#downsendschool #wearecognita #iaps #swimmingrace #londonaquaticcentre #juniorschool #seniorschool #surreyhills