Admissions: 01372 372311
General: 01372 372197

Welcome to Downsend School

Downsend is an innovative and forward-thinking independent school with a vision. A vision to inspire pupils to embrace the future, to create incredible people who make change in a rapidly evolving world.

From Nursery to Sixth Form, 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.

It is an exciting time to be a Downsendian as our Sixth Form opens in September 2025. Downsend Sixth will complete the journey for pupils from the ages of 6 months to 18 and marks an exceptional moment in our history.

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Downsend is future focused in a rapidly evolving world.

From Nursery through to Downsend Sixth, 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
A new era for Downsend

 

Downsend Sixth launches September 2025! Our brand new, purpose-designed, Sixth Form Centre will offer the very best of both worlds. Our new campus will offer young people the perfect environment for both academic success and personal growth.

Find out more

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.

From September 2025

Meet the Incoming Head.

As one door closes another opens, and we are delighted to welcome Mrs Rebecca Tear as the incoming Executive Head of Downsend School. Joining us in September 2025, Mrs Tear is an experienced and inspiring leader, with a wealth of expertise. Known for her innovative and forward-thinking approach, Bex has guided academic success, developed broad and engaging curricula, and built strong relationships with school communities.

With her energy, passion for life-long learning and focus on preparing pupils for the future, Mrs Tear is ready to lead Downsend into an exciting new chapter, perfectly aligned with our Future Skills vision.

Our Awards.

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

Shortlisted

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ISA Awards 2024 for Excellence and Innovation in Early Years

Winner

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Microsoft Showcase Schools Incubator Pathway
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Muddy Stilettos 2022 Awards for Most Creative Learning Through Play:

Highly Commended

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Common Sense Media School: 2021-2023
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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.

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Our cutting-edge Creative Arts Centre opened in June 2022.
Little Downsend Ashtead
Little Downsend Epsom
Little Downsend Leatherhead
Downsend Main Campus
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Downsend Sixth (16-18 years)

Launching in September 2025, Downsend Sixth will provide an outstanding A Level experience in a purpose-designed building a short walk from Leatherhead train station and opposite Leatherhead Leisure Centre. State of the art specialist teaching rooms including Science Labs and an Innovation Suite will complement contemporary quiet study spaces and a collaborative Common Room and Café.

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Accreditations

                                          

Follow Downsend on Social Media

In this video, Emily Cooper, Deputy Head of Downsend Sixth, shares how the D6 Electives programme empowers students to personalise their journey.

From Sports Leadership to Digital Literacy, Sustainability and more - our electives give students space to explore, grow and develop skills that truly matter beyond the classroom.

Downsend Sixth opens September 2025. To book your campus tour today, visit downsend.co.uk

#DownsendSixth #D6Electives #DownsendSchool #ACognitaSchool #SixthFormSurrey

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In this video, Emily Cooper, Deputy Head of Downsend Sixth, shares how the D6 Electives programme empowers students to personalise their journey. From Sports Leadership to Digital Literacy, Sustainability and more - our electives give students space to explore, grow and develop skills that truly matter beyond the classroom. Downsend Sixth opens September 2025. To book your campus tour today, visit downsend.co.uk #DownsendSixth #D6Electives #DownsendSchool #ACognitaSchool #SixthFormSurrey

With exams behind them and their time at Downsend complete, our Year 11s have been taking a moment to reflect.

In the third part of our leavers` series, they share what they`ll miss the most - the places, people and moments that defined their day-to-day life at Downsend. Here’s what they had to say...

#Downsend #DownsendSchool #Year11Leavers #Year11Leavers2025 #EndOfTerm #ACognitaSchool

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With exams behind them and their time at Downsend complete, our Year 11s have been taking a moment to reflect. In the third part of our leavers' series, they share what they'll miss the most - the places, people and moments that defined their day-to-day life at Downsend. Here’s what they had to say... #Downsend #DownsendSchool #Year11Leavers #Year11Leavers2025 #EndOfTerm #ACognitaSchool

The D6 Futures Programme is dynamic, engaging and highly tailored. Providing students with a multi-faceted toolkit to take on their future with confidence. From practical sessions on personal finance and time management to Higher Education and career support, our Futures programme is designed to for real people in the real world.

Downsend Sixth opens September 2025. To book your campus tour today, visit downsend.co.uk

#DownsendSixth #FutureSkills #FutureReady #D6Core #Leadership #Innovation #Creativity #SixthForm #StudentSuccess #HolisticEducation #SixthReady #D6Futures

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The D6 Futures Programme is dynamic, engaging and highly tailored. Providing students with a multi-faceted toolkit to take on their future with confidence. From practical sessions on personal finance and time management to Higher Education and career support, our Futures programme is designed to for real people in the real world. Downsend Sixth opens September 2025. To book your campus tour today, visit downsend.co.uk #DownsendSixth #FutureSkills #FutureReady #D6Core #Leadership #Innovation #Creativity #SixthForm #StudentSuccess #HolisticEducation #SixthReady #D6Futures

Yesterday marked the end of another hugely successful academic year – and also the last opportunity for parents to see Mr Ian Thorpe before he steps down as Headmaster of Downsend School this summer.

We’d like to take this moment to thank Ian for his dedication and leadership over the past 12 years, which have seen exciting growth, innovation, and so many proud achievements. From academic success and creative milestones, to the opening of our flagship Creative Arts Centre – and now the countdown to Downsend Sixth this September – Ian has played a key role in shaping the vibrant, ambitious school we are today.

We were delighted to celebrate this next chapter with a relaxed and joyful farewell in the sunshine yesterday - a lovely summer soirée at the Pavilion and on the school fields, where staff and parents came together to share their thanks and well wishes.

As we look ahead, we are excited to welcome Mrs Bex Tear as our new Executive Head, bringing fresh ideas, energy and vision for the future of Downsend.

With our Sixth Form opening in September, and our continued focus on innovation, growth, and delivering real-world Future Skills, it’s a truly exciting time to be part of the Downsend journey.

#ThankYouMrThorpe #DownsendSchool #ExcitingTimesAhead #DownsendSixth #IndependentEducation #Leatherhead #FarewellIanThorpe #NewChapter

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Yesterday marked the end of another hugely successful academic year – and also the last opportunity for parents to see Mr Ian Thorpe before he steps down as Headmaster of Downsend School this summer. We’d like to take this moment to thank Ian for his dedication and leadership over the past 12 years, which have seen exciting growth, innovation, and so many proud achievements. From academic success and creative milestones, to the opening of our flagship Creative Arts Centre – and now the countdown to Downsend Sixth this September – Ian has played a key role in shaping the vibrant, ambitious school we are today. We were delighted to celebrate this next chapter with a relaxed and joyful farewell in the sunshine yesterday - a lovely summer soirée at the Pavilion and on the school fields, where staff and parents came together to share their thanks and well wishes. As we look ahead, we are excited to welcome Mrs Bex Tear as our new Executive Head, bringing fresh ideas, energy and vision for the future of Downsend. With our Sixth Form opening in September, and our continued focus on innovation, growth, and delivering real-world Future Skills, it’s a truly exciting time to be part of the Downsend journey. #ThankYouMrThorpe #DownsendSchool #ExcitingTimesAhead #DownsendSixth #IndependentEducation #Leatherhead #FarewellIanThorpe #NewChapter

Our D6 Electives programme is designed in line with the Downsend Future Skills vision - to give students in the Sixth Form the opportunity to broaden their knowledge , challenge themselves, and get ahead by gaining additional UCAS points. We’ll be offering:
💡Critical Thinking A/S Level
📒Extended Project Qualification
🖥️International Certificate for Digital Literacy
🏅Level 3 Sports Leadership
🌱Level 3 Sustainability
And at the end of the elective programme, students share their work with the incoming Year 12, in the Downsend Sixth Incredible Expo, a chance to inspire, mentor and build their all important public speaking skills.
Visit our link in bio to find out more.

#DownsendSixth #FutureSkills #FutureReady #D6Core #Leadership #Innovation #Creativity #SixthForm #StudentSuccess #HolisticEducation #SixthReady#D6Electives #CriticalThinking #EPQ #ICDL #SportsLeaders #sustainability #ucas

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Our D6 Electives programme is designed in line with the Downsend Future Skills vision - to give students in the Sixth Form the opportunity to broaden their knowledge , challenge themselves, and get ahead by gaining additional UCAS points. We’ll be offering: 💡Critical Thinking A/S Level 📒Extended Project Qualification 🖥️International Certificate for Digital Literacy 🏅Level 3 Sports Leadership 🌱Level 3 Sustainability And at the end of the elective programme, students share their work with the incoming Year 12, in the Downsend Sixth Incredible Expo, a chance to inspire, mentor and build their all important public speaking skills. Visit our link in bio to find out more. #DownsendSixth #FutureSkills #FutureReady #D6Core #Leadership #Innovation #Creativity #SixthForm #StudentSuccess #HolisticEducation #SixthReady#D6Electives #CriticalThinking #EPQ #ICDL #SportsLeaders #sustainability #ucas

We’ve been shortlisted!

We’re thrilled to announce that Downsend School has been shortlisted for the Independent Schools of the Year (ISOTY) Award in the Performing Arts category!

This recognition reflects the strength of our Performing Arts provision, curriculum, teaching and exceptional extracurricular offering – all brought to life in our flagship Creative Arts Centre, now the buzzing hub of school life.

From centre-stage performances to behind-the-scenes creativity, the arts are truly at the heart of what we do – and we couldn’t be prouder.

#downsendschool #surreyschools #downsend

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We’ve been shortlisted! We’re thrilled to announce that Downsend School has been shortlisted for the Independent Schools of the Year (ISOTY) Award in the Performing Arts category! This recognition reflects the strength of our Performing Arts provision, curriculum, teaching and exceptional extracurricular offering – all brought to life in our flagship Creative Arts Centre, now the buzzing hub of school life. From centre-stage performances to behind-the-scenes creativity, the arts are truly at the heart of what we do – and we couldn’t be prouder. #downsendschool #surreyschools #downsend

With their GCSE exams over, our Year 11 students are now enjoying an extremely well-deserved long summer break! We caught up with some of them before they left, to ask what advice, looking back, they would give to their Year 7 selves…

#downsendschool #wearecognita #seniorschool #futureready #gcse25

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With their GCSE exams over, our Year 11 students are now enjoying an extremely well-deserved long summer break! We caught up with some of them before they left, to ask what advice, looking back, they would give to their Year 7 selves… #downsendschool #wearecognita #seniorschool #futureready #gcse25

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Downsend School

Admissions: 01372 372311
General: 01372 372197