School profile

The Downley School

Primary · Academy sponsor led · High Wycombe, HP13 5AL

Inadequate

Map showing The Downley School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#4,721 of 15,057

Better than 68% of schools in England

Ranked by pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

The Downley School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 22 Mar 2022

Ofsted rating
Inadequate
Quality of education
Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Inadequate
Early years
Inadequate
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhasePrimary
TypeAcademy sponsor led
Ages4 to 11
Pupils350
GenderMixed
Head teacherMs Leanne Dandridge
TrustOXFORD DIOCESAN BUCKS SCHOOLS TRUST
Local authorityBuckinghamshire
Opened01 Sept 2023
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 149485.

Key stage 2 results

2024/25

Year 6 results in national curriculum tests and teacher assessments. The expected standard is the level pupils should reach by the end of primary school.

MeasureThis schoolBuckinghamshireEngland
Expected standard in reading, writing and maths71%, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire65%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.11%, better than England, similar to Buckinghamshire11%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.109, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire107106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.109, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire106105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.109, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire106105
Expected standard in reading93%, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire80%76%
Expected standard in writing71%, similar to England, similar to Buckinghamshire73%73%
Expected standard in maths93%, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire76%75%
Pupils taking tests55--

Source: DfE, Compare school performance, Compare school performance 2024-2025.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils350
Girls171
Boys179
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.14.3%
First language not English22.3%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.420
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.16.7%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.39
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.7
Average class size29.2

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
46%
Pakistani
12.9%
Other White
11.4%
Indian
5.4%
White and Black Caribbean
4.6%
Other mixed
3.7%
Caribbean
2.9%
Other ethnic group
2.9%
Other Asian
2.3%
African
2%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher24.6
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.4
Teachers (FTE)14.2
Teaching assistants (FTE)14.04
Support staff (FTE)19.71
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2515.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2510.8
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/254.6

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.38
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.75
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.36
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.36
Applications from another local authority (Reception)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolBuckinghamshireEngland
Overall absence3.8%, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire5.1%5.1%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.5.4%, better than England, better than Buckinghamshire12.7%13.2%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.0.6%, similar to England, similar to Buckinghamshire1.1%1%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate0.8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions0.3%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Downley School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.8 miPrimaryMillbrook Combined SchoolCommunity school
Requires improvement
0.9 miPrimaryThe Disraeli SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.1 miPrimaryWest Wycombe SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.3 miPrimaryOakridge SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.6 miPrimaryHughenden Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.6 miPrimaryCastlefield SchoolFoundation school
Good
1.7 miPrimaryHamilton AcademyAcademy converter
Good
1.7 miPrimaryBooker Hill Primary School & NurseryCommunity school
Good
1.8 miPrimaryHigh Wycombe Church of England Combined SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
1.8 miNot applicableGodstowe Preparatory SchoolOther independent school
Unrated

Frequently asked questions about The Downley School

What is The Downley School's Ofsted rating?

The Downley School is rated Inadequate by Ofsted, last inspected on 22 Mar 2022.

How does The Downley School rank in England?

The Downley School ranks 4,721 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (better than 68% of schools).

What are The Downley School's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 71% of pupils at The Downley School met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

How hard is it to get into The Downley School?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, The Downley School made 38 offers from 75 applications (2 per offer), and 36 of 36 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Downley School?

The Downley School has 350 pupils aged 4 to 11.

What is the capacity of The Downley School?

The Downley School had 420 school places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Downley School?

At The Downley School, the average class had 29.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 24.6 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Downley School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Downley School missed 3.8% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 5.4% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 13.2%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.