Executive Head: Ian Thorpe, BA Ed Hons Exeter, MA Ed Open
Head of Little Downsend: Lisa Burns, BA Hons Winchester, PGCE
Head of Junior School: Clare Kirkham, BA Hons London, PGCE
Senior School: Richard Dolan, BA Hons Finance and Economics, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Age range. 6 months–18 years. Co-educational.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Little Downsend Nursery (Bright Beginners, Early Learners, First Steps, Rising Reception): £1,099–£5,289. Please note, that we provide monthly payment options for our nursery year groups. Little Downsend School: Reception & Year 1 £5,816, Year 2 £6,145. Downsend School: Year 3 £7,710, Years 4–6 £7,930, Years 7–8 £8,106, Years 9–11 £8,999 Years 12–13 TBC. Sibling discounts apply for more than one child in reception or above.
Downsend is a co-educational day school for children aged between 2 and 18 years.
Downsend (Junior & Senior) is located at the Leatherhead Road site and stands on a pleasant, open site just outside the town, surrounded by its own playing fields, tennis courts, Astroturf pitch, cricket nets and sports pavilion. The Sports Complex includes a large indoor swimming pool and sports hall. The comfortable and vibrant library, expanded networked ICT provision, bespoke facilities for Design Technology, Textiles and Food Technology, a Music Suite (complete with soundproof practice rooms) and Drama Room extend the curriculum to support pupil’s learning and development.
Little Downsend (age 0.6 months to 7). There are three co-educational nursery and pre-preparatory school sites in Ashtead, Epsom and Leatherhead. Pupils work in a welcoming and stimulating environment, in small classes, where a strong focus on education builds solid foundations in Numeracy and Literacy. Dance and Drama, French, Music and Swimming are all taught by specialists and enhance the curriculum across all year groups. An enhanced afternoon programme, further supported by a wide range of after-school clubs including Spanish, is also on offer. An extended day facility is available. At the age of 7, the children move on to Downsend Junior where they are joined by children from other local independent and state schools.
Downsend Junior & Senior (ages 7 to 16). Founded in 1891, Downsend was an established academic prep school which extended its provision to age 16 from September 2020. The school is a thriving community where children are encouraged to develop their talents both in and outside the classroom. A huge variety of extracurricular opportunities are offered to allow children to try new activities during and after school.
The standard of work is high and there is a broad and engaging curriculum. Our approach to learning sees English, Science, Maths, Languages, Humanities, Art and Technology being lifted off the pages of textbooks and worksheets through creativity and enthusiasm. In addition to the usual subjects, children study Art, Drama, Food Technology, ICT, Music, Design Technology, Textiles and PSHE. There is a termly curriculum collapse day for STEAM projects. Parents are kept informed of their children’s progress through regular parents’ evenings and termly reports, and are welcome at all times to communicate with teaching staff and the management team.
Downsend Sixth (ages 16 to 18). Downsend School’s newest addition, Downsend Sixth, opening in September 2025, offers a modern and innovative approach to post-16 education. Designed with a focus on future-ready skills, Downsend Sixth combines a personalised learning journey for students aged 16–18, with a balanced emphasis on academic achievement and personal development. Students will thrive in a unique, state-of-the-art environment featuring exceptional academic facilities alongside inspiring spaces for socialising and collaboration. This holistic approach ensures students are equipped not only for academic success, but also for the challenges of an evolving, globalised world. Downsend Sixth prepares young people to excel, empowering them to take confident next steps into higher education, apprenticeships, or the workplace.
The school has a strong reputation for music, with regular and varied concerts throughout the year, as well as orchestras and choirs for the Junior and Senior Schools. A large number of children learn musical instruments and all pupils in Year 3 enjoy the instrumental scheme where they try different instruments before choosing which one to learn for the rest of the school year. Drama is equally important and there is a production at the end of each term. Pupils can take part in a full range of sports not only in school but also at local, regional and national levels. Regular visits occur outside school and trips abroad are also offered.
The holiday club scheme, Downsend+, gives pupils access to exciting and absorbing workshops, courses, themed days and thrilling days out. Run by qualified Downsend staff, this provision is available to children from age 5 (Reception) from 8.00 am to 5.30 pm, including breakfast, lunch and tea as appropriate. Little Downsend+ is also available as a dedicated facility for our younger children aged 2–5 and is held at Little Downsend Leatherhead. Additionally, we offer holiday provision at Little Downsend Nursery in Ashtead for ages 6 months to 2 years old.