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#7 in Best Secondary Schools in Mid Sussex
Downlands Community School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
Downlands Community School
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Downlands Community School
- Secondary
- Hassocks BN6 8LP
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Ofsted report
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| The quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Previous inspection grade | Outstanding |
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This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Pupils use previously learned knowledge effectively
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils are attentive and respectful in lessons
Qualifications and Training: Teachers have expert subject knowledge
Current Educational Practices: Systematically plan activities for knowledge recall
Strengths and Challenges: Effective support but adaptations for SEND could be more precise
Parent Satisfaction: Parents can use Ofsted Parent View to share opinions
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Leaders assure decisions are in pupils' best interests
Actions for Quality Improvement: Sharp focus on improving curriculum
Managing Bullying and Safety: Staff act quickly on rare bullying occurrences
Promoting Welfare and Safety: Pupils feel well looked after and safe
Extracurricular Offerings: Wide range of well-attended clubs
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: Participation in forest school and competitions
Career Counselling Services: Effective programme with independent advice for older pupils
Preparation for Sixth Form: Curriculum for Years 7 and 8 needs development
Managing and Supporting SEND: Adaptations could be more precise for some SEND pupils
Subjects Offered: Deep dives in subjects like English, mathematics, geography, physical education, and Spanish
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
Downlands Community School is a Secondary, Co-Ed school located in West Sussex, South East.
It has 1255 students from age 11-16 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 17 : 1.
At this school, 62% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
This school rated Good by recent Ofsted inspection.
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Downlands Community School
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From the Downlands Community School
Downlands is a conventional institution with conventional principles.
Our mission is to educate young people so they can contribute positively to society on the social, environmental, and economic levels by being caring, engaged, responsible, and successful citizens.
We are proud of the fact that Downlands has consistently produced great GCSE results over a long period of time.
Last year, 79% of students received the equivalent of 5 A*-C grades in English and mathematics, while 82% of students received a level 4 in both subjects.
We also applaud an excellent curriculum that gives all children a plenty of options, irrespective of their aptitude.
We approach education holistically, and the extracurricular opportunities we provide let students pursue a wide range of interests.
All of our pupils are able to participate in competitive sports thanks to our athletic programme.
In addition to a wide range of other activities, we provide Duke of Edinburgh, Forest Schools, MasterChef lessons, tours and exchanges to France, China, and India.
Beautiful new facilities, including a new music suite, dance studio, 10 additional classrooms, increased circulation, and many more ancillary amenities, were made possible by our recently finished $6 million building project.
Our 3G all-weather pitch's surface has recently been replaced, and the results are astounding.
We put learning at the centre of all we do, and we're dedicated to our neighbourhood, the best possible patient outcomes, and the highest standards of care.
Student outcomes are significantly impacted by leadership, namely by enhancing the standard of leadership at all levels and with all of our employees.
To make sure that students follow a comprehensive curriculum that encourages aspiration, career development, and successful involvement in society, we are currently collaborating with all relevant parties.
For everyone in our community, we strive to offer the greatest standards of care, safety, and welfare.
A community school is Community Downlands.
We are dedicated to serving the community and understand that effective participation in it improves student achievement.
The school gives back to the neighbourhood in a remarkable way; it truly is a community school.
Students' needs are well-met by staff.
Read more
Our mission is to educate young people so they can contribute positively to society on the social, environmental, and economic levels by being caring, engaged, responsible, and successful citizens.
We are proud of the fact that Downlands has consistently produced great GCSE results over a long period of time.
Last year, 79% of students received the equivalent of 5 A*-C grades in English and mathematics, while 82% of students received a level 4 in both subjects.
We also applaud an excellent curriculum that gives all children a plenty of options, irrespective of their aptitude.
We approach education holistically, and the extracurricular opportunities we provide let students pursue a wide range of interests.
All of our pupils are able to participate in competitive sports thanks to our athletic programme.
In addition to a wide range of other activities, we provide Duke of Edinburgh, Forest Schools, MasterChef lessons, tours and exchanges to France, China, and India.
Beautiful new facilities, including a new music suite, dance studio, 10 additional classrooms, increased circulation, and many more ancillary amenities, were made possible by our recently finished $6 million building project.
Our 3G all-weather pitch's surface has recently been replaced, and the results are astounding.
We put learning at the centre of all we do, and we're dedicated to our neighbourhood, the best possible patient outcomes, and the highest standards of care.
Student outcomes are significantly impacted by leadership, namely by enhancing the standard of leadership at all levels and with all of our employees.
To make sure that students follow a comprehensive curriculum that encourages aspiration, career development, and successful involvement in society, we are currently collaborating with all relevant parties.
For everyone in our community, we strive to offer the greatest standards of care, safety, and welfare.
A community school is Community Downlands.
We are dedicated to serving the community and understand that effective participation in it improves student achievement.
The school gives back to the neighbourhood in a remarkable way; it truly is a community school.
Students' needs are well-met by staff.
Gallery
Compare with similar schools
| Phase of Education | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools | Local Authority Maintained Schools |
| Snobe grade |
B-
|
A
|
B-
|
| Ofset report | Good | Good | Good |
| Age range | 11-16 | 11-19 | 11-18 |
| Gender | Co-Ed | Co-Ed | Co-Ed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student teacher ratio | 17.3 | - | 17.8 |
| Proficient Math | - | - | - |
| Proficient Read | - | - | - |
| Grade 5 or above GCSE | 62% | 34% | 45% |
| Grade 5 or above A Level | - | - | 8.70% |
| Day Fees | - | - | - |
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.51 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 56.0 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 62% | 24.32% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 85% | 36.43% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 79% | 17.6% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 36% | 8.03% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 56% | 11.75% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 5.28 | 2.47 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 95% | 94.16% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 237 | 167 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 90% | 88.37% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 29% | 40.69% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 3% | 21.35% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 57% | 15.06% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 2% | 11.39% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 3% | 2.14% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 3% | 3.47% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.58 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 57.2 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 66% | 26.18% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 83% | 38.25% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 78% | 19.43% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 45% | 10.22% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 60% | 13.83% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 5.34 | 2.7 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 97% | 90.25% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 207 | 167 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 95% | 86.98% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 20% | 43.02% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | 8% | 21.15% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 65% | 13.38% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | 1% | 9.44% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | SP | 1.4% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 1.9% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.42 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 52.7 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 61% 2 | 24.14% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 83% 4 | 38.12% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 79% | 23.17% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 30% 4 | 9.39% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 48% 8 | 13.84% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.9 | 2.62 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 99% | 90% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 180 | 165 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | 88% | 84.45% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 19% | 39.52% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | 3% | 22% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | 63% | 12.55% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | 2% | 10.32% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 8% | 2.82% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 4% | 2.57% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.42 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 54.7 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 59% 6 | 24.72% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 79% 3 | 36.64% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 66% | 19.75% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 26% 4 | 8.94% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 40% 9 | 12.84% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.98 | 2.58 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 100% | 85.5% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 208 | 173 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | 97% | 75.5% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 25% | 35.98% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | 5% | 23.21% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | 66% | 12.43% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | 1% | 6.36% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 1% | 2.33% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 2.1% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.22 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 52.2 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 65% | 25.54% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 82% | 37.52% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 59% | 20.17% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 30% | 11.18% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 31% | 12.28% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school – whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 96% | 82.78% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 207 | 173 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | - | 66.41% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 29% | 36.41% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | - | 22.2% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | 58% | 11.44% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | - | 5.59% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 4% | 3.49% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 2.68% | 2.45% |
Best Schools 2025
Downlands Community School Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 28th Oct 2024 - 1st Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 23rd Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 23rd Jul 2025 - 2nd Sep 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 2nd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 2nd Nov 2024 - 22nd Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 22nd Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
17 : 1
Student teacher ratio at Downlands Community School
Local authority ratio 19 : 1
