Vision, aims
and ethos

Academic study is important and we expect all our pupils to adopt a healthy work ethic and achieve high standards but we believe to truly educate one must celebrate the creative, the physical and the spiritual as much as the intellectual. Our overwhelming experience is that those children who derive pleasure and enjoyment from a wide range of activities outside of the classroom are those who go on to perform exceptionally well in their academic work. Whilst our children may perceive they have options, in reality they are obliged to wholeheartedly engage in the multitude of opportunities the school will present before them.

Character at The Downs is shaped over time by a strong set of traditional values and expectations. Constantly mindful of these we nurture happy, civilised, accomplished young adults who go on to make a telling contribution towards their future communities.

Childhood is cherished. Our young children are encouraged to be imaginative in their learning and playing and every opportunity is taken to make the most of our wonderful park and woodland. They wear wellies, climb trees and make dens. They make elaborate daisy-chains, delight in playing conkers and relish bush-craft cooking. The sophisticated world of mobile devices and adolescence remains at the front entrance for later life.

Within this healthy, happy and wholesome environment we seek to nurture unaffected good manners, we embrace grace and humility, and we applaud the qualities of friendship, excellence and respect. We encourage and have high regard for individuality, we endorse aspiration and we celebrate success. Quality of character is then considered equally important as achievement.

Simply put we wish to nurture decent human beings who enjoy their precious childhood in a safe and beautiful rural environment, slightly removed from the pressure and clamour of modern youth.