1 Leatherhead Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8TJ
10 reasons to choose Downsend Junior School
Top line
Downsend Junior School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 86. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Leatherhead and one of the 3 best primary schools for 2 miles.
School fundamentals
Downsend Junior School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (60%/40%) between the ages of 7 and 11 years. The school has an academically selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of Downsend School, an all-through school to age 18, and is a member of the Cognita Schools group. Downsend Junior School fees range from £8,320 (Rec) to £8,503 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Downsend Junior School usually has four classes per year, and an average class size of 18 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
70% to 80% of Year 6 Downsend Junior School pupils move up to the senior school. The most popular destinations for the leavers are Epsom College and St John’s Leatherhead. At the end of Year 8 pupils, again, 70% to 80% stay on for Year 9, while the rest move on to other independents. Epsom College, St John’s Leatherhead, Reigate Grammar School, and City of London Freemen’s School account for around 70% of all leavers. 40% of pupils win awards and scholarships.
The Downsend Junior School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHE, reasoning, French, Spanish, Latin. The curriculum emphasises creativity throughout. There are regular theme days, including one for STEAM every term. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs. In recent years the school has enjoyed national tournament success in science.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, Forest School to Year 4 and residential trips from Year 4. Eco Schools Green Flag Award.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for music, computing and sport throughout, for humanities, spelling and languages from Year 3, and for all subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Downsend Junior School
School offers between 10 and 15 different sports over the course of the year. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in athletics, football, rugby 7s, swimming.
The Arts at Downsend Junior School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and half take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Three choirs, 3 orchestras and several instrument ensembles. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.30am to 5.45pm. Minibus service.
Find another school near Downsend Junior School
City of London Freemen’s School, Junior School (1.8 miles); Danes Hill Preparatory School (3.9 miles); Kingswood House School (3.9 miles).
St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Leatherhead (0.9 miles); St Martin’s Church of England Schools, Epsom (3.7 miles); St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Epsom (4 miles).
St John’s School, Leatherhead (1 mile); City of London Freemen’s School (1.8 miles); RGS Surrey Hills (3.5 miles).
St Andrew’s Catholic School (0.7 miles); Rosebery School (3.2 miles); Glyn School (5 miles).