Downe Primary School
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Downe Primary School is a converter academy in Orpington for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 85 pupils and room for 100. About 26 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 87 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 94% of the 50 schools most like it.
High Elms Road, Downe, High Elms Road, Orpington, BR6 7JN01689 853916downe.bromley.sch.ukMr Matthew Ferguson headteacherAll details
Ofsted
Ofsted hasn't published an inspection for this school yet.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
4 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023† | 2019† | 2018† | 2017† | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 4 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 11 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 92% | 73% | 83% | 83% | 91% | 70% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 8% | 18% | 0% | 17% | 9% | 13% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | – | 108.0 | 104.0 | 106.0 | 108.0 | 112.0 | 107.1 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | – | 106.0 | 107.0 | 106.0 | 105.0 | 107.0 | 106.4 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | – | 109.0 | 105.0 | 109.0 | 108.0 | 109.0 | 106.7 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | – | 92% | 73% | 100% | 100% | 91% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | – | 92% | 100% | 83% | 83% | 91% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | – | 92% | 91% | 92% | 100% | 91% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +0.3 | +1.7 | +2.9 | +7.7 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +4.3 | +1.5 | +0.2 | +2.9 | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | 83% | – | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for Downe Primary School, the school this one replaced in January 2023. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
25 places were empty (25% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in.
In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (13 offers for 15 places).
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 15 | 32 | 13 | – all offered | LA |
What parents say
From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 14 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 10 pupils, for autism.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Bromley with autism provision.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 12.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 25.5 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (18), emotional and mental health (7), Autistic spectrum disorder (6), Specific learning difficulty (3), Profound and multiple learning difficulty (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 85 | 66 | 62 | 66 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 26% | 6% | 8% | 9% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 11% | 17% | 8% | 8% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 23% | 18% | 21% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 12% | 5% | 6% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22† | 2020/21† | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 6.4% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 7.9% | 10.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 5.1% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 6.2% | 8.1% | 3.6% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2.4% | 1.2% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 23.0% | 8.5% | 8.1% | 20.0% | 43.9% | 11.3% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for Downe Primary School, the school this one replaced in January 2023. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cudham Church of England Primary School | Academy | 1.5 miles | 48 | Good 2023 | 12 | Compare |
| Farnborough Primary School | Academy | 1.7 miles | 198 | Good 2024 | 60 | Compare |
| Biggin Hill Primary School | Academy | 1.7 miles | 444 | Good 2023 | 17 | Compare |
| Green Street Green Primary School | Academy | 1.9 miles | 433 | Good 2024 | 77 | Compare |
| Keston Church of England Primary School | Academy | 2.0 miles | 161 | Good 2024 | 30 | Compare |
| Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School | Academy | 2.0 miles | 314 | Outstanding 2023 | 96 | Compare |
| Darrick Wood Junior School | Academy | 2.0 miles | 374 | Good 2024 | 61 | Compare |
| Oaklands Primary Academy | Academy | 2.0 miles | 423 | Requires improvement 2024 | 2 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Downe Primary School with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
No school with a similar mix of pupils within 25 km scores clearly higher.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 87 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 87% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 47 to 98. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | +0.07 | 2024 results; 12 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 0% | no data | – | |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | well above | +0.48 | Contextualised attainment (no DfE progress measure available); 12 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.15 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | below | -0.10 | 2024/25; 61 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well above | +0.24 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 12 pupils |
| What parents say | 5% | above | +0.03 | Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 14 responses |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Downe Primary School a good school?
Yes, going by the figures. Downe Primary School scores 87 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 94% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 47 to 98, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
How many pupils does Downe Primary School have?
85 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 100 places, so it is 85% full.
Is Downe Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 25 places were empty in 2024/25 (25% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Downe Primary School?
Pupils were in school 93.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 23% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
What do parents say about Downe Primary School?
100% of the 14 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 100% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.
How big are the classes at Downe Primary School?
The average class had 17.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
Does Downe Primary School have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has sen unit for autism. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- High Elms Road, Downe, High Elms Road, Orpington, BR6 7JN
- Telephone
- 01689 853916
- Website
- www.downe.bromley.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew Ferguson
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Multi-academy trust
- The Pioneer Academy (23 schools)
- Local authority
- Bromley
- Ward
- Darwin
- Constituency
- Orpington
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 January 2023 (academy converter)
- URN
- 149534 · LAESTAB 3052041 · UKPRN 10091888
- Formerly
- Downe Primary School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Bromley council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.