Welcome To The Downs School
The Downs is a leading independent day Preparatory School for boys and girls aged 4 to 13. It is situated in Charlton House, a magnificent Victorian building that is surrounded by sixty acres of idyllic parkland just five miles from Bristol.
The children at The Downs enjoy a vibrant all round education that is stimulating, challenging and exciting. Their academic progress is the focus of our attention but the immense benefits of immersing children amongst a diverse range of other experiences that serve to enrich their development are genuinely appreciated. Sport, Music, Dance, Drama, and Art are subsequently essential aspects of the school’s exhilarating culture.
Our aim is to nurture happy, caring accomplished children. We cherish childhood, we applaud gentleness and humility, we appreciate unaffected good manners and we respect traditional values. We enjoy celebrating success in any area of school life but achievement is never valued more highly than quality of character.
Regularly described as ‘outstanding ambassadors’, our children are caring, considerate, and confident without being arrogant. We are subsequently very proud of the ‘Charltonians’ that leave The Downs at thirteen to attend a variety of prestigious senior schools; they are articulate, interesting and well balanced young people who have a strong moral sense and enthusiasm for the challenge that lies ahead.
Latest News
Rosslyn Park National Sevens
2009
Having won two very competitive prestigious regional tournaments, The Downs School justified their number one ranking by recently winning the National Seven Tournament at Rosslyn Park. This is the eighth time the school has won the national title. Along with their old rivals Caldicott (Farham Green), The Downs can claim to have won the title more times than any other Prep School in the country.
Sixty-four teams from all over the country, including those from Millfield, the Dragon and Clifton College, entered the competition which was played over two days. Having won through the group stages, on the first day the VII cruised though the last sixteen round by beating St John’s. Things were to prove more difficult the following day.
The nerves clearly in evidence, in the last eight the side played poorly but creditably battled it out against a strong and committed Shrewsbury House. In the semi final Sedbergh were similarly physical however by this time The Downs VII was beginning to play some impressive and stylish seven-a-side rugby. At half time the scores remained level at 5 -5 but as the VII began to move the ball wider the crowd were able to relax a little as The Downs ran out comfortable winners.
The final proved an excellent game against a spirited Bedford side. The Downs scored early in the game however, after considerable pressure Bedford scored a 90metre breakaway try. Thereafter the stamina and skill of the outstanding Downs VII began to tell and after a hat trick of tries from Captain Joe Leigh, the Downs were once again crowned national champions. This was a magnificent achievement not least because The Downs was certainly amongst the smallest school in the competition.
Congratulations to the squad on their wonderful success and many thanks to the considerable amount of supporters who cheered the side on – we hope your nails have grown back!
