Academy sponsor led · Buckinghamshire

The Downley School

4–11Ages
350Pupils
PrimaryPhase
149485URN

Faulkner Way, Downley, High Wycombe, HP13 5AL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Graded inspection · Mar 2022 Previous framework

Inadequate

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

0.5 below Buckinghamshire median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Buckinghamshire

75 applications for 38 places · 98th of 132 in Buckinghamshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

71%met the expected standard

Buckinghamshire 68% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Overall effectiveness: Inadequate · 22 March 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Inadequate
Behaviour and attitudes	Requires improvement
Personal development	Requires improvement
Leadership and management		Inadequate
Early years provision		Inadequate

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.0applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Buckinghamshire median (2.5) 0.2 below England median (2.2)

75 applications · 38 places offered · 36 named it first

2026 2.0; Buckinghamshire median median 2.5
2025 2.1; Buckinghamshire median median 2.4
2024 1.8; Buckinghamshire median median 2.5
2023 2.4; Buckinghamshire median median 2.5; as the previous school
2022 3.1; Buckinghamshire median median 2.5; as the previous school
2021 3.0; Buckinghamshire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2020 2.8; Buckinghamshire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2019 3.7; Buckinghamshire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2018 3.6; Buckinghamshire median median 2.7; as the previous school
2017 3.4; Buckinghamshire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2016 3.4; Buckinghamshire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2015 3.6; Buckinghamshire median median 2.6; as the previous school
2014 3.6; Buckinghamshire median median 2.4; as the previous school

This school
Buckinghamshire median

Dashed bars: as The Downley School (URN 131908), the previous school.

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	38	75	2.0	36	0.95
Sep 2025	28	59	2.1	27	0.96
Sep 2024	47	85	1.8	44	0.94
Sep 2023 *	32	76	2.4	32	1.00
Sep 2022 *	59	181	3.1	73	1.24
Sep 2021 *	58	174	3.0	70	1.21
Sep 2020 *	60	167	2.8	69	1.15
Sep 2019 *	60	224	3.7	78	1.30
Sep 2018 *	60	214	3.6	85	1.42
Sep 2017 *	60	206	3.4	98	1.63
Sep 2016 *	60	201	3.4	88	1.47
Sep 2015 *	57	203	3.6	92	1.61
Sep 2014 *	58	207	3.6	99	1.71

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 71% · Maths 93% → all three 71% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard71%50th of 139 in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire 68% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

Buckinghamshire 82% England 78%

Higher standard44%

Buckinghamshire 43% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard71%

Buckinghamshire 76% England 75%

Greater depth20%

Buckinghamshire 14% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard93%

Buckinghamshire 78% England 77%

Higher standard49%

Buckinghamshire 32% England 24%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Buckinghamshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	71%	11%	109	109
2023/24	51%	5%	106	106
2022/23

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Downley SchoolThis school
This school

Special measures Inadequate2022

2.0applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Millbrook Combined School
1.2 km · Buckinghamshire

2026

2.0applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
The Disraeli School
1.4 km · Buckinghamshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 51%met the SATs standard
West Wycombe School
1.8 km · Buckinghamshire

2026

2.7applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Oakridge School
2.2 km · Buckinghamshire

Good2022

2.1applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Hughenden Primary School
2.5 km · Buckinghamshire

Good2022

3.2applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Castlefield School
2.6 km · Buckinghamshire

Remains Good2024

1.5applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
Hamilton Academy
2.7 km · Buckinghamshire

Remains Good2024

2.1applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Booker Hill Primary School & Nursery
2.8 km · Buckinghamshire

Remains Good2023

2.6applications per place 50%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 149485 · 825/2058
Trust: Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust
Capacity: 420 pupils · 350 on roll
Free school meals: 14.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2023
Replaced: The Downley School (URN 131908)
Address: Faulkner Way, Downley, High Wycombe, HP13 5AL
Local authority: Buckinghamshire

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources