Primary school

Downside Primary School

  • Community School
  • ages 4–11
  • Mixed
  • Luton
  • LU4 8EZ
Ofsted Good · inspected May 2015

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,097 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 14%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 48%48%2016/17: top 63%2017/18: top 45%2018/19: top 39%2022/23: top 41%2023/24: top 41%2024/25: top 14%No exams

Against East of EnglandArrows: East of England rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM79% · East of England 64%9/10 Top 20%+23.5 pts
Higher standard, RWM14% · East of England 7%9/10 Top 20%+17.9 pts
Reading score108 · East of England 1068/10 Above+22.7 pts
Maths score108 · East of England 1059/10 Top 20%
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 56% · 109 pupils · East of England 54%2016/17: 58% · 123 pupils · East of England 63%2017/18: 69% · 145 pupils · East of England 65%2018/19: 71% · 147 pupils · East of England 67%2022/23: 65% · 146 pupils · East of England 61%2023/24: 66% · 138 pupils · East of England 63%2024/25: 79% · 145 pupils · East of England 64%79%56%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 5% · 109 pupils · East of England 5%2016/17: 7% · 123 pupils · East of England 8%2017/18: 8% · 145 pupils · East of England 9%2018/19: 12% · 147 pupils · East of England 9%2022/23: 7% · 146 pupils · East of England 7%2023/24: 12% · 138 pupils · East of England 7%2024/25: 14% · 145 pupils · East of England 7%14%5%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 100 · 109 pupils · East of England 1032016/17: 101 · 123 pupils · East of England 1042017/18: 103 · 145 pupils · East of England 1052018/19: 105 · 147 pupils · East of England 1042022/23: 104 · 146 pupils · East of England 1052023/24: 105 · 138 pupils · East of England 1052024/25: 108 · 145 pupils · East of England 106108100No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 105 · 109 pupils · East of England 1032016/17: 106 · 123 pupils · East of England 1042017/18: 105 · 145 pupils · East of England 1042018/19: 108 · 147 pupils · East of England 1052022/23: 106 · 146 pupils · East of England 1042023/24: 106 · 138 pupils · East of England 1042024/25: 108 · 145 pupils · East of England 105108105No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
126 of 126 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st126126
2nd655
3rd441

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2006–2024

  1. 2006Good
  2. 2006Goodas predecessor
  3. 2008Goodas predecessor
  4. 2008Good
  5. 2013Requires improvement
  6. 2015Good
  7. 2019Remains Good
  8. 2024Ungraded visit

5 strong areas

  • Quality of teaching
  • Achievement of pupils
  • Early years provision
  • Leadership and management
  • Behaviour and safety of pupils

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,015
Free school meals (past 6 years)21.7%
First language not English37.8%
SEN support11.9%
EHC plan4.2%
Absence (sessions missed)5.6%
Persistently absent pupils12.4%

Girls 48.8%Boys 51.2%

96.7% full · 1,050 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 32 responses (3.1% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school90.6% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school90.6% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved78.1% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 40.6% not applicable52.6% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year90.6% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 12.5% not applicable82.1% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?0% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 0% who said Yes above0% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child84.4% agree
  • My child does well at this school90.6% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing93.8% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school84.4% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school84.4% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development71.9% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent87.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher23.6
Pupils per adult11.4
  • Classroom teachers 38.2
  • Leadership 4.7
  • Teaching assistants 41.7
  • Other support 38.1

Teachers 42.9 FTE · Whole workforce 122.7 · 216 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£6,787
Spend per pupil£7,172
Staff spend per pupil£5,143
Reserve per pupil£995
  • +£1,004,950revenue reserve
  • −£388,444in-year balance

Grants £6,580 · self-generated £207 · premises £424 per pupil