The Downs School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Priority 1: Looked after and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were looked after, but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order immediately following having been looked after. And children who were previously in state care outside of England and have ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2. 2Priority 2: Children of Summit Education Trust staff — Children of a member of staff who is employed by The Summit Education Trust in either of the following circumstances as certified by the Headteacher: (a) the member of staff has been employed by the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, or (b) the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. The member of staff must have parental responsibility (sole or shared) for the child.
3. 3Priority 3a: Catchment Zone 1, Summit Trust school and sibling — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 1 of The Downs School, who attend a Summit Education Trust Academy school and have a sibling (including step/foster sibling living in the same family unit) who is on the roll of The Downs School at the time of application and will still be attending at the applicant's time of entry.
4. 4Priority 3b: Catchment Zone 2, Summit Trust school and sibling — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 2 of The Downs School, who attend a Summit Education Trust Academy school and have a sibling (including step/foster sibling living in the same family unit) who is on the roll of The Downs School at the time of application and will still be attending at the applicant's time of entry.
5. 5Priority 4a: Catchment Zone 1, Summit Trust school — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 1 of The Downs, who attend a Summit Education Trust Academy school.
6. 6Priority 4b: Catchment Zone 2, Summit Trust school — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 2 of The Downs, who attend a Summit Education Trust Academy school.
7. 7Priority 5a: Catchment Zone 1 and sibling — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 1 of The Downs School and have a sibling (including step/foster sibling living in the same family unit) who is on the roll of The Downs School at the time of application and will still be attending at the applicant's time of entry.
8. 8Priority 5b: Catchment Zone 2 and sibling — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 2 of The Downs School and have a sibling (including step/foster sibling living in the same family unit) who is on the roll of The Downs School at the time of application and will still be attending at the applicant's time of entry.
9. 9Priority 6a: Catchment Zone 1, no sibling — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 1 of The Downs School and do not have a sibling at the school.
10. 10Priority 6b: Catchment Zone 2, no sibling — Children whose permanent home address is in Catchment Zone 2 of The Downs School and do not have a sibling at the school.
11. 11Priority 7: Non-catchment, Summit Trust school and sibling — Non-catchment children who attend a Summit Education Trust Academy school and have a sibling (including step/foster sibling, living in the same family unit) who is already on the roll of The Downs School at the time of application and will still be attending at the applicant's time of entry.
12. 12Priority 8: Non-catchment, Summit Trust school — Non-catchment children who attend a Summit Education Trust Academy school.
13. 13Priority 9: Non-catchment and sibling — Non-catchment children who have a sibling (including step/foster sibling living in the same family unit) who is on the roll of The Downs School at the time of application and will still be attending at the applicant's time of entry.
14. 14Priority 10: All other applicants — All other applicants.

If two applications tie: Priority will be given within any of the above over-subscription criteria to the applicant whose permanent home address is nearest to The Downs School, measured using the West Berkshire Geographical Information System, taking a straight line between the home address and the school using the unique property identification points within the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG), not travelling distance. Where the last child offered a place is from a multiple birth and a sibling from that birth would fall below the admission number in the ranking, all children from that birth will be offered a place, exceeding the admission number.

Children with an EHCP naming the school are always admitted, above any other child including those on the waiting list. The catchment area is divided into Priority Zones 1 and 2 (see West Berkshire Council's interactive map). A named list of Summit Education Trust Academy schools relevant to criteria referencing 'a Summit Education Trust Academy school' is held on the school's website admissions pages and is not printed in this document, so is not reproduced here. Admission number was increased from 180 to 210 at Year 7 from September 2018. Closing date for the normal admission round is 5 January 2027.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.