Schools / Downe House
Downe House
- Independent school
- Girls
- Day & boarding
- Ages 11–18
- 535 pupils
Downe House is an independent school for girls in Cold Ash (Thatcham), Berkshire, educating around 540 pupils aged 11 to 18. It is a Church of England school. Entrance is assessed through the ISEB Common Pre-Test, followed by the school's own examination papers and an interview. Boarding places are available alongside day places.
RegionSouth East
DfE URN110123
The exam
Athena holds admission-route records for Downe House. They are shown by entry cycle below; where the provider changes between cycles, each cycle keeps its own recorded exam.
2027 entry
Set by ISEB (tests commissioned from GL Assessment)
Combination - ISEB Common Pre-Test plus a creative/persuasive writing task at Assessment Day.
9489 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: verified · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Set by Individual schools / small consortia (no board)
Combination - ISEB Common Pre-Test plus a creative/persuasive writing task at Assessment Day.
1038 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: verified · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
2028 entry
Set by ISEB (tests commissioned from GL Assessment)
Combination - ISEB Common Pre-Test plus a creative/persuasive writing task at Assessment Day.
9489 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: verified · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Set by Individual schools / small consortia (no board)
Combination - ISEB Common Pre-Test plus a creative/persuasive writing task at Assessment Day.
1038 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: verified · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Free lessons for this exam
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Key dates & preparation
2028 entry
Test: Autumn to spring of Year 6: the ISEB Common Pre-Test is sat at the candidate’s own school (most schools work to the autumn term), with the school’s own papers and interview day usually in January of Year 6
Results: Outcomes follow the school’s published timetable, typically in the spring term of Year 6
Offers: February of Year 6 — the school publishes its offers to its own timetable (London day schools cluster around a mid-February offer point)
When to start preparing: Start preparing in the autumn term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).
General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.
Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28
2027 entry
Test: Autumn to spring of Year 6: the ISEB Common Pre-Test is sat at the candidate’s own school (most schools work to the autumn term), with the school’s own papers and interview day usually in January of Year 6
Results: Outcomes follow the school’s published timetable, typically in the spring term of Year 6
Offers: February of Year 6 — the school publishes its offers to its own timetable (London day schools cluster around a mid-February offer point)
When to start preparing: Start preparing in the autumn term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).
General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.
Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28
Admissions rules
No catchment — open competition
There is no catchment area. Admission is by the school’s own assessment process (examinations and, usually, an interview); the school sets its own oversubscription criteria in its admissions policy — commonly the assessment result first, with sibling or other connections considered at some schools.
Read the school's admissions policy
Results & destinations
2025 results
GCSE: 81% of all GCSE grades were awarded at grades 9-7 (A*-A) in 2025
School-published
A level: Average point score per A level entry 45.81 (average grade A-); 39.6% of A level students achieved AAB or higher
DfE performance tables
University destinations:
- 27 leavers — UK top-10 universities — counted from school-published destinations list
- 3 leavers — Oxford or Cambridge — Summed from the school's published Class of 2025 destinations table — the same table counted for this school's top-10 row: Oxford 3; no Cambridge entries are listed (places).
Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28
2024 results
A level: Average point score per A level entry 46.41 (average grade A-)
DfE performance tables
Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28
Athena counts a fixed UK top-10: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, University College London, Durham University, King's College London, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews and University of Warwick.
Scholarships & bursaries
Schemes recorded from the school's own published information. A scholarship is a merit award; a bursary is means-tested. Values are shown exactly as the school states them — where a scheme is honorary, its stated value says so.
11+ entry
Academic Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: Scholarship examination (registered candidates); Scholars' Programme with mentoring and enrichment
When: Scholarship examinations in the year of entry (general Downe House scholarship process)
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission (Scholarship Awards do not carry fee remission; bursary assistance may be applied for separately)
How to apply: Separate application required (girls must be registered before sitting for an Award)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Creative Arts Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipArt
What is assessed: Creative Arts award for exceptional potential; award holders required to study Fine Art, Textiles or 3D Design at GCSE (see Creative Arts Scholarships booklet linked from the page)
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview; pre-audition recommended up to a year before the scholarship assessment
When: Auditions and interviews at Downe House in February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on two instruments each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Performing Arts Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipDrama
What is assessed: Performing Arts award; holders required to take Performing Arts at GCSE (and AS/A2 to retain an extended award) and contribute to the extra-curricular programme (see Performing Arts booklet linked from the page)
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission (awards valid for three years, subject to standard of endeavour and conduct)
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Sport Scholarships and Exhibitions
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Sports scholarship assessment (11+ awards to external candidates only; see Sports Scholarships booklet linked from the page)
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission (11+ awards valid for five years, with a review after two years)
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Exhibition
ExhibitionMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview, as for Music Scholarship
When: February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on one instrument (not voice) each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Means Tested Bursaries
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested; also takes into account academic entry requirements and capacity to progress
When: Discuss with the Registrar well in advance of the date of entry
What it's worth: Financial assistance as high as 100% plus an allowance towards School extras
How to apply: Separate application required (confidential discussion with the Registrar; see Bursary Procedure)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
13+ entry
Academic Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: Scholarship examination, as at 11+
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Creative Arts Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipArt
What is assessed: Creative Arts award, as at 11+
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview, as at 11+
When: February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on two instruments each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Performing Arts Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipDrama
What is assessed: Performing Arts award, as at 11+
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Sport Scholarships and Exhibitions
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Sports scholarship assessment (13+ awards to internal and external candidates)
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission (13+ awards valid for three years)
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Exhibition
ExhibitionMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview, as for Music Scholarship
When: February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on one instrument (not voice) each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Means Tested Bursaries
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested; available at all points of entry
When: Discuss well in advance of entry
What it's worth: Financial assistance as high as 100% plus an allowance towards School extras
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
16+ entry
Academic Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: Scholarship examination; Sixth Form candidates must be in the final year of GCSE studies or equivalent
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Creative Arts Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipArt
What is assessed: Creative Arts award, as at 11+
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview, as at 11+
When: February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on two instruments each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Organ Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview, as for other Music Awards (16+ only)
When: February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on the organ and on an additional instrument each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Performing Arts Scholarships and Awards
ScholarshipDrama
What is assessed: Performing Arts award, as at 11+
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Honorary — no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Exhibition
ExhibitionMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview, as for Music Scholarship
When: February of the year of entry
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 30 lessons of free tuition on one instrument (not voice) each academic year; no fee remission
How to apply: Separate application required (registration required)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Means Tested Bursaries
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested; available at all points of entry
When: Discuss well in advance of entry
What it's worth: Financial assistance as high as 100% plus an allowance towards School extras
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
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