SchoolScoresDownside Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Chaul End Lane, Luton, LU4 8EZ
01582 587160 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 May 2015.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 6 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Luton comparisons use the 26 of its 52 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 26 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 15th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 16th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 21st highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 12th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 44% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 55% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 28 parents who had raised a concern 11th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 45% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 13th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 3%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Luton figures pool parents at the Luton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
145 pupils in this year group.
79% — 14 points above the Luton average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 79% | 65% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 14% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 89% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 87% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Luton. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 133 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 126 |
| Of those, offered a place | 126 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 235 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 34th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.7% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 3.6%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 42nd highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.9% | 15.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 36th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.8% | 53.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 40th lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 26th lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 46% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.4% | 13.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 14th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 83% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.6 | 22.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 10th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 62% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.4 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 36th highest of 50 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 37% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.2% | 14.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Foxdell Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beechwood Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Maidenhall Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norton Road Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Denbigh Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 82% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leagrave Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 91% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mehria Primary School 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Beech Hill Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Ferrars Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Downside Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Downside Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 May 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 6 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did Downside Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 17 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Downside Primary School?
88% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Downside Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Downside Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 126 families put Downside Primary School as their first choice for 133 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 126 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 109567.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.