Wells Cathedral School
Same Somerset area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 17 August 2026
Downside School is a private secondary-stage school in Radstock, Somerset, with a published age range of 11-18.
Private school Co-ed Ages 11-18 Sixth form Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 11-18
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
Downside School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 11-18
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Downside's Benedictine tradition reaches back to 1606, when the community of St Gregory the Great founded the school at Douai. The abbey and school have occupied the Somerset site at Stratton-on-the-Fosse since 1814. It is now a co-educational Roman Catholic community for ages 11 to 18, with a culture shaped by truth, service and personal discipline.
GCSE pupils study English, mathematics, religious studies and science, with options including history, geography, Latin, modern languages, computer science, music and art. Sixth Form study adds A-level and BTEC subjects, specialist tutors and leadership opportunities, giving older pupils a defined route into further study and responsibility.
Downside is a full-boarding school that also admits day pupils. Five houses structure life from the First Form to Upper Sixth: Smythe, Barlow and Roberts for boys, and Caverel and Isabella for girls. Weekends bring house activities and trips, with pastoral care, friendship and independence built into residential life.
The main entry points are 11+, 13+ and 16+. Registration leads to a CAT4 assessment, interview and school reference, with assessment and taster days at key stages. Applicants can choose day or boarding places, and visits give families a way to understand the Benedictine setting before applying.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 32.7 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 20.6% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Somerset and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 32.7
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 3.32
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Somerset and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 11-18
- Head Master
- Mr Michael Randall
- Pupil roll
- 249 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, Somerset
- Postcode
- BA3 4RJ
- Area
- Somerset
School leadership
- Head Master
- Mr Michael Randall
School contact
- School phone
- 01761235100
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions email
- admissions@downside.co.uk
- Admissions phone
- 01761235100
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 11-18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- Senior day tuition, Years 9-13
- Boarding fees
- Senior full boarding, Years 9-13
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 32.7 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 3.32 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 20.6% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 33.84 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 28 April 2026
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2026 records an inspection beginning 28 April 2026. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
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Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Downside School handle admissions?
Downside School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Downside School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Downside School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Downside School?
Downside School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 28 April 2026.