Starting at age 11 in Year 7, The Downs has approximately 1150 pupils, which includes 260 students in the sixth-form.

The school is located on Manor Crescent, with the nearest major town being Newbury 8 miles away.

it has been the highest attaining school in West Berkshire using the measure of 5A*-C GCSEs including higher passes in English and mathematics.

Previously located on the bottom floor of the Graham Taylor building (GT), It is located in the newly renovated old science block, after moving there when the new Science building (Hubble) was built.

Subjects range from all the sciences to politics, economics, law and media studies.