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Welcome to Downside School, a leading Catholic independent school for girls and boys. We are one of England’s oldest and most distinguished schools for children aged 11-18. Benedictine school education is unique: with Christ, at its center, it aims to educate young people to develop as future leaders for 21st Century society. The downside is uncompromising in the pursuit of academic ‘excellence’ and also aims to develop the character of your child, emphasizing the importance of moral courage, integrity, and service to others. The highest standards are aimed for in sport, both in terms of performance and sportsmanship, while our tradition of inspired productions in the arts is second-to-none. The school endeavors, also, to provide your child with what may be referred to as a sense of ‘the poetry of life’, a sense of its beauty, form, mystery, and joy. Downside School’s vision – as a leading Catholic School – is to be a bright light in the world of education, illuminating the lives of young people and inspiring service in the world through the experience of Benedictine culture. It enables pupils and staff to develop their own identity through the experience of a community with Christ as its center. To guide pupils and staff to encounter Christ through the experience of a Benedictine community of faith To be uncompromising in the pursuit of academic excellence To foster a culture of unselfish love, integrity, humility, and leadership through service To develop the character and confidence of young people through sport and extra-curricular opportunities To develop the school community’s facilities and resources through strategic stewardship View full school