| Date | School phase | Experience type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 2025 |
Secondary Art and design, Biology, Business studies, Chemistry, Computing, Dance, Design and technology, Drama, English, French, Geography, German, History, Maths, Music, Physical education, Physics, Religious education, Social sciences, and Spanish |
In school | Start request |
The Downs School
At The Downs School & Sixth Form, we are committed to giving every student the very best start in life. We help young people grow into confident, resilient, and well-rounded adults, ready to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Nestled in the heart of the Berkshire Downs, our school combines academic excellence with a genuine sense of community. We are proud of our “small school feel,” where every student is known, supported, and encouraged to flourish. Our ethos is built on the values of courage, responsibility, equality, ambition, resilience, creativity, and integrity. These principles are shared by staff, students, and parents alike, shaping both the culture of our school and the character of our young people.
We are a high-performing school with a strong record of success, yet we continually strive to do more. Our mission is to ensure that every student benefits from an education that is ambitious, enriching, and character-building. Through a diverse and engaging curriculum, we promote equality of access and opportunity, empowering students to achieve their goals and to become creative, confident citizens ready to shape their futures.
About our school experience
- Details
-
🌟 Our school experience days are a great way to see what life is really like in a busy, supportive school environment. You’ll spend the day observing lessons, experiencing how our students learn, and chatting with current trainees who’ve taken the school-led route into teaching. You’ll also have the chance to speak with our teacher training team, who can share practical advice about applications and answer any questions you might have. There will also be a tour of the school.
Your day will start with a warm welcome and introduction, followed by a personalised timetable of lessons to observe in your main chosen subject.
We’ll give you the chance to see a wide variety of classes and key stages, so you can get a real feel for teaching in action.Our school runs a five-period day, with each lesson lasting one hour.
There’s a short break from 11:10–11:30am and lunch from 1:30–2:10pm.👉 Don’t forget to bring a packed lunch and a form of photo ID.
Come along, see what teaching is all about, and take the first step towards a rewarding new career!
- Start and finish times
-
8.30am to 3.00pm
- Flexible
Individual needs will be considered but details must be given in advance.
- Dress code
-
Smart casual
- Teacher training
-
We’re proud to work in partnership with OTT-SCITT as both a delivery partner and placement school, offering a school-led, one-year postgraduate teacher training programme. This leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), with the option to add a PGCE.
You can train through a tuition fee route, an apprenticeship, or an Assessment Only pathway, with both full-time and part-time options available.
👉 Find full programme details on the OTT-SCITT website.
Links to more information about our school
- The Downs School website
- The Downs School Get Information About Schools
- Ofsted report: The Downs School
- Performance information: The Downs School
- Teacher training: The Downs School
Entry requirements
You must:
- Must have a degree
- They must live within 20 miles of the school
- Photo identification: Passport / driving license
- DBS check required
-
No, candidates will be accompanied at all times.
Placement dates
Location
- Address
- Manor Crescent, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 6AD
- Parking
-
Yes - on site parking provided
There is car parking on the school site subject to availability.
- Disability and access details
-
We offer facilities and provide an inclusive environment for students, staff and school experience candidates with disability and access needs. We're happy to discuss your disability or access needs before or as part of your school experience request.
- School phases
- Secondary (11 to 16)
- Subjects
-
- Art and design
- Biology
- Business studies
- Chemistry
- Computing
- Dance
- Design and technology
- Drama
- English
- French
- Geography
- German
- History
- Maths
- Music
- Physical education
- Physics
- Religious education
- Social sciences
- Spanish