The Downs Malvern
The Downs Malvern is a co-ed boarding and day school in Malvern, Worcestershire, educating pupils aged 2 - 13 and founded in 1900. Boarding fees are £6,060 - £11,770 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 7 - 13
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Guardian required
- Yes
About The Downs Malvern
The story, ethos and character of The Downs Malvern.
- Setting
- Village
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Head
- Mr Andy Nuttall
"It is impossible for all but the hard of heart not to get swept along in the magic of The Downs. It has the very best ingredients of a rural prep, somehow keeping children young while also prepping them for next steps." The Good Schools Guide, 2023 The junior arm of the prestigious Malvern College, The Downs Malvern offers a robust and inspiring education for children aged 3-13 years in one of the most beautiful areas in the UK.
Situated on a rural 55-acre campus in the village of Colwall, the school is located 3 miles west of Malvern, just 15 miles from the M5 motorway, and also served on the main line from London Paddington. We continually strive to exceed the confines of the National Curriculum in academic, as well as cultural, sporting, and environmental accomplishments, and in 2023 were awarded Best Eco Initiative in the Muddy Stilettos Best School Awards, in addition to being shortlisted for Small Independent School of the Year in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.
Further to this, the school was also rated as 'Excellent' in its most recent ISI inspection.
With this in mind, the emphasis in Years 7 and 8 is not only on specific preparation for 13+ scholarships and Common Entrance exams, but also on our new, bespoke two-year course of study called the TDM Baccalaureate. This is unique to The Downs Malvern and is underpinned by a rigorous and stimulating academic curriculum.
It also focuses on the development of a forward-thinking skill set that prepares children for their future studies and lifelong learning. Sports, especially team games, are a significant part of the curriculum, as are Art and Music; with more than half the number of pupils learning to play a musical instrument.
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Academics at The Downs Malvern
What pupils study at The Downs Malvern — and where it takes them.
This section provides information on: The curriculum, performing and creative arts, English as an additional , and special educational needs (SEN). About the curriculum Class-based teaching starts at age three in the Nursery to the end of Year 2 when subject teaching is gradually introduced.
In Years 6, 7 and 8, specialist teachers teach all parts of the curriculum. By the end of Year 8, pupils will have been prepared for the TDM Baccalaureate. Built on the foundations of a rigorous and inspiring academic curriculum, the course has been thoughtfully designed with the express purpose of engaging children with their personal educational journey, cementing a lifelong passion for learning, and refining the skills, knowledge and mindset to thrive in their future studies and beyond.
Programmes offered
Where our leavers go
A Prep School in the truest sense, we are justly proud of our ability to achieve the very best outcome for each pupil. The majority of our leavers join Malvern College in Year 9, whilst others will join some of the best schools in the UK and beyond.
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at The Downs Malvern
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at The Downs Malvern.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 0, Boys 0, Mixed 1
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
We have one boarding house, based in the main school building. It is divided into the boys' wing and the girls' wing, with two large common rooms between the wings for all children to share. We have full, weekly and flexi boarding boys and girls from Year 3 to Year 8.
A quarter of the Prep school board regularly (at least one night per week) with around 60% of the Prep school boarding at some stage in the year. Pastoral care and staffing The Boarding House is run by professional Houseparents with 20 years experience in Prep school boarding.
A genuine home away from home
Sorry, there is no boarding house information available at this time...
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
The Downs Malvern admissions
How children join The Downs Malvern, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
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We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Special notes to agents about entry to the school The school offers one complete term on a short term stay. Application procedure and entrance tests English levels required for entry to the school Requirements for interviews Deadlines for applications Scholarships Scholarship: Academic British International Notes Scholarship: All-rounder British International Notes Scholarship: Sport British International Notes Scholarship: Dance British International Notes Scholarship: Music British International Notes Scholarship: Choral British International Notes Scholarship: Drama British International Notes Scholarship: Art British International Notes Other scholarships 11+ Scholarship Awards Pupils currently in Year 6 -either at The Downs Malvern or at any other schools - can apply to be considered for an 11+ award which will apply over Years 7 and 8.
These awards are for pupils who demonstrate excellence or potential in one or more of the following five areas: Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sport. The amount awarded will vary depending upon the individual and on the funds available. Applying for a scholarship For more information on our 11+ Scholarships please click on this : https://www.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
The Downs Malvern fees & funding
What The Downs Malvern costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for The Downs Malvern.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare The Downs Malvern against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
The Downs Malvern location & travel
Where The Downs Malvern is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Brockhill Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6EY, England Travel time to London by train Less than 2 hours Telephone +44 (0) 1684 544 108 Website https://www. thedownsmalvern. org. uk/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
Birmingham 47 72 2. Bristol 82 100 3. London Heathrow 130 133 4. Cardiff 82 110 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Birmingham International 48 70 2. London Paddington 141 172 Local accommodation The Colwall Park Hotel is conveniently located just 5 minutes from The Downs Malvern on foot.
The Downs Malvern — frequently asked questions
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