The Downs Preparatory School

The Downs School was founded in 1894 in a house overlooking the extensive parklands of Bristol, known as The Downs. In 1927 it was relocated according to Mr Wilfred Harrison, the Headmaster at the time, to get away from the 'incessant roar of traffic' and the 'nerve-racking turmoil of the city'. It was moved across the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Charlton House on the Tyntesfield Estate. In the autumn of 2002, the School and parklands were bought from the estate of Lord Wraxall, on behalf of the Downs School's Charitable Trust. Why the Downs? Our School is a breath of fresh air- our pupils always want to come to School. It's a place of happiness and laughter, of opportunity and aspiration. Our children experience a diverse range of experiences that forge self-esteem and confidence in a stunning secluded parkland environment unrivaled in the Bristol Area.