Age range. 6 months–13 years. Coeducational.
Number of pupils. 160 children.
Fees per term (2025-2026). Full Boarding: £8,575–£11,770; Weekly boarding: £7,550–£9,950; Flexi boarding: £49.00 per night; Day: £6,060–£8,545; Pre-Preparatory: £3,555–£4,810. Early Years: we offer a range of options from morning and half days to longer periods. For more information, please visit our website.
‘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
Nestled in the heart of the Malvern Hills, The Downs Malvern is a multi-award-winning day and boarding prep school for girls and boys aged 6 months to 13 years. Renowned for its happy, nurturing community and breadth of opportunity, the school blends academic ambition with an unrivalled co-curricular programme that inspires children to thrive in every area of life.
Named Small Independent School of the Year 2024, and more recently shortlisted for Independent Pre-Prep of the Year 2025, winner of Excellence in STEM at the Muddy Stilettos Best School Awards 2025, and a finalist in the Talk Education Innovation in Education Awards 2025, The Downs Malvern combines tradition with innovation. Academic standards are high, with an excellent track record of 13+ scholarships, and pupils progress with confidence to leading senior schools across the UK, including Malvern College.
Children enjoy a curriculum enriched by outdoor learning, specialist teaching, and a strong emphasis on creativity and STEM. The school’s location on a 55-acre rural campus provides space to explore: woodland for Forest School, a thriving market garden and smallholding, and the world’s oldest miniature steam railway, The Downs Light Railway, operated by the pupils themselves.
Boarding is a prominent part of school life, with children from across the UK and around the world living and learning together in a truly diverse community. Day pupils benefit equally from a warm and inspiring atmosphere, small class sizes, and specialist teachers who know and champion each child. Pastoral care is outstanding, and the school’s 7 Skills to Thrive framework underpins every child’s journey, helping them to become resilient, collaborative and curious learners.
Saturdays bring something truly special: the distinctive Saturday morning Hobbies Programme, where pupils can pursue passions as diverse as farming, creative writing, mountain biking and many more. This spirit of discovery, combined with a culture of kindness and ambition, ensures pupils leave The Downs Malvern ready for life’s next chapter: grounded, confident, and inspired.
Charitable status. The Downs Malvern is part of Malvern College, Registered Charity No. 527578.