Latest News

Two years after opening its doors, Mini Malvern has quickly established itself as a thriving part of both The Downs Malvern and the wider local community. To mark the occasion, we spoke to Nursery Manager Sandy Munden about the original vision for Mini Malvern, how it has grown over the past two years, and what […]

For more than two decades, Lesley Hunter has brought boundless energy and unmistakable musical flair to life at The Downs Malvern. A stalwart in the purest sense of the word, Lesley has left an indelible mark on the musical culture of The Downs Malvern, broadening horizons and helping countless children of all abilities find joy […]

Congratulations to our talented mathematician, Luke, who achieved a Certificate of Merit in the UKMT Junior Mathematical Olympiad! The Olympiad is extremely selective, with less than 1200 pupils from around the world managing to qualify each year. As it is open to children aged 11 to 13, Luke’s achievement is all the more impressive as a Year 7 pupil. Luke received his certificate during our final Celebration Assembly of the Summer Term. Very well done! #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #mathsolympiad #pupilsuccess @ukmathstrust

Following the visit of Pablo, a charming pedigree Oxford Sandy and Black boar, in February, our resident OSB sows, Waffle and Pancake, gave birth to two delightful litters of piglets during the May half-term. Waffle had nine piglets and Pancake had seven, and before long the smallholding was full of their entertaining antics. As a hardy rare breed, the piglets were soon exploring their surroundings, playing games of chase, investigating anything they could find in their paddock, and generally causing mayhem! They will soon be heading off to new homes, where they will continue their Clare bloodline and help expand the numbers of this rare heritage breed. #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #smallholding #rarebreedpigs #oxfordsandyandblack #piglets

As our Year 8 pupils enjoy a well-earned summer break before heading off to their senior schools in September, we wanted to look back on a few special moments from their final weeks at TDM. From nervously opening their TDM Baccalaureate results, to taking on a fantastic new residential adventure in the Lake District as part of their Leavers’ Experience, they certainly made the most of their last days with us. One of their final celebrations was the annual Year 8 Leavers’ Dinner and Disco, a wonderful evening of friendship and memories before returning to school the following day for Speech Day. We are incredibly proud of this cohort and wish them every happiness and success as they take their next steps! #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #prepschoollife #friendship #adventure

Last Friday, we brought the Summer Term to a close with our annual Speech Day, a much-loved celebration of pupil achievement and the strength of our community. Families, pupils and staff came together to reflect on another memorable year, with inspiring speeches from Headmaster, Andy Nuttall and Chair of Governors, Pennie Francis. Head Boy and Head Girl, Isaac and Ava, also spoke confidently as they reflected on their time at The Downs, before handing the baton to next year’s Head Boy and Head Girl, Robin and Nina. There was also a very special musical moment as Mrs Hunter, who now retires after a tremendous contribution to the school, led the Senior Choir for the final time in a beautiful rendition of ‘From a Distance’. Mrs Hunter was also presented with The Sargeant Cup for Outstanding Contribution by a Member of the School Community, in recognition of all she has given to TDM. It was a wonderful way to round off the term and we wish our families a restful and well-earned summer break! #thedownsmalvern #speechday #schoolcommunity #rolemodels

What a wonderful evening in the Memorial Hall for last night’s Summer Concert. Our pupils performed brilliantly, with a wide-ranging programme that moved from orchestra, recorders and ukulele to gamelan, piano solos, ensembles and choirs. It was also a very special and poignant evening, as it marked Mrs Hunter’s final Summer Concert before retirement. It was lovely to welcome so many former colleagues from TDM and the former Hillstone Preparatory School, who came along to celebrate Mrs Hunter and all she has given to music education over the years. The evening came to a fitting close with a surprise staff song, written by Mrs Reid and Mrs Richardson to the tune of the maritime folk song “Wellerman”. Congratulations to the pupils and staff who made this warm and heartfelt evening such a success! #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #summerconcert #brilliantstaff

Yesterday, our youngest pupils brought the Memo Hall to life with their annual Pre-Prep Soirée. “Croak” took the audience on a journey into a beautiful summer garden, where Speedy the tadpole and his insect and animal friends reminded us that we can do great things when we are brave enough to try. The children delivered their lines clearly and confidently, sang beautifully, and performed with wonderful energy to their proud families! A huge well done to all of Pre-Prep, and to the staff who helped create such a joyful celebration. #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #growingconfidence #youngperformers

With the sun shining, it was wonderful to see our school community out in force for our annual Summer Celebration. There was much to enjoy, from great food and live music to a brilliant variety of games and activities. It was particularly exciting to see The Downs Light Railway in action, giving pupils, families and friends the chance to enjoy rides around the track on Brock Meadow. A huge thank you to The Friends of The Downs for organising such a successful event, and to all the staff, parents and volunteers who gave their time to make it happen. #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #summerishere #schoolcommunity

Our Pre-Prep children have shown amazing resilience during this week’s heatwave. With the warm weather in mind, our staff adapted the children’s days to help everyone stay safe, comfortable and happy. Early playtimes have made the most of the cooler, shadier mornings outdoors, while the hottest parts of the day have been spent inside. In addition to Thursday’s welcome swim at @malvernactive, there have been plenty of smiles along the way, especially as the children worked with their feet in trays of water to help keep cool! A lovely example of our youngest pupils taking the week in their stride, with plenty of positivity and good humour. #thedownsmalvern #heatwave #keepingcool #malverncollege #malvernactive

Ably assisted by Downs Light Railway Trust volunteers Dave and Richard, James and Rupert have been busy behind the scenes carrying out important tests and checks on the DLR ahead of its appearance at tomorrow night’s annual Summer Celebration! They have been performing a range of safety checks, from testing for water pressure leaks to inspecting for signs of rust deposits inside the firebox: technical details that many of us take for granted. The Downs Light Railway is a unique tool for pupils to explore mechanical engineering in action, but tomorrow evening, for our school community, it will be all about fun, smiles and rides around the track. #thedownsmalvern #thedownslightrailway #stemengineering #schoolcommunity

Last week, Year 4 enjoyed a fascinating science trip to Batsford Arboretum, bringing classroom learning vividly to life among one of the country’s most remarkable tree collections. The pupils discovered nature’s extraordinary adaptations, investigated different habitats, learned how pollen and seeds are dispersed, and even had the chance to stand inside the second largest tree in Europe! Trips like this are a key part of life at The Downs Malvern, giving pupils the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom and deepen their understanding through real-world experience. By seeing scientific ideas in action, our pupils learn not simply by being told, but by experiencing the world for themselves. A wonderful day of science, exploration and discovery for Year 4. #thedownsmalvern #batsfordarboretum #Year4 #ScienceInAction #ExplorationAndDiscovery #curiousminds

Our Year 8 pupils set off this morning for Ambleside in the Lake District, where they will enjoy a four-day residential as part of their Year 8 Leavers’ Experience! Having finished their exams, this trip is a wonderful opportunity for them to celebrate, let off steam and enjoy time together before they head off to their senior schools in Year 9. Over the next few days, they will be taking part in a fantastic range of outdoor activities, including gorge scrambling, quarry adventures, kayaking and paddleboarding. More than just a residential, the annual Year 8 Leavers’ Experience is about friendship, adventure, independence and shared memories at the end of their time at The Downs Malvern. It promises to be a memorable few days and a fitting way to mark the end of their time at TDM before they take their next steps. We look forward to seeing what they have been up to! 🚣 #thedownsmalvern #independentschools #explorers #community #workhardplayhard #friendship #lakedistrict

Pupils in Year 2 - 4 recently enjoyed a fun packed extended Forest School Session focusing on teamwork, resilience and the importance of a growth mindset. The ‘Camping Carnival’ gave pupils the chance to work together to put up the school tents, developing confidence, problem-solving skills and a real sense of collaboration. The children enjoyed hot dogs and s’mores around the fire, parachute games, face painting, archery and campfire songs, with wonderful behaviour and kindness shown throughout. A huge thank you to Mrs Tsiquaye, Mrs Hunter and everyone involved in creating such a memorable Forest School experience! #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #outdoorlearning #collaboration

What a brilliant evening it was last night, as our Years 3 and 4 pupils took to the stage for their performance of Emil and the Detectives. Set in the streets of 1920s Berlin, this classic children’s adventure follows Emil and his band of young detectives as they pursue the sinister Mr Snow and try to recover his mother’s stolen money. Our pupils rose wonderfully to the challenge, bringing energy, confidence and real character to the production and for some, this was their very first time performing on stage. A huge well done to everyone involved, and to Mrs Whitaker, Mr Doidge, and Mr Mellor for their sterling work in bringing this wonderful production to life. It was also a lovely example of the Malvern College Quality of being Communicators, as our junior actors listened, responded and performed with such care and confidence. #thedownsmalvern #independentschool #schoolproduction #performingarts #communicators #malverncollege #emilandthedetectives

A huge well done to Tom, Bertie and Eleanor, who proudly represented themselves and their families at the Royal Three Counties Show last weekend! Tom showed five pedigree Jacob sheep, a breed known for their striking coats and beautifully coloured wool. His flock achieved an impressive four 6th places, one 5th place and a brilliant 3rd place. Eleanor and Bertie also enjoyed fantastic success, showing their pedigree Limousin cattle. Eleanor’s heifer was awarded Reserve Female Champion, while Bertie’s junior bull was awarded Reserve Male Champion. Opportunities like these represent far more than rosettes, and we’re hugely proud of the responsibility and dedication they have shown. Whether in the classroom or the show ring, it is wonderful to see our pupils pursuing their passions with such pride and confidently pursuing their own path.🐑🐂 Very well done to all three.🏵 #thedownsmalvern #malvern #royalthreecountiesshow #threecountiesshowground #dedication #jacobsheep #limousincattle