Downe House vs Hermitage Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South East, England, 2.7 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Downe House
Thatcham · Independent secondary · Ages 11–18
535 students
Hermitage Primary School
Thatcham · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
186 students
| Measure | Downe House Thatcham, South East | Hermitage Primary School Thatcham, South East |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 21 Lower 50% | 45 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #555 of 679 | #1572 of 2,471 |
| National rank | #3450 of 4,090 | #9158 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Independent | Local authority |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 11–18 | Ages 4–11 |
| Students | 535 | 186 |
| Pupils on roll | 535 | 186 |
| Free school meals | – | 12.9% |
| Capacity filled | 87.7% | 88.6% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | 60% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | 4% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 18.6 | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 0% | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 0% | – |
| EBacc average points | 1.36 | – |
| A level points per entry | 45.8 | – |
| town | Thatcham | Thatcham |
| region | South East | South East |
| Website | – | hermitage-westberks.secure-dbprimary.com/westberks/primary/hermitage |
The verdict
- •Hermitage Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (44.6 vs 21.2).
- •Downe House is the larger school with 535 students compared with 186.
- •Downe House is a independent school while Hermitage Primary School is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Downe House is girls and Hermitage Primary School is co-educational.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Downe House better than Hermitage Primary School?
On the Success Index (England), Hermitage Primary School ranks higher (44.6 vs 21.2 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Downe House and Hermitage Primary School?
About 2.7 km in a straight line, between Thatcham and Thatcham in South East.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Downe House: 535. Hermitage Primary School: 186. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Downe House and Hermitage Primary School rank in South East?
Downe House is 555th of 679 and Hermitage Primary School is 1572nd of 2,471 among secondary schools in South East on the 2025 Success Index (England).