Welcome to our School

Thank you for visiting the Downshire Primary School website. I am delighted to welcome you to our school community.

Our school opened on 1st September 2005, replacing the former Hillsborough and Newport Primary Schools, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Situated on the edge of the picturesque and historic village of Hillsborough, we are fortunate to enjoy easy access to the forest and castle, which enrich the learning experiences we provide for our children.

Downshire Primary School sits within the growing Hillsborough area, which has seen a significant increase in population in recent years. We have greatly benefited from and warmly welcomed families from across Northern Ireland, the wider United Kingdom and Ireland, and from many parts of the world. This diversity enriches our school community and reflects the inclusive ethos we are proud to uphold.

 
 
 

Latest News & Updates

Instagram posts from @downshire_primary
Congratulations to GRAY, our winning House for 2025-26 with a fantastic 56,350 points! They’ve shown superb team spirit this year as they worked together to achieve this. All the members of Gray enjoyed a well deserved ice cream as their treat! 🍦🏆
Today we marked ‘International Day of Play’ by connecting with our Buddy Class and getting an extra 31 minutes of play! Established by the United Nations, the day exists to champion every child’s right to play, to promote well-being, and to raise global awareness about the power of play in child development. The 31 minutes represents Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which highlights the global right of every child to play. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is displayed in every classroom and something that is important at Downshire as we recognise the value and rights of every child in our care. We had great fun connecting with our Buddies and playing together! 🤗🤝🧸🇺🇳 @unicef #internationaldayofplay
Congratulations to Mrs Graham and the Eco Committee who received their recently awarded Green Flag today! They celebrated today at a ceremony at the Island Hall in Lisburn! They were also awarded their prize for winning the Weatherbies Eco song competition. A great morning celebrating our achievements!👏🏻💚 Well done to everyone involved for all your hard work! 🌳🌲🌸🌼
 
 

Friday Note

 
 

Upcoming Events...

Jun
25
P7 Leavers' Ceremony
9.00am for 9.30am
Jun
30
School finishes early for all children
Aug
26
Autumn Term Commences
Aug
31
Bank Holiday
Sep
25
Staff Development Day - School Closed
Oct
26
Half Term Holiday
Oct
27
Half Term Holiday
Oct
28
Half Term Holiday
 
 
 

House System

Term 3

Hill
Hill
7
Gray
Gray
5
Ferguson
Ferguson
3
Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald
2
 
 
 

Quick links

Admissions
Term Dates
Year Groups
Key information