Downe House
- web site: www.downehouse.co.uk
- telephone: +44 (0)1635 200286
This website is best viewed by CSS 2 compliant browsers, please wait a moment whilst the page graphics load. If you continue to see this message after a few seconds please contact us
Meeting the needs of every girl at each stage.
When the girls enter at 11+ or 12+, they will be in one of our Lower School Houses, with the rest of their year group. This enables the girls to get used to being at a larger boarding School, whilst also having the security of a small intimate boarding House where they can develop their new friendships and explore the range of opportunities that the school has to offer, with the full support and nurturing care of their Housemistress.
During the Lower Fourth year (12+ entry ) each girl spends a term at our House in the Dordogne, France. Here she will become immersed in French life and culture. The girls are cared for by a Housemistress, supported by an Assistant and two matrons. The girls are encouraged to talk French at every opportunity - both in the House and off-site during their "sorties".
When she enters the School every girl will be attached to her "Mixed-Age House", for all inter-House competitions (sport, music, drama) and for social events during the year. This establishes a sense of pride and belonging early on in your daughter's school career.
13+ entry is directly into one of five Mixed-Age Houses, so-called because the girls will remain in these houses for the three years prior to their GCSEs. All the girls - whether they are already Downe House pupils, or whether they are new to the School in this year - start in their Mixed-Aged House together. It is during these years that the girls learn to live more closely together with year groups other than their own. They also take increased responsibility for the running of the houses, to help develop their leadership skills, with the care and encouragement of their Housemistresses.
The Houses link with boys' schools, to provide the girls with an opportunity to mix and socialise - whether through mixed hockey matches, mixed ice-skating, dinner parties or dances.
Having taken their GCSEs, the girls move into one of the Sixth Form Houses, though they are still attached to and are responsible for the running of their Mixed-Aged Houses. Here, the girls can take full advantage of the Sixth Form facilities, including their own dining room and Sixth Form Centre with a pool table and kitchen, where they can socialise. The girls are encouraged to take greater responsibility for the organisation of their own lives, in preparation for university, and for the running of the School through our School Prefect System.
In their Lower Sixth year, the girls will generally share study bedrooms and in their final year the girls will each have their own study bedroom.
Dan Cruikshank - 'Adventures in Architecture'
Dan is a leading expert on architecture and historic buildings and a regular presenter on the BBC. He is best known for his popular series Britain's Best Buildings and Around The World in 80 Treasures; and for his appearances in Under Fire and What The Industrial Revolution Did For Us. Dan's latest series, Adventures in Architecture has recently screened on BBC 2.
Pupils from Downe House have walked the 300km (200 miles) from Downe House to Salcombe in Devon to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK's vital research. The girls arrived wet and tired, but triumphant, after a gruelling 16 day march which took them acorss fields, rivers and along the coastal path.
The competition is open to all students in Year 12 and essay titles are set by Corpus Christi. Poppy will be attending the Prize Giving on 3 July.
Annie entered her design for her AS Level Product Design Resistant Materials coursework and has been selected as one of the 20 finalists. She will take her project and portfolio to the Finals, which will be held at Dulwich College in London on 20 June 2008.
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Performances at 11am and 6pm at 'The Dell', the outdoor performance space in the RSC Centenary Gardens, bordered by the river and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Bring a picnic, all welcome!
2nd - 4th May in the Performing Arts Centre
‘Times' writer Mary Ann Sieghart gives Summer Term Medley Lecture
Newbury's MP, Richard Benyon, visited Downe House on 25th April speak to thePolitics Society about his work in the House of Commons and the constituency.
Congratulations to Emma Powell (U5) who was selected for NYT's highly acclaimed acting course.
On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March, Downe House hosted a charity fashion show. The events were organised by Rosie Fortescue, Georgiana Haig and Celia Thursfield, in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, raising a total of just over £5,500.
Gillian Clarke, renowned poet, who has written poetry and prose for children and adults, visited Downe House on Sunday, 16 March. Her poetry reading began with her first publsihed poem 'The Sundial' and the audience were immediately impressed by her passionate and erudite ideas......
Diane Louise Jordan, businesswoman and one of the most popular presenters of BBC One's Songs of Praise, gave a talk and answered questions about how her faith influences the way she conducts her own business life and on matters relating to business ethics and corporate social responsibility more generally.
If you missed House Drama, or would like to see your daughter's performance again, a professional Double DVD recording by Kingsbridge AV Limited of all five productions will be available to order at a cost of £22.50 each.
Click here to find out how to order
This Trust was established in November 2006 as part of the agreed resolution of the OFT's recent investigation.
The objects of the Trust are to:
There are three criteria for eligibility:
For further details go to <Joining Downe> and click on <Scholarships>