“Students learn best when they are comfortable with intellectual uncertainty… and do not consider their inability to immediately ‘get it’ as a problem.”

Dr Andrew Atherton, Head of the Elective Programme

“I think the Elective Programme is a great opportunity to differentiate yourself.”

Lucinda, Lower Fifth

“The knowledge gained from the Elective Programme is not at all restricted by any syllabus or curriculum, which was something I appreciated about it.”

Philippa, Lower Fifth

“The Elective Programme reminds us that there is knowledge outside of the curriculum which is just as useful as the required work.”

Participant in the Elective Programme 2018

“It taught me to be more curious about the world around me.”

Participant in the Elective Programme 2018

An academic programme to inspire

The Elective Programme offers Lower Fifth girls the opportunity to go beyond the curriculum and explore new and exciting avenues of study with the aim of developing lateral thinking skills, scholarly independence, intellectual flexibility and the ability to discuss complex ideas.

The programme is comprised of a series of bespoke subject-specific modules, or Electives, which are organised according to three distinct pathways, each one named after Downe House Alumnae, Biochemist, Helen Muir (DH 1938, Anthropologist, Audrey Richards (DH 1917) and Historian, Margaret Aston (DH 1950). By harnessing the specialities of our teachers, girls can select a six-week bespoke Elective module from any of the three pathways – for example, one teacher might run an Elective on the beauty of Shakespeare’s sonnets, another on the complexity of ancient Greek Physics, another on the Physics of Music and another still on the consequences of Development Economics. The Elective Programme allows students the freedom and space to delight in difficulty, to find that they can persevere when met with complexity, and to celebrate the joys intellectual uncertainty can bring.

Elective programme full books 1220 x 1140 downe house

Dr Andrew Atherton, Head of the Elective Programme explains the rationale for the programme, “Whilst as a School, we are rightly very proud of the enviable public examination results that our pupils achieve, we also recognise that knowledge does not begin and end here. Coined by the University of Cambridge, the term ‘super-curriculum’ describes academic and scholarly opportunities that lie beyond the curriculum and are not directly related to examination preparation. In order to continue developing our already extensive super-curriculum, the Elective Programme cultivates a love of learning for learning’s sake and provides an extra intellectual challenge for the most able girls.”

Tours & Open Mornings

The best way to find out more about Downe House is to experience it for yourself. Book a personal tour or join us at one of our Open Mornings, available throughout the year.

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