An adventure that will leave her feeling there is nothing she cannot achieve.

Olive Willis, Founder of Downe House

Education becomes an adventure when learning leaves the classroom

As a full boarding school, we are not tied by the constraints of a traditional school day, and as such we provide an exceptional range of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

With a rich and varied programme of co-curricular activities, girls are able to develop interests in subjects, sports, hobbies and interests that may not previously have been experienced or considered.  For our part, we are committed to supporting each girl find an activity (or more) that will challenge, stimulate and develop her by offering a tremendous diversity of enrichment opportunities, clubs and activities.

As well as enriching each girl’s experiences, such activities also support the emotional and social development of the girls. Our focus is, in particular, on developing in our girls’ compassion, collaboration, resilience, creativity, aspiration, effective communication skills and a commitment to being outward-looking.

From film club to drama, horse-riding to astronomy, current affairs to the choir, we believe that learning goes beyond the classroom and we encourage every girl to ‘have a go’ whatever their level of ability.

Trips

At Downe House we offer an exciting range of trips. Some of these are department specific and recent examples include a History and Politics trip to Washington DC, USA, the Geography trip to Iceland and the Tennis tour to Portugal. We also offer other trips as enrichment experiences which can end up being highlights of a girl’s time at Downe House, such as the Lower School trip to China with Ludgrove School. 

Global Initiatives

Girls in the Fifth Form have the opportunity to take part in a global exchange and study abroad at one of our 16 partner schools across five continents. It is a unique and rewarding experience which immerses the girls in school and family life giving them the opportunity to explore different communities and cultures. 

Cultural Days

Organised by our Global Partnerships department, girls participate in International Days at School. Often including involvement from other schools, girls take part in workshops, seminars and practical sessions to explore a country’s culture, history, language and food. 

Wellbeing

We firmly believe that knowing how to eat healthily, sleep well, exercise, relax and manage stress are every bit as important as other aspects of School life. Our Finding Balance programme includes yoga, mindfulness and a range of techniques and tips to ensure that the energy and pace of boarding life have a natural counterpart, where relaxation, fun and stillness have their place. 

Clubs and Activities

Our rich and varied co-curricular programme is designed to offer each girl limitless opportunities to pursue interests beyond the curriculum, with the option of developing leadership skills by running her own club. You can find the full list of clubs and activities in our Beyond The Curriculum booklet.