All the flexibility of a day school…all the benefits of a boarding school

Day pupils at Downe House benefit from a full boarding education but with the added benefit of sleeping in their own beds at home. They are fully integrated into all aspects of school life, enjoying an extended day, with the flexibility of starting as early as 7.30am for breakfast and staying to enjoy all the activities on offer once lessons finish at 6pm. Many of our day pupils choose to stay in school to take advantage of an array of enrichment opportunities until 8.30pm and, on occasion, beyond. Girls have their own work spaces, storage and social spaces, and are given the same bespoke pastoral care as the boarders.  

 I do the exact same things as boarders. Nobody really realises that you’re a day girl because you have the same opportunities, you do the same activities and there’s not much difference – apart from the fact that you go home at night.

-Octavia, Lower Fifth

More than a day at school…a world of opportunity

Evenings at Downe House offer an outstanding range of opportunities, such as talks by visiting speakers, supervised prep (homework) sessions, clubs and societies, drama, dance and music rehearsals, sports training and the chance to have supper and socialise with friends. We have also recently begun an exciting strategic partnership with Radley College, sharing academic and social opportunities for girls and boys to share knowledge and develop healthy and normal relationships with their peers. All pupils have equal access to these opportunities – day pupils and boarders alike. 

All girls attend school on Saturday morning, after which there are sports fixtures in the afternoon. The rest of the weekend is jam-packed with trips and other opportunities which day girls can choose to attend if they wish. We take great care to ensure our day girls are fully involved in all aspects of school life and play an integral part in our community. Please come and visit us to find out more! 

Day girls have access to all day, evening and weekend activities but do not stay overnight. Separate day-girl facilities are provided for day girls in the Upper School (Years 9, 10 and 11); in the Lower School (Years 7 and 8) and Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), day girls are integrated into our boarding Houses. 

Discover more about life as a Downe House day pupil

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