Preparing young women for their future

At the age of sixteen, girls move into the Sixth Form, a distinctly different experience within the School campus, yet designed to prepare girls for a life beyond Downe House. Girls live in either Willis or York House for the two years of their Sixth Form studies providing continuity and familiarity. The Sixth Form at Downe House aims to create a culture which will inspire your daughter to reach her very best academically, but also find personal fulfilment, experience the joy of in-depth learning and have the confidence and ambition to aim for the highest possible standards she can achieve.

An environment for young adults

With excellent facilities for living and independent working, these Houses have been expressly designed to better prepare each girl for life beyond Downe House. Alongside a more ‘adult’ relationship with the dedicated and experienced Housestaff team, Sixth Form boarding provides girls with spacious common rooms as well as their own dining room and coffee room.

Academic freedom

In the Sixth Form, each student is assigned a new Academic Tutor who they meet with weekly to discuss their learning and can go to for support as well as advice regarding higher education and encouragement on broadening their studies. Enjoying much greater levels of freedom, girls in Sixth Form take more responsibility for their own learning, living and time-planning in the knowledge that Housestaff, their Tutor and teachers as well as the higher education team are there for support and guidance.

Find out more about Sixth Form Options and the Sixth Form Team at Downe House.

Enrichment in Sixth Form

Beyond the classroom, Sixth Form girls benefit from an outstanding academic enrichment programme, expert advice on higher education and careers as well as regular trips to the theatre, concerts and exhibitions. They are also actively encouraged to pursue roles of responsibility and leadership throughout the School, contribute their own events and ideas to school life and mentor younger students. Girls in the Sixth Form also have the freedom to choose to be in or out of School on most weekends and join their fellow students at social events with boys’ schools such as Winchester College, Radley and Eton, for dances, debates and activities.

Opportunities for the Sixth Form

Academic:

• Peer Mentoring – Sixth Form girls can sign up to mentor younger pupils and meet with them regularly
• CV Workshops – Girls have the opportunity to learn how to write a compelling CV
• Academic Enrichment Lectures – Regular lectures by external professional business professionals and university academics
• Interview Practice – every girl in the Sixth Form receives tailored expert interview practice and advice
• Oxbridge Programme – Students in the Sixth Form interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge are guided throughout the application process from organised university visits through to interview technique
• Higher Education Research Skills (HERS) –  Every girl in the Lower Sixth takes this course which is an introduction to a variety of essential skills including: time management and organisation, research skills, referencing and bibliographies, critical thinking and analysis of arguments and evidence, presentation skills and report writing.
• World Ready Programme opportunities to do a Mini-MBA course, the Ivy House Award and achieve MS Office Specialist Certification

Social:

• Caledonian Society – Girls learn different Scottish reels enjoy formal dinners followed by reels with Eton, Radley and Winchester
• Socials – Girls in Sixth Form enjoy frequent socials with boys’ schools such as Winchester College, Radley and Eton
• Young Enterprise – Girls work in groups and our guided by a professional mentor to start their own business from scratch
• 10 o’clock News Club – Girls meet up in the Common Room to watch and discuss the news before bed
• Leading House Competition events – Girls in the Sixth Form lead and organise their Upper School Houses for competitions such as House Drama, House Music and House Dance
• Yoga – There are regular opportunities for girls in Sixth Form to take part in morning and nighttime yoga classes

Weekend:

• Weekly Wellbeing – Girls have a variety of wellbeing activities which take place regularly including pamper sessions, making healthy snacks and yoga
• Bake Boxes and Cookery Workshops – The Co-Curricular department provides Willis and York with the ingredients for baking and cooking in House
• Movie Nights – always a favourite!
• Pamper Nights – The Co-Curricular department provides the Houses with everything necessary for a home spa