Encouraging ownership and independence
Girls joining Downe House aged 13+ will move into one of our five Upper School Houses alongside the current pupils who have progressed through the Lower School. These Houses act as the anchor House for each girl’s entire time at Downe House; girls in all year groups compete for and support their attached Upper School Houses.
Our Upper School Houses
For all girls this is a new phase, and one that is formative, challenging and rewarding. In each of the Houses – Aisholt, Ancren Gate North (AGN), Ancren Gate South (AGS), Holcombe or Tedworth, girls in the Upper Fourth (Year 9), Lower Fifth (Year 10) and Upper Fifth (Year 11) enjoy the wonderful warmth and individualised pastoral care provided by the Upper School team as they begin the Upper School curriculum.
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Moving into the Upper School means encouraging your daughter to discover her individuality and gain independence whilst providing a clear structure of rules, expectations and responsibilities. Girls are assigned a new Academic Tutor, and along with their Housestaff and teachers, are encouraged to take greater ownership of their learning. Each girl is guided to make decisions about which academic subjects she would like to study at GCSE and beyond, as well as encouraged to pursue her wider interests through a vast range of opportunities.
The Upper School team are committed to empowering your daughter and helping her develop a sense of independence, self-confidence and determination as she navigates not only this important time of academic life but also this vital stage of personal growth.
When pupils enter their GCSE years and learn to take academic responsibility and make decisions regarding their studies, they are also preparing for the Sixth Form when they will progress into York or Willis House.
For a closer look at Upper School boarding, read our Guide to Life in the Upper School.
Inside Downe
Who better to describe life at Downe House than the girls themselves? See the School from a different angle.
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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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