Downe House School, Thatcham | Muddy Stilettos

Top senior girls’ school Downe House in West Berkshire has a well-deserved reputation for its academic results, sporting prowess and pastoral care, Intrigued? Read on.

Published by Muddy Stilettos

A New Approach To Teaching STEM

Teaching techniques in STEM fields are seeing exciting new developments. Charlie Littledale shares how Downe House School is enshrining collaboration and technological innovation in its STEM curriculum.

Published by Teaching Times

Former Ofsted chief: Why children need to learn to make and mend

Amanda Spielman cites Little House on the Prairie and its make-do-and-mend attitude to show what today’s pupils are missing out on.

Published by The Times

We’re turning pupils
off English literature

Pupils are being turned off studying
English literature because the curriculum is too “narrow and dispiriting”, it is claimed.

Published by Sunday Express

Labour’s VAT raid on private schools poses ‘existential threat’, says Gordonstoun head

Lisa Kerr tells education conference policy shows lack of understanding of independent institutions
and warns of ‘unintended consequences’

Published by The Telegraph

Academic Conference to be Held to Discuss Maximising Pupils’ Potential in Secondary Education

Hundreds of UK State and Private School Heads will Meet at Downe House School to Discuss How to Better Prepare Pupils for the Future at High Profile Academic Conference

Published by Independent School Parent

Berkshire & Hampshire schools unite for teacher leadership program

Downe House teams up with Bradfield College and Winchester College to empower teachers aspiring for leadership roles, fostering collaboration and professional growth.

Published by Education Executive

Mastering child friendly catering

Ross Mactaggart (Deputy Catering and Events Manager) discusses what is important to consider when catering to a wide variety of ages.

Published by Stir it Up March issue 2024

How do schools avoid the ‘Tech Tick Box?’

Mr Godfrey (Deputy Head) discusses whether technology is being used effectively in schools.

Published by Independent School Magazine

How Downe House centre will bridge the gap between education, research and real world learning

Dr Andrew Atherton (Director of Learning and Research) shares his passion for integrating the role of research with the education of young people and understanding the impact it has on them in school day to day.

Published by Newbury Today

How gamification and tablets have become key to children’s learning

Mrs Jane Basnett (Director of Digital Learning) shares her expertise on digitised classrooms.

Published by The Telegraph

Vaping: How to Prevent Children from Using E-Cigarettes & Help Them Quit

Mr Godfrey (Deputy Head) shares some guidance and advice on how parents and schools can work collaboratively to prevent children from taking up vaping.

Published by Independent School Parent

The best private UK Senior Schools in 2023

We are delighted to be part of The Schools Index which celebrates excellence in education.

Published by Carfax Education

Looking Ahead

Mrs Sarah Barnard (Director of Futures Department) discusses the rise of “Futures Departments” in schools and how they are innovating.

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Tatler Schools Guide 2024

Thank you to Tatler for including Downe House in their 2024 Schools Guide.

Published by Tatler

A Global Outlook

Ms Marya Akhtar (Director of Global Partnerships) discusses the exciting global programmes on offer to our pupils in The Week’s Independent Schools guide.

Published by The Week

Good Schools Guide Review

“Busy and diverse, an unstuffy place producing confident young women who are well-equipped for whatever comes next.”

Thank you to The Good Schools Guide for visiting us at Downe House.

Published by The Good Schools Guide

Awards for Innovation in Education Shortlist

We are thrilled to be shortlisted in the “Support for Life Beyond School” category for Talk Education’s Awards for Innovation in Education 2023.

Published by Talk Education

Downe House Academic Conference

We welcomed over 200 school leaders and teachers from across the UK to our first annual conference.

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Speaking Up

Our Deputy Head, Mr Matt Godfrey, writes about helping pupils to find their voice.

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Demystifying US university and college applications: everything you need to know

Mrs Sarah Barnard, Director of Futures Department discusses pupils decisions to apply for University places in the US.

Published by Talk Education

What subjects do parents and pupils value most – and which are increasingly undervalued?

Our deputy head discusses the shift in popularity of different A Level subjects, the affect it is having on higher education and what these trends may mean for future careers.

Published by Absolutely Education

Meet the Head

Mrs Emma McKendrick discusses key preparations and aspirations that are in place for the pupils at Downe House to succeed in a constantly evolving world.

Published by West Berkshire Lifestyle Magazine (P.11)

Pupil Editor: People Who Inspire Me

Isabel (LVI) explains how two influential authors and their novels – written almost two centuries apart – have inspired her, and countless others around the world…

Published by Talk Education

Academic Conference for UK State and Independent Heads Announced

An exciting one-day Academic Conference focusing on Maximising Pupil Progress.

Published by Independent Schools Magazine (P.10)

Building the Culture and Values of a School Through Shared Experience

Our Deputy Head looks at how collaborations between the independent and maintained sector is something that can be hugely beneficial for building robust cultures and values in School.

Published by Independent Schools Magazine (P.8)

Teachers Reveal 20 Exam Tips

For parents to help their children to survive exam season.

Published by MSN

School Mergers Talking Point

Matt Godfrey, Deputy Head, discusses the principle reasons behind mergers are increased efficiency and the strengthening of the educational ‘brand’.

Published by Independent Schools Magazine (P.16)

Arts for Life

Promoting cultural awareness and emotional intelligence are vital parts of what the arts bring to young people’s lives.

Published by Absolutely Education

Study Strengths

Deputy Head, Matt Godfrey, considers the PM’s maths-to-18 plan and concludes that studying to your strengths is smarter.

Published by Absolutely Education

Downe House Extends Scholarships to Recognise More Young Musicians

Downe House school has widened its music scholarship programme in response to the thriving success of its Music Department.

Published by Newbury Today

Benefits of Boredom and Unstructured Time

How providing pupils with a chance to stop can open creativity.

Published by Independent School Parent

Teacher shortage UK – How can we convince our colleagues to stay?

In a recent poll of 1,800 teachers conducted by the NEU, around half of all respondents said they planned to quit within the next five years.

Published by TeachWire

Just Giving

Deputy Head, Matt Godfrey, explains how helping others, makes young people feel better about themselves and their lives.

Published by Independent School Parent

Pupils scoop top award at Bletchley Park

Two promising young women at Downe House School, Cold Ash, have achieved an outstanding feat.

Published by Newbury Today

Future Proofing

Preparing our pupils for the working world: why are so many not coping?

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Demystifying US college applications

‘Recent years have seen a startling increase not only in the number of applications, but also in the range of countries being considered,’ says Mrs Barnard, Director of Futures Department

Published by Talk Education

Young creative talent on show at The Base, Greenham

A showcase in a professional setting for artwork by students from six local schools, sixth-forms and colleges, working in a variety of media.

Published by Newbury Today

Philanthropy with the feel-good factor

Mr Godfrey, Deputy Head, highlights the ways in which service and community outreach activities can benefit students’ wellbeing and mental health.

Published by Independent School Parent

Innovative STEM shorts event

Inspired and inspiring! A group of our Upper Sixth STEM students treated their fellow sixth formers, Scholars from across the school and members of the STEM subjects’ staff to an inspiring evening of short talks.

Published by The BSA Guide to UK Boarding Schools

Post-pandemic, how can schools reinforce a sense of fun?

We know our pupils succeed when they are happy and having fun. We give them the space, time and confidence for this to happen.

Published by Independent School Parent

The path to independent learning

Mr Godfrey, Deputy Head, discusses how schools can help to inspire a more independent approach to learning.

Published by School Search

School pays tribute to War Heroes

Downe House paid tribute to the brave men and women who served in the armed forces or who worked for the war effort during the first and second World Wars with a stunning musical performance during the school’s annual Michaelmas Concert, held on the eve of Remembrance Sunday.

Published by School House

From Day to Boarding: Facing common fears

The experience of boarding has been transformed over the past twenty years or so. Boarding houses used to be austere; now they are very much homes-from-home.

Published by Independent School Parent

Reversing the great STEM gender gap

Schools are preparing their students for a changing world of ground breaking technological advances, mass digitalisation and the emergence of occupations that don’t currently exist. What are they doing to ensure women don’t miss out?

Published by Talk Education

Downe House celebrates Centenary Year

Downe House celebrated 100 years at our campus with a special Founder’s Weekend Festival where pupils, staff, alumnae and 100 members of the local community came together to enjoy theatrical and musical performances…

Published by The Independent Schools Magazine (P.7)

Newbury MP visits Downe House

Downe House recently welcomed local MP for Newbury, Laura Farris, onto our campus in Cold Ash, for an inspiring careers talk with our Sixth Form students.

Published by School Search

Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Pupils and staff at Downe House gathered on the morning of Friday 9 September in the school’s Chapel to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Published by Private Schools

More than a day at School

Downe House welcomes more day pupils to the School and offers day bursaries as part of our Centenary celebrations.

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Head Senior, Lucy Barrie

Lucy is passionate about her school, which she first visited as a young girl to watch her older sister (and alumnae) Laura play matches.

Published by School House

Partnership with Springboard to transform futures

We are delighted to have partnered with Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation (RNCSF) which will enable us to widen our reach to pupils who would not usually be able to access a Downe House education.

Published by The BSA Guide to UK Boarding Schools

Life Stories

Exploring Downe House and all we have to offer from the view point of our pupils, past and present.

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Raising Respect Conference

Downe House hosted a conference for pastoral and safeguarding professionals in education – Raising Respect. We welcomed delegates from both boarding and day schools, spanning the independent and state sectors.

Published by School Search

Boarding Schools & philanthropy

One of the joys of boarding is being a part of an eclectic school community, offering pupils, families and staff the opportunity to come together to create a ‘local community’ that unites and stretches across the globe.

Published by The BSA Guide to Boarding

Downe House School in Riyadh

The opening of Downe House Riyadh is part of the program set by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, which aims to encourage international schools to invest in the Saudi capital while, in turn, providing quality education to students.

Published by About Her

Support for Ukraine

Downe House worked with a local charity, Racing to Help Ukraine, to collect emergency aid supplies and delivered them to Ukrainian refugees at the Ukrainian/Polish border via a convoy of horseboxes.

Published by HMC

Downe House Global Academy

The Downe House Global Academy is set to continue and expand its online super-curricular courses offered in Greater China.

Published by Absolutely Berkshire

Sixth Form VR & AI interview preparation programme

Downe House is proud to be the first school to be using VR (Virtual Reality) headsets to help our students become world ready.

Published by Independent Schools Council (ISC)

A British School for girls opens in Riyadh

Downe House is one of the UK’s most prestigious schools for girls, and our new branch in Riyadh will offer a curriculum that will be in line with the most recent educational advances in the world.

Published by About Her

Grappling with 11+ or 13+ entry to senior school?

Many assume that starting senior school at age 11 is the right move and for many it is, but there are also great reasons to consider 13+ entry.

Published by School Notices

How pupils are driving positive environmental change

Downe House pupils Phillipa, Gabriella, Aryana and Emilia explain the efforts they and their fellow pupils are demonstrating to highlight the pressing environmental issues facing the world right now…

Published by Talk Education

The values of a single-sex boarding education

Mrs McKendrick explains how an education specifically tailored to girls’ needs empowers them to make a significant contribution to society – and in turn helps them build a better world.

Published by Talk Education