At Downe House, teamwork is at the heart of everything we do. Whether welcoming prospective pupils, supporting the daily life of the school, or inspiring creativity through the arts, collaboration between staff, students and departments helps create the exceptional experience for which Downe House is known.

Admissions: A School-Wide Welcome 

Admissions Assessment Days are one of the most important stages of the Downe House admissions process. Designed to give prospective pupils a genuine insight into life at the school, these days involve a wide range of activities, interviews and opportunities for girls to meet current students and staff.

Making each Assessment Day a success is a true team effort. The Admissions team works closely with academic departments, including Creative Arts and PE, to organise engaging activities. Operational teams such as Catering, Housekeeping, IT, Estates, Administration and the Health Centre provide vital logistical support, while House staff, student tour guides and members of the Leadership Team help ensure every visitor feels welcomed and valued.

Carole Bailey Admissions Administrator says:

“I really enjoy the opportunity to work closely with and get to know other staff across the school. Assessment Days are a chance for us all to come together, get involved and deliver a great experience for our prospective pupils.”

The Admin Team: Connecting the School Community 

Behind every successful school day is a dedicated team ensuring everything runs smoothly. The Downe House Admin Team acts as a central hub, connecting departments and supporting communication across the school.

Working closely with the Leadership Team, HR and Admissions, the Admin Team helps ensure information is shared accurately and efficiently. Their collaborative approach supports the smooth running of the school while strengthening relationships throughout the Downe House community.

Reception plays a particularly important role. Often the first point of contact for parents, visitors and prospective families, the team creates a positive first impression through their professionalism, warmth and attention to detail. From welcoming guests to managing enquiries and coordinating daily operations, they help set the tone for the Downe House experience.

“Much of what we do happens quietly behind the scenes, but our focus on accuracy and detail ensures the whole school community experiences a seamless, well-run environment.”

Creative Arts: Building Connections Through Creativity 

The Creative Arts Department demonstrates teamwork through a wide range of workshops, exhibitions and outreach activities. Working together with Art Technicians and colleagues across the school, the team delivers creative experiences for Assessment Days, Open Days and partner prep schools.

These workshops not only develop artistic skills but also build meaningful relationships with prospective pupils and local schools. The department also collaborates on exhibitions that showcase student work both within the school and across the wider community.

Kirsten Mortimer explains:

“The thing I enjoy most about the workshops is meeting staff and students from prep schools and building relationships. It’s wonderful to see how enthusiastically young people embrace the activities and how excited they are to try something new.”

From Admissions and Administration to Creative Arts, teamwork enables Downe House to deliver outstanding experiences every day. By working together, our staff create a welcoming, supportive and inspiring environment in which every pupil can thrive.

Sharing expertise

While the examples above highlight three very different areas of school life, they all demonstrate the same principle: great outcomes are achieved when people work together. From welcoming new families to supporting daily operations and inspiring creativity, teamwork remains one of the foundations of life at Downe House.