Downe House is one of the top all girls’ boarding and day schools in the UK, offering a world-class traditional boarding education with a modern twist. With a focus on excellence and the individual, girls are encouraged to make the most of the exceptional academic, co-curricular and enrichment opportunities on offer and to create their own paths, authentic to themselves.
Supported by a personal tutor, girls excel not only in the classroom and their studies but in Sport, Creative and Performing Arts and Music, going on to study at the top universities around the world. A Microsoft Showcase school, girls are equipped with outstanding digital skills, including VR, AR and AI assisted learning, preparing them for a fast-developing futuristic workplace. With a strong global outlook, Downe House prepares young women to be world-ready, offering them opportunities to study and work abroad. In Year 8, all girls spend a term at our school in France, and in Years 10 and 12, girls can take part in our Global Exchange Programme, with 16 schools across five continents. The Sixth Form takes this further, offering global internships, which in 2023/24 featured more than 25 internships spanning five continents, a Mini MBA course and the Ivy House Leadership Award, all enabling girls to leave Downe House with confidence and empowered to succeed.
Academically, we encourage ambition and ignite a love of learning through a supportive community. Although personal triumphs and individual achievements are the most celebrated within the School, the foundation of academic success is evident from our GCSE and A level results. In 2024, at I/GCSE 75% of grades were 9–7, and remarkably 53% achieved grades 9–8 (A**–A*). At A level, 82% of pupils achieved A* to B grades with the A* to A grade percentage remaining consistently high, at 60%. These outstanding results enabled our girls to secure places at some of the world’s top universities.
Over 20% of our girls are heading to Oxford, Cambridge and the top London universities to study a remarkable breadth of courses, including: Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Manchester; Classics at Oxford; English at St Andrews; Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London; PPLE / Humanities and Communications and Digital Media at IE University, English, Comparative Literature, Arts and Sciences and Medical Innovation and Enterprise at UCL.
As well as leading universities across the length and breadth of the UK, some students are heading to prestigious destinations across the world, including Boston University USA, St Andrews Scotland, IE University Madrid and The University of Toronto.
What makes Downe House special? The answer is in the Downe House DNA:
•Collaboration
•Resilience
•Creativity
•Aspiration
•Compassion
•Communication
•Outward-looking.
In the classroom, on the pitch, on stage and everywhere in between, these values are the hope and aspiration for every pupil. Upon stepping through the School gates, everyone is treated and celebrated as an individual. Whether she is an artist with an aptitude for mathematics, a scientist with a love of music, or an athlete with an interest in politics, she will be nurtured and encouraged to discover her passions and talents.
The dynasty of Downe House women who preceded, and the sheer variety of career paths and achievements of our alumnae, is testimony to our ethos. They all carry with them the imprint of the Downe House DNA.
Pastoral care
‘Downe House was everything we hoped for in the next step for our daughter’s education. You have evidently done a wonderful job of creating the right environment to foster achievement and happiness.’ (DH parent, 2021)
Downe House was founded as ‘a school where every individual within the community matters’, and this has not changed. We work in partnership with parents to ensure that every Downe House pupil leaves school with a lifelong intellectual curiosity, the confidence that she can face life’s challenges, and a steadfast place in a lively school community.
Boarding. Downe House offers idyllic accommodation on site, with a wealth of activities as part of our boarding model. So well suited to the needs of a busy modern family, that over 90% of pupils are boarding students. Offering both boarding and day places, Downe House provides every pupil with the gift of time and space for extracurricular activities balanced with important family time.
Fees per term (2024-2025). £16,955 for boarders, £12,610 for day.
Admissions. Pupils may enter the school at 11+, 12+ or 13+ upon successful assessment, interview and ISEB Common Pre-Test. Pupils can also join the Sixth Form after completing our interview and entrance test.
Application for entry should be made well in advance. Prospective parents are asked to make an appointment to visit the School and meet the Headmistress prior to their daughter’s start date.
Scholarships. The School offers a number of Academic Scholarships at 11+, 12+, 13+ and for entry into the Sixth Form. Scholarships are also awarded in Music, Creative Arts and Sport (11+ and 13+) and Drama (13+ and 16+) and there are Headmistress’s Awards for outstanding all-round performers. As a Scholar or Exhibitioner, pupils have access to our specialist Scholarship programme which offers a range of specialist enrichment activities to inspire her and extend her knowledge. A mentor is provided to guide and encourage her on her journey as well as important leadership opportunities, designed to stretch and challenge her. For more information on Scholarships please visit the website: Scholarship Programme | Downe House School
Bursaries. Downe House is committed to extending access to the education and welcoming pupils who would otherwise be denied the opportunity of a boarding experience of the highest calibre and quality. For more information on Bursaries please visit our website: www.downehouse.net/downe-house-admissions/bursaries
Location. An easy drive from London takes you to our beautiful, secure school campus in the heart of rural West Berkshire. Our stunning 110-acre woodland estate overlooks the historic Berkshire Downs.
Pupils enjoy the close proximity to other schools for match fixtures and academic enrichment events, as well as hosting and attending socials with local prep schools and independent schools such as Eton College, Radley College, Bradfield College and Harrow School.
Find your Downe House. As one Sixth Former summed up the experience, ‘I left Downe House with the feeling there was nothing I couldn’t achieve.’
Charitable status. Downe House School is a Registered Charity, number 1015059. Our aim is the provision of a sound and broadly based education for pupils, which will equip them for university entrance and beyond.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Ms Fru Hazlitt, BA (Chair of Governors)
Mr Timothy Boucher, BA, FCA (Chairman of Finance & General Purposes Committee)
Ms Elizabeth Clarke, BA, CPE
Ms Paola Diana, BA, MA
Ms Veryan Exelby, MA
Mrs Fiona Holmes, BComm
Ms Sally McNair Scott, LLB (Chair of Business Development Committee)
Dr Christopher O’Kane, MA, MB BChir, MSc, DPhil
Dr Clare Ratnage, BSc, MBChB, MRCP, MRCGP (Chair of Safeguarding Committee)
Mr Mark Ridley, BA, MA, MRICS (Chairman of Estates Sub-Committee)
Ms Caroline Ross, LLB, CIPD
Mr Joe Smith, BA, MEd, PGCE (Chairman of Education Committee)
Mr Nick Woods, BSc, FCA
Clerk to the Governors: Mr Edward Valletta
Leadership Team:
Headmistress: Mrs Emma McKendrick, BA, PGCE, FRSA
Deputy Head: Mr Matthew Godfrey, BA, MA Ed, PGCE
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr Hugh Grant, MA, PGCE
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs Genevieve Ford, BA, PGCE
Assistant Head (Lower School): Mr Chris Hill, BA, PGCE, MEd [maternity cover]
Assistant Head (Upper School): Mrs Anna Dourountakis, BA, HDE Postgraduate
Assistant Head (Sixth Form): Miss Georgie Taylor, BA, PGCE
Assistant Head (Operations): Mrs Philippa Toogood, BA, MSt, PGCE
Director of Finance and Operations: Mrs Julia Burnett, FCA
Director of Digital Delivery and Innovation: Mr Cliff Kurn, PG Dip, MCITP EA
Director of Estates and Services: Mr Alasdair Heath
PA to the Headmistress: Ms Judy Davies
PA to the Headmistress: Ms Elisabeth Ashley [Acting]
Admissions:
Registrar: Miss Angela Nutt Registrar@downehouse.net