Downe House

Focus 

Traditional education with a modern twist

Day fees 2024/25 

$40,400 (incl. VAT)

Boarding fees 2024/25 

$73,400 (incl. VAT)

Pupils 

580

Ages

11–18

Spear’s Review

Downe House is a prestigious all-girls school renowned for its academic excellence and outstanding pastoral care. With notable alumni who include Miranda Hart and Clare Balding, the school has a long history of nurturing confident and accomplished women.

The family-friendly boarding environment ensures students feel supported, enabling them to thrive academically and personally. Downe House offers pupils unique enrichment opportunities, such as a term in France, global school exchanges and ‘super-curricular’ programmes, allowing students to challenge themselves beyond the classroom. The school’s impressive academic results ensure that graduates progress to top universities worldwide.

By combining nurturing support with a rigorous academic curriculum, Downe House empowers its girls to believe they can achieve anything.

Academics

75 per cent of GCSE results are grades 7–9. 

60 per cent of results at A-Level are A* or A. 

School Profile

Downe House is a leading UK independent school for girls aged 11 to 18, offering options for full and flexi boarding, and day. Downe has long enjoyed a reputation for delivering a world-class education, focussed on outstanding academic and extracurricular provision, and pastoral excellence.

Downe has been inspiring girls to succeed since it opened in 1907. The founding principles – that a school should meet the needs of young women by prizing individuals and engendering a strong sense of community – remain core to the school’s values today. Tradition is part of the appeal, but this sits alongside innovation – in facilities, teaching and ambition.

What does a Downe House education promise? There is no typical student; the school is proud to nurture confident, caring trailblazers with a global outlook, equipped to take their own unique paths in life. Downe’s immersive experience gives girls the freedom and space to nurture their talents at their own pace. Inspirational teaching, enrichment opportunities and personalised curricula bring out the best in each girl, with holistic pastoral support providing a home from home.

Academic results are impressive, as is the range of top-ranking universities – in the UK and overseas – which girls move on to. Downe also excels in sport, art, music, drama and dance, and offers a full and varied programme of activities outside the classroom – opportunities abound for every student.

Downe’s outlook reaches far beyond its tranquil 110 acre woodland estate – this is a school with a truly global perspective. A Global Schools Exchange allows girls to spend time at one of 17 partner schools across the world, and the Global Internship programme offers sixth-formers work placements in a wide range of industries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Downe House girls leave ‘world ready’ and with a network of connections for life.

University and college destinations

The Downe House class of 2024 secured places at institutions such as Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Bristol. Students also gained acceptance at universities outside the UK, including Boston University and IE University in Spain.

Head teacher

Emma McKendrick has been the headmistress of Downe House School for over 25 years. Her commitment to excellence is evident in the school’s impressive academic results and the diverse opportunities available to its students. Her dedication to nurturing young women has left a lasting impact on the Downe House community.

Admissions

The admissions process at Downe House begins with submitting an online application form, followed by the provision of recent school reports and other relevant documents. After the application is reviewed, prospective students take an entrance assessment that includes academic tests and an interview. The interview offers an opportunity for the school to better understand the student’s personality, interests and academic potential.

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 1 hour

Location

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