Downe House

Situated in the town of Thatcham, in Berkshire, Downe House is an independent secondary school for girls aged between 11 and 18. It is both a day and boarding school. There are around 580 students enrolled at the school, the majority of whom are boarders. Downe House School was established in 1907 in Charles Darwin’s formal home. It is located on 110 acres of land. There are 12 houses for those living on the campus. One of the houses is located in France where year eight students have the opportunity to spend a term. 

Headteacher

Emma McKendrick

Values and Vision

Downe House aims to give every girl attending the school equal opportunities. The goal is for them to develop positive attitudes towards learning and become important figures in the local and global community. Children are encouraged to have excellent exam results, as well as personal development. 

Ofsted report

“There is positive leadership and a proactive approach to the health and well-being of the boarders. The health centre provides an outstanding service to the whole school. The welfare of pupils is at the heart of all the work that is done and the systems that are in place to support this aim. The pupils are well protected from harm with a written child protection policy that is regularly reviewed. The headmistress is the designated person in charge of child protection and works closely in this area with other members of the leadership team. Good attention is paid to overall health and safety matters supported by robust policies and comprehensive risk assessments.”

View Downe House’s latest ISI report