The Headmistress outlines her vision for Downe House to remain at the forefront of boarding education by providing students the best preparation for life through a high-quality academic and holistic education. This includes continuing to build a strong sense of community, recruit excellent staff, enhance facilities, and expand opportunities through increased bursary funding. The school aims to create a new £5.5 million Centre for Learning by 2018 to support innovative teaching methods through facilities like a library, auditorium, seminar spaces, and café. As a former student and current trustee, Ms. Fruhling is excited for how the centre will benefit future generations.

1. DOWNE HOUSE
A U T U M N 2 0 1 5
Y E A R

2. Moving Forward
From the Headmistress
Mrs Emma McKendrick
It is our aim to ensure that Downe House moves forward and remains at the forefront of boarding
education. Our girls are preparing for an increasingly demanding future and I, together with the
Governors and staff, want them to have the very best preparation for life and the maximum range of
opportunities, so that they can develop as rounded individuals and leave us ready to make a significant
contribution to society.
It is also my hope and aspiration that Downe House should, as our Founder intended, continue to be
a thriving community so that the girls benefit from strong parental involvement, the support of our
alumnae and, of course, the highest calibre of staff.
We want our alumnae to benefit from supporting each other pastorally and professionally as well as
having access to the School’s ongoing support.
We also hope that our past parents will continue to lend their support.
Enhancing, expanding and developing our facilities in an ambitious but measured way makes up part
of our plan, but ensuring we can recruit and retain the best staff is key too.
● Continue to build a sense of community
● Continue to provide the highest quality
academic education
● Continue to recruit, develop and retain the
highest quality staff
● Continue to enhance our pastoral care
● Continue to improve the facilities for
teaching and learning
● Continue to provide the best holistic
education
● Continue to build and extend links with
the wider world
● Extend the access to our unique educational
and boarding experience through the
provision of bursaries
Key drivers of the Vision
Thank you for your support in building
our future together.

3. C E N T R E F O R L E A R N I N G2 0 1 5
The current site
Our aim in the next three years is to create a £5.5 million Centre in the heart
of Downe House for inspirational, innovative and imaginative learning.

4. As a former Downe House girl, current parent, Trustee and Governor, it
is wonderful to see the creation of such an outstanding facility that will
benefit many generations to come. The way students learn has clearly
changed significantly since I was at the School, and this new building will
support the girls' education in many ways, enhance the social facilities,
and provide brilliant opportunities to showcase the arts. I only wish we
had had a building like this when I was at Downe House!
M s. fRU HAZLI T T
CHAIR OF THE DOWNE HOUSE
FOUNDATION TRUSTEES
“
”
WHAT'S INSIDE
● An innovative, contemporary
library and learning resource
centre
● A state of the art auditorium
to enable us to enhance our
enrichment programme and
provide an additional space
for recitals, workshops,
lectures, demonstrations and
performances
● Teaching and learning pods
● Seminar spaces for debate,
smaller group discussions and
tutorials
● Gallery areas to showcase the
Creative Arts
● A Learning Café to bring all
members of our Community
together for informal meetings,
tutorials, discussions or just to
provide a welcoming space to
meet and relax
● Quiet and inviting individual
study spaces
● The School Shop
The Centre will include:

5. P L A N S A N D P R O J E C T S ~ W A T C H T H E M G R O W
For more information contact: Mrs Michelle Scott, Assistant Headmistress (Foundation)
visit - www.downehouse.net email - foundation@downehouse.net tel - 01635 204719
Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9JJ
NEW LOWER SCHOOL
BOARDING HOUSES OPEN
START OF THE
LOWER SCHOOL
BOARDING
PROJECT
REFURBISHMENT
OF HOLCOMBE
HOUSE
THE LAUNCH OF
CENTRE FOR
LEARNING
PLANS Building our
Bursary funds
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 20242015
The Centre
for Learning
Future Projects
CREATING A NEW
MUSIC SCHOOL
DEVELOPING A
cREATIVE ARTS CENTRE