The Downe House Podcast

Welcome to the Downe House podcast where you can learn More about Downe House School. In this episode, we're highlighting exploring Europe, a new programme of discovery for our lower school which is being introduced in September 2025. The programme will be centred around four separate five day trips to different and diverse parts of Europe. Joining Simon in the podcast is Mrs Emma McKendrick, Head...

Welcome to the Downe House podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're spotlighting our Ski Team, which recently returned from four days in Flaine. Competing in the British Schoolgirls Ski Races, where competitors came back with their biggest ever haul of medals and trophies. Our host, Simon Jones, speaks to two of these medal winners, pupils Jennifer and Flor...

Welcome to the Downe House podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode we're spotlighting our strong and vibrant music department, a department which centres on elite performance and excellence for some, but also has a wider remit of making music accessible to everyone. In this episode our host Simon Jones meets Mr Alex Leadbeater, our Director of Music, along with p...

Welcome to the Downe House podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. With World Book Day on the horizon we're spotlighting our wonderful library. A department which engages and develops in our pupils a love for books and reading. In this episode our host Simon Jones, meets our Murray Centre Manager Miss Dani Kirby, along with pupils Phoebe in Remove, Year 7 and Charlotte in the Lo...

 Welcome to the Downe House Podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this series, we're shining a light on our feeder schools and looking at how they prepare their girls for their future at Downe House. In this episode, we're looking at boarding, and how boarding at prep school can help ease the transition to boarding at senior school. Joining Simon Jones on the podcast this...

S12:E2 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School.  In this series, we're shining a light on our feeder schools and looking at how they prepare their girls for their future at down house with over 180 schools who regularly send pupils to us. Girls come to us with varied experiences, but all prepared for the journey ahead with an established set of value...

S12:E1 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this series, we're shining a light on our feeder schools and looking at how they prepare their girls for their future at Downe House. With over 180 schools who regularly send pupils to us, girls come to us with varied experiences, but all prepared for the journey ahead with an established set of valu...

S11:E8 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're shining the light on our youngest boarders in the school in Remove, or Year 7, who joined us in September at 11 years old. Joining Simon Jones on the podcast this week is Kim Collingwood Housemistress of Hermitage, one of our lower school boarding houses, and pupils Farah, Zoe and...

S11:E7 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're discussing screens and how we manage them at school, supporting girls to develop better connections with each other and with their devices. Our host, Simon Jones, speaks to Miss Georgie Taylor, Head of Sixth Form, along with Astrid and Amelia in the Upper Sixth and Lena in the Low...

S11:E6 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're revisiting global internships and the opportunities offered to our sixth formers to gain valuable work experience, often overseas in a variety of industries. we are privileged to be joined by one of our past parents, Ros Irving, who generously offered a week's internship with Teco...

S11:E5- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're looking at a sport which has a long and successful history at Downe House, and that is lacrosse. Often referred to as the fastest game on two feet, lacrosse continues to grow in popularity, with girls aspiring not only to represent their school, but often their country. Our host, S...

S11:E4- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're looking at women in leadership, and at a program that's available to our pupils in the Sixth Form to empower all girls, whatever their strengths or personality, to lead. The Learn to Lead Project is a bespoke training program using project work, team coaching, and individual mentor...

S11:E3- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode we are given a very special insight into two trips that the school recently made to Kenya, where pupils where given a unique insight into the rich culture of this very special African country and where also encouraged to give back and make a difference. Our host Simon Jones speaks to Mrs...

S11:E2- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. We begin this series with two very special guests who are joining our headmistress, Emma McKendrick, to discuss the new changes we're bringing in in September 2025. To give more choice to our families, we're widening the way you can access a Downe House education, increasing our day pupil numbers and int...

S11:E1- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. If you're a new parent to Downe House, or you're thinking of choosing Downe House for your daughter, then you may be interested to learn more about the role of parent ambassadors, and how they support the school. We'll be looking at their role in admissions, and ways they support new and prospective fami...

S10:E6- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're looking at enterprise and at some of the ways Downe House girls are empowered to develop their business, financial and entrepreneurial skills. Our host, Simon Jones, speaks to Mrs Nina Cochran (Teacher of Economics and Business), and pupils Isabella and Charlotte both in the Lower...

S10:E5- Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this episode, we're looking at the school site and the wonderful opportunities and benefits it offers the community. We're fortunate to be situated in some of the most stunning countryside Berkshire has to offer, but also close enough to get to London in only 40 minutes by train. Our host, Simon Jones...

S10:E4 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, where you can learn more about Downe House School. Pupil wellbeing is a buzz word in education that we hear a lot but what does it look like in practice? In this podcast, we’re focusing on wellbeing and its importance in our community at Downe House. Our host Simon Jones, is joined by Mrs Ellen Llewellyn (Director of Pupil Wellbeing) and two Wellbeing p...

S10:E1 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, particularly to those families who'll be joining our school this September, as this series is just for you. In this episode, we're looking at what happens next if you're joining our Lower School in Remove (Year 7) or Lower Fourth (Year 8). Our host, Simon Jones, speaks to Miss Kate Eves (Head of Lower School), and pupils Sadie, Amrit and Bea, who joined...

S10:E2 - Welcome to the Downe House Podcast particularly to those families who will be joining our school this September, as this series is just for you. In this episode, we are looking at what happens next if you are joining our Upper School in Upper Fourth (Year 9) or Lower Fifth (Year 10). Our host Simon Jones speaks to Mrs Alison Compton-Ilott (Head of Upper Fourth), and pupils Libby and Belle...

S10:E3 - Welcome to the Downe House podcast, particularly to those families who will be joining our school this September, as this series is just for you. In this episode, we're looking at what happens next if you're joining our Sixth Form. Our host, Simon Jones speaks to Miss Georgina Taylor (Head of Sixth Form) and pupils Zoe and Eve, who joined us new last year. Downe House online Website: www....

S9:E6 - Welcome to the Downe House Podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. If you’re nervous about sending your child to boarding school, particularly at age 11, then this episode is a must listen for you. We're focusing on boarding in our Lower School (Years 7 and 8) and how we support our pupils (and parents!) to transition to boarding in the gentlest and most seamless wa...

S9:E5 - Welcome to the Downe House Podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this series, we are focusing on ways the School looks forward to the future and leads the sector. One of the unique experiences we offer at Downe House, is the opportunity to undertake an internship abroad, in a whole variety of different professional sectors. In this episode, our host Simon Jones spea...

S9:E4 - Welcome to the Downe House Podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this series, we are focusing on ways the School looks forward to the future and leads the sector. One development we are looking at closely as a school community is Artificial Intelligence, or AI, and its place in the classroom and in education generally. In this episode our host Simon Jones, speaks to...

S9:E3 - Welcome to the Downe House Podcast where you can learn more about Downe House School. In this series, we are focusing on ways the School looks forward to the future and leads the sector. Promoting excellence in teaching and allowing our teachers to collaborate and share expertise is at the beating heart of the School. In this episode our host Simon Jones, speaks to Mr Hugh Grant (Deputy He...