Meet the Sixth Form Team Willis House


It is my pleasure to look after the Sixth Form students here at Downe House. The Sixth Form experience is an exciting one with a rich offering that is designed to prepare students for life and give them the tools to face whatever challenges may come their way.
I joined the team on April 2023 and have loved every moment since arriving. I feel very lucky to work with the wonderful Sixth Form girls and am incredibly proud of all they achieve. My career spans teaching and multiple boarding roles and I brought a huge amount of experience and expertise to this position. My teaching life started at Concord College as a Geography Teacher and Sixth Form Boarding Parent before taking on the role of Head of Form 3 (Year 9). While there, I also worked on the safeguarding team.
In 2018 I joined Wycombe Abbey as Head of Geography, and quickly moved back into boarding as Senior Housemistress as I missed the boarding environment! I spent two summers in China working for a tutoring agency and enjoyed the experience so much that I continue to tutor Geography up to A Level.
I am currently a member of the Geography and Learning for Life Departments and love being in the classroom. Last Easter I led our School ski trip and look forward to next year’s excursions on the slopes. It is so important to me to be involved in life beyond Sixth Form as it allows me to get to know girls and staff well, as well as really immersing myself into all that Downe House has to offer.
My remit extends across the whole of the Sixth Form community as I work with a range of people to ensure the delivery of the highest quality educational experience for the girls. During such an important time for the pupils, I lead and support them throughout their examinations and preparations for life beyond Downe House, whatever that may look like for each individual. It has been such a joy to get to know the girls in both the LVI and UVI, they gave me a warm welcome and are fantastic ambassadors for the wider School community – I have no doubt they will welcome all the incoming LVI will open arms. Downe House clearly offers a huge amount to students of all abilities, cultures and interests. It provides a broad and rounded education, focusing on the whole person, something I am hugely passionate about. I am always so impressed by the way in which students support and boost one another, celebrating successes, and the fact that the School has an environment that allows students to grow and flourish at their own pace.


Hello everyone! We are Emilia Lim and Anjola Bolodeoku, and we are your Head and Deputy Head Senior. We wanted to give an introduction to what Sixth Form is like, which we believe will be the best part of your school experience. Sixth Form at Downe House opens you to a variety of opportunities and activities, allowing you to be independent and fulfil personal/academic aims - all while making unforgettable memories. Although Sixth Form can seem intimidating, the school amplifies the support you will have, through our wonderful Sixth Form team, tutors, and the Futures department. Through having our whole year living in one house, a strong sense of community and friendship is developed which provides a great opportunity to open yourself to different interests, personalities, and cultures!
Despite the fact that joining the Sixth Form is an exciting prospect, there are multitude of responsibilities and sacrifices that you will have to make. This involves being willing to help the wider school community at all times and helping younger students in harbouring an environment in which girls feel comfortable, and able to express their needs. You will learn how to balance your time through an exceptional amount of commitment and organisation which is essential for the Sixth Form. The busy schedule will gradually get easier to manage and you will be able to delegate your time between the workload and participating in extracurricular activities.
As students in our seventh year at Downe House, our main advice would be to get involved in the wider aspects of school life as much as possible. You should embrace the opportunities you are given and treasure the little time you have left at school. Time really goes by in a flash! Although academic rigour and focus is inevitable, it is of paramount importance to take care of yourself and do things that you enjoy. We assure you that you will make lifelong memories and friends here, and simultaneously acquire the necessary skills to prepare you for your life beyond Downe House. We are unbelievably lucky and grateful for the experiences we have had, and to leave you with a top tip: do what you love, spend time with the people you love, and be present in the moment!
