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PROSPECTUS

OUR VISION DOWNSIDE’S VISION, AS A CATHOLIC AND BENEDICTINE SCHOOL WITH CHRIST AT ITS CENTRE, IS TO BE A BRIGHT LIGHT IN EDUCATION AND

CONTENTS

TO INSPIRE SERVICE IN OUR WORLD.

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WELCOME

ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND ETHOS

OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

L O C AT I O N

L I F E AT D OW N S I D E : B OA R D I N G

L I F E AT D OW N S I D E : DAY

C U R R I C U L U M OV E RV I E W

FIRST AND SECOND FORMS

T H I R D TO F I F T H F O R M S

SIXTH FORM

THE WIDER CURRICULUM

A T RU LY I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y

L I F E A F T E R D OW N S I D E

TESTIMONIALS

ADMISSIONS

WELCOME AT D OW N S I D E , W E A R E C O M M I T T E D TO WO R K I N G I N PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H FA M I L I E S A N D TO P ROV I D I N G A N E N V I RO N M E N T W H I C H N U RT U R E S YO U N G P E O P L E O F INTEGRITY WHO CAN THINK FOR T H E M S E LV E S , S TA N D U P F O R T H E I R B E L I E F S , A N D AC T TO M A K E A P O S I T I V E D I F F E R E N C E IN T HE WORLD. Our Catholic and Benedictine values provide suppor t and challenge in equal measure for children of any faith or none. The strength and confidence which our pupils and staff draw from belonging to a community, in which kindness and looking to the needs of others is the currency, encourages them to strive to make the most of their unique gifts and to suppor t others to do the same. We are uncompromising in the pursuit of academic excellence. We aim for the highest standards in our extensive and exciting extra-curricular programme, and we provide plentiful and varied oppor tunities for service and leadership. We celebrate the achievements and successes of our pupils, but do not allow these to define them. What is most impor tant is that our pupils learn to value themselves and others for who they are, recognising that their achievements are the by-product of their values and accompanying work ethic. A Downside education does not come with a ‘sell-by’ date; it remains a wellspring which provides sustenance and perspective throughout one’s life. Our pupils – present and past – are notable for making it their priority to welcome others and put them at their ease; for being open and taking an interest in those they meet. They recognise the value of forming fruitful relationships and respecting others as they are. They have a well-developed understanding of living in a community and making a positive contribution. Moral courage and integrity are values they prize. I hope that you are able to visit Downside to experience our School community for yourself and see that these characteristics do not come about by accident. I hope you will enjoy reading our School prospectus and I look forward to meeting you and your family in person.

ANDREW HOBBS Head

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ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND ETHOS D OW N S I D E I S A C O - E D U C AT I O N A L , F O RWA R D - T H I N K I N G C AT H O L I C S C H O O L T H AT W E L C O M E S P U P I L S A N D PA R E N T S O F A L L FA I T H S W H O S E T S TO R E B Y E M P H A S I S I N G T H E I M P O RTA N C E O F M O R A L C O U R AG E , I N T E G R I T Y A N D S E RV I C E TO OT H E R S . When the climate is one of personal growth and change, achievement happens, in all arenas, without becoming the be-all and end-all of life. We all know that education is a long game – indeed the longest game possible. Our pupils will achieve the exam results necessary to get them to the next stage of their lives, but the Christian values learnt here will accompany them forever. The School, founded in 1606 (the same year, for example, that the Gunpowder Plot failed and Rembrandt was born), is home to 350 boarders and day pupils, aged between 11 and 18 years of age.

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The School is a collection of beautiful buildings, the most magnificent of which is the Abbey, visible like a beacon for miles around. The School grounds and pitches are everything you would expect from a major school in the rolling Somerset countryside. The facilities are extensive and include an indoor swimming pool, a Mac Suite dedicated to music, a health centre, and a Performing Arts Centre containing a 400-seat theatre and a recording studio.

PUPILS SPEAK OF THE BENEDICTINE VALUES WHICH LIE AT THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL’S ETHOS OPENLY AND PROUDLY. THIS IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THOSE PUPILS WHO ARE NOT CATHOLIC AS MUCH AS THOSE WHO ARE. ISI Report

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OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

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I FEEL VALUED AT DOWNSIDE FOR WHO I AM. Current Pupil

B E I N G PA RT O F D OW N S I D E S C H O O L M E A N S B E L O N G I N G TO A C O M M U N I T Y I N W H I C H E AC H I N D I V I D UA L I S A S K E D TO L O O K TO T H E N E E D S O F OT H E R S . It entails understanding that helping others in no way diminishes us, but instead leads to our achieving even higher standards – individually and as a community. Leadership at Downside can be best defined as the ability to bring out the best in others. From this perspective, we encourage each and every member of our community to be a leader. It means that at Downside wisdom is where strength and compassion both live, so that in all facets of our lives – academic, spor ts, the ar ts – we strive to be as good as we can be, and support others to be as good as they can be. That goes for the whole community: all pupils, all staff, all parents. So, whilst all schools will give learning, Downside gives a meaning – a meaning that brings purpose and positive consequences to life at and after school.

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LOCATION D OW N S I D E ’ S B E A U T Y A N D T R A N Q U I L L I T Y WIL L HAVE A PO SIT IVE I N F L U E N C E O N H O W YO U R C H I L D L EA RNS AND GROWS.

The School is set in 500 acres of glorious English countryside. The famous World Heritage City of Bath is a mere 25 minutes away and has direct train links to London. Bristol Airport is only 40 minutes away and we are also close to the M4, M5 and A303 road links. At the start and end of each term and half term breaks there are shuttle buses to London Heathrow (2½ hours) and Richmond in South West London. As well as historic Bath and cosmopolitan Bristol, our location enables us to offer a broad variety of ‘on the doorstep’ staff-supervised activities and excursions during the weekend and outside of lesson times. There is a plethora of nearby landmarks and attractions such as the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge, the spectacular limestone caves and gorge of Cheddar, or Longleat House and Safari Park. Cinema, ten-pin bowling and shopping trips to Bath and Bristol are always popular, as are sailing at Cheddar Reservoir or kayaking on the River Avon. Whilst we are rural, we are not isolated.

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LIFE AT DOWNSIDE: BOARDING O U R H O U S E S P L AY A S I G N I F I C A N T RO L E I N S C H O O L L I F E ( A N D L I F E A F T E R S C H O O L ) . T H E Y A R E P L AC E S O F F U N , H A P P I N E S S A N D R E L A X AT I O N F O L L OW I N G T H E F U L L E S T O F DAYS , B U T A L S O P L AY A N I M P O RTA N T PA RT I N U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H E R E A L M E A N I N G O F D I V E R S I T Y, AC C E P TA N C E A N D E M PAT H Y. At Downside, having a role model and becoming a role model are both impor tant. Both can often star t in the House. This is why it is impor tant for us that we remain an 75% full boarding school. It means that, unlike many schools today, we are a seven-day-aweek community, with all that brings in terms of friendships, esprit de corps and the sense of belonging which is at the very hear t of pastoral care. School life revolves around the six Houses: First, Second and Third Form boys join Powell House, before moving up to one of three senior boys’ Houses – Barlow, Rober ts or Smythe. Girls join Isabella in the First Form and stay there until the end of the Upper Sixth, or they can move to Caverel for the Third Form onwards. Each one of these Houses has its own unique spirit and

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traditions. However, pupils integrate across the Houses and with day pupils, who are also assigned to one of the Houses. Socially, our boarders have that incredibly impor tant oppor tunity to relax with their friends. Enjoying time outside of classes together is fundamental for healthy friendships to be forged. Add spending weekends together on top of this and Downside School nur tures friendships that last a lifetime. Boarding life also coaxes independence to blossom within all of our pupils.

BOARDING CREATES STRONG COMMUNITIES IN EACH HOUSE WHERE PUPILS CAN BE FOUND COOKING IN THE KITCHENS TOGETHER OR HELPING ONE ANOTHER WITH ACADEMIC WORK, PARTICULARLY OLDER PUPILS HELPING YOUNGER ONES. ISI Repor t

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Those who choose to be day pupils with us experience every element of ‘a life fully lived’, benefitting tremendously from being at a school that is primarily boarding. Day pupils are integrated seamlessly into a world of oppor tunity, mirroring all that a boarder will experience. They can even choose to sleep at School for two or three nights per week with our Day Plus option. We believe that, in this par t of the country, we offer the best combination of academic focus, co-curricular breadth and pastoral care. Our School day can dovetail seamlessly with the parental working day, with all activities on one beautiful rural campus, where rushing to after-school appointments can become a thing of the past.

This can give the family significant benefit at no extra cost; indeed parents tell us that this added freedom has a very positive impact on the quality of family time at home. All meals, including supper, can be taken at School. Day pupils can stay until 9.00pm, meaning that prep and exam revision can be done in a supervised atmosphere. Parents tell us that this is an effective use of time and actively enhances the home life of their child. We also have daily minibuses running to and from Frome, Bath and the Chew Valley to help with travel arrangements for day pupils.

LIFE AT DOWNSIDE: DAY

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AT DOWNSIDE I FEEL MY CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: THE NURTURING OF THE HOUSE PLUS REGULAR FAMILY TIME AT HOME. THEY LOVE BEING DAY PUPILS AT DOWNSIDE AND REALLY BENEFIT FROM THE BOARDING STRUCTURE: LESS PRESSURE TO SQUEEZE IN ALL OF THE EXTRA ACTIVITIES IN THE NORMAL SCHOOL DAY, MORE DOWNTIME WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND SCHEDULED PREP TIME. Current Parent

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CURRICULUM OVERVIEW L I F E R E WA R D S T H O S E T H AT D E F Y T H E N O R M . D OW N S I D E H A S S T RO N G AC A D E M I C R E S U LT S PA RT LY B E C AU S E I T E S C H E W S T H E M A I N S T R E A M – B E YO N D E X P E C TAT I O N A N D M I L E S F RO M T H E O R D I N A RY. A stellar set of A levels is, in many cases, the ‘price of entry’ into the best universities, here and abroad. It is no surprise that the vast majority of our pupils gain entry to their first choice of university, and a gratifying number of them achieve First Class Honours at their chosen place of study. Downside pays more attention than many to how your child will fare after leaving school. The life-skills – practical, spiritual emotional, social – learnt through the minutiae of the everyday at school always give the pupil-aboutto-be-student a flying star t. Deeply embedded in our philosophy of learning, and also in the Benedictine tradition, is the idea of transformation. The purpose of education is to transform us, all of us, into our best possible selves. It is, therefore, the

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magnitude of the change that matters, not the final result as measured in a comparative table. However, the impor tant point is that, when indeed our results – academic, spor ting, cultural – are measured comparatively, they prove to be excellent. But having been reached through a process of selffulfillment, the individual is strengthened and balanced, rather than damaged by the pressure of objective attainment for its own sake. You should expect growth and change in your child. You should expect their greatest talents to be identified and nur tured. Only in this way can they find themselves on the path to a ‘life fully lived’.

PUPILS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED LEARNERS… A CLEAR AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO LEARNING PERMEATES THE WHOLE SCHOOL, ENABLED BY EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STAFF AND PUPILS. ISI Repor t

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FIRST AND SECOND FORMS (YEARS 7 AND 8) T H E M OV E TO S E N I O R S C H O O L I S H A N D L E D W I T H G R E AT C A R E H E R E AT D OW N S I D E . I T I S A T I M E F O R E X P L O R AT I O N , B U T A L S O F O R YO U R C H I L D TO F I N D T H E I R F E E T I N A L L ASPECTS OF SCHOOL LIFE, I N C L U D I N G T H E AC A D E M I C . We help each pupil, one-to-one, to do this. Above all we want their education here at Downside to be exciting, and to explore new subjects and oppor tunities. We have specialist teachers in all the subjects you would expect. We teach the Sciences (Chemistry, Physics. Biology) separately, and we encourage all pupils to study a modern language. Our Head of First to Third Forms is responsible in ensuring that every child is regarded as an individual; suppor ted, stretched and challenged where required. Separate timetable courses in Ar t, Music, Drama, Design Technology, Computing and SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural) offer our pupils possibilities that could, and often do, lead a lifetime interest.

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THIRD TO FIFTH FORMS (YEARS 9 TO 11) B E F U L LY Q UA L I F I E D B U T F U L LY H U M A N A S W E L L . O U R P U P I L S A R E C O M P L E T E LY AWA R E T H AT T H E I R G C S E A N D A L E V E L R E S U LT S A R E I M P O RTA N T I N H E L P I N G T H E M TO R E AC H T H E N E X T S TAG E O F T H E I R L I V E S , B U T T H AT T H E C H R I S T I A N VA L U E S L E A R N T H E R E W I L L G E T T H E M TO T H E F I N I S H L I N E . Preparation for Fifth Form GCSE examinations star ts in the Third Form. Academically, if you are capable of achieving the very highest grades in any subject, you will be able to do it at Downside. We are used to high achievement in academics (perhaps you would like to read Tessera, our academic magazine dedicated to outstanding work across all subjects by our pupils), but the difference is this – achievement is always allied to the other human qualities we value so highly here. Specialist subject teachers provide tuition in subjects including English, Mathematics, the separate Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), History, Geography and Religious Studies. The Third Form also sees the introduction of Classical Greek, German and Spanish in addition to the existing French and

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Latin. Private lessons in Chinese, Italian and Russian are also possible. Timetabled courses in Ar t, Music, Drama, Design Technology and Computing are also par t of the curriculum, giving pupils an oppor tunity to explore and gain valuable knowledge for fur ther study. In the Four th and Fifth Forms, pupils follow a broad and balanced range of GCSE subjects. Most pupils will follow courses leading to the award of ten or 11 GCSEs. There is also the oppor tunity to under take a One Year GCSE for our international pupils. Whilst academically demanding, this provides excellent preparation for our Sixth Form. Our Head of Four th & Fifth Forms star ts the impor tant work of Sixth Form subject choices early to ensure a seamless transition into their final two years at Downside.

PUPILS’ UNDERSTANDING AND USE OF TECHNICAL LANGUAGE ARE EXCELLENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE SCIENCES. ISI Repor t

M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T O U R G C S E C O U R S E S C A N B E V I E W E D O N O U R W E B S I T E D OW N S I D E . C O. U K O R R E Q U E S T E D F RO M T H E A D M I S S I O N S D E PA RT M E N T ( S E E P 3 4 ) . 20 D OW N S I D E P R O S P E C T U S

SIXTH FORM A STEPPING STONE TO THE NEXT STAGE AND A PASSPORT F O R L IF E. T H I S I S PA RT I C U L A R LY S I G N I F I C A N T I N T H E L I G H T O F F U T U R E E M P L OY E R S S E T T I N G E V E R G R E AT E R VA L U E O N T H E ‘ R E A L P E R S O N ’ A N D T H E L I F E S K I L L S T H AT A R E S U C H A N I M P O RTA N T PA RT O F D OW N S I D E . We welcome new pupils into the Sixth Form. It is a vibrant and inclusive community working collaboratively with teachers, and encouraging independent learning and thought. A wide range of subjects are on offer: Mathematics, Fur ther Mathematics, English Literature, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Ar t, History of Ar t, Design Technology, Computing, Economics, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Spanish, French, Classical Greek, German, Latin, Music, Psychology and Theatre Studies. Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs) can be done in Lower Sixth. These are challenging, in-depth pieces of work on a specific topic. As such, they prefigure the sor t of academic rigour that will be expected at university. The independent research, organisation and prioritisation

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of data, plus the detailed teacher feedback, all help enormously to prepare for life in higher education. Of course A level results are of great impor tance, and our pupils perform consistently well with the majority achieving their first choice universities. Fur thermore, we encourage parents to meet our Depar tment Heads to discuss the progress of their children in their chosen subjects. However, when seeking employment in their chosen career, there are qualities beyond academic qualifications that count. These things are obviously to do with the ‘adult’ skills of confident, self-assured social interaction, but also to do with values, with having a moral compass, with honesty, with compassion – all of which are consciously and consistently at the forefront of life at Downside.

WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD OF OUR SIXTH FORM AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT HAS GIVEN US. GET INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING, AS YOUR TIME HERE WILL FLY BY. Sixth Form Pupil

M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T O U R A L E V E L C O U R S E S C A N B E V I E W E D O N O U R W E B S I T E D OW N S I D E . C O. U K O R R E Q U E S T E D F RO M T H E A D M I S S I O N S D E PA RT M E N T ( S E E P 3 4 ) .

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THE WIDER CURRICULUM E V E RY F I R E I S S TA RT E D W I T H A S I N G L E S PA R K . T H AT S I N G L E S PA R K C A N C O M E F RO M A N Y W H E R E – A N D L E A D YO U A N Y W H E R E .

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PUPILS ACHIEVE WELL IN A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES ENABLED PARTICULARLY BY THE FOCUSED STAFFING OF ACTIVITIES AND THE OPENNESS SENIOR LEADERS SHOW TO PUPILS’ VIEWS ON SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES THEY WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP. ISI Repor t

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Taking advantage of one of the numerous and useful wider-curriculum activities provided at Downside School could take your child on a journey that defines the rest of their life, create new friendships and help them to perfect a new skill. Joining the Combined Cadets Force (CCF), for example, or learning to play chess. There is sailing – using our own fleet of boats – or taking par t in our popular choir, who regularly sing in the magnificent Abbey Church. Fishing, stone carving, fine dining, kayaking, Duke of Edinburgh, debating (we have the oldest accredited debating society in the country)... there are over 100 activities to choose from.

Pupils benefit greatly from being able to try their hand at anything, and are encouraged to do so. We provide extended time slots every weekday afternoon for activities, clubs, societies, drama, music and spor t. Weekends are busy and purposeful, where pupils are engaged in a wide variety of activity options: clubs, games, spor ting fixtures, socials, trips out and Sunday Mass. With all this on offer, there is never ‘nothing to do’! Quite the opposite.

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THE SCHOOL HELPS TO DEVELOP THE CHARACTER AND CONFIDENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SPORT AND EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES Current pupil

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A CONVERSATION CAN ONLY OCCUR WHEN YOU LET YOURSELF BE WRONG, WHEN YOU LISTEN MORE THAN YOU SPEAK… THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DEBATE. Current pupil

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PUPILS EMBRACE THE SCHOOL’S DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH RELISH AND ENERGY. THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE WAY PUPILS ARE INTEGRATED IN LESSONS AND IN LIVELY CONVERSATIONS AT MEALTIMES, SUCH AS BETWEEN YOUNGER PUPILS FROM DIFFERING CONTINENTS. ISI Repor t

A TRULY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FRIENDSHIPS AT DOWNSIDE CUT ACROSS NATIONALITIES, AG E G RO U P S A N D I D E O L O G I E S , C R E AT I N G A G L O B A L N E T WO R K O F F R I E N D S F O R L I F E . Our overseas pupils hail from many different corners of the world, all bringing with them their own cultural identities to share with the new friends that they will make here, as well as a willingness to appreciate British culture. There are many reasons why overseas pupils join Downside: for some it’s about reaching their academic potential. Others are looking for new life experiences, to gain independence, or to perfect their English. Your child will certainly broaden their mind during their time here and enjoy living in a vibrant, compassionate community.

spirit. There is a pupil-led International Committee which runs a variety of events including Oktoberfest, Chinese New Year and the Mid-autumn Festival. We offer extensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) suppor t for all pupils whose first language is not English. The ‘full immersion’ experience begins immediately and, in this way, natural language acquisition starts to take place from day one. We also offer a recognised qualification in English as a Second Language (ESL) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Overseas pupils are fully incorporated within the School and live in the same boarding Houses as UK-based pupils, creating a strong sense of community

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LIFE AFTER DOWNSIDE

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PUPILS GROW IN CONFIDENCE TO REACH THE HIGHEST LEVELS BY THE TIME THEY LEAVE SCHOOL, SHOWING EQUALLY HIGH LEVELS OF SELF ESTEEM. THEY DEVELOP STRONGLY AS INDIVIDUALS, ENABLED BY THE VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PASTORAL CARE THEY RECEIVE. ISI Repor t

DOWNSIDE IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PLACE OF EDUC ATION. IT HAS A UNIQUE AND ALMOST UNRIVALLED NETWORK OF FOLLOWERS WHO DEMONSTRATE AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE OF LOYALTY. When pupils leave Downside they become Old Gregorians (OGs). The School has always facilitated their ongoing interaction by organising reunions all over the world, as well keeping them in touch with the School and each other via newsletters, magazines and the School website. In recent years, social media has strengthened our connections with an OG Facebook group, an active professional group on LinkedIn as well as feeds from Twitter and Instagram. The old adage ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ is as true today as it always was and the OG network is second to none as a vibrant and active group. The values learned at Downside of welcome, concern for the individual, building community, listening and humility characterise an Old Gregorian. They are the ones most likely to raise money for charity or do the washing up after a party. Getting on the career ladder or taking that next step in your professional development can be a daunting prospect and we try hard to facilitate professional

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networking for all our members. This provides a much broader network of support and experience than would otherwise be possible alone. Starting at School, we hold a career seminar every year when OGs come back to speak to Sixth Form pupils about various career options, pathways to get to them there, and likely pitfalls on the way. As pupils go on to university and feel clearer about the direction they are likely to take, we can put them in touch with OGs willing to mentor them, provide work experience or just have an informal chat. Once part of the world of work, we arrange professional networking events, usually in London, for OGs. The opportunity to share ideas and build relationships with people who live by the same code of conduct can be very valuable in so many ways in today’s turbulent and frantically busy world. They are also a great opportunity to chat over their old school days and reminisce about their wonderful memories of Downside.

TESTIMONIALS

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Downside has had a huge impact on all fronts creating the person that I am today. On an educational basis, it provided passionate educators who inspired confidence and interest in each and every subject. Socially, Downside taught important lessons about mutual support and tolerance among peers. The focus on sports and extracurricular activities helps build well-rounded individuals with a level of confidence otherwise unfounded.

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I am now early on in my career as a doctor. My communication skills in conversing with colleagues and patients alike have benefited from a head-start at Downside, which on a personal level encouraged me to interact with confidence and respect for others.

I arrived at Downside in the First Form (Year 7), having lived all my previous life in Nigeria. I was worried about leaving the comfort of my own home, moving to a completely new country, and being away from my parents for such long periods of time. Now, however, I am confident in saying Downside is like a second home to me. When asked to describe what Downside means to me, I simply cannot say it enough in words. Apart from being welcomed so quickly into the community, I have gained an immense amount of academic, musical, sporting and most importantly, spiritual enlightenment. Downside provides a strong sense of stability, but it also offers a deeply welcoming community that is unmatched anywhere else. Downside’s impeccable values and ethos reflect greatly on each student and focus on concern for the individual, meaning that everyone’s beliefs are held highly and respected.

There is a distinct sense of pride that Old Gregorians seem to carry with themselves through life, with the knowledge that their experiences at Downside have prepared them to face all the ups and downs of life.

After Sixth Form, I intend to go to university in the UK where I hope to study Law and Spanish.

I S A AC T S E ( R 1 6 ) – O L D G R E G O R I A N

S I X T H F O R M B OA R D E R

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Looking back to when I had just finished my time at Downside, I only remember it with fond memories. Being at boarding school really helped me to become more independent. The ethos at Downside is very centred around living within a big society, with people with different characters from different cultures and this helped prepare me for university life, and life in general for that matter. The teaching at Downside, especially in Sixth Form, is heavily focussed on independent learning, directed by the students but guided by the teachers and this meant university learning was not a huge shock to me. Downside enhanced my confidence and social skills and made my transition to training to be a vet at the Royal Veterinary College in London easier than I’d imagined. I now happily work for Medivet!

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I chose Downside because I could see what a great place to learn it is - lots of activities, good facilities and welcoming people. My House is very homely and fun, and the House staff are very nice. I don’t have a favourite lesson – they are all good. I like the small class sizes because everyone gets the attention they need and also the teachers know all our names – this all helps with our learning. Outside of the classroom I enjoy performing arts, Board Games Club and I am also in the Schola Cantorum. Downside in three words: exciting, fun and friendly.

S E C O N D F O R M DAY P U P I L

TA S I E M O R G A N ( C 1 5 ) – O L D G R E G O R I A N

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ADMISSIONS AT D OW N S I D E , W E U N D E R S TA N D T H AT T H E A D M I S S I O N S J O U R N E Y TO A S E N I O R S C H O O L C A N B E AT F I R S T A DAU N T I N G O N E , W H E T H E R YO U A R E B A S E D I N T H E U K O R L I V I N G OV E R S E A S . It is our pleasure to work with families to ensure that the admissions process is a personal journey, which supports you and your child every step of the way.

visit to the School on a normal working day to meet the Head, talk with current pupils and tour our extensive facilities and stunning grounds.

Admission for boys and girls to Downside is normally at 11+ into the First Form (Year 7), at 13+ into the Third Form (Year 9), or at 16+ into the Lower Sixth Form (Year 12). Places occasionally become available for boys and girls for admission at 12+ into the Second Form (Year 8) or at 14+ into the Four th Form (Year 10).

If you then wish to proceed with the admissions process we will ask you to register your child for entry. Once registered, we will arrange for your son or daughter to complete our entrance assessments and to have an interview. We will also obtain school repor ts and references from your child’s current school. Successful completion of the entry assessments will be followed by an offer of an unconditional or conditional place. We then ask parents to sign a contract with the School and to make a deposit payment, as acceptance of the offer.

Downside School is pleased to offer a range of scholarships to pupils at 11+, 13+ and 16+. We believe a scholarship should be a recognition of your child’s achievements to date and potential, and a bursary should be there as financial suppor t. Prospective parents and children are encouraged to attend one of our Open Mornings, and see the entire School at work. Or, if you would prefer, we can arrange an individual on-site or vir tual

C L A I R E L OW D I R E C TO R O F A D M I S S I O N S & MARKETING

Downside School aims to ensure that boys and girls who join the School are able to be happy, successful and secure within its academic, cultural, pastoral and spiritual environment, whether they are boarders or day pupils.

To find out more about our admissions process or to visit the School, please contact us on +44 (0)1761 235103 or admissions@downside.co.uk

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AT DOWNSIDE, PUPILS ARE ENCOURAGED FROM THE START TO LOOK OUTWARD, BEYOND THEIR OWN CARES. THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE HOUSES WHERE THE OLDER PUPILS SEEM TO RELISH THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS THE YOUNGER ONES. TOGETHER WITH A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY, PUPILS LEAVE WITH A UNIQUE CARING QUALITY THAT ENDURES FAR BEYOND THEIR SCHOOL DAYS. Current Day & Day Plus Parent

I N D I V I D UA L O N - S I T E O R V I RT UA L V I S I T S TA K E P L AC E DA I LY, A N D O U R O N - S I T E O P E N M O R N I N G S TA K E P L AC E I N M A R C H , M AY A N D O C TO B E R . W E A L S O H O L D V I RT UA L O P E N M O R N I N G S T H RO U G H O U T T H E Y E A R .

34 D OW N S I D E P R O S P E C T U S

S T R AT TO N - O N - T H E - F O S S E , R A D S TO C K , B AT H B A 3 4 R J admissions@downside.co.uk www.downside.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1761 235103