CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

LIFE AFTER DOWNSIDE

DOWNSIDE IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PLACE OF EDUCATION. 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 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. “ 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 Report

TESTIMONIALS

“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.

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.

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.

ISAAC TSE (R16) – OLD GREGORIAN

“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!

TASIE MORGAN (C15) – OLD GREGORIAN

“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.

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

SIXTH FORM BOARDER

“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.

SECOND FORM DAY PUPIL