Summary

In this episode, Simon Jones explores how Downe House supports pupils during exam season through wellbeing initiatives, focusing on the ever-popular “puppy therapy” sessions. He speaks with pupils Chloe and Lorna, Examinations Officer Mrs Clara Pilkington, and Curtis Henry from Paws in Work, the organisation that provides the puppies. Together, they reflect on how puppy therapy offers a joyful, calming escape from exam stress, and discuss the wider measures Downe House takes to help girls manage pressure and maintain balance during this important part of the academic year.

Takeaways

• Puppy therapy is a highlight of the summer term at Downe House, helping pupils to relax and recharge.

• Labradoodle puppies from Paws in Work visit the school, with small groups of pupils attending 25-minute sessions.

• Pupils report feeling noticeably calmer and more positive following the sessions.

• Attendance is optional, with other wellbeing activities such as bedtime yoga and pamper boxes also available.

• Puppies help create a sense of joy and calm, even among those less confident around animals.

• The school provides consistent, familiar routines around examinations to reduce anxiety.

• Staff offer pastoral support and encourage outdoor time and peer interaction to promote wellbeing.

• Puppy therapy is not just enjoyable – it forms a considered part of the school’s strategy to support mental health and academic success.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

Welcome to the Downe House podcast where you can learn More about Downe House School.

In this episode, we're discussing the importance of giving children a slower childhood and not growing up too fast. In this episode, we are privileged to be joined by Mr Andrew De Silva, Head of the Oratory Prep School, one of our feeder schools, together with Serena in Year 8 who's looking forward to joining Downe in September along with Mrs Ellie Llewellyn, our Director of Pupil Wellbeing, and pupil Vanda who's now at Downe but was once at the OPS.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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, Headmistress, Miss Kate Eaves, Assistant Head of Lower School, Mrs Jenny Grant Head of History and Politics and Mrs Charlotte Sabnis, Head of Modern Foreign Languages.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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 Flora, and Mrs Lamont, who led the trip.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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 pupils Serena and Isabella in the Upper Sixth.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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 Lower 4th or Year 8.

`Links

GoodreadsThe Midnight Library​

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

 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 week is Mr. Jonny Timms, Headmaster of Walhampton Prep School in the New Forest, Mr. Matt Godfrey, Deputy Head at Downe House, Walhampton pupil Ayley in Year Eight, and two Downe House pupils in the Upper Fourth or Year Nine.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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 values and principles. It's our job then to build on them further.

Joining us on the podcast this week is Mr. Magoo Giles, Founder and Principal of Knightsbridge School. Two Knightsbridge alumni, now well into their time at Downe House, Freya and Alice, and Ruth Kingston, Housemistress of AGS.

They talk to our host, Simon Jones, and their springboard for conversation is resilience.

Links

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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 values and principles.

It's our job then to build on them further. To start us off, we're privileged to be joined by Mr. Rupert Hawkins, Head of Thomas's Battersea, two Downe House pupils, Alice and Serena, who are Battersea alumni, and Victoria Ryan, Housemistress of Willis. They talk to our host, Simon Jones, and their springboard for conversation is kindness.

Downe House online

Website: www.downehouse.net 

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 Annabel, representing all three lower school houses.

They joined Simon to talk about their first term boarding.

Downe House online

 Website: www.downehouse.net