Downe House School
Downe House School is an independent girls' boarding and day school (ages 11-18) founded in 1907, operating a 110-acre Berkshire campus, wholly-owned international branches in Muscat and Riyadh, and a three-tier boarding model serving UK and international families with termly subscription fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1907
- HeadquartersThatcham, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Downe House School does
Downe House School is an independent girls' boarding and day school founded in 1907 at Down House (the former home of Charles Darwin) in Kent and relocated in 1922 to its current 110-acre woodland campus in Cold Ash, Berkshire. The school operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee (Company No 1015059), governed by a volunteer Board of Governors, and employs approximately 423 staff across teaching, pastoral, operational, and estates roles under long-tenured Headmistress Mrs Emma McKendrick (25+ years in post).
The school serves girls aged 11-18 across three academic sections (Lower School, Upper School, Sixth Form) with three enrolment modes: Full Boarding (£21,076/term, 7 nights/week), Flexi Boarding (£17,625/term, up to 4 nights/week), and Day Pupils (£11,621/term, capped at ~70 places). Technology infrastructure centres on the Digital Downe House remote learning platform introduced during COVID-19 and the school's Microsoft Showcase School designation. The enrichment portfolio includes academic, music, sports, creative arts, and performing arts scholarships, plus the World Ready Programme (with Hult Ashridge Mini MBA), Global Schools' Exchange with 16 partner schools across five continents, and reciprocal social partnerships with Eton, Harrow, Winchester, and Radley College.
Revenue is generated predominantly through termly subscription-style tuition fees, supplemented by non-refundable registration fees (£240-£395), refundable acceptance deposits (£2,000-£10,000), uniform sales via Stevensons, and Vectare-operated transport services. Distribution is direct via a dedicated Registrar, Director of Admissions, and international admissions function handling Child Student Visa sponsorship. International expansion has been executed through wholly-owned subsidiary campuses in Muscat (opened 2021, the first girls-only school founded by an authentic British girls' school) and Riyadh, plus a wholly-owned Sauveterre programme in France. The school was recognised on Fortune's 2023 World's Leading Boarding Schools list and met all required standards in its November 2024 ISI inspection.
Downe House School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Downe House School
- Legal name
- Downe House School
- Website
- https://downehouse.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1907
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Downe House School is an independent girls' boarding and day school (ages 11-18) founded in 1907, operating a 110-acre Berkshire campus, wholly-owned international branches in Muscat and Riyadh, and a three-tier boarding model serving UK and international families with termly subscription fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Downe House School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thatcham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Downe House School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Full Boarding Fees: Termly fees covering tuition, pastoral care, accommodation, all meals, laundry, insurance, materials, academic and enrichment trips, sports coaching, and transport to fixtures. Full boarding for 7 nights per week.
- Flexi Boarding Fees: Termly fees covering same as full boarding but for 4 nights per week. Additional nights charged extra.
- Day Fees: Termly fees covering tuition and access to all activities without accommodation or laundry
- Uniform Sales: School uniform and PE kit sold through Stevensons uniform shop
- Transport Services: Bus service for local routes and London routes, operated in partnership with Vectare
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Termly | Full Boarding - 7 nights per week accommodation |
| Subscription | Termly | Flexi Boarding - up to 4 nights per week |
| Subscription | Termly | Day Pupils - no overnight accommodation |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Overnight Accommodation |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Registration Fee - Day |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Registration Fee - Boarding/Flexi |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Acceptance Deposit - UK Full/Flexi Boarding |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Acceptance Deposit - Overseas/International |
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time | Acceptance Deposit - UK Day Pupils |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Downe House School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Downe House School is an independent girls' boarding and day school for students aged 11-18, delivering academic education (GCSEs and A-Levels) alongside full residential boarding, pastoral care, and a wide co-curricular programme. It offers three flexible attendance pathways (Full Boarding, Flexi Boarding, and Day Pupils), multiple scholarship categories, a Global Schools' Exchange Programme, and international campuses in Muscat and Riyadh. The school operates on a 110-acre woodland estate in Berkshire, UK, and is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Product overview
Downe House School is a traditional girls' boarding and day school offering a modern, flexible approach to girls' education for students aged 11-18. The school provides three academic pathways (Lower School, Upper School, and Sixth Form) with flexible boarding options including Full Boarding, Flexi Boarding, and Day Pupil arrangements. The portfolio includes academic programmes, global exchange initiatives (16 partner schools across five continents), scholarship programmes (Academic, Music, Sports, Creative Arts, Performing Arts), enrichment programmes (World Ready Programme, Elective Programme, Exploring Europe), and international campuses in Muscat and Riyadh. Facilities include the Murray Centre (library, auditorium, collaborative learning), Farr Centre (sports), Performing Arts Centre (500-seat theatre), and the Palmer Centre (health). The school also hosts an annual Academic Conference and Summer School programme.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full Boarding
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of pupils successful in public examinations and well prepared for life after school
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Downe House School
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Downe House School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature2 records
Downe House School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Royal National Children's SpringBoard FoundationcorePartnership with RNCSF (social mobility charity) to bring transformational opportunities to young people who will benefit most. Works to provide access to leading schools for deserving students.
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)minorProfessional association for heads of independent schools
- BSA (Boarding Schools' Association)minorNational association supporting and representing boarding schools
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)minorAssociation representing girls' schools in the UK
- VectareminorSpecialist school transport software company operating the bus service for local routes and London routes. Provides online booking platform for transport services.
- Radley CollegecoreStrategic partnership sharing academic and social opportunities. Enables girls and boys to share knowledge and develop healthy relationships. Includes social events, debates, and activities.
- Winchester CollegecoreSocial events including Caledonian Society with formal dinners and reels, socials and activities
- Eton CollegecoreSocial events and activities for Sixth Form students
- Harrow SchoolcoreHarrow Partnership for social events and activities
- 16 International Partner SchoolscoreGlobal Student Exchange Programme across five continents. Lower School includes up to a term spent in France by all Lower Fourth girls. Exchange opportunities include schools in USA, Brazil, and other countries.
- Burdwood Health CentreminorPartnership with local GP surgery in Thatcham providing NHS GP care to pupils with doctors visiting campus four mornings per week
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Downe House School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wycombe Abbey: Wycombe Abbey is a leading UK independent girls' boarding school in Buckinghamshire offering GCSE, A-Level and IB programmes. It is the closest peer to Downe House on curriculum, fee point, and all-girls boarding model, and a member of the same GSA/HMC peer set.
- Cheltenham Ladies' College: Cheltenham Ladies' College is one of the UK's most established girls' independent boarding schools, offering day and boarding places to girls aged 11-18. Directly comparable to Downe House on age range, fee tier, and academic prestige.
- St Mary's School, Ascot: St Mary's Ascot is a Catholic girls' boarding school in Berkshire for ages 11-18. Competes head-to-head with Downe House for southern UK boarding families and shares similar boarding, scholarship and bursary offerings.
- Roedean School: Roedean is a Brighton-based independent girls' boarding school for ages 11-18, with growing international enrolment. Directly comparable model and competing for the same UK and international girls' boarding segment as Downe House.
- Benenden School: Benenden is a Kent-based independent girls' boarding school for ages 11-18, with strong international student intake. Closely comparable to Downe House on boarding model, fee tier and Quaker-heritage ethos.
- St Swithun's School, Winchester: St Swithun's is a Hampshire girls' boarding school for ages 11-18. Operates within the same GSA peer set with overlapping academic, boarding and bursary structures, and competes for southern UK families.
- Badminton School: Badminton School is a Bristol-based independent girls' day and boarding school for ages 4-18. Comparable on single-sex premium positioning, scholarship programme breadth, and Bristol/London corridor catchment competition.
- Tudor Hall School: Tudor Hall is an Oxfordshire-based girls' boarding school for ages 11-18. Comparable on Berkshire/Oxfordshire catchment geography, single-sex boarding model, and overlapping house and pastoral structures.
Broad incumbents
- Eton College: Eton College is the UK's pre-eminent boys' boarding school and a named Downe House strategic partner (shared Sixth Form social events). Indirectly comparable as elite boarding institution, though it operates in the boys' segment and is structurally larger.
- Harrow School: Harrow is a leading UK boys' boarding school and direct Downe House 'Harrow Partnership' collaborator. Indirect peer only - comparable on boarding scale and premium positioning but distinct single-gender segment and significantly larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Downe House School social profiles
Digital presenceDowne House School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Downe House School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Downe House School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Downe House School subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Downe House School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Downe House School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Downe House School
What does Downe House School do?
Downe House School is an independent girls' boarding and day school for students aged 11-18, delivering academic education (GCSEs and A-Levels) alongside full residential boarding, pastoral care, and a wide co-curricular programme. It offers three flexible attendance pathways (Full Boarding, Flexi Boarding, and Day Pupils), multiple scholarship categories, a Global Schools' Exchange Programme, and international campuses in Muscat and Riyadh. The school operates on a 110-acre woodland estate in Berkshire, UK, and is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Is Downe House School a public or private company?
Downe House School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Downe House School founded?
Downe House School was founded in 1907. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Downe House School based?
Downe House School is headquartered in Thatcham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Downe House School make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Full Boarding Fees are the primary driver. The others are flexi Boarding Fees, day Fees, uniform Sales and transport Services.
Who are Downe House School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wycombe Abbey, Cheltenham Ladies' College, St Mary's School, Ascot, Roedean School, Benenden School, St Swithun's School, Winchester, Badminton School and Tudor Hall School. Broad incumbents are Eton College and Harrow School.
Does Downe House School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Downe House School.