Our blog contains thought leadership pieces, messages from the head and general school news
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Sleep and Stress - Solutions and Strategies
31st October 2019At the Independent Schools Show this November, Cognita are exhibiting and hosting a series of bite-sized talks, giving parents direct access to educators, commentators and experts. An area up for discussion will be the importance of sleep for young people hosted by Beth Kerr, Cognita’s Global Director of Wellbeing and Alicia Drummond, founder of Teen Tips and a BACP accredited counsellor. ‘The best bridge between
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How do we prepare children for a digital world when technology changes so fast?
21st October 2019It seems like an almost impossible task. How do we educate children for a fast-paced digital future when the technology is constantly evolving, and the rate of change is increasing? According to a survey from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 8¼ is age of the tipping point for digital knowledge. Students born from 2010, known as the Alpha Generation, are now reaching the
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The Benefits of Going to School in Surrey
22nd February 2019At Downsend School we understand every stage of your child’s education, and how each phase plays a critical role in their development. Our aim is for every child to leave Downsend School as a kind, confident, happy, polite citizen, prepared both socially and academically to embrace the opportunities around them [...]
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When should you apply for a primary school place?
16th January 2019When it comes to applying for a primary school place, it might seem complicated and confusing - a step into the unknown. That’s why at Downsend School, we commit to making sure that our admissions process is as simple as possible [...]
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Head of Upper School - End of Term
14th December 2018As we approach the end of term I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our Upper School pupils and staff for all the hard work they have put in this term in all areas of their school life.
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Head of Lower School - Feeling Festive
7th December 2018The Lower School has been swathed in tinsel and bathed in light this week as our Christmas performances got well underway.
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Headmaster - Christmas Is Coming
30th November 2018As we conclude the month of November, all of us can be forgiven for beginning to get into the festive spirit. Indeed, it is hard to think about anything else given the number of Christmas jumpers and accessories being worn as part Christmas mufti today.
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Head of Lower School - Breadth Of Learning
23rd November 2018It’s been a hugely busy week in the Lower School this week, from the wonderful Kenn and Ian from Openbox visiting to support learning in Year 2 about The Great Fire of London, to the whole Lower School watching some of our Year 7 and 8 children in their wonderful performance of ‘The Addams Family’.
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Head of Upper School - Working Hard
16th November 2018The Upper School have enjoyed a busy and productive period since half-term, and I wanted to say how well the Year 6 pupils have done during their mock exams, and in the practice interviews with Senior Staff.
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Epsom Pre-Prep Head - Remembrance
9th November 2018Pre-Prep Epsom Year 1 were invited to join other Epsom and Ewell schools at the opening of the Garden of Remembrance at Bourne Hall on Monday 5th November.
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Headmaster - Half Term is Here
19th October 2018As if in the blink of an eye, we have come to the end of another busy but productive half-term. There have been so many highlights for me, as typified in Assembly this morning.
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Head of Sport - Brilliant Basics at Downsend
8th October 2018Over the last four years there has been a dramatic improvement at the school on the sports pitches and this is all down to a change to the provision of sport and a team of staff who embraced it whole heartedly [...]
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Deputy Head - Stopping Bullying
21st September 2018As a school we have focussed on what bullying is, emphasising to the children that bullying is any deliberate, repeated, unkind behaviour.
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Headmaster - Busy School
14th September 2018The first full week of term has been both eventful and purposeful. Read on to find out what the school has been up to!
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Headmaster - Welcome to the Autumn Term
7th September 2018I would like to extend a warm welcome back to Downsend after the glorious summer break. It is lovely to see the school buzzing with excitement and I know that our new families and staff have been made to feel extremely welcome throughout these first few days of the new academic year.
