Post on 13-Mar-2018
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Global Schools’ Exchange Programme
DOWNE HOUSE
Global Initiatives
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We recognise the importance of educating our girls for life in a global community, where international and intercultural understanding are key skills. Ms Marya Akhtar, Director of Higher Education & Global Initiatives
Preface 2
The Global Schools’ Network 3
ASIA
Mayo Girls’ School, India 4
Welham School, India 6
EUROPE Adolf-Schmitthenner Gymnasium, Germany 8
Campus Manilla Gymnasium, Sweden 10
NORTH AMERICA
Stoneleigh-Burnham School, USA 12
Westover School, USA 14
AUSTRALASIA
Methodist Ladies’ College, Australia 16
St. Hilda’s School, Australia 18
Waikato Diocesan Girls’ School, New Zealand 20
AFRICA
Beaulieu College, South Africa 22
Durban Girls’ College, South Africa 24
Herschel School, South Africa 26
Application Process 28
Contact Details 27
CONTENTSWe recognise the importance of educating our girls for life in a global community, where international and intercultural understanding are key skills. Ms Marya Akhtar, Director of Higher Education & Global Initiatives
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DOWNE HOUSE RECOGNISES THAT GLOBAL AWARENESS AND EXPERIENCE MATTER MORE IN THE 21ST CENTURY THAN EVER BEFORE AT ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION.
I am delighted to invite our Fifth Form students to explore the opportunity to participate in our
new initiative – Downe House Global Schools’ Exchange Programme. The aim is to give our girls
a competitive advantage and the capacity for success in a highly globalised and changing world.
This exciting programme will afford our girls the chance to study abroad, for example in South
Africa, New Zealand, Germany, India, United States of America, Sweden and Australia, as well
as the rewarding experience of hosting students from these countries. The programme aims to
strengthen the international focus of Downe House’s activities and to be the undisputed leader
in this area. It will provide exceptional opportunities for students to participate in the global
community within the context of school and family life.
There will be many benefits for those participating in these exchanges. Students will find
themselves becoming more comfortable in ‘foreign’ environments. Prospective universities look
favourably upon experiences gained whilst living overseas and knowledge obtained of another
language and culture. The need to communicate effectively and relate to others is key for the
future and, over time, would develop in our girls an awareness of group dynamics and personal
sensitivity towards others.
Finally, successful programme completion will represent an excellent measure of personal
flexibility, encompassing an ability to reach compromise, focus and succeed through challenging
times.
This Global Initiative offers a new and rewarding experience for our girls to explore different
communities and cultural differences. They will be challenged to embrace these differences and
invited to share new perspectives with the greater Downe community upon return so that the
wider community benefits from these experiences.
This booklet outlines the schools that we are linking with, for student exchange purposes, along
with the contact details of our Global Initiatives team. Please do not hesitate to get in touch should
you require further details.
Yours sincerely,
Marya Akhtar Director of Higher Education & Global Initiatives
PREFACE
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A global network of partner schools
EUROPE Adolf-Schmitthenner Gymnasium, Germany
Campus Manilla Gymnasium, Sweden
AUSTRALASIAMethodist Ladies’
College, Australia
St. Hilda’s School, Australia
Waikato Diocesan School for
Girls, New Zealand
ASIAMayo Girls’ School, India
Welham School, India
NORTH AMERICAStoneleigh-Burnham School, USA
Westover School, USA
AFRICABeaulieu College, South Africa
Durban Girls’ College, South Africa
Herschel School, South Africa
A new perspective for Downe House girls
ASIA
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Mayo College Girls’ School, India
MAYO COLLEGE GIRLS’ SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE FINEST BOARDING SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, AT WHICH EVERY CHILD IS CONSIDERED A FOUNTAINHEAD OF POTENTIAL, WHICH THE SCHOOL RECOGNISES AND RESPECTS.
Staff consider it their responsibility to nurture the creative spirit inherent in every child and a variety of
facilities and opportunities are provided so that pupils may hone their skills and maximise their potential.
Their ability to produce work of a superlative nature never ceases to amaze. For the last two years,
the School has maintained its high standards in everything from academics to sports to co-curricular
activities. MCGS excelled in the ICSE and ISC Board Examinations in 2014. In 2015 the School announced
its official school song, ‘Let There Be Light’, written about the ideals and principles the School stands
for. The students consistently strive to bring out the best in themselves and in the School.
Mayo College Girls’ School is the embodiment of excellence, maintaining the balance between
traditional and modern education, constantly moving forward in the quest for knowledge. Under Ms
Khandke’s dynamic leadership, the School continues to grow and progress in every aspect.
Boarding or day school Full boarding
Number of students 770 (Year 4 to Year 12)
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Summer
Exchange duration 4 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Boarding
Location Urban
School address Mayo College Girls’ School, Mayo Link Road, Ajmer,
Rajasthan, India
School contact +91 145 2661286 or +91 145 5130286
School website www.mcgs.ac.in
ASIA
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Welham Girls’ School, India
WELHAM GIRLS’ SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1957. IT IS A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, BASED ON THE BRITISH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL MODEL, COMBINED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON INDIAN VALUES AND RESPECT FOR THE MULTICULTURAL ETHOS OF EXCELLENCE, AND FOSTERS ETHICAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL AWARENESS IN YOUNG WOMEN.
The school has been ranked as the top girls’ residential school by Education World Magazine (2012 –
15). The school’s academic results are among the best in the country, while in games and co-curricular
activities the students perform well at inter-school level. The school is committed to providing various
enrichment programmes for students and teachers. Welham Girls’ has one of the highest completion
rates of the International Award for Young People (known in the UK as DEAS). Three teachers have
been part of the Fulbright Programme. The school has been awarded the ISA – British Council School
Award for 2015-18, that recognises and celebrates exemplary practices of internationalism in schools.
The motto of the school in Sanskrit is ‘the fruit of education is to bring peace to the unhappy’, in
keeping with which the school has an active community service programme.
The students gain admission to the best colleges and universities in India and abroad, and many alumni
have made their mark in fields as diverse as government service, social service, business and industry,
medicine, scientific research, media and law.
Boarding or day school Full boarding
Number of students 550 students
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit October
Exchange duration 2 weeks
Student accommodation Boarding
Location Urban
School address 19 Municipal Road, Uttarakhand, 248001 India
School contact +91 135 265 7223
School website www.welhamgirls.com
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EUROPE
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ADOLF-SCHMITTHENNER GYMNASIUM (ASG), NECKARBISCHOFSHEIM, IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL SITUATED APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM HEIDELBERG. ASG CURRENTLY HOLDS 75 TEACHERS TEACHING 820 STUDENTS AGED 11 – 18. IT CURRENTLY MAINTAINS A STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WITH A PARTNER SCHOOL IN FRANCE AND ONE IN ITALY.
For some years ASG has held the title of “Base School for Biodiversity and Evolution”, which
means that it has established and is maintaining close links with partners like the University of
Heidelberg, Heidelberg Zoo and the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe in order to develop
and try out teaching concepts, mostly in Biology.
In addition to the general state curriculum that ASG follows, there are a lot of extra-curricular
activities to choose from like big band, choir, theatre, orchestra, photography, robotics, technical
engineering, ball games, table-tennis, boxing and zoology.
Adolf-Schmitthenner Gymnasium, Germany
Boarding or day school Day school
Number of students 820 students from Years 5 – 12/13
Co-educational or single sex Co-educational
Best time to visit Summer
Exchange duration 1 – 2 weeks
Student accommodation Host family
Location Urban
School address Obere Turmstraße 34, 74924 Neckarbischofsheim, Germany
School contact +49 7263 91 81 0
School website www.asgnet.de
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EUROPE
Campus Manilla Gymnasium, Sweden
FOUNDED IN 2013, CAMPUS MANILLA IS A DAY SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF STOCKHOLM ON THE ISLAND OF DJURGÅRDEN, JUST BY THE INLET TO STOCKHOLM BY BOAT. CAMPUS MANILLA IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL THAT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS: ELEMENTARY (CHILDREN AGED 6 – 12), MIDDLE (CHILDREN AGED 12 – 15), AND THE GYMNASIUM (TEENAGERS AGED 15 – 19). CAMPUS MANILLA STRIVES TO ACHIEVE HIGH ACADEMIC RESULTS WHILST ALSO PREPARING THE STUDENTS FOR FUTURE STUDIES.
After only a few years of establishment, Campus Manilla is seen as one of the best and most attractive
schools in Stockholm. Strong academic values and inspiring teachers are at the core of Campus
Manilla. The curriculum for the upper secondary school varies depending on what programme the
student chooses. The gymnasium at Campus Manilla specialises in science, economics and social
studies.
Campus Manilla has the latest in technology, which plays an important role in the education. Traditional
methods of teaching are combined with online and web-based exercises including environmental
project work.
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Boarding or day school Day school
Number of students 170 at the gymnasium (ages 15 – 19)
Co-educational or single sex Co-educational
Best time to visit Easter
Exchange duration 1 week – 10 days
Student accommodation Host family
Location Urban
School address Campus Manilla, Manillavägen 32, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
School contact +46 8662 77 00
School website www.campusmanilla.se
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NORTH AMERICA
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Stoneleigh- Burnham School, USA
STONELEIGH- BURNHAM SCHOOL, FOUNDED IN 1869, IS A GIRLS’ BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL NESTLED IN THE BEAUTIFUL PIONEER VALLEY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. EDUCATING GIRLS IN GRADES 7 – 12 AND POST GRADUATES ON ITS 100 -ACRE CAMPUS. THE SCHOOL INSPIRES ITS STUDENTS TO VALUE INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY.
Stoneleigh -Burnham is the only girls’ school in New England to offer the International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Girls develop best when they are in a community that knows them and where they feel connected.
With its history of fostering the development of strong female identities, its safe and inclusive
multi cultural environment, and a dedication to understanding how girls best learn and grow,
Stoneleigh -Burnham School guides emerging women to become active agents of their own
destiny.
Boarding or day school Boarding and day
Number of students 160 students in Grades 7 – 12
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Easter
Exchange duration 4 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Boarding
Location Rural
School address 574 Bernardston Road, Greenfield, Massachusetts 01301, USA
School contact +1 413 774 2711
School website www.sbschool.org
NORTH AMERICA
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Westover School, USA
THE MISSION OF WESTOVER SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH INSPIRES THE INTELLECTUAL, ARTIST, ATHLETE AND PHILOSOPHER IN EACH STUDENT. WESTOVER CHALLENGES YOUNG WOMEN TO THINK INDEPENDENTLY, TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY, AND TO GROW INTELLECTUALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. WESTOVER ENCOURAGES INTEGRITY, RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY IN EVERY STUDENT.
Westover is a selective boarding school of 204 girls, Grades 9 – 12, located in a classic New England town
near New York City. We prepare our students to meet the challenges of the world and the world’s best
colleges.
Westover provides a cooperative, community environment where girls have freedom to grow, to be truly
themselves and to keep their priorities focused on what they think, rather than what they wear. They
enjoy speaking up rather than dumbing down. They feel free to make mistakes and to try new things
rather than to stick to sure things. Westover girls feel comfortable leading rather than following.
This special freedom enables young women to experience an exceptionally enriching evolution of self,
and to develop greater self-actualisation, self-motivation, self-reliance, and self-confidence without the
usual self-consciousness.
Boarding or day school Boarding
Number of students 204 students in Grades 9 – 12
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Easter
Exchange duration 2 – 3 weeks
Student accommodation Boarding or potentially host family
Location Rural (only two hours from Boston and New York City)
School address 1237 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, Connecticut, USA
School contact +1 203 758 2423
School website www.westoverschool.org
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AUSTRALASIA
Methodist Ladies’ College, Australia
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MLC MELBOURNE IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL AND INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS. ESTABLISHED IN 1882, MLC IS INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FOR ITS EXTENSIVE CURRICULUM CHOICE, LEARNING EXPERIENCES, OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS, AND IS THE LEADER IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AND SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION AT REMOTE SITES LIKE MARSHMEAD.
The college is committed to providing an education within a challenging, enriching and supportive
learning environment, developing confident and articulate young women who have the skills,
knowledge and values needed to shape their future and contribute meaningfully to the world. MLC
has long been recognised for educational innovations. It is a technology rich environment that
implements a broad range of tools to enhance each and every student’s learning.
MLC continues to innovate and be a leader in education outdoor programmes and sustainable
education at MLC’s Remote Sites, MLC Banksia and MLC Marshmead.
The students lead busy, fulfilling lives and the college recognises the support they need in order to
make the most of everything on offer. Importantly it offers a range of Wellbeing Programmes across
all age groups in order to ensure that students are well grounded and to ensure they know where to
turn for advice and support to help them develop into responsible and compassionate adult citizens,
ready to take their place in the world.
Boarding or day school Day school with boarding facility
Number of students 1645 students from Years 7 – 12
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Summer
Exchange duration 4 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Host family
Location Urban
School address 207 Barkers Road, Kew Vic 3101, Melbourne, Australia
School contact +61 3 9274 6333
School website www.mlc.vic.edu.au
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AUSTRALASIA
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St Hilda’s School, Australia
ST HILDA’S SCHOOL ASPIRES TO BE A WORLD LEADER IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. TO DO THIS, IT HAS CREATED A CULTURE WHERE STUDENTS AND STAFF CAN DREAM AND ACHIEVE, WITHOUT LIMITS.
St Hilda’s girls are passionate about learning and contributing to their school, as well as to local
and global communities. The school offers a range of exciting programmes from Pre-Preparatory
to Year 12 and its graduates are confident, energetic young women who participate positively
in life. At every stage, the girls dare to dream of bright and challenging futures in a way that
is affirming of their education, social interactions and regard for an interdependent world
community.
St Hilda’s School staff are passionate about teaching girls and create an atmosphere in the
school where authentic enquiry, experimentation, problem solving and character development
are encouraged and supported. Staff provide new and innovative opportunities for leadership,
negotiation and collaboration, as well as challenging the spirit and intellect of the girls.
Boarding or day school Day and boarding
Number of students 750 in Years 7 – 12
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Summer
Exchange duration 5 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Boarding or host family
Location Urban
School address 52 High St, Southport 4215, Queensland, Australia
School contact +61 7 5532 4922
School website www.sthildas.qld.edu.au
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AUSTRALASIA
Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, New ZealandFOUNDED IN 1909, WAIKATO DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IS A STATE-INTEGRATED ANGLICAN SCHOOL WITH A ROLL OF AROUND 670 STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL HAS WELL-ESTABLISHED TRADITIONS OF EXCELLENCE AND IS WIDELY RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN NEW ZEALAND, WITH AN ENVIABLE RECORD OF ACADEMIC, SPORTING AND CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS.
Waikato Diocesan makes the difference by developing young women who make a worthwhile
contribution to our society, in their careers and their families. The students are guided to develop deeply
held spiritual values as well as a broad range of knowledge, skills and interests.
Waikato Diocesan School values international education opportunities and encourages its students to
embrace the chance to experience living and learning in different countries. By building relationships
between ‘sister’ schools across the world, Waikato Diocesan School can ensure that its students are
able to build on the values and academic rigour of their own school, while also enjoying many new
experiences. Hosting exchange students at the School adds an international dimension to classes, sports
and cultural teams, peer groups and families. Life-long friends are made, and a greater sense of cultural
understanding and appreciation is developed.
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Boarding or day school Day and boarding
Number of students 670 students Years 9 – 13
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Easter
Exchange duration 4 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Host family or boarding with weekends spent with host family
Location Urban
School address Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, 660 River Road, Hamilton 3210,
New Zealand
School contact +64 7 855 2038
School website www.waikatodiocesan.school.nz
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AFRICA
Beaulieu College, South Africa
BEAULIEU COLLEGE’S PURPOSE IS TO HELP ITS PUPILS EXPLORE AND FULFIL THEIR TALENTS IN A CARING, INNOVATIVE AND STIMULATING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. THE COLLEGE BELIEVES STRONGLY IN DEVELOPING THE WHOLE CHILD WITHIN A HOLISTIC EDUCATION, INCORPORATING BOTH ACADEMIC AND EXTRA-MURAL ACTIVITIES.
If you seek to send your daughter to a school that consistently produces excellent
academic, sporting and cultural performances, a school that is proud of its well-resourced
classrooms and other facilities, its good public image and an alumni register that includes
up-and-coming entrepreneurs, then Beaulieu College is as good as it gets.
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Boarding or day school Day school
Number of students 400 pupils in Grades 8 – 12
Co-educational or single sex Co-educational
Best time to visit Easter
Exchange duration 4 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Host family
Location Rural
School address 107 Maple Road, Kyalami 1684, Johannesburg, South Africa
School contact +27 11 468 2114
School website www.beaulieucollege.org
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AFRICA
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Durban Girls’ College, South Africa
FOUNDED IN 1877, DURBAN GIRLS’ COLLEGE IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, IS A LEADING INDEPENDENT, CHRISTIAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS FROM GRADE 00 TO GRADE 12 WITH WEEKLY BOARDING FACILITIES FROM GRADE 7.
A successful combination of tradition and innovation bears fruit in the outstanding school-
leaving examination results and is evident in the lives of the many successful women all
over the world who have been educated at Durban Girls’ College. The School embraces
positive change, reform and the best of new trends in education policy, curriculum
development and teaching methods. This proactive and creative management ethos also
permeates facets of school life such as staffing and admissions policies.
The School’s Exchange Programme is about life experiences and this fantastic opportunity
is offered to promote global awareness on various levels, including education, cultural
issues, and social and community engagement. The exchange programme has recently
expanded to include New Zealand and Singapore, in addition to the already popular
partner schools in Canada, Australia, the United States of America, Argentina and the
United Kingdom.
Boarding or day school Full and weekly boarding, and day
Number of students 465 (Grades 7 – 12)
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Summer
Exchange duration 4 – 6 weeks
Student accommodation Boarding
Location City suburb
School address 586 Musgrave Road, Durban 4001, South Africa
School contact +27 31 268 7200
School website www.dgc.co.za
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AFRICA
Herschel Girls’ School, South Africa
HERSCHEL, FOUNDED IN 1922, IS AN INDEPENDENT ANGLICAN SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES AN INCOMPARABLE LEARNING CONTINUUM FOR GIRLS FROM PRE-NURSERY TO GRADE 12 AND CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS FROM VARIED CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.
At Herschel, at every level, expectations are high, opportunities abound, role models are plentiful, values
are fundamental and accomplishment is valued as staff work in partnership with parents to ensure a
quality and supportive learning experience. The school believes that every girl deserves the opportunity
to grow, to demonstrate her talents and discoveries, and be acknowledged for who she is and what she
brings to her learning experience.
Students are not sheltered from real life but are daily challenged to expand their intellectual, spiritual,
social and emotional boundaries and skills in a safe and nurturing all-girls environment that encourages
them to be themselves, be curious and be risk-takers. The school’s character and learning environment
are built by its people and there is a close-knit atmosphere with ongoing interaction between the girls,
staff, parents, the local community and the alumni. It works tirelessly to create a learning environment
in which every girl and staff member has the opportunity to thrive and in which they are encouraged to
cultivate a passion for life and stay true to the school’s credo of “learning to make a difference“.
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Boarding or day school Day school
Number of students 500 in senior school
Co-educational or single sex Single sex – all girls
Best time to visit Summer
Exchange duration 4 – 12 weeks
Student accommodation Host family
Location Urban
School address 21 Herschel Road, Claremont 7700, Cape Town, South Africa
School contact +27 21 670 7500
School website www.herschel.org.za
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Application ProcessA Global Schools’ Exchange Programme application pack is available from
the Higher Education and Global Initiatives Department. This includes all the
information you and your daughter require about our outgoing exchanges. The
pack is also available in electronic format.
What happens now?Your daughter will need to complete the ‘Application Form’ in as much detail as
possible, confirming her preferred choices of exchange destination. This will need
to be completed and returned to the Global Initiatives team as we will endeavour
to start the application process at least nine months in advance.
Once all applications have been received, the Global Initiatives team will interview
the shortlisted candidates.
Successful candidates will be informed shortly after the interviews and a suitable
exchange placement will be offered and facilitated.
The world is a lot more exciting when it is full of diverse people who have their own ideas.
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Our committed staff
For more information please contact:
Ms Marya Akhtar
Director of Higher Education and Global Initiatives
akhtarm@downehouse.net 01635 204696
Mrs Anthea Nash
Global Initiatives Ambassador
nasha@downehouse.net 01635 204651
Mrs Helen Knight
Higher Education and Global Initiatives Coordinator
knighth@downehouse.net 01635 204726
Miss Laura Myers
Global Student Exchange Coordinator
myersl@downehouse.net 01635 204634
All staff at Downe House are committed to broadening our girls’
horizons and offering them every opportunity to prepare for
life and work in the wider world. This exchange programme will
enable girls to experience a variety of cultures earlier than they
might otherwise, helping them become global citizens.
Downe House, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ
t: 01635 200286e: hegioffice@downehouse.net
www.downehouse.net