DOWNE HOUSE · PDF fileDOWNE HOUSE RECOGNISES THAT GLOBAL ... a competitive advantage and the capacity for success in a highly ... Student accommodation Boarding or potentially

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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


Best time to visit October

Exchange duration 2 weeks


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



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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Number of students 170 at the gymnasium (ages 15 – 19)


Best time to visit Easter

Exchange duration 1 week – 10 days


Location Urban

School address Campus Manilla, Manillavägen 32, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden


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





Location Rural

School address 574 Bernardston Road, Greenfield, Massachusetts 01301, USA


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




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 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





Location Urban

School address 207 Barkers Road, Kew Vic 3101, Melbourne, Australia


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




Student accommodation Boarding or host family

Location Urban

School address 52 High St, Southport 4215, Queensland, Australia


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




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 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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Number of students 400 pupils in Grades 8 – 12





Location Rural

School address 107 Maple Road, Kyalami 1684, Johannesburg, South Africa


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)





Location City suburb

School address 586 Musgrave Road, Durban 4001, South Africa


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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Number of students 500 in senior school





Location Urban

School address 21 Herschel Road, Claremont 7700, Cape Town, South Africa


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

[email protected] 01635 204696

Mrs Anthea Nash

Global Initiatives Ambassador


Mrs Helen Knight

Higher Education and Global Initiatives Coordinator


Miss Laura Myers

Global Student Exchange Coordinator


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: [email protected]

www.downehouse.net

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DOWNE HOUSE · PDF fileDOWNE HOUSE RECOGNISES THAT GLOBAL ... a competitive advantage and the capacity for success in a highly ... Student accommodation Boarding or potentially