Founder’s Weekend is the highlight of the School year. Months of planning, rehearsing and collaboration result in a spectacular showcase spanning two days for our Downe House community to enjoy.
Thank you to all members of our community – families, alumnae, staff and our local community – for joining in our celebration of the year. Well done to every pupil for showcasing their dedication and talent in such a variety of events.
Congratulations must also go to every staff member who collaborated as part of the Founder’s Weekend team. Their hard work ensured all our guests were well watered and fed, the School looked its best, and that the weekend was captured digitally to share with those who couldn’t make the trip to West Berkshire.
Watch highlights from the weekend here…
Sports Day
Our athletes showcased their skill in field and track events in the crowning event of the summer calendar – Sports Day!
Well done to all the sportswomen who represented their House and to the onlookers who cheered their peers on in an excellent show of team spirit.
A special congratulations must go to Holcombe House, who won the Overall Prize for Sports Day 2024!
See the full photo album from Sports Day and the prize giving ceremony below…
The School Musical
Founder’s Weekend saw a cast and crew of talented Downe House students take to the stage in this year’s School musical – Amélie! A huge congratulations to everyone involved who perfectly captured the charming quirkiness of the iconic film, resulting in an uplifting experience for our audience to delight in.
Mr Castell, Director and Musical Director, commented on the dedication of our pupils:
“The students have worked so hard to bring this story to life, whether as actors, musicians, dancers, singers or most often a combination of all these things. I am hugely grateful to the team that has helped bring this show to life, from technical support, choreography, costume design… the list goes on. We are very lucky to have such a solid team of dedicated and creative professionals working at the School. And the students’ energy, good-humour and generosity of spirit have made this a joyous experience.”
Click below to enjoy the full photo album of Amélie including a peek backstage…
Founder’s Exhibition
Our Creative Arts Faculty spans Fine Art, Textiles, 3D Design, and Photography – all of which featured in the Murray Centre displays which spanned multiple floors and created a beautifully immersive experience. The exhibition was curated to showcase how these disciplines intermingle, allowing our community to experience the breadth and depth of our students’ talents.
The work on display came from our Lower Fifth (Year 10) to Upper Sixth (Year 13) pupils. Exhibition guests were able to view final projects and a selection of sketchbooks which offered a fascinating glimpse into the developmental work and experimentation that led to the ultimate outcomes.
A huge congratulations must go to all our talented exhibitors and a massive thank you to the dedicated staff who carefully built the exhibitions.
Music at Founder’s Weekend
The soundtrack to Founder’s Weekend is provided by a fantastic range of musical performances expertly put together by our passionate Music Department.
Our Founder’s Concert saw nearly 200 young musicians exploring a range of styles from Elgar to Kate Bush. On Sunday, the Downe House choirs took to the stage to perform the beautifully optimistic ‘Gloria’ by Vivaldi. This concert also saw a special collaboration between the Music and Dance departments as they performed a selection of dances from Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker Suite’.
To close the weekend, our musicians took to the Founder’s Festival Tent and showcased a varied programme which got the community up and dancing the night away! Well done to each and every performer for invigorating Founder’s Weekend with the joy of music.
View the full photo album of the musical offerings at Founder’s Weekend here…
