Downe House Junior English Programmes in Berkshire
Embassy Summer at Downe House
This prestigious boarding school is nestled within the picturesque Berkshire countryside. With both a rich history and an association with academic excellence, Downe House provides an enchanting and historical environment in which to learn.
Surrounded by rolling hills and charming woodlands, Downe House is only a short journey from the historic market town of Newbury. Boasting the perfect blend of classic features and modern facilities, this location provides a truly immersive setting for young learners.
Key Facts:
Price: £1,125 per week (price includes tuition, trips, activities, accommodation and full board)
Location: Downe House, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9JJ
Dates: 08th July - 5th August 2025
Ages: 10–18 (18 year olds accepted as part of a group with a leader)
Accommodation: Single/Twin/Triple standard rooms
Sample Excursion: London, Cambridge and Brighton
- Twin/Triple/Quad Standard Rooms
- Rooms are located on-site at Downe House
- Room furniture includes a wardrobe, desk, and chair
- Rooms are cleaned weekly
- Laundry is available in the residence building
- Meals are served in the dining hall
- Wi-Fi throughout
- Bathrooms are cleaned every weekday and linen is changed weekly
- Students must bring their own towel
- A deposit of £30 is required upon arrival and there is a charge for replacing any lost keys
Whilst delivering bespoke lesson materials, the Embassy lesson is designed to engage students in discussion, to develop the key life skills of collaboration and intercultural communication, and to provide extensive opportunities to practice and build on current language.
Lessons taught by teachers trained to deliver the Embassy Lessons
17 students per class and classes suitable for students of all levels.
15 hours a week
20 x 45 mins in UK, US and Canada
15 x 60 mins in Malta
All learning resources provided are age appropriate and all students receive an end of course certificate of attendance.
Arrival
Students will be welcomed upon arrival at Downe House where they will register and get their room keys so that they can check in to their rooms.
Welcome
On the first evening, there will be a welcome activity which is designed to ensure students have the opportunity to meet staff and other students and get to know more about the campus, its facilities, and useful information that will help them during their stay.
Activities
Activities are organised before and after lessons and during the evenings. These activities could be on-site or near the centre. These may include:
- Sports such as football, basketball, and volleyball
- Daytime activities such as scavenger hunts and drama workshops
- Evening activities such as quizzes, talent shows, and team games
Full-day Trips:
Our students get to explore exciting places such as Newbury, Reading, Basingstoke, and lots of museums.
London: Visit this exciting capital city and take a walking tour of central London and visit the National Gallery.
Oxford: Home to the world’s oldest university, where we’ll visit a famous college.
Bath: A traditional and charming city, Bath is teeming with elegant Georgian architecture and rich history. Experience the world-famous Roman Baths and enjoy the array of independent shops.
Brighton: A vibrant, popular seaside resort with beautiful architecture, home to the Sea Life Centre.
Optional Trips:
Hampton Court Palace: With its 500 years of royal history and set in sixty acres of world-famous gardens the Palace is a living tapestry of history from Henry VIII to George II.
Winchester: a historic city in England, boasts two iconic landmarks that draw visitors from around the world. Winchester Cathedral, a masterpiece of medieval architecture, is a place of worship and a repository of centuries of history and art.
Thorpe Park: Home to thrilling rides, attractions & live events.
Windsor Castle: Visit the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world that has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years.
Milestones Living Museum: Step back in time and explore the rich heritage of Hampshire through interactive exhibits and engaging displays. It’s a fun and educational destination for all ages.
3 Week Sample Programmes
The programme is for illustrative purposes only and is subject to amendments or alterations.
Students may have lessons either morning or afternoon in their first week, alternating weekly after that and visits may change.
| Week 1 | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Arrivals/Departures On-site Activities Optional: Winchester with visit to Winchester Cathedral and The Great Hall |
Grimsbury Castle Walk On-site Sports |
Lessons | Full-day trip: London with Westminster walking tour and visit to the National Gallery |
Half-day trip: Newbury Market and Shaw House |
Drama Workshop On-site Sports |
Full-day trip: Brighton with walking tour and visit to The Royal Pavillion |
| Afternoon | Testing/Induction | Lessons | Lessons | ||||
| Evening | Welcome Games On-site Activities |
Egg Drop | Welcome Disco | Film Night | Culture Club | Themed Disco Big game bingo |
Talent Show |
| Week 2 | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Morning | Arrivals/Departures On-site Activities Optional: Windsor and Windsor Castle |
Testing/Induction | Lessons | Full-day trip: London with visits to Science Museum or Natural History Museum and Hyde Park |
Lessons | Lessons | Full-day trip: Bath with walking tour and Roman Baths |
| Afternoon | Walk to Cold Ash On-site Sports |
Half-day trip: Basingstoke and Willis Museum/Shopping Optional: Milestones Living History Museum |
Mini-olympics | ||||
| Evening | Welcome Games On-site Activities |
Photo Scavenger Hunt |
Welcome Disco | Multi Sports | Lip Dub Video Making | Themed Disco Capture the flag |
Quiz Night |
| Week 3 | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Morning | Arrivals/Departures On-site Activities Optional: Thorpe Park |
Walk to Hermitage On-site Sports |
Lessons | Full-day trip: London with Westminster walking tour and visit to the National Gallery |
Half-day trip: Reading and Reading Museum |
On-site Sports | Full-day trip: Oxford with walking tour college visit |
| Afternoon | Testing/Induction | Lessons | Lessons | ||||
| Evening | Welcome Games On-site Activities |
Outdoor Football Tournament | Welcome Disco | Kahoot Quiz | Murder Mystery | Themed Disco Treasure Hunt |
Capture the flag |
We place the highest priority on care and supervision at all our Embassy Summer centres so you can rest assured students are well looked after. Members of staff are available 24 hours a day.
Student Services
Our student support staff can help you with:
Accommodation
Airport transfers
Information about local services
Assistance with individual and personal problems
Emergency contact
Medical information
If a student needs medical attention, an Embassy staff member will help make an appointment. Group Leaders must accompany the student to an appointment. An Embassy staff member will accompany any student that is not part of a group.
Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3HD,
+44 (0) 1635 867171
Hospital, Aldermaston Road,
Basingstoke, RG24 9NA,
+44 (0) 1256 473202
INSURANCE
If a student does not have insurance to cover their time abroad, guard.me insurance is available to purchase through Embassy Summer.
CASH
Please note that the centre is mostly cashless. Cash is only required for optional activities and room deposits.
In case of emergency
A 24-hour emergency telephone number is available all summer: +44 7771 845978
Location
Embassy Summer Schools
Downe House
Cold Ash
Thatcham
Berkshire RG18 9JJ
Travel times to nearest airports
| (LGW) London Gatwick Airport | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| (LHR) London Heathrow Airport | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| (STN) Stansted Airport | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| (LTN) Luton Airport | 2 hours |
Travel times to nearest train station
| St Pancras International (Eurostar) | 2 hours 15 minutes |
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