Head & Deputy Head Seniors

Introducing Cléo. It is practically impossible not to get along with Cléo. I met Cléo on my very first day at Downe and five years later I’m still in awe of her. That young girl, my pastoral buddy in fact, was vibrant, welcoming, and incredibly smiley, she seemed exactly like the type of girl I’d seen on the Downe House website: confident, kind and welcoming. In the Lower Fifth, Cléo and I went on to share a dorm together where we grew immeasurably closer. My memories of that term are full of laughter, support of one another but also pushing each other to be better. Over the last few years, we have grown alongside one another but even after all these years I still marvel at Cléo’s ability to excel in everything she puts her mind to; few people are as driven, dedicated and successful in all that they do. Not to mention that she can also be found giving her all on the lacrosse pitch, singing your favourite songs (with the wrong lyrics) at the top of her lungs and generally making everyone’s day better. Compassionate in all that she does, I could not think of anyone more suited to the role of Deputy Head Senior than Cléo. Her joy is contagious, humour always appreciated and dedication admirable. I feel so privileged to be working with my best friend this year.

Ebunlola Oyegunle (LVI), Head Senior

Introducing Lola. I will start with this: Lola is one of the most inspiring, unstoppable and hilarious people you will ever come across! Although we met in the Upper Fourth, it wasn’t until we shared a dorm together in the Michaelmas term of Lower Fifth that we really hit it off…and never looked back. From her infectious sense of humour to her exceptional taste in music, Lola leaves an imprint on everyone she meets. She is a doer, she influences and she inspires people to be better, a true friend to everyone. I am proud and constantly in awe of the woman Lola is turning into and I feel confident that we are all in admiration of her ever-growing achievements and abilities. From her renditions of Stay by Rihanna (secret revealed!), to winning competitions left and right as well as her wittiness, which is very much appreciated during song writing for assemblies, Lola shines in everything she does! There is no doubt that Lola will become one of Downe House’s most renowned alumnae who will be back to inspire future girls. I know that she will excel in her position as Head Senior and life beyond Downe House. I am honoured and privileged to be able to support and work alongside my biggest role-model and closest friend!

Cléo Dutertre-Delaunay (LVI), Deputy Head Senior

What a difference a year makes! As I sit down to write this now, the sun is shining and we have just concluded a wonderfully special Summer term and the first relatively normal school year since the outbreak of the pandemic, with bubbles, isolation and one-way systems a thing of the past.

The joy of being able to come together again in person, of girls being able to visit one another freely in the boarding houses regardless of age, of House competitions starting again, of parents being able to meet again socially and so much more, has been palpable. I would even risk saying that the girls have been grateful for the return of public examinations! However, what made the term so special was not just the return to normality but the fact that we were also able to celebrate the move of the School from Kent to Berkshire in April 2022.

The move took place at a time when the School was recovering from the impact of the Spanish Flu; the need to provide spaces for isolation and recovery had thrown into sharp focus the need for larger premises for the growing school population and so the site at Cold Ash was selected. Although not quite big enough to house all the girls immediately, its beautiful countryside, its proximity to good transport links and the scope it provided for development made it irresistible to our Founder, Olive Willis. She was a woman of remarkable vision and courage, someone who saw obstacles as opportunities and someone who recognised the possibility of creating a community here where girls would flourish. It would be a place where they would become confident young women who would contribute positively to the world around them. I hope that if she were to look at her school today, she would be equally proud of the young women who leave our campus now. I hope that she would find the Downe House of 2022 equally aspirational, courageous, nurturing and forward-looking. The content of this magazine would certainly indicate that this is the case. For my part, I am confident that, if we continue to retain this character, ethos and these timeless values, the future will be a bright one.

Mrs Emma McKendrick, Headmistress