Blog

Starting a new school can bring excitement, uncertainty and more than a few butterflies for both children and parents! For those joining The Downs Malvern or transitioning from Pre-Prep into Prep School, new teachers, classrooms, routines and friendships can make September feel significant. The aim is not to remove every worry or every feeling of new school anxiety, but to help children feel prepared and certain that support is available. Confidence […]

Why Year 8 Matters Before senior school Preparing for senior school is not only about academic knowledge. By the end of Year 8, children need to have developed the maturity to manage themselves and respond positively when things feel unfamiliar.  The final Prep years give children the chance to hone these qualities in a familiar environment where […]

In conversation with Sarah Tsiquaye, Forest School Lead Forest School is often one of the highlights of the week for our pupils. They love building dams in the stream, making objects from natural clay, climbing trees, creating dens in the woodland and searching for bugs beneath stones and stumps.  To them, it feels like adventure. To us, it […]

The Nursery to Prep Pathway: A Smooth Transition to School By Emily Willetts, Head of Pre-Prep When your child starts school, it is a big moment for everyone in the family. It can feel as though the warmth of Nursery is suddenly giving way to something much bigger. At The Downs Malvern, our aim is […]

In an increasingly attention-grabbing world that prizes the “Extrovert Ideal“ (a term coined by author Susan Cain), where being bold, vocal, and outwardly social is often equated with success, quiet children can easily be overlooked. The term Pastoral Care 2.0 is not a formally recognised programme, but is used here to describe a modern, proactive approach to […]

It is all too easy nowadays to live a frictionless existence; every interaction, from the television remote control to the electric toothbrush, is meticulously crafted to ensure that unnecessary effort is minimised and, where appropriate, operating any device is as smooth as possible. To an extent, this insatiable quest for efficiency is human nature. In times long past, cavemen would gather […]

Now fully embracing life at Malvern College, Old Downians, Danai and Lauren, took time to reflect on their experiences at The Downs Malvern, the transition to senior school, and what they are looking forward to next. Both were awarded scholarships at TDM, which gave them additional opportunities to take on responsibilities and pursue their passions. […]

Unless you have been living on a desert island in the middle of inhospitable ocean without Wi-Fi, it is impossible not to notice that we are currently living through a period of extraordinary and unprecedented technological change. Although its roots stretch back over 70 years, Artificial Intelligence as we currently experience it, is redefining the […]

For many families, the idea of a prep school that continues to 13 can be unfamiliar. Prep schools provide a structured and broad education for children from nursery through to the final years of prep, combining strong academic foundations with opportunities to develop independence, leadership, and curiosity. Some prep schools mirror the state sector system, […]

This week, The Downs Malvern was named STEM Project of the Year at the Worcestershire Education Awards. While we are incredibly proud of this recognition, the award itself reflects something much deeper: a long-standing commitment to making science, technology, engineering and mathematics feel relevant, engaging and accessible to every child.  At The Downs Malvern, STEM is not confined to a single […]

Parents naturally worry about their children’s emotional wellbeing as they grow, learn and navigate the challenges of school life. Confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging all play an important role in emotional development in education, helping children thrive both inside and outside the classroom.  At The Downs Malvern, set against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills, providing comprehensive mental health […]

When families consider boarding, the first question is often whether their child will feel happy and settled. That sense of belonging is essential. Once a child feels safe and valued, they begin to swell in confidence and take meaningful steps towards greater independence.  That growth, however, is not necessarily about a dramatic leap into self-reliance. At The Downs Malvern, our boarding options […]