Downside School - Press Coverage

Press Coverage

In the late 1990s, the release of a number of Gregorian chant records attracted much attention, with some controversy over the association with the Virgin brand.

In 2002, Father Antony Sutch OSB, then Head Master, featured heavily (including front page of The Daily Telegraph) when he attacked the 'geek culture' that is overwhelming schools and teachers due to government-imposed bureaucracy. He is frequently quoted on Catholicism and educational matters and has contributed to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day since 2003.

In 2003, Downside was the setting for a controversial experiment whereby a teenager from London, Ryan Bell, who had been repeatedly expelled from state schools was sponsored to Downside by a TV production company to see if a 'difficult' student would do better in the independent sector. After excelling in his Latin set and on the rugby field, Bell was however eventually expelled after being caught drinking.