Basic Information & Location
Established in 1584, Oakham School is located in the centre of Oakham in central England, next to Oakham Castle and All Saints Church. Although the school itself is not a castle, it is a reputable school with a long history that offers both boarding and day school. The school has a high standard of admission and offers A-Level and IB courses to pre-university students. In addition, the school aims to promote holistic education, hoping that students can have both talent and virtue. In general, Oundle School and Uppingham School are regarded as competitors of Oakham.
Academic Development
In order to motivate students, Oakham provides superior learning environments such as studio, language laboratory for students studying art and foreign languages, and the Smallbone Library is also known for its great collection and modernization. Oakham’s Art and Design Department is one of the most highly respected among the boarding schools in the central UK, thanks to its cutting-edge equipment, which ebles further development for arts and visual arts students. Students can choose special subjects in A-Level, such as sport science, theatre studies, and art: critical and contextual. The upper limit for each course is 24 students and small class teaching is adopted for A-Level classes. The academic result for A-Level is great. In 2017, the pass rate is 98.4%, and 42% of all A-Level grades were A* or A. For IB, 37% of students gained 38 or more points (equivalent to five As at A-level). Most students get into university that Leeds, Edinburgh, Durham, UCL are some of the popular choices. Regarding the subjects, a number of students opt for business administration, economics, science, medicine, art, and history.
Pastoral Care & Boarding
Oakham has a total of 16 dormitories: four for lower-grade students, two for pre-university students, and the remaining ten for students aged 13-17. Currently around half of the school’s pupils are full boarders. Students can also choose flexi-boarding to stay two to five nights a week, which is suitable for modern families. Dormitory safety is ensured, and there are mentors, housemasters, School Chaplain, medical centre staff and school counsellors to take care of students’ need that makes the dorms as warm as home. Parents are welcomed to participate in dormitory activities, such as concerts and drama performances. They can also bring their children out to tea to maintain a close relationship.
Extracurricular & personal development
There are comprehensive sports facilities that allow students to develop their potentials, including a more-than-40-acre stadium, sports centre, indoor swimming pool, two all-weather playgrounds, squash court and gymnasium. With 12 full-time coaches and 20 guest coaches, students can choose from a variety of sports such as rugby, cricket, hockey and ice hockey. In addition, the school encourages students to be innovative and creative, so arts activities are also popular. The Art, Design and Technology Exhibition is held each May for Year 5 to 7 to showcase their exam work. Around 80 concerts are held yearly. When it comes to art, the school offers a wide range of courses, including life drawing, abstracts, sculpture, and even jewellery. Each week, two afternoons are reserved for various extracurricular activities, ranging from film production to stone carving and yoga.
