Oakham School

“This is a clear-eyed, energetic forward-thinking school.” The Good Schools Guide

Oakham is well known and loved for being a friendly, unpretentious and highly successful school. Founded in 1584, we are a large co-educational boarding and day school with over 1,000 pupils aged 10–18. Our uniquely structured student population – with 50:50 girls and boys, and 50% boarders and 50% day pupils – creates a genuinely inclusive and grounded school community who generate a caring, welcoming and warm atmosphere.

Our dedicated Houses for full and flexi-boarders and day pupils means that we can offer all pupils the benefits of our exceptional boarding provision in ways that suit modern family life.

Pupils benefit from the School’s location close to Rutland Water, in the heart of safe, rural England. Our beautifully green campus is just a few minutes’ walk from Oakham’s historic town centre and train station and Oakham’s excellent road and rail links mean that London, Birmingham and Cambridge are all within easy reach.

Oakham's rich curriculum combines innovation with the best of traditional approaches. We offer a choice of 26 GCSE subjects and at 16+ pupils can choose between the IB Diploma and A-levels/Pre-U/BTEC courses. In 2020 a quarter of IB Diploma students gained 40 or more points and 78% of A-level students gained A*–B grades.

The majority of students go on to top universities in the UK, Europe and the USA, including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Our full-time Head of Careers and Higher Education and her team offer in-depth guidance and information on career options and admissions procedures for UK and non-UK universities.

Each of our 8 Full and Flexi-Boarding Houses is home to the Housemaster or Housemistress and their families, supported by an experienced team of Resident Tutors and a Matron. Form 7 (Year 13) students are in their own Houses, one for boys and one for girls, where they experience a more university-oriented lifestyle.

House life is vibrant with over 125 activities on offer. Tutors meet with their tutees as a group each week, with one-to-ones and informal catch-ups as needed, and work closely with the wider pastoral team to manage pupils' overall progress and development.

The Barraclough Dining Hall serves an extensive choice of nutritious and freshly prepared food. Our state-of-the-art Medical and Pastoral Centre offers a dedicated space to promote well-being, as well as offering medical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We offer over 30 different sports with internationally experienced coaching staff, including a full-time Strength & Conditioning coach. Our facilities include 40 acres of outstanding playing areas, a sports centre with squash courts and fitness suite, an indoor swimming pool, all-weather pitches for hockey and tennis, and access to nearby Rutland Water for sailing.

Hundreds of students take part in the Arts – there are five major drama productions every year; we teach over 500 individual music lessons each week, and around half of all pupils play in musical ensembles, choirs, bands, orchestras, and musical theatre productions.