Oakham School

Oakham School is an ancient one dating back to 1584 when it was established by Archdeacon Robert Johnson, who also established nearby Uppingham. The two schools enjoy a healthy rivalry. However, modern trends hit Oakham first and it went fully co-educational in 1971. There is an equal ratio of boys and girls and boarders and day pupils which keeps the school very balanced. Academically more than satisfactory, the International Baccalaureate is offered alongside A-levels and has attained excellent results well above the worldwide average. However, there is a lot on offer here to distract pupils after their lessons. Sport is excellently catered for. Rugby and cricket are particularly strong as is hockey and netball. In all, 30 sports and dozens more activities, encompassing the Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh Awards and a flying club are available. There are 10 boarding houses, each overseen by a resident housemaster/mistress and their families as well as one or two resident tutors and a matron. On average there are around 60 pupils in each house, very well taken care of. Day pupils also belong to houses, which ensures that their pastoral care is just as good as those boarding. In such a small county you will be hard pressed to choose between Oakham and Uppingham.