When Robert Johnson founded Oakham School in 1584, he set down an inscription above the school door in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, a declaration of the classical languages he deemed essential. Over four centuries later, the school still maintains those languages alongside modern offerings, but the broader vision has expanded dramatically. Today, Oakham sits in the heart of rural Rutland, a market town surrounded by farmland, yet manages to feel at once deeply rooted in history and thoroughly contemporary. The 440-year-old institution underwent a radical transformation in 1971 when it became the first boys' independent secondary school in Britain to embrace full co-education, a decision that shaped its identity permanently. With roughly 900 pupils split evenly between boys and girls, and a 50:50 day and boarding population, the school has cultivated a genuine, grounded community that feels refreshingly unpretentious. Its GCSE performance ranks it in the top 10% of schools in England (FindMySchool data), whilst A-level results place it in the top 25%, an achievement the school credits to rigorous teaching, student independence, and a curriculum that spans traditional scholarship to cutting-edge design. For families seeking an all-rounder education where academic ambition coexists with genuine creative and sporting opportunities, Oakham offers something distinctly different from the conventional boarding school stereotype.
The original Old School building still stands next to All Saints' Church, a Grade-listed structure that housed every pupil in a single room for three centuries. At the gates today, the atmosphere is one of purposeful, relaxed energy. Students move between Victorian red-brick buildings and modern facilities with the unselfconscious confidence of those who belong somewhere genuinely inclusive. Unlike many boarding schools, Oakham doesn't project an air of exclusivity or formality. Teachers are addressed by their first names; the dress code is school uniform but refreshingly down-to-earth. The Chapel, with its soaring architecture and weekly services, remains a cultural and spiritual anchor, yet the school's Church of England foundation sits lightly; the environment feels welcoming to families of all faiths.
The 10 boarding houses form the emotional centre of school life, each with a distinct character. Housemasters and housemistresses live on-site with their families, setting the tone of genuine care and accountability. The Barraclough Dining Hall serves as a true hub where the entire school gathers for meals, creating the daily ritual that bonds a disparate community. Day pupils and boarders integrate seamlessly; there is no hierarchy, no sense of "insiders" and "outsiders" that sometimes characterises co-educational boarding schools.
Incoming headmistress Lucy Pearson, an Old Oakhamian who previously led Cheadle Hulme School and worked as Director of Education for the Football Association, will take over from Henry Price in September 2026. She will be the first woman to hold the headship in the school's 440-year history, a milestone that reflects the school's continuing evolution. Current headmaster Henry Price has led the school with steady hand since 2019, emphasizing the importance of the school's three interconnected curricula: academic, co-curricular, and pastoral. This philosophical framework, branded as the Connected Curriculum, aims to ensure that learning extends far beyond the classroom into every aspect of pupil development.
The school occupies a special place in Rutland's community. Classical concerts, drama productions, and musical performances in the local church attract not only parents but local families too, creating a genuine "town and school" relationship rather than the often-seen "town and gown" divide. The school is a driving force behind the Rutland Music Hub, with its Director of Music, Peter Davis, orchestrating large-scale county performances that bring together hundreds of young musicians across the region.
In 2024, 50% of GCSE grades achieved fell in the 9-8 range, with 72% achieving grades 9-7 overall. These results place Oakham in the top 10% of schools, ranking 413th in England (FindMySchool ranking). Locally, the school ranks first in Rutland among secondary schools. What makes these results particularly impressive is that they emerge from a school that explicitly states it is "not particularly selective academically." Entry assessments exist, but Oakham attracts a diverse cohort, including pupils with a wide range of starting points and learning profiles. The school offers 26 GCSE/IGCSE options, allowing considerable flexibility in subject choice, with students typically taking 10 subjects.
The breadth of the curriculum reflects Oakham's philosophy. Separate sciences are offered from Year 7 onwards, with dual-award science also available for those seeking breadth. Languages include French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin. Less common options such as Classical Greek, Latin, and Greek and Latin combined attract strong uptake. The humanities offer History, Geography, Religious Studies, and Citizenship Studies, all designed to foster critical thinking about contemporary issues and historical context.
Oakham offers an unusual combination of traditional A-levels alongside the International Baccalaureate Diploma and BTEC qualifications in the Sixth Form. This flexibility means students chart their own academic path based on learning preference and future aspirations. At A-level, 45% of grades achieved were A*, whilst 75% of grades achieved fell in the A*-B range. IB Diploma students average 34.1 points, notably above the global average of 30 points. The school ranks 316th for A-level outcomes, placing it in the top 25% in England (FindMySchool ranking).
Twenty-six A-level subjects are available, spanning traditional academic disciplines and vocational qualifications. Oxbridge preparation is supported for those applying, with dedicated extension classes, Oxbridge-specific seminars, and strong results; in 2024, one student secured a Cambridge place from a small cohort of applicants. Beyond Oxbridge, 47% of the 2024 cohort progressed to university, with strong representation at Russell Group institutions and specialist universities. The leavers' destinations reflect the breadth of Oakham's outcomes: 19% progressed directly to employment, suggesting the school's IB and BTEC pathways attract students pursuing alternative routes to traditional university.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
72.47%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
50.12%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The pedagogical framework at Oakham centres on what the school calls FOSIL: Framework of Skills for Inquiry Learning. This methodology encourages pupils to ask incisive questions, conduct independent research, and assess evidence critically, rather than simply absorbing information. Teachers describe this as integral to their daily practice. An example from the school's own curriculum documentation illustrates this: Form 1-3 students learning to define a computer spend time investigating the question "Is my brain a computer?", integrating neuroscience, philosophy, and computational thinking.
Class sizes average 14-16 pupils, dropping below 10 for some A-level sets. This enables teachers to provide individualised attention and tailor explanations to learner need. Tutoring is a cornerstone of pastoral structure; each student has a tutor who meets them formally in small groups weekly and informally throughout the week. Tutors liaise with housemasters/mistresses and parents to track holistic development, flagging academic or pastoral concerns immediately and developing targeted support strategies.
The Smallbone Library, spread over two floors with more than 30,000 books, employs a team of qualified librarians and serves as a genuine intellectual hub. Subject specialists teach across all disciplines, even in the Lower School (Years 7-8) housed on a separate Jerwoods campus. This means pupils benefit from expertise in creative and performing arts, physical education, and sciences even whilst physically separated from the main campus.
Oakham's reputation rests substantially on what happens outside the formal curriculum. This is not ancillary activity; co-curricular engagement forms a genuine third pillar of the school's educational philosophy.
Oakham is in England renowned for music. 50% of the school's pupils perform in ensembles, an extraordinary proportion. With 20 named music groups, including chapel choir, symphony orchestra, jazz bands, and chamber ensembles, there is genuine opportunity at every level of ability. One hundred and twenty students take individual singing lessons each week alone, suggesting the depth of musical engagement. The school's chapel choir has recorded commercially, and musical performances attract audiences from across the county.
Peter Davis, Director of Music, has positioned Oakham as a regional leader in music education. The school's role as a driving force in the Rutland Music Hub resulted in a large-scale original performance of Pied Piper at Leicester's De Montfort Hall, bringing together over 400 young musicians from schools across Rutland. This outward focus on music education reflects the school's ethos of contributing to the wider community, not simply serving its own.
Five major drama productions occur each year in the QE Theatre, along with regular smaller productions and touring performances. Pupils gain experience both in acting and behind the scenes, with stagecraft, set design, lighting, and sound engineering all taught within the school. Tours to Edinburgh Fringe and overseas destinations extend the reach of the programme. The 2023 production of The Dumb Waiter and other contemporary pieces demonstrate the school's commitment to challenging drama alongside crowd-pleasing classics.
The Jerwood School of Design, funded by a £950,000 grant from the Jerwood Foundation and opened in 2009, is architecturally distinctive, a two-storey structure featuring two multimedia workshops, two high-tech studios, and specialist facilities for CAD/CAM and electronics. All art staff are themselves practising artists, ensuring pupils encounter genuine creative professionals. Product design, fine art, textiles, and photography are taught at serious academic level. The school regularly sends art and design students to top universities, with many winning national awards.
The design facilities are particularly impressive. In the Jerwood studios, pupils work on canvases of considerable ambition, experiment with 3D printing and digital fabrication, and engage in real-world design briefs. The visible work-in-progress nature of the space, half-finished pieces, sketches, prototypes, conveys that design is a genuinely creative, iterative process, not a product to be completed and filed away.
Oakham offers approximately 30 sports, an extraordinarily broad menu. Over 400 pupils participate in athletics weekly, with teams competing at regional and national level. Rugby is a traditional strength; over 400 boys play across 25 teams, from 1st XV to U11, with significant competitive success including a National Schools Cup win in 2023. Hockey is similarly strong, with the school maintaining links to elite clubs such as Beeston Hockey Club and Leicester Hockey Club. Rowing, cricket, tennis, netball, badminton, swimming, sailing, and less common sports such as fives, squash, and shooting provide genuine alternatives.
The coaching staff boast international experience, with many staff themselves competing or having competed at elite level. The sports centre, featuring a 25-metre pool, multiple courts, and extensive outdoor facilities across 40 acres, provides outstanding infrastructure. The school is a recognised training ground for national squads, with facilities regularly hosting international football, hockey, and cricket camps. Sailing at nearby Rutland Water has produced accomplished sailors; rowing on the River Welland provides additional opportunities.
The Mehra Faculty of Science provides dedicated teaching spaces for physics, chemistry, and biology, with separate sciences offered from Year 7 onwards. The Jerwood School of Design facility overlaps with STEM, integrating technology with creative design thinking. Over 20 academic societies and clubs operate, including Dissection Club (for medics-in-training), DocSoc (Medical Society), BioSoc (Biology Society), and Spanish Society, among others. These societies run guest lectures and seminar nights, stretching academically able pupils and providing enrichment beyond the standard curriculum.
Beyond the major pillars, Oakham offers extraordinary breadth. Named activities include Model United Nations (MUN), with representation of over 50 nations in recent years and attendance at international conferences in Manchester, Bath, Dublin, and beyond. The Matthews Society, named after Oakham's first Senior Mistress Jane Matthews, brings together Sixth Form students monthly to discuss gender equality, feminism, and related themes. The Freddie Groome Enterprise Challenge tasks Year 12 students to develop and run their own business, selling products to peers and learning entrepreneurial skills in memory of a former pupil. Sailing is popular, capitalising on proximity to Rutland Water. Fives, a traditional handball game, is played on Oakham's purpose-built courts with bays modelled on Eton College's chapel walls. Lifesaving and Lifeguarding qualifications are available, progressing from Rookie Lifeguard activity for Lower School to instructor certifications. Cooking is perennially popular, with pupils from Lower School learning baking fundamentals to Sixth Formers mastering budget cooking.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award operates at Gold level, and the Combined Cadet Force provides service training and discipline. An adventurous learning programme includes residential camps and expeditions. This comprehensive offering means every pupil can discover something genuine to pursue, whether academic, creative, sporting, or service-oriented.
The school's Academy Scholars programme identifies and stretches the most academically able. Senior Academic Mentors pair with individual scholars, encouraging wider reading and independent research. Lectures and seminars from leading academic thinkers are regularly hosted. Entry into competitive national academic competitions is encouraged, with pupils regularly achieving success in Maths Olympiads and similar challenges.
Fees data coming soon.
The 2024 leaver cohort (190 students) demonstrates diverse destinations. 47% progressed to university, reflecting the school's flexible sixth form pathways and its IB/BTEC offerings, which lead to employment and further education as well as university entry. 19% entered employment directly, suggesting successful direct-to-work routes; 1% entered further education. This diversity reflects the school's explicit commitment to supporting pupils toward their individual futures, not funnelling everyone toward a single destination.
For those heading to university, Oakham places particular emphasis on preparation for competitive courses. DocSoc supports medical and veterinary science applicants with mock interviews, personal statement workshops, and lectures from university admissions tutors. Oxbridge applicants receive targeted extension sessions, academic mentoring, and interview preparation. The pastoral tutoring system ensures pupils receive individualized guidance on university choices and application strategy from Year 10 onwards.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 6.7%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
0
Offers
Oakham accepts entry at 11+, 13+, 14+, and 16+. At 11+ (Lower School, Form 1), entry requires a written English paper, skills-testing exercises, and online diagnostic tests covering maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. An interview with the Head of Lower School or a housemaster/mistress follows. Entry at 13+ involves similar assessments plus a more demanding entrance examination in core subjects. Pupils entering at 14+ (Form 4) sit GCSE entrance assessments. Sixth form (16+) entry requires at least five GCSEs at grade 6 or above (or equivalent), with minimum grade requirements in proposed A-level subjects.
Internal progression from Lower to Middle School (Year 9) does not require re-examination; continuous assessment determines progression. The school explicitly aims to identify potential, not just current attainment, which shapes its assessment approach.
Oakham offers full boarding, weekly boarding (typically 6 nights, reducing to 5, 4, 3, or 2 nights flexibly), and day places. Full boarders reside at school during term time; weekly boarders return home at weekends; flexible boarders arrange their specific nights; day pupils attend during school hours and may access optional before-school breakfast clubs and after-school care until 6pm. For younger pupils (Forms 1-2), transitional boarding options allow families to build boarding gradually.
The 2025-26 fee structure reflects this diversity. Full boarding for Middle and Upper School costs £18,570 per term (including VAT); weekly boarding £16,740; day fees £10,968. For Lower School (Forms 1-2), full boarding is £14,574 per term, flexible boarding from £11,148-£12,900 depending on nights selected, and day fees £9,300. Tuition includes all textbooks, breakfast, lunch, and supper for all students, medical and pastoral support, library access, and most activities. Boarding and laundry charges are included for boarders.
Bursaries are substantial. The school offers means-tested bursarial support with no upper limit to awards, though availability depends on annual funding. The Oakham Foundation Award provides particularly generous support for up to two pupils annually at 11+ or 13+ entry, covering 100% of boarding fees, waiving registration and deposit fees, providing a school laptop, funding mandatory trips and activities, and including a £500 Schoolblazer voucher. This scheme specifically targets exceptional young people from the East Midlands whose families receive government benefits or financial support.
Scholarships are merit-based, available in academic, music, art, sport, and drama categories at 13+ and 16+ entry, typically offering 10-25% fee reduction. Academic scholarships carry particular prestige. A 10% sibling discount applies for the third and subsequent child attending simultaneously.
Boarding is integral to Oakham's identity, with roughly half the school boarding and half as day pupils. The integration of these two communities is notably successful; boarders and day pupils share houses, attend the same lessons, and participate identically in co-curricular activities. There is no segregation, no sense that boarders are "real" Oakhamians whilst day pupils are peripheral.
Each of the 10 houses (four for Lower School, two for Sixth Form, four for Middle School, and mixed) functions as a genuine home community. Housemasters and housemistresses live on-site with families, supported by resident tutors and matrons. This creates continuity and genuine pastoral oversight. Inter-house competitions throughout the year foster community spirit and friendly rivalry. The Barraclough Dining Hall, where the entire school gathers for meals, is truly a hub where daily experiences are shared and celebrated.
Weekend activity includes Saturday morning school, Saturday afternoon fixtures or relaxation, and Sunday chapel. Exeats (formal short breaks allowing pupils to go home) are scheduled termly, providing family time. Full boarders spend holidays at home; the school does not maintain holiday accommodation.
Pastoral care is consistently highlighted as a particular strength. The tutoring system provides weekly formal check-ins in small groups plus informal one-to-ones. Tutors coordinate with housemasters/mistresses and parents to track pupil wellbeing holistically. The school explicitly combines "pastoral care" (supporting pupils through difficulties) with "pastoral learning" (equipping pupils with perspectives and skills for long-term resilience and happiness).
A dedicated medical centre provides basic health care; more serious medical needs are referred to local NHS services. Counselling services are available for pupils requiring additional emotional support. The four core values, Care, Courage, Contribution, and Connection, are explicitly woven through all pastoral communication and decision-making.
The school actively monitors mental health and wellbeing through regular surveys and informal staff observation. Boarding staff are trained in mental health first aid, and the entire community has access to wellbeing resources and support pathways.
School hours run from approximately 8:20am to 4:00pm daily, with morning registration at 8:50am. Before-school care (breakfast club) operates from 7:45am; after-school care extends to 6pm for day pupils. This wraparound care is included in day fees and provides practical flexibility for working parents.
Oakham is situated in rural Rutland, approximately 25 miles east of Leicester, 23 miles northwest of Peterborough, and roughly 23 miles from Nottingham. The town is served by the Birmingham-Peterborough railway line, with hourly services via CrossCountry to Birmingham New Street, Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport. East Midlands Railway provides morning and evening services. Road access is via the A1 and M1, both within an hour's drive. The school location near Rutland Water provides access to outdoor pursuits, whilst nearby market towns offer cultural and shopping amenities.
Transport arrangements vary by boarding status and family circumstance. The school operates coach services to and from key destinations; specific routes are available on the school website. Many pupils arrange independent transport via parental drop-off, public transport, or school coaches. Walking and cycling are viable for local day pupils.
A balanced academic pathway, not selective academic achievement: Oakham explicitly states it is "not particularly selective academically," meaning entry assessments test potential and reasoning rather than prior knowledge. This distinction matters; the school suits pupils who are intellectually engaged and capable but perhaps not pushed through years of tutoring prior to entry. For families seeking ultra-selective entry or a school advertising "only top achievers," this may not align.
Boarding is normative, but day places exist: Roughly 50% of pupils board. For day pupils, this creates a genuinely mixed community, which many families appreciate. However, families should recognise that boarders' needs, evening activities, house events, weekend fixtures, shape the weekly rhythm. Day pupils benefit from this but must accept that the school's calendar and community culture revolve partly on boarding patterns.
The separate Lower School campus: Pupils in Forms 1-2 (Years 7-8) are housed on the separate Jerwoods campus, whilst Upper and Middle School pupils occupy the main campus. Whilst pupils benefit from specialist teaching in sciences, arts, and PE on the main campus, social integration between Lower and Upper School requires deliberate effort. Families should verify that their child is comfortable with this staggered structure.
The reach of boarding: Whilst boarding fees are relatively competitive compared to traditional independent boarding schools, they remain substantial (£18,570 per term = £55,710 annually). The school's bursary programme is genuine and extensive, but families should carefully examine their financial position before committing. Even with discounts, boarding at an independent school represents a significant ongoing commitment.
The IB option is significant but less traditional: Whilst Oakham excels at A-levels, roughly 25% of Sixth Formers choose the IB Diploma, making it a real alternative pathway rather than a niche option. Families comfortable with either qualification path will thrive; those with strong A-level expectations should clarify IB uptake during visits.
Oakham School represents a genuinely distinctive model of independent education. It is academically rigorous yet demonstrably inclusive; historically rooted yet forward-looking; traditional in ethos yet radical in its commitment to genuine co-education and equal opportunities for all. The school's explicit embrace of the "all-rounder" position, strong academics, genuine creative and sporting opportunities, real pastoral care, marks it as fundamentally different from schools positioning themselves as academic hothouse institutions.
For families seeking a boarding education with intellectual substance, pastoral integrity, and genuine community (rather than glamour or social cachet), Oakham excels. The school is best suited to pupils who are intellectually curious, emotionally resilient, and interested in exploring multiple facets of development. For boarders, it offers a genuine home away from home; for day pupils, access to a thriving mixed community. The emphasis on independence, critical thinking, and self-directed learning means pupils thrive when they take ownership of their education.
Weaknesses centre on scale and tradition. Oakham is not as selective as schools like Winchester or Eton; its buildings are functional rather than palatial; its location is rural rather than convenient to London or major cities. For families valuing exclusivity, architectural prestige, or urban proximity, other schools may appeal more. The cost of full boarding remains substantial, even with financial aid.
For the right family, however, those valuing genuine inclusivity, broad educational opportunity, and long-term pastoral relationship, Oakham is exceptional. It produces intellectually ambitious, emotionally secure, genuinely rounded young people who engage confidently with the world beyond school gates.
Yes. Oakham ranks in the top 10% of schools in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool data) and top 25% for A-levels. However, "good" depends on fit. The school explicitly aims to balance academic achievement with creative, sporting, and pastoral development, rather than positioning itself as a purely academic institution. If your definition of "good" centres on Oxbridge places or ultra-competitive academic achievement, other schools may better suit. If you value rigorous academics combined with genuine pastoral care, broad opportunity, and an inclusive community, Oakham excels.
For 2025-26, full boarding in the Middle and Upper School (Years 9-13) costs £18,570 per term (including VAT), or £55,710 annually. Weekly boarding is £16,740 per term. Day fees are £10,968 per term (£32,904 annually). Younger pupils (Forms 1-2, Years 7-8) pay £14,574 for full boarding, with flexible boarding from £11,148-£12,900, and day fees £9,300 per term. Fees include tuition, textbooks, all meals, boarding (for boarders), laundry, medical support, and most activities. Individual music and drama lessons are charged separately, as are some optional trips. Financial aid through bursaries is substantial and means-tested with no upper limit; the Oakham Foundation Award provides full boarding fee coverage for up to two exceptional pupils annually.
Entry is competitive but not extraordinarily selective. Assessment focuses on identifying potential and reasoning ability rather than purely academic achievement. The school explicitly states it is not "particularly selective academically," meaning bright, engaged pupils without extensive private tutoring experience routinely secure places. Entrance assessments at 11+ include English, maths, reasoning, and interview; assessments at 13+ are more demanding. The school welcomes pupils of varied learning profiles within the broadly academically able range.
Boarders live in one of 10 houses, each with a housemaster/mistress and resident staff. Houses are mixed-age, mixing day and boarding pupils. Mornings include breakfast at house (included in fees), morning registration, and then lessons. Afternoons combine academic lessons with games/sports and activities. Evenings include supper in the main dining hall, followed by evening activities, prep, and house time. Weekends combine Saturday morning school and afternoon fixtures, free time, and relaxation. Pupils may leave school grounds only with permission; this is a boarding school, not a day release environment. Weekly exeats allow pupils to visit home during term; all pupils return home for main holidays.
In 2024, 47% of the 190-strong leaver cohort progressed to university. Oxbridge entries are small (1 Cambridge place in 2024 from approximately 15 applications); the school does not focus disproportionately on Oxbridge at the expense of other universities. Russell Group universities are popular destinations, though the school does not publish specific percentages. The school's emphasis on IB alongside A-levels and BTEC alongside A-levels means some leavers pursue employment or further education immediately, reflecting the school's commitment to supporting varied futures rather than funnelling all pupils toward university.
Oakham's 50:50 day-boarding split means day pupils are fully integrated into the boarding community rather than peripheral. Pupils live and learn alongside boarders, participate in house events, and share meals. This hybrid model creates genuine social cohesion across both communities, avoiding the sometimes-fractious dynamic in schools where day pupils are a minority or where clear hierarchy exists. The quality of pastoral care, with housemasters/mistresses living on-site and tutors meeting pupils weekly, provides both oversight and genuine personal relationship.
The rural Rutland location is both strength and limitation. For families in the East Midlands (including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire), travel is manageable; many pupils attend from Manchester, Birmingham, and London via train or car. The school is served by rail and motorway; exeats allow regular home visits. For international boarders (roughly 25% of the boarding community), the school provides support, holiday care options, and pastoral oversight. Boarding mitigates distance; families accepting full boarding find location less problematic than those expecting frequent weekend visits. The location near Rutland Water and rural Rutland offers peace and reflection, which many families value deliberately.
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