Number of pupils: 1040
Percentage of boarders: 50%
Percentage of international pupils: 20%
Av. class size: senior school - 10 / 6th Form - 8
Closest international airport: Birmingham Airport, one hour by car.
Fees per term for 2023/24: £14,635
A-Levels, I/GCSEs, BTecs and the IB on offer.
Oakham School is moderately selective and does very well academically considering: in 2023 36% of A-Level grades were A-grades 48% of GCSE grades were 9-7 grades and the IB yielded a commendable 34.4 points average, more than four points above the world average.
We especially like that art and design technology are both very popular and successful at Oakham School! Specialist teachers run the show here and visiting artists and professionals run regular creative workshops.
French, Spanish, Latin, Greek and German are the language options.
50% of pupils are full boarders here.
Oakham School’s 10 boarding houses are regularly renovated and hence always to a decent standard.
Exeat weekends exist but are not compulsory.
First off, Oakham School is a refreshingly down-to-earth, tolerant school. No pretense, no arrogance or snootiness here. The atmosphere is one of happy industry and an infectious energy. Its commitment to the IB attracts nearly 20% international students which further contributes to the school's open-mindedness.
Oakham School's focus on a holistic education is definitely not just lip-service! There is an abundance of amazing activities outside of the classroom and a real focus on developing essential soft skills such as leadership and team-work. A paradise for the curious all-rounder!
Pupils are very well taken care of here, both academically and pastorally. A very effective tutorial system with weekly one-on-ones with dedicated tutors help pupils achieve their goals both in and out of the classroom. The very caring houseparents and teachers ensure that pupils are happy.
As you'd expect, sports is strong here, with over 30 sports on offer. Notable mentions are rugby and hockey, but the tennis, sailing, water polo are strong also.
Lastly, the creative offer is amazing here. Music is top notch with orchestras, jazz bands, ensembles and bands, as well as over 50% of pupils playing an instrument here. The £2m Jerwood School of Design plays a key role in the school's DT success and the QE Theatre sees at least five major drama productions every year.
Look-wise maybe not quite as endowed with glamour as the competition in the South, but 'don't judge a book by its cover' applies to Oakham School more than anywhere we know!