Oakham School

Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the market town of Oakham in Rutland, with a school roll of about 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18.

The school was founded in 1584 by Archdeacon Robert Johnson, along with Uppingham School, a few miles away.They share a common badge design (and a strong rivalry), but whilst Uppingham's colours tend towards blue and white, Oakham's are black and red.

Under Headmaster John Buchanan, in 1971 Oakham was the first boys' independent secondary school in Britain to accept both male and female pupils throughout the whole school and not just in the Sixth Form.In 1995, it was the first public school to go on-line.

Oakham School was founded in 1584 by Archdeacon Robert Johnson. Johnson received an income from four church positions and used this wealth to set up a number of charitable institutions, including the two free grammar schools at Oakham and Uppingham. As someone on the Puritan wing of the Church of England he had a strong belief in the benefits of education.

According to Johnson's statutes for the school, "the schoolmaster shall teach all those grammar scholars that are brought up in Oakham, freely without pay, if their parents be poor and not able to pay, and keep them constantly to school."The master of the school was to teach Hebrew, Latin and Greek. Of course, although the schooling was free, permanent attendance meant the loss to a family of an income, so not many very poor would have attended, or wanted the education. The master could supplement his income of £24 per year by taking in boarders. Johnson was careful to ensure that his schools were sufficiently endowed. This endowment was confirmed by Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I.

All pupils study English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, a dual-award Science course (taught as three separate subjects), RE short course and a foreign language (French, German or Spanish) to GCSE, as well as at least two of History, Geography and French, which is offered as an alternative to a second humanities subject. Pupils are then expected to choose two subjects from a varied selection, which includes a second foreign language, Drama and Theatre Studies, Art and Design subjects, Food Studies, Sports Science and a combined Greek and Latin course. "Gratin", as it is nicknamed, is taught in one slot of the timetable, and pupils receive two full GCSEs at the end of the course. Students in the higher sets for Mathematics are given the opportunity to study for an FSMQ in Further Mathematics.

All pupils throughout the school also take part in Physical Education and Sport, but not as an academic subject.

There is plenty of provision for the Creative and Performing Arts, with a number of Old Oakhamians now starring in professional music and drama; in recent years the school's choral activities have gained an outstanding reputation.

The Upper School academic curriculum is designed to give students a wide range of choices that will prepare them for higher education and future careers. Oakham offers both the International Baccalaureate (IB) and AS/A2 levels.The AS/A2 levels structure at Oakham has been designed to encourage students to take a wider variety of subjects. Most students take 4 subjects at AS Level and continue to A2 level in at least 3 of those subjects.

Studying within the Upper School, all students take six subjects. Usually, students take a literature course in their own language, another modern or classical language, a science and a mathematics course, a humanities and an arts course. These are at standard or higher level. In addition, all students complete an extended essay, take a course in theory of knowledge and complete a programme of creativity, action and service (CAS).

In recent years the GCSE pass rate has been just short of 100%, with an average of over 10 passes above C (with most at A / A*) per pupil; the A level / IB pass rate similarly has been just under 100%, with over 80% at A / A* or IB equivalent.

Oakham School has a total of 16 houses; 2 in the Upper School (1 for boys and 1 for girls), 10 in the Middle School (5 boys houses, 5 girls; 6 boarding, 4 day) and 4 in the Lower School (Jerwoods) (2 boys, 2 girls; 2 boarding, 2 day).School House is the Seventh Form Boys' House, which sees all boys (boarding and day) in that form (the last year at school) housed under one roof. It is set in Chapel Close, separate from the main school campus and located by the Market Place, at the centre of the town. The Head of School House is traditionally the Head Boy, who is supported by the Headmaster's prefects - the male members of the School's Decem.The Seventh Form Girls' Boarding house, Round House brings all the Middle School girls (boarding and day) together under one roof for their last year. It is situated in Chapel Close, next to School House. The Head of Round House is the Head Girl, who is supported by the female members of the Decem.