Oakham Sport
Oakham is justifiably proud of its sporting tradition. The School’s reputation for producing competitive teams and individuals across a range of sports and at a wide range of abilities is second to none. We are rightly proud of the steady stream of Old Oakhamians who continue to garner success at national and international level but are equally proud of a sports programme which offers competitive and recreational opportunities for all our pupils.
Our major seasonal sports are
Boys Rugby Football (winter), Hockey (spring) and Cricket and Athletics (summer)
Girls Hockey (winter), Netball (spring) and Tennis and Athletics (summer).
Do explore our Sports pages and discover the many other sporting opportunities we offer.
The Sports Department has four key aims
- To provide adequate exercise for every pupil such that all can live healthy and fulfilling lifestyles both at and beyond Oakham
- To provide opportunities for competitive sport for all in Oakham’s major games. We strongly believe in the educational value of training to work as part of a team towards goals, competing according individual levels of attainment. We promote leadership and teamwork and help pupils develop personally through both winning and losing.
- To allow pupils the opportunity to experience a wide variety of sports, both team and individual, through the PE and games programmes, so that they are able to enjoy sport for years to come.
- To identify, nurture and support those individuals who have the talent and ability to progress in their chosen sport to representative, international and professional levels. Oakham has an outstanding record of fulfilling this aim in all our major games for both boys and girls.
From local to International success
Oakham pupils enjoy regular success at local, regional and national levels. At any one time, around 60 boys and girls are representing their county or country in their chosen sport, and the list of Old Oakhamians representing their country at senior level is impressive and ever-increasing. As one generation of OO sportsmen and women have reached the top of their careers the next generation are now making their mark in top flight sport. World Cup Winner, British Lion and England captain Lewis Moody has recently retired from Rugby whilst Crista Cullen won bronze in the women's hockey at the London 2012 Olympics.
England and Premiership rugby are well served with Oakhamians with Alex Goode (England and Saracens), Tom Croft (British Lions England and Leicester), Matt Smith (England Saxons and Leicester Tigers) Charlie Walker (Harlequins) Matt Cornwall (Leicester) Rob Cook (Gloucester) and Charlie Beech (Wasps) while first class cricketers featuring Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire and England (T20 Captain)), Josh Cobb (England Sixes Captain), Alex Wyatt and Matt Boyce (all Leicestershire), Tom Fell (Worcestershire)and Ian Saxelby (Gloucestershire).
Outstanding facilities
Our facilities are outstanding. They include more than 40 acres of the best grass playing areas in the country, a multi-purpose sports centre, indoor pool, two floodlit all-weather pitches for hockey and tennis, squash courts, strength and condition room, fives courts and a fitness centre. The cricket square is first class standard and we are proud to host County matches as well as School fixtures.
The School enjoys close links with Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints rugby clubs, Leicestershire County Cricket Club as well as Beeston and Leicester Hockey clubs and Loughborough Lightning Netball. Boys and girls who exhibit exceptional promise are supported in their pursuit of excellence whilst still ensuring the high level of academic achievement which is integral Oakham School life.
Scholarships
A number of Sport Scholarships are available to 13+ and 16+ entrants. Request a Scholarships and Bursaries booklet and contact our Director of Sport, Iain Simpson, for further information.