At Oakham, students are encouraged to get involved, try something new and discover what they are capable of.
Our co-curricular programme gives every student the opportunity to step beyond the classroom, pursue their interests and stretch themselves in new directions. From sport and music to drama, service, leadership and everything in between, students learn by taking part, and by building confidence, resilience, friendships and the ability to work with others along the way.
It’s not about being the best. It’s about giving your best, getting stuck in and finding out what you can do.
You don’t just watch. You get involved.
Oakham is not a school for those who watch from the sidelines.
We encourage students to embrace opportunities, including the ones that feel unfamiliar. They might discover a talent they didn’t know they had, find a new passion or simply learn that they can do something they once thought they couldn’t.
Because some of the most important lessons happen when students step forward, have a go, get things wrong, try again and learn to rely on the people around them.
The breadth of our co-curricular programme
With more than 125 activities available every week, there are countless ways to get involved at Oakham.
Sport
Compete, train, improve your skills or simply enjoy being active with others.
Creative & Performing Arts
Make, perform, create and collaborate across music, drama, dance and the visual arts.
Clubs & Activities
Explore new interests, develop existing passions and discover something you never expected to enjoy.
Service & Community
Use your time and talents to make a difference, working with and contributing to the wider community.
Leadership
Step forward, take responsibility and learn how to bring people with you.
Outdoor Education & Adventure
Take yourself out of the familiar and discover what you’re capable of in new environments.
Stretch beyond what you already know
At Oakham, students are encouraged to pursue the things they’re good at, but not to stop there.
Trying something new can be just as valuable as developing an existing talent. It might mean stepping onto a stage for the first time, joining a team, learning an instrument, taking on a leadership role or getting involved in a community project.
The point isn’t to become brilliant at everything.
It’s to become willing to have a go.
And by doing that, students learn to deal with setbacks, work with others, manage their time and keep going when things don’t go to plan.
More time to get involved
Oakham’s six-day week creates more space for students to immerse themselves in school life beyond the classroom.
It means co-curricular activities aren’t an add-on at the edges of the school day. They’re part of the rhythm of life at Oakham – alongside academic learning and pastoral care.
Students learn to make choices, manage a busy schedule and take responsibility for how they use their time.
Student development
Through co-curricular life at Oakham, students learn to:
- Give their best without needing to be the best
- Step into the unfamiliar
- Become comfortable with failure and setbacks
- Work with and look out for others
- Take responsibility for their commitments
- Manage a busy schedule
- Discover new strengths
- Give back to their community
Ready for whatever comes next
The experiences students have outside the classroom become part of who they are.
They learn how to show up, work with others, deal with disappointment, take responsibility and keep going. They discover what they enjoy, what challenges them and what they’re capable of.
These are lessons that last well beyond their time at Oakham.
Character is built by doing. And every co-curricular experience helps students become more confident, capable and ready for whatever comes next.
