Glossary
Get the insider’s guide to Oakham School by discovering the definitions of the words and phrases that you’ll hear staff and pupils using around the campus.
BAFs |
The BAF Smith Sports Pavilion, which was opened in 2014 and is situated on Doncaster Close |
The Barraclough |
The school dining hall, where students and staff eat together |
CCF |
Combined Cadet Force – from Form 4 you can become a cadet one of our service options, joining the Army or RAF Sections |
Congo |
Short for congregational practice, when the School comes together in Chapel for hymn practice |
Deanscroft |
The Headmaster's house |
Decem |
The School’s senior prefects, who are selected from Form 7. Originally, there were only 10, nowadays there are 26! |
D of E |
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – you can opt to do this as your service activity from Form 4 |
Donkey |
Doncaster Close playing fields, where rugby and cricket matches and training take place. It’s also a great place to relax with friends in the summer. |
Exeat |
Half-term break in the middle of each term, lasting for one or two weeks |
Family groups |
Groups within the Middle School houses, made up of a mixture of pupils from Forms 3 to 6 |
Farside |
The playing fields on Kilburn Road, where the Astroturfs and netball courts are also situated |
Form 7 |
The final year at Oakham for students aged 17 to 18; the equivalent of Year 13. Round House and School House are houses designated for Form 7, and the students also wear business dress. rather than school uniform. |
FOSIL |
Framework for Oakham School Inquiry Learning – this is an initiative to promote independent learning from the Lower School upwards |
Foundation |
The department that deals with Development and Fundraising |
HoD |
Head of Department |
Informal Chapel |
A Sunday chapel service where uniform does not have to be worn |
Jerwoods |
The site on which the Lower School sits, on Burley Road. Lower School pupils are often referred to as Jerwoods pupils. |
Leave-out |
School finishes at Saturday lunchtime and boarders can go home until Sunday night. |
LHO |
Learning Habits at Oakham – a set of essential building blocks to promote efficient independent learning |
Long Leave-out |
This is the same as a leave-out, but with a two-night break |
Lower One |
Year group with pupils aged 10 to 11; the equivalent of Year 6 |
OO |
This stands for Old Oakhamian – an ex-student of Oakham School |
OSAF |
Oakham School Arts Festival – an annual festival where students can write, produce and perform their own plays, all without any teacher input |
OSCA |
Oakham School Charities Association – pupils can become OSCA reps and help organise charity events and choose the charities and causes that the School supports |
OSEL |
Oakham School Enterprises Ltd – the department in the School that handles venue hire and use of school facilities |
Out Back |
The garden at the back of the Lower School boarding houses – a great place for playing games at the weekend |
PR |
Progress Report – parents receive one of these every half term for their child |
Provisions |
Bread and butter, milk and fresh fruit collected daily from the school kitchens for each house. Pupils take it in turns in pairs to collect this on a daily basis. |
PTC |
Parent Teacher Committee |
QET |
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre - the School’s theatre, which is also home to the Drama department. We hold five show-stopping major productions here every year. |
Red Book |
A small red book published termly detailing everything that’s happening in the term, as well as listing contact details for all members of staff and the school rules |
Schanschieffs |
The Middle School day houses campus on Ashwell Road, which has a large visitors’ car park |
SLT |
Senior Leadership Team |
The Ashburton |
A classroom block and home to Modern Languages and Classics. It also has a small lecture theatre. |
The Merton |
A classroom block and home to English, Geography, History, Mathematics, , Learning Support and Religion and Philosophy |
VA |
Voluntary Action – one of the three service options, where pupils take part in a range of activities to help others in the community |
WA |
Wilson Auditorium – a large auditorium seating over 200 where talks and assemblies are held |