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For a long time, Oakham has used the phrase ‘Learning isn’t limited to the classroom’.  Never before has this been truer than this term.  With classrooms closed and learning taking place at home – the kitchen table, or pupils’ studies or bedrooms, have replaced classrooms and science labs!

Oakham’s innovative Academic Cornerstone Course (ACC) culminated this week with the announcement of the ACC Challenge award winners.

Oakham’s innovative approach to remote education continued right up to the end of the School year as pupils in Form 5, whose GCSE examinations have been disrupted due to Coronavirus, were able to continue their journey with a new ‘Bridging Course’.

n the penultimate week of term, pupils in the Lower School and Forms 3 and 4 took some valuable time off screen to participate in their Connections Projects and the interhouse Strava Challenge.

Pupils, parents, teachers and staff gathered together, virtually, to celebrate pupils’ achievements during two Speech Day events; one for pupils in the Middle School and one for pupils in the Upper School.

On the last day of term, Seventh Form pupils, whose time at Oakham was brought to an unusual end as a result of their examinations being cancelled, gathered together to take part in a poignant Leavers’ Service.

Oakham’s sporting alumni galvanised during this difficult time, offering sporting advice and guidance in the form of a unique series of interviews held with Director of Sport, Iain Simpson.

Chapel has remained at the heart of Oakham's daily life during lockdown, continuing to provide pastoral support to the School community.

Despite not being able to experiment in the classroom, the Lower 1 Science pupils have not let that slow them down, and continued to do good practical science, up until the final week of term.

Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakham School pupils are continuing to prepare for their applications to study competitive clinical courses at university. 

Lower School pupils raised over £7,500 for Rainbows Hospice and LIV Villages by taking part in the ‘Fab 4 Charity Challenge’ – more than £2,500 over their initial target! 

Parents, pupils and staff of Oakham’s Lower School came together, albeit remotely, to round off this extraordinary academic year with an uplifting Prize Giving ceremony, full of musical performances, video montages, speeches and, of course, prizes.

While the School campus may not have been resounding with music-making this term, the Music Department was still able to produce a wonderful End of Year Concert, albeit virtually. The concert was as diverse as ever, featuring eleven performances from ten ensembles, seven of which were recorded from home.

Congratulations to the nine Form 6 Biologists who won certificates in the annual Biology Olympiad, a prestigious competition run by the Royal Society of Biology.

Ryan won a Gold Award, Matthew, Sara and Adam won Silver Awards and Teni won Bronze; Kyumin was highly commended and Liberty, Finlay and Jake were all commended. 

These past few months have seen House spirit thrive at Oakham, particularly through the activities, challenges and competitions set by Housemasters and Housemistresses.

Oakham’s innovative Academic Cornerstone Course (ACC) was launched and delivered this term for pupils in Forms 5 and 7. 

Members of Oakham’s Biology Society enjoyed a virtual ‘café scientifique’, where they listened to four accomplished Old Oakhamian scientists discuss their broad experiences working in science, and to reflect on their post-Oakham journeys. The online event, hosted by teacher of Biology, Dr Andrew Nicoll, was attended by Form 6 pupils from Oakham School, Harrington School and the Loughborough Schools Foundation. Dr Nicoll was joined by Dr Lotty Brand (09), Florence Schanschieff (14), Abi Mustard (15) and Dr Jamie Blaza (06) whose expertise extended from molecules to ecosystems, and spanned from laboratory research to the commercial world via field work. 

At the end of May, Emily Nagel (12) joined Sir Ben Ainslie CBE in a virtual race viewing event to discuss their recent success with Team GB at the inaugural race of SAIL GP Season 2. Together they did a post-race analysis of the two days of racing in Sydney, answering a range of questions about their preparation through to the decisions they made throughout the two days of racing.

Finding herself with plenty of time her hands due to the lockdown, Ella Deregowska (17) decided to put her talent and passion for painting towards a valuable cause. Inspired by various fundraising activities, and spurred on by friends and family asking her for portraits, Ella started to take commissions - with all proceeds going to the NHS.

The death of George Floyd has sparked protests across the world, as well as public debate and private conversations.

Science and Chemistry are continuing in full force during this period of distant learning with live lessons enabling pupils to carry on asking questions and exploring their ideas with their teachers.

When Oakham School switched to distance learning for the remainder of the Spring term and the duration of the Summer term, teachers and pupils quickly learned to adapt to new technology.

Last term saw Lower 1 and Form 1 Science classes successfully studying electricity as well as space and gravity and other topics, in a remote learning environment.

This half-term pupils from the four Houses of the Lower School are jointly taking part in the Fab 4 Charity Challenge to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and LIV Villages.

The girls in Gunthorpe House have been sending uplifting messages, cards, drawings and paintings to local care homes in the Rutland area, after hearing that they were struggling in these difficult times.

Old Oakhamian Abigail Mustard (15), Information Officer for the Rutland Osprey Project, has been keeping everyone up-to-date with video commentary and blog posts as part of the Rutland Osprey Home School initiative.

A new composition by Old Oakhamian, Morgan Edward Overton (18), will be sending a message of hope to BBC Radio 3 audiences as part of the BBC’s ‘Culture in Quarantine’ arts festival.

Congratulations to Form 1 pupil, Joe, and Form 6 pupil, Toby, who are the winners in their respective age categories of this year’s Creative Writing Competition!

Today saw the launch of Oakham’s Academic Cornerstone Course (ACC), an innovative two-week programme for pupils in Forms 5 and 7.

As Oakham’s Design and Technology Department reaches a momentous milestone - making and delivering an astonishing 30,000 visors for Key Workers - the School wants to thank all those involved in making this happen.  

Two of Oakham’s talented rugby players have been awarded contracts with Leicester Tigers, following a successful season in their Under-18 Academy.

Whilst learning about Shakespeare, Lower 1 created modern-day blogs as either Romeo or Juliet, telling their followers of their love and their dilemma!

Members of Oakham School’s Medical and Biology Societies were privileged to participate in a special seminar where Old Oakhamian Dr Navin Leanage (07) talked about his first-hand experience battling Coronavirus on the NHS frontline.

It is with great pleasure and pride that we congratulate Toby, one of our Form 6 pupils, on his commendation from the Tower Poetry Competition for his entry, A Tree.

The School community may not have been able to gather together to mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, but that certainly doesn’t mean that this important date went unmarked at Oakham.

Pupils from Form 1 to Form 6 have been exercising their creative writing skills by submitting poems and short stories they have written to enter Oakham School’s second annual creative writing competition.

Oakham recently took part in their first virtual live cricket match,organised by Oakham’s cricket coaches Wesley Durston and Patrick Latham.

Oakhamians past and present are raising money for Rutland Foodbank by running or cycling the equivalent distance from Oakham Cricket Club to The Grange in Edinburgh in just 7 days.

Oakham School’s popular weekly Wednesday lunchtime concerts, which normally take place in the town’s All Saints’ Church, are now available to view online.

Congratulations to Form L1 pupil Leonie for making it through to the second round of Radio 2’s 500 Word Story Competition!

Oakham’s Director of Music has been bestowed the honour of a High Sheriff Award for his work in bringing the counties’ children together in the massed Pied Piper! concert held last year.

Oakham School is proud to be supporting the local ‘For the love of Scrubs’ team, who are producing essential PPE for the NHS.

Oakham School and Rutland Plastics have joined forces to take the production of face shields for Key Workers to another level, with the aim of making up to 20,000 masks in the days ahead. 

Lower School pupils have been set some fun challenges by their Houses over Easter to help keep them occupied and healthy whilst remaining at home.

Steve Gorman, Director of Outdoor Activities, has been helping save lives by volunteering as a blood bike rider for the Leicester and Rutland Blood Bikes, delivering blood for the NHS.

Oakham Art’s Instagram account @oakham_art has been helping us to stay creative, inspired and connected this Easter by posting daily art prompts to challenge our minds.

Oakham’s Design and Technology department is busy supporting the NHS in their fight against Covid-19 by making face shields for front line staff. 

Last term saw Lincoln House girls treated to a special visit by some spring lambs. 

Oakham’s sporting success on a national stage continues with a huge number of teams in a variety of sports reaching their national finals or playing at the top of their league!

Members of the Oakham School community joined with pupils from over 20 schools across Rutland to wear green in support of The National Forest.