JoeContributors:Roberts, Alumni Manager Aurore Bonnefond,GuillomotSchool Archivist Rowntree,Samantha Director of External Relations Emily Howett, ManagerCommunications Fairweather,Rachel Content Writer and Editor 1. Girls in the CCF 2.(1970s)Girlsgoing on a DofE expedition 3.(1992)Girls in uniform 4.(1970s)ACCF camp (1970s)a6.(1978)photographHouse5.(1970s)BuchanansinformalSupportersatsportsmatch 1 3 5 2 4 6
Co-education is deeply embedded in the DNA of Oakham School and remains a cornerstone of our ethos”
There will always be times when girls and boys choose to be separate, and to pursue their own interests, but coeducation encourages a natural fluidity and confidence in working together, playing together and being at ease together. In my experience, girls and boys are also good at keeping each other’s feet on the ground, ensuring that any myths are dispelled early and replaced with recognition and admiration for differing strengths and achievements.
As sex, gender and identity continue to be explored, the next 50 years will see further evolution in education and co-education, and Oakham is wellplaced to stay in the vanguard of this. Most importantly, it is well-placed to remain a school for families, where every individual is cared for, supported and given every opportunity to thrive whilst at School and in their lives beyond.
Henry Price Headmaster
Oakham School
W hen Headmaster John Buchanan launched coeducation at Oakham, he said; “A school should be co-educational, because education must prepare for life.” 50 years later, co-education is deeply embedded in the DNA of Oakham School and remains a cornerstone of our ethos, not only to prepare for life, but intrinsic to the precious years of life in school, with girls and boys living and learning together. There is a richness and an energy, which is palpable across the campus, as girls and boys enjoy each other’s company. This warm and dynamic atmosphere is also reflected in the learning of the classroom, where different perspectives are shared, and beyond the classroom where pupils combine in numerous activities across the cocurriculum. We see, hear and feel pupils growing in understanding, intellectually and socially, as they are taught and learn from adults, but also as they are taught and learn from one another.
Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021 | 3
Below: College House, the first Girls’ House in 1971
T he years 1970 and 1971 marked two major milestones in Oakham School’s history, the most significant since 1584, and brought about tremendous and irrevocable changes to the course and nature of the School - returning to full independence and accepting girls into the School.
StoryCo-educationOakham’s
Above: Deanscroft 1971 Right, from left to right: John HaywoodColTrevorBuchanan,Case,Tom
Buoyed by the Housemasters’ backing, Buchanan took the proposal to the Trustees. The idea had clearly also stuck in their minds from the earlier independence discussions, and with remarkable alacrity, only four months after the independence vote, the Trustees resolved to accept girls in September 1971.
The earliest recollection is of the ease in which co-education was introduced. As I recall, a special staff meeting was held when JDB, ever the master at marketing an idea, announced: “We shall be taking girls into the school next year.” This was accepted without much question... Most of us were full of eager
Mikeanticipation.”Stevens, Teacher at Oakham School 1957–1993
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John Buchanan (JDB) Headmaster, had for some time been ruminating on the limitations of single-sex education, feeling as though it was particularly deficient when it came to preparing for life after Oakham. He felt, too, that girls would have a “civilising effect” on the School as a whole. Before independence, the Local Education Authority had rejected a proposal by the Trustees to merge with the girls’ Rutland High School; the idea of co-education had been planted and had taken root in Buchanan’s mind. The triumvirate of the Headmaster (JDB), Chairman of Trustees (Tom Haywood) and Bursar (Trevor Case), began co-education consultations, and Buchanan approached the Housemasters about the proposal, and found them surprisingly supportive.
The House,inboarders17College1971 | 5
Buchanan felt it essential to the success of the endeavour to introduce girls across the entirety of the School from the off to avoid it becoming only co-education in the sixth form and so his daughter, Josephine, joined in Form 4, as did Rev Terence Treanor’s daughter, Elizabeth. Oakham has long been a family school, and that was as true then as now, with about a third of that first cohort either having siblings enrolled or parents on the faculty. Those first few days were hectic, as the reality set in and old habits needed changing. The boys soon learned to adapt, their language softened, if only ever so slightly, and the more risqué jokes left behind. The first afternoon of sport drew a crowd of rugby boys to the girls’ tennis practice, but the novelty soon wore off. The sixth form boarders found their feet amongst the School House boys, mixing in the Club Room in the evenings. There were, of course, a few teething problems, and there were a few staff members who had to become accustomed to the change, and were perhaps more nervous than the new girls. were were the happiest two years of my life.”
“So, the girls arrived” 27 girls arrived on the afternoon of 5 September 1971, to a School which hadn’t known their like in its nearly 400-year history. “They were a gallant lot,” wrote JDB, and they surely had to be, 27 girls amongst 714 boys. The younger ones were spread particularly thin, with 11 spread across Forms 1 to 5, including a sole girl each in Form 3 and Form 5. College House, the temporary solution until purpose-built accommodation was complete, was beautifully furnished, more nicely than the boys’ more austere dormitories, although with the School exceeding its intended allocation of 15 places, the day girls were left to squeeze in amongst the boarders.
How welcome the girls were made to feel - at no point did we feel that we
Catherine Lincoln (née Oldham) (‘79)
stepping into a man’s world. They
Dorset Field Trip (1973) Round House in the 1970s The Jerwoods Campus in 1986 The newly built Sports Hall (1972) John Jerwood Rev TreanorTerence The first five girls boarding in Orchard Close (1975) My classmates were bright and razor sharp and soon I enjoyed both the camaraderie and the competitiveness that emerged. Our teachers by and large accommodated the influx of the feminine with insight, humour, and ease.”
(née Ingenhousz) (‘71) 6 |
Emilie Salvesen
With nearly 100 more girls, including an additional 60 boarders, more accommodation than College House could possibly offer was required. Round House opened that September, the first purpose-built Girls’ House, with 30 bedsits housing 60 girls, as well as 18 remaining in College House with Mr Jones, now HM of Round House. Rev. Terence Treanor took charge of 38 day girls in Talbot House, the first of its kind.
As the numbers of girls shot up, and the total number of pupils in the School with it, housing them all became the decade’s constant focus. Despite the success of the First & Second Development Campaigns, the finances did not allow for the level of expansion that the campus required.
The Combined Cadet Force deserves a special mention for its endeavours to accommodate both boys and girls. Buchanan had written to the Ministry of Defence to inquire about the possibility of the girls joining the Corps; the joint Cadet Executive were surprised by the request, “up until that time we had not given much thought to the matter.”
One of the memories, amongst others that stood out for me, was wearing a cape! This was part of the uniform over our blazer and as I rode my bike to School, it was a bit like a superhero!”
A new Sports Hall was opened in 1972, replacing the old gym, which since 1970 had also been serving as the Pavilion, and thoroughly modernised the sporting facilities that Oakham had to offer, with a sports hall, squash courts, and an indoor swimming pool, which replaced the outdoor pool at the bottom of the campus, at the constant mercy of the English weather.
The uniform, as with any school, provoked an inordinate amount of debate, especially as the older girls were permitted to wear home clothes other than when they attended Chapel and ‘formal occasions’; a privilege not yet conferred onto the School House boys, who remained suited and booted, and were a tad jealous.
There remained elements of the School which did not integrate immediately; the Duke of Edinburgh Awards activity and Choir remained the preserve of the boys for some years, but overall, the girls integrated fully and quickly.
Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education
The request was granted and Oakham School, along with four other schools, was selected for a pilot programme.
The Oakhamian of Winter 1971 contains high praise from R.B. Jones, Housemaster of College House, and later Round House, who commends the girls for the “shining example to all sixth formers and to the School: The Sorcerer, The Revenger’s Tragedy, Musical Evening, Concerts – even shooting – all owe a debt to them. We are proud of them.”
With the success of “this co-education lark” as one tutor rather ungracefully put it, came change, and lots of it. The School was, in Buchanan’s own estimation, ‘chasing its own tail’, in this case, victim of its own success in integrating and enticing girls to the School.
In stepped The Visitor, OO John Jerwood (’35), whose own faith in the co-education project at Oakham School led to his constant financial and moral support. The Lower School Campus, which came to be known as ‘Jerwoods’, was expanded with two new buildings next to Peterborough House, and came to hold Peterborough & Lincoln Houses for the boarders, and Sargants & Ancaster for the day pupils. Many of the 7th Form girls were at that time billeted around town with Oakham School families, and while many of the girls enjoyed their time in lodgings, it was not a sustainable model. Orchard Close, once the retirement residence of W.L. Sargant, was purchased in 1975, to be converted into a Girls’ House. In its first year, it played host to the Stevens family, 5 plucky girls and an army of builders.
The arrival of the girls accelerated the broadening of the School’s offerings which Buchanan had been working toward since his arrival, both in the classroom and outside it, and the School began to take the shape he envisioned for it.
Delia Moutrey (’79)
By September 1972, the number of girls had swelled to 116 – still only about 14% of the population, but spread more evenly across the School, and a testament to the immediate success of co-education.
1971-2021 | 7
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1 1 2 3 4
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award soon followed the CCF in integrating girls, and in 1977, the first girls received their Awards, with 4 Silver and 14 Bronze Awards; the first 3 Gold Awards would soon follow in 1979. The early integration of the DofE programme led to Oakham being the first school to be awarded 1,000 Gold Awards, a feat which merited a visit from the Duke himself in 2000. Music and theatre, already in a vastly improved state by 1971, were only enhanced by the arrival of talented female musicians and thespians. On the stage, the girls who had arrived from single-sex schools were just as eager to play female parts as the boys were excited by no longer being required to do so. Between the Shakespeare Centre and the Barraclough Hall, productions of all shapes and sizes were a regular fixture of the School calendar. In music, one orchestra had become three, the CCF band became two concert bands, and the School’s musicians became “excellent ambassadors”, playing dozens of concerts in the School and the local community.
Societies became a central part of the timetable, rather than an evening afterthought, meaning that day pupils could join, and the Red Books of the era testify to a very active social life, with well over a dozen societies meeting regularly, and welcoming public speakers to the School or going off on trips to the theatre or to a concert.
‘In music, one orchestra had become three, the CCF band became two concert bands...’
Clockwise from above: 1. The first contingent of girls in the CCF, 2.1973The Duke of Edinburgh presents the 1,000th Gold DofE Award, 2000 3. The Joseph4.(1990s)orchestraThemusical(1975-1976) Society membership cards (1970s) Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
Left: Science class Below: The 1976 Shooting team Bottom of page: Rugby in the 1970s
Rushebrookes House, named after the School’s first Headmaster, was opened in 1980, and brought the number of Girls’ Houses equal to the boys for the first time. An extension to Buchanans House followed shortly thereafter. Upon its completion, the decision was taken to match Round House with School House, and Chapel Close became the Form 7 Campus. By the time Bull left for Rugby School at the end of 1984, during which time the School celebrated its Quatercentenary, girls accounted for 45% of the roll. It was Bull’s successor, Graham Smallbone, who oversaw the concluding milestones in making Oakham School fully coeducational. 1989 brought about one final momentous shift –Deanscroft was converted into Stevens House, a girls’ boarding house, and its male residents moved across Doncaster Close to the newly built Haywoods House. That same year saw girls account for 50% of the pupils at Oakham for the first time ever. There has been a bit of fluctuation, including in 1991 when girls outnumbered boys, but it has remained a roughly equal split ever since. 50 years on from that first group of 27 girls, many, if not most, Oakham pupils take co-education for granted. But it’s worth remembering that some visionary leadership and a few brave young women made it all possible, and shaped Oakham School into what it is today.
wasCo-educationcemented at Oakham School under Richard Bull’s leadership, and the School’s expansion continued apace.
Academically, there was for a few years a disparity between the boys and the girls’ marks, although by 1976, the boys had an A-level success rate of 86%, only 2% shy of the girls’ 88%, which Buchanan described as “the culmination of so much for which [he] had striven at Oakham ever since 1958.”
Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
In 1977, John Buchanan reached the retirement age and made way for his successor, Richard Bull. The school which Buchanan passed on to Bull was practically unrecognisable from the small provincial grammar school he inherited in 1958. It was only fitting that the newly converted Orchard Close was renamed Buchanans House in his Co-educationhonour.was cemented at Oakham School under Bull’s leadership, and the School’s rapid expansion continued apace.
Despite the inital grumblings of a small number of staff members and Old Oakhamians, who had suggested that becoming co-educational would condemn the various sporting endeavours, the opposite proved to be true. In 1971, the First XV Rugby team beat Uppingham and Oundle for the first time. The decade of success for the XV culminated in 1980, winning 14 of 14 matches, beating Uppingham to cap off the perfect season. Cricket, after an abject 1960s, was rejuvenated in the 70s, including an unbeaten season in 1972. The integration of the CCF also brought the integration of the Shooting team. Helen Brooks was the first girl cadet to shoot at Bisley, and later Ginny Measures was one of four Oakham School representatives to shoot for England in the BSSRA home internationals. The much-improved facilities of the Sports Hall also brought about great successes for swimming and squash, which had been at the mercy of the elements previously, and in 1980, the girls’ squash team won the Sereena Cup, the national schoolgirls’ title.
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On Friday 3 September, we hosted a Chapel Service followed by Afternoon Tea on the Round House Lawn, and of course a tour of the School for those who wanted to see how it had all changed since their time here. During the Chapel Service, Henry Price, Headmaster spoke about the School’s history whilst OO Jonathan Stevens (‘79), shared his thoughts and stories of when the School first became co-educational.Inhisspeech, Jonathan shared some of his father, Mike’s memories, as well as his own: “ It was certainly a very memorable year in 1971 when Oakham became co-educational and for all of us, it was very life-changing.”
Although bad weather had threatened earlier in the day, the rain dutifully disappeared in time for a lovely afternoon reminiscing and enjoying some wonderful cakes and conversations. We were all very proud to be part of a belonging.”hadensuredwhichthinkingforward-Schoolalwayseveryoneasenseof
Commemorative Chapel Service & Afternoon Tea 60 OOs from the first decade of co-education returned to commemorate those early years.
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10 Oakham| School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
How we Marked the Anniversary
“Whilst it was a very different time, with shyness and cultural differences to overcome, this awkwardness certainly didn’t last long, and everyone adjusted very quickly. We were all very proud to be part of a forward-thinking School which always ensured everyone had a sense of belonging.”
Jonathan Stevens (‘79)
1971-2021
I’m really pleased that we got to portray this on the stage demonstrateand the difficulty women had in the century.”nineteenth Zsolti, Form 7 pupil
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Blue TakesStockingsCentreStage
Pupil Flora, who took on the role of Carolyn, said: “What I loved the most about the production is how close we are as a cast. This is such a significant story to tell as it is an eye-opening tale about the first girls at Cambridge girls and their struggle with earning the respect of the professors and the male pupils. The story shows the sexism and prejudice toward women at the time.”
Oakham School’s Drama Scholars took on the issue of inequality in education in the 1800s for their 2022 production, BlueStockings. Pupils put on an empowering production in the School’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre in March and were very humbled to be portraying Jessica Swale’s historically significant story to their audience. Set in Girton College in Cambridge back in 1896, the story follows four talented female undergraduates during their campaign to secure a degree alongside their male colleagues. In keeping with the 50 years of co-education celebrations, the important issue of equality is one that was welcomed by the performers.Theproduction focused on sexism in the late nineteenth century and portrayed the fight young women, alongside their friends and teachers, had on their hands to achieve equal education rights. BlueStockings held extra sentiment for the Form 7 Drama Scholars as this marked their last School production.
Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education
Zsolti, who took on many roles in the production, including Dr Maudsley and Ralph Mayhew, added: “It’s been very shocking getting to know the history of the play and I’m really pleased that we got to portray this on the stage and demonstrate the difficulty women had in the nineteenth century. It’s crazy to think that the scientific community actually believed that women weren’t equal to men and that they couldn’t study for a degree.”
Co-ed Relay Races at the Lower School and Middle and Upper School Sports Days, Summer 2022
Making Sporting History School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education
History Makers: OakhamSchool’s first mixed cricket team, May 2022 Mixed Form 7 Leavers vs staff Cricket Match, July 2022
A few co-educational milestones were achieved in sport, with Oakham fielding its first mixed cricket teams and staging an inaugural, highly competitive mixed staff v Form 7 pupils cricket match. At both the Lower School and Middle and Upper School Sports Days pupils also made Oakham School history by running mixed relay races.
Oakham
1971-2021
Celebrating 50
As part of their project work on decades of the 20th century, pupils in Lower 1 enjoyed a special class focused on the history of the School. The pupils were given old photographs and School memorabilia to teach them about Oakham School from when it first become co-educational in 1971. They were joined by Old Oakhamian Sue Healey (’79), who now teaches Biology at Oakham, the School’s Archivist, Aurore Guillomot-Bonnefond, and Charlotte Woodward, who works for the Old Oakhamian Club. The photos presented to the pupils included the old School uniform, including the girls’ iconic tartan trousers, as well as images of lessons, sports matches, House photos and shots of Oakham town and the School campus. Each of the photos represented the renowned Oakham School community feel and showed current pupils that whilst a lot has changed over the years, Oakham has always been a special place for many students. Sue Healey shared stories of her time at Oakham School in the 1970s and gave the pupils an insight into what it was like to join as one of the first female pupils in a previously all-male school. Pupils were especially excited to see some Red Books – the School’s termly calendar and academic schedule – from 50 years ago to see how activities and trips have changed. They also reviewed the School’s Oakhamian Magazines from the 1970s, which included drawings and poems done by the pupils in this era. They were also able to take a look at some of the former pupils’ School Reports from the 1970s, which they noticed are very different to how they are now. What the pupils thought: It was fun looking at the different uniforms and how the School buildings have changed. I prefer how the School uniforms are now, but I suppose that’s how it was in those days.” Isabelle I enjoyed learning facts about the School’s history and how it developed over the course of 50 years. I really liked learning about famous Olympians like Crista Cullen and how the Oakhamian magazine changed from a black and white newspaper-like booklet to a wonderful, informative, colourful magazine.”
Lower School Pupils Travel Back to the 1970s
Harry
Oakham School Years of
Co-education 1971-2021 | 13
Oakham
gender.”becauseconstrainboundariestherechoice,career,interest,pursuepupilsencourageactivelytoanyhobby,universitybecausearenothatthemoftheir
School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021 14 |
Grace, Form 7, The Oakham School Podcast Episode 1 Co-education Broadcasts
In the second episode, ‘Medicine and Me’, Old Oakhamians Dr Navin Leanage (‘07), Surgeon Lt Issy Guy (’14), and medical students Adrian Patenge (’15) and Jemima Ball (’18) share their experiences of working in the world of medicine in conversation with Biology Teacher Dr Andrew Nicoll.
Members of Oakham’s community took to the airwaves in a series of specially recorded broadcasts to celebrate 50 years of being a co-educational school, and which covered interesting and thought-provoking topics representing life at the School.
“The staff
The inaugural episode of the Oakham School Podcast, hosted by Headmaster Henry Price, explores what it means to be a truly co-educational school. Included in the episode are comments from Old Oakhamians who were at the School when co-education was introduced, as well as an interview with current pupils on how co-education benefits them in today’s society. The episode finishes with a quickfire quiz, putting the pupils’ knowledge of Oakham School to theThetest.second episode looks at how co-education benefits the Creative and Performing Arts, with a conversation between Art, Design Technology, Drama andOldMusic.Oakhamians from the world of stage and screen and the medical community returned to their former school to film two episodes of the lecture series Oakham Talks and talk about issues relating to their field of work. In the first episode ‘A Peek Behind the Curtain’ former pupils Richard Hope (‘71) and Sarah Moss (‘04) talk to Old Oakhamian President David Gilman (’89) about their time at Oakham School and subsequent careers in the world of TV and theatre.
A be education must prepare for
50 Years that shaped the School
A Timeline Co-educationof
school should
life” John Buchanan, 1977 Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021 | 15
co-educational, because
The School’s first purpose-built Girls’ House opens in September 1972, welcoming 60 girls and iconicthebecomingquicklyoneofcampus’mostbuildings.
1974 Jerwoods Established John Jerwood, Old Oakhamian and benefactor of Oakham School, makes it possible to open a fully co-educational Junior School on its own site, encompassing Peterborough, Sargants, Lincoln and Ancaster Houses.
1972 1976 1978 1973 1975 co-educationalbecomesOakham Shortly after its return to full Oakhamindependence,Schoolopens its doors to the first cohort of girls, with 17 boarders moving into College September10accompaniedHouse,byday-girls,in1971.
Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
1979 Rapid expansion The end of the decade sees the School well on its way to gender parity, with 420 girls making up 45% of the pupil body, a rapid growth from 27 girls only nine years earlier.
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opensHouseRound its doors
The1971 1970s
1977 Buchanan retires John Buchanan steps down after 19 years at the helm, having taken Oakham fully independent and coeducational, and securing its future for generations. Orchard Close is renamed Buchanans House in his honour.
1970
1983
Chapel FormbecomesClose7campus
1989
The Barraclough built Reflecting the growing size of the School, a new dining hall is built on the Ashwell Road, opened by Lord Forte in September 1987. Named after Mr & Mrs Norman Barraclough (OO 1883), great benefactors of the School, it replaced the Ashburton Hall, known affectionately as ‘The Trough’, now the site of the Merton Building.
1987
Stevens & Haywood Houses opened 1989 sees equal numbers of boys and girls for the first time, and with it two more Boarding Houses opened – Stevens for girls and Haywoods for boys. Stevens is named after Mike and Mary Stevens, Haywoods after Col. Tom Haywood, all great servants of the School.
The 1980s 1980 1982 1986 1988 19851981 1984 CelebrationsQuatercentenary
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Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
Oakham School celebrates 400 years since its founding by Archdeacon Robert Johnson in 1584. The School welcomes HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to open the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
With the completion of the Buchanans extension, Round House joins School House as an exclusively Form 7 House, making Chapel Close a Form 7 campus, which continues to this day.
The 1990s
1992 1998 199519931991 1997 1999 Nero – The Musical
1990
1996 A Decade of Drama
Schanschieffs Opens Schanschieffs, named after Simon Schanschieff, Chair of Trustees for 25 years, opens at the top of the campus providing a home for four Day Houses – Gunthorpe, Hambleton, Barrow and Clipsham, named after local Rutland villages.
The debut of Nero – The Musical, written by Peter Witchell and Mark Pitter, commissioned for the Oakham Festival of 1990. The musical is such a success, it transfers to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It is revived in 2000 for its 10-year anniversary.
The 90s sees four OOs thriving in the world of professional theatre. Matthew MacFadyen (‘92) wows audiences with his performances in various school productions, including Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. The first OO to study at RADA, he makes his debut with the RSC in 1996. Katie Mitchell (‘83) is appointed an Associate Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Greg Hicks (‘71) stars in various roles with the RSC and Richard Hope (‘71) with the Royal National Theatre. Miles Jupp (‘98) also breaks onto the scene at Oakham, with a star turn as Dr Frank Bryant in the two-person play, Educating Rita, before going on to have a successful career in comedy and television.
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Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
1994 Smallbone Library built Headmaster Graham Smallbone heads a fundraising appeal for the construction of the Smallbone Library, a state-of-the-art library built in the centre of the campus and fit for the entire School. The Memorial Library, located opposite the Memorial Chapel, is converted to a Round House common room.
Oakham School introduces the International Baccalaureate in the Upper School, as an alternative to A-levels. The IB Diploma requires pupils take six subjects in a broad range of areas, including languages, mathematics, sciences and the arts.
The 2000s
2002-2003 Daily Mail Cup victory
Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
2000 2004 2003 2001 World Tour Rugby, hockey and netball teams depart on a month-long co-ed ‘World Tour’ to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
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2001 2000 1,000 Gold DofE Awards
The Duke of Edinburgh visits Oakham School once again, this time to award Oakham’s 1,000th Gold DofE Award, the first school in the country to reach the milestone.
IB ProgrammeDiploma
The First XV Rugby team wins the U18 Daily Mail Cup at Twickenham in front of 20,000 fans, a remarkable achievement coming only 30 years after beating Uppingham School for the first time. The feat was repeated the following year, making 2003 a remarkable year for Oakham School Rugby as OO Lewis Moody (‘96) wins the World Cup with England.
… Oakham is co-educational.genuinelyIknowof a good many schools where co-education means that we are a very good boys’ school that is pretty good for girls. What I have found … is an easiness of feeling that the co-educational experience is a real one here.” J.A.F Spence, Headmaster, 2002
2010 Campus Development
The 2010s 2005 2012 2014 2011 2013 2006 BBC Radio 3 Choir of the CompetitionYear
2015 Fantastic year for the Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir wins the regional competition in Cambridge in April 2006, is awarded the title of ‘Choir of the Day’ and congratulated on ‘its blend of male and female voice, its communication and the variety in the programme.’ They are finalists of the national competitions in November 2006.
The decade sees a large amount of campus development, starting with the Mehra Faculty of Science in 2010. The BAF Smith Pavilion is opened by Mike Gatting in 2014, replacing the Wharton Pavilion, aka Stumps. The Merton gets an extension, with a brand-new Social Sciences wing opening in 2016.
Oakham School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021
The Chamber Choir has a remarkable year, reaching the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition, performing at the Brandenburg Choral Festival, and finishing as Senior Runner-Up in the final of the BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year competition, televised on the BBC.
2015-2016
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Co-education because life is a co-lived existence. Co-education because we are at our best when we build meaningful relationships with people of all genders. Co-education because our lives are enriched by diversity, and by exposure to as many different lived experiences as possible. Co-education because it allows us to be completely and utterly ourselves, regardless of sexuality or gender identity.
Co-education Today W
e have all heard the stories about girls who finally feel able to geek out in Science without boys getting in their way; of boys who are happy to dance and talk about their feelings without being embarrassed in front of girls; about an education free of distractions from the opposite sex, as if the presence of someone with a different biological make up to you is the only thing that could distract a teenager. Such arguments however, can have no sway and certainly no substantiation at Oakham. Ours is a place of female scientists and male dancers; of top-flight girls taking Maths, Physics and DT and superlative boys talking passionately about poetry, textiles and ethics. It is a place in which we learn with and from each other, where we grow through our differences and where we work together to change the world for the better. It is, in short, the real world, and this is the answer to ‘Why co-education?’
It is hard to imagine Oakham School whoitco-education...withoutis,quitesimply,weare.”
It is hard to imagine Oakham School without co-education – it has shaped, challenged and pushed us more than we can possibly know and it is, quite simply, who we are. We could not be more grateful for our trailblazing forebears who took the then-brave step of allowing girls onto this hallowed ground, because co-education is more than just your school days – it is life itself. Megan Fairley Head of Upper School
Oakham
School Celebrating 50 Years of Co-education 1971-2021 | 21
With a 50:50 split of girls and boys, co-education is so embedded in our DNA at Oakham School that it’s easy to forget it was only 50 years ago it was introduced. Pupils long into the future will benefit from the welcoming co-ed environment at School; something which has become a way of life for Oakham.
Megan Fairley Head of Upper School
Paul, Form 7 pupil
When you work as a group, it's best when you have loads of minds that can think differently together.”
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Ours is a place of female scientists and male dancers; of top-flight girls taking Maths, Physics and DT and superlative boys talking passionately about poetry, textiles and ethics.”
Co-education Today
Henry Price Headmaster
The next 50 years will see further evolution in education and coeducation, and Oakham is well-placed to stay in the vanguard of this.”
Former parent
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I am so glad I chose Oakham School for my daughter. The equal mix of girls and boys and male and female staff has shown her that everyone's voice matters.”
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