Joining The Lower School

JOINING THE LOWER SCHOOL

WELCOME

We’ve put this booklet together to answer some of the questions you may have about what you can expect when you join Oakham’s Lower School.

Based on the most popular questions people ask, we have included information about where you will live and work, who is there to support you, what daily life is like and what kind of opportunities are on offer. We’ve also asked some of our current pupils for their advice and top tips.

Whether you are joining us as a day pupil or a boarder, it’s important to remember that everyone is starting out together on an exciting new journey and there are lots of people around you who are keen to help you make the most of your time in Oakham’s Lower School and be the best you can be.

James Cure Head of Lower School

To find out more about what life is like in Oakham’s Lower School, follow us online. @oakhamschool

@OakhamSchool @OakhamSch

@Oakham School

oakham.rutland.sch.uk

WHAT IS OAKHAM’S LOWER SCHOOL?

CAMPUS

Oakham’s Lower School is where our youngest pupils – aged 10–12 – live and work.

We have our own separate Lower School campus, affectionately known as ‘Jerwoods’, which provides a safe home base from which you can explore the rest of the School and make the most of its fantastic facilities – the best of both worlds!

JERWOODS

Lincoln House

Classrooms

Sargants House Out Back

Peterborough House

Hodges boarding

Ancaster House

Main School Campus1 min walk

THE MAIN SCHOOL CAMPUS

Sports hall, swimming pool and fitness centre

Computer Science

Smallbone Library

Sports pitches

"I love Oakham School, because the lessons are really varied and interesting. Work hard in each subject and you get out of it what you put into it.”

ELODIE

WHERE WILL I GO EACH DAY?

When you join Oakham’s Lower School, you will become a member of one of our four Lower School Houses:

Your House is your home base throughout each day. You come here in the morning and leave from here at the end of the school day, either to go home (if you are a day pupil) or to go to your evening home in Hodges, our Lower School Boarding House, if you are boarding with us.

There are lots of places in your House where you can do your work or relax with your friends. There’s also Out Back where you can play outside at break and lunchtime.

Every House is filled with home comforts: sofas, a widescreen TV, board games, table football, the list goes on… Your House also provides you with lots of practical things to help you get organised: you will have two lockers, one for your books and one for your games kit, plus there are lots of laptops and desks where you can work.

Your House is your Home.

Ancaster Lincoln Peterborough Sargants

“In House it’s really fun, as you get to play games and meet new people.”

HARRY

HOW WILL I FIND MY WAY AROUND?

In your House there are lots of people whose job it is to help you settle in. Your Housemaster or Housemistress is in overall charge and can help you with any problem, large or small.

You will have a Tutor, who will help you get organised each day and make sure you keep on track with your work. We are lucky enough to have four Gap students who join us each year from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, who help out around the Lower School. Plus the Form 2 Prefects can help answer any questions and if you feel unwell, the Day Matron is always on hand.

There are two Induction Days before term starts, where you will have a tour of the School and your House and you can find all the main facilities.

We also organise lots of different events and social activities to help you get to know your new surroundings and classmates.

Cure Your Housemaster or Housemistress

The Teaching Staff

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?

As Oakham is a busy boarding and day school, each day is packed with lessons and activities. Every day is slightly different, but you will soon get into the swing of things. Your Pupil Organiser will be your go-to guide for what happens when, but don’t be afraid to ask for help eitherno one expects you to know everything straight away!

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

Pupils and staff alike love the food and there is a choice of healthy dishes at each lunchtime, including vegetarian options. There is always a variety of desserts on offeranything from fresh fruit to chocolate sponge and custard. Plus, there is a daily salad bar, sandwich bar, and pasta bar. You can also enjoy your breakfast and stay for supper with us as well! We cater for all dietary requirements and the regular, themed supper nights and our weekly Sunday brunch are particular favourites.

“I was a bit nervous at first, but after the first week I got used to the school routine.”

FREDDIE

A TYPICAL WEEK IN THE LOWER SCHOOL

MONDAY TO SATURDAY MORNING DAY PUPILS BOARDERS

7:30am Extended Day pupils and Boarders go to the Barraclough Dining Hall for breakfast

8.15am Roll Call and House meeting

9.15am-12.35pm Morning lessons

From 12.35pm Lunch and Roll Call

12.30pm Saturday morning lessons finish for Forms 1 and 2. No Saturday school for Lower 1 pupils

From 1.25pm Afternoon lessons

End of School day

This will vary depending on the day of the week, with pupils taking part in sporting fixtures and optional after school activities

6.00pm Houses close Extended Day pupils and Boarders go to the Barraclough for supper

6.45 - 7.30pm

Extended Day pupils and Boarders do supervised prep in Hodges

8.35am Tutorial/Chapel/Assembly From 4.15pm Day pupils go home 7.30pm Extended Day pupils go home

7.30 - 8.15pm

Boarders - Freetime, toast and hot chocolate. Time to phone home

8.15 - 9.15pm

Boarders - Time for shower, get changed and bedtime

HOW DOES BOARDING WORK?

Hodges is our Lower School Boarding House, based upstairs on our Jerwoods campus. You can choose to stay with us from 2 nights to 7 nights a week, to fit in around your family life. There are lots of spaces in Hodges for you to do your work, relax with your friends and, of course, sleep over!

Hodges offers a comfortable family atmosphere and there are regular boarder taster weekends if you think that you would like to give boarding a try.

In addition to the separate boarding areas for boys and girls, there is a wide variety of communal areas where you can relax together with your friends: the kitchen for toast and hot chocolate and other snacks; the Snug for curling up in front of the TV and generally chilling out; the Studio for dancing and karaoke singing; and the Joint Common Room with its pool table and other games. There’s also Out Back for letting off steam outside.

A TYPICAL WEEKEND

• Saturday afternoon Lunch, followed by afternoon activity programme (swimming, music, art) and free time

• Saturday evening Supper and film/activities in Hodges

• Sunday morning Breakfast, supervised quiet time to do prep or read, free time

• Sunday afternoon Lunch, followed by an organised activity or trip, such as going to the cinema, bowling, or trampolining

• Sunday evening Supper, followed by tidy up, evening prayer and free time before bedtime

“The best bit about boarding is being with my friends. It’s a bit like a sleepover.”

SAMSON

“I love coming to the Studio after lessons and singing karaoke.”

IMMI

“I really like the weekend trips, especially when we go to the cinema.”

LOUISE

WHAT LESSONS WILL I HAVE?

If you join in Lower 1 (Year 6) you will have the same teacher for most of your lessons in the same classroom in the Lower School. For some lessons you will go to a different part of the School and use our specialist facilities, such as for Science, Computer Science, Library lessons, Sport, Music, Drama, Art, and Design Technology.

In Form 1 (Year 7) you will have different teachers for all your lessons in the Lower School classrooms and then use the wider School facilities for certain subjects. You will also get to try out Latin, as well as enjoy taster lessons in German and Spanish.

In Form 2 (Year 8) you will have all your lessons in different parts of the wider School campus, as you get ready to move to the Middle School. You choose to study two languages from French, German and Spanish.

HOW MUCH PREP WILL I HAVE?

The amount of prep you get set will vary depending on your year group. You will receive a prep timetable at the start of the year to help you keep on top of your work. You can also do your prep during the school day, as well as during after school prep sessions for Boarders and Extended Day pupils.

No prep is set on a Wednesday night, weekends, or over holidays, although you may be given a book to read over the holidays.

Prep is another word for homework!

"The best thing about Oakham is that there is so much to do. There are so many opportunities, to help you find your passion."

FREDDIE

Weekly dance classes

You can explore different types of Art in weekly activities sessions, as well as in your lessons

There are many opportunities to perform in concerts

Sports Day is one of many hotly contested interhouse competitions

Lower School charity bike ride and walk around Rutland Water

Lower 1 trip to Lea Green

House socials include pizza nights, sleepovers in House, and trips out to a restaurant or bowling

WHAT SPORTS, TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES ARE THERE?

There are lots of different sports and activities on offer at Oakham School. We have Games sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, plus there are sports sessions as part of Thursday afternoon Activities.

In addition to the core sports of rugby, hockey, netball, athletics, cricket, and tennis, there are all sorts of different sports you can try, such as sailing, shooting and fives.

Outside of Music and Drama and Dance lessons, there are weekly 1:1 music lessons, weekly Choir and Cantamus rehearsals, Orchestra practice and regular informal and formal concerts. Plus there are rehearsals for the annual Lower School Drama Production and weekly dance classes.

On Thursday afternoons there is a huge variety of activities sessions on offer, including Art/Craft, jewellery design, cooking, chess, Science Club, self-defence… There’s something for everyone!

There are many different House trips, socials, charity activities, and interhouse competitions each term: bake sales, barbecues and bowling, to name just a few. There are also different trips on offer, such as experiencing the language and culture of France and skiing in the Alps.

Hockey, rugby, netball and cricket are just a few of the sports on offer

Lower School ski trip to Italy

The annual Lower School Drama Production

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE LOWER SCHOOL?

At the end of Form 2 (Year 8) you will move from the Lower School to the Middle School. Together with pupils who are completely new to the School, and the friends you've already made, you will join a Middle School House with older pupils aged 13-17.

This is the start of an exciting new chapter in your Oakham story and by then you will be ready to spread your wings even further and experience all that life in the Middle School has to offer.

“I am really looking forward to doing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with my friends in the Middle School.”

JAMES