Activities and Societies

A perennial favourite with pupils of all ages, cooking takes place each week in Oakham’s kitchens in Kilburn Cottages.

From Lower School pupils enjoying a basic introduction to baking to Sixth Form students learning how to cook on a budget, there are many ways for pupils of all ages to enjoy cooking as an activity.

Oakham’s Medical Society, affectionately known as ‘DocSoc’, is aimed at pupils who are considering making applications for clinical courses, including Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science.

DocSoc sees a busy programme of events and activities each year, with lectures, mock interviews, personal statement workshops and more. View our Careers and Leavers’ Destinations for the latest information on which clinical courses our recent leavers are following at university.

Played on Oakham’s purpose-built fives courts, with bays that are shaped like the chapel walls of Eton College, there is a long tradition of pupils participating in this popular handball game at Oakham School.

Pupils can choose to play fives as an activity from Form 1 (Year 7) and as a competitive sport from Form 4 (Year 10) with fixtures in the Winter and Spring Term against local schools.

The Freddie Groome Enterprise Challenge is an enrichment activity for pupils in Form 6 (Year 12), which tasks pupils to develop and run their own business.

Launched in memory of former pupil Freddie Groome (’13) who tragically passed away in 2020, the scheme teaches pupils how to prepare, develop and review their own business ideas and then sell their products at a market to fellow pupils. As well as developing a range of enterprising skills, such as teamwork, leadership and innovation, the challenge teaches pupils how to review their business’ success and profit; invaluable experience to prepare them for the world of work.

Lifesaving and lifeguarding are popular activities tailored to pupils of different ages throughout the School with older pupils able to gain lifeguarding instructor qualifications.

Lower School pupils can choose to do Rookie Lifeguarding as a weekly activity. This fun course gives pupils the skills to be confident in the pool or the sea and enjoy water safely. It can also lead to lifeguarding instructor qualifications further up the School.

The Matthews Society, named after Oakham’s first Senior Mistress, Jane Matthews, is a student-led group that meets every month to discuss issues affecting gender equality in society.

Established in 2012, the Society is open to all Form 7 students and previous discussions have centred on themes such as feminism in the media, the Suffragette movement, maternity and paternity leave, and the gender pay gap.

Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic activity in which students assume the role of national ambassadors to debate and develop key skills like public speaking, teamwork and negotiation. Oakham School has represented over 50 nations in recent years with very healthy student numbers each year.

Model United Nations is a highly diversified activity, following the pattern of the United Nations and making us face up to the ongoing problems in today’s world. It aims to build an understanding of current global challenges amongst the next generation of world leaders and thinkers. Representing countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, pupils gather to discuss some of the most pressing problems that confront the world today.

At all conferences, students come together and share their interest for international affairs, the art of diplomacy and engage in lively debate. Oakham normally attends MUN conferences at Cheadle Hulme in Manchester, Kingswood School in Bath, St Andrew’s College in Dublin and Alkmaar in Holland.

Our close proximity to Rutland Water ensures that sailing is a popular part of our Co-Curricular programme.

Pupils of all ages can enjoy sailing either as a competitive sport in their weekly games sessions or activities choice throughout the year. From beginners to elite competitors, we cater for all levels of interest and ability.