Class of 2024 Celebrate Speech Day and Leavers’ Ball
Oakham School’s Class of 2024 celebrated the end of their schooldays at a very special Speech Day and Leavers’ Ball.
In a first for Oakham School, Speech Day and the Leavers’ Ball were combined into a single day of festivities. The day began with a Leavers’ Service in the Chapel on the 100th anniversary of when the Foundation Stone of the Chapel was laid. In time-honoured style, Form 7 leavers, their parents and members of staff attended the Service and enjoyed singing favourite hymns such as ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Guide me, O thou great Redeemer’, as well as listening to readings from the Heads of School, an address given by Headmaster Henry Price, and music from the Choir.
After the Leavers’ Service, everyone gathered in the marquee on Doncaster Close for the Middle and Upper School prize giving ceremony and speeches from Chair of Trustees Neil Gorman, Headmaster Henry Price, and Heads of School David and Annie-May. In his speech Neil shared news of exciting development plans for the School. Henry encouraged Oakham School pupils to use the summer holiday as a chance to grow and develop in different ways beyond the classroom. He also paid tribute to two long-serving teaching colleagues who are leaving this summer for their outstanding contribution to Oakham School: Director of Music Peter Davis and Deputy Head Pastoral Sarah Gomm. Read about Peter and Sarah’s contribution in the Oakham School Staff Leavers 2024.
Following the prize giving ceremony, families of Form 7 leavers enjoyed picnics on the Round House lawn and in the School House quad. They were also able to pick up their Leavers’ Bags containing their Leavers’ Book and a welcome gift from the Old Oakhamian (OO) Club – an engraved OO water bottle. As they make their transition from Oakhamians to Old Oakhamians (OOs), our pupils join thousands of former Oakham School pupils with whom they share a special lifelong connection.
Later that evening, leavers, their parents and members of staff gathered for a final time in the transformed marquee for the Leavers’ Ball. As well as a drinks reception that included a highly popular mocktail bar and dinner in the form of street food from around the world, guests danced the night away to live music from band Shut Up and Dance and a disco. In another first for Oakham School, the evening concluded with a spectacular drone light show in the skies above the playing fields provided by Old Oakhamian Clive Coombes (’78) and his company SkyShows. As part of the show there was a special message of congratulation to the class of 2024 wishing them all the best in their next adventures as Old Oakhamians, encouraging them to ‘pass on the torch’. Quasi Cursores.
You can view pictures from the day here.
