Uppingham School

About Uppingham School

Uppingham School

Uppingham School is one of few places that can declare itself a truly full boarding school. Of the School’s roll of 792, all but a handful are full boarders. Uppingham School simply doesn’t experience any tension between the disparate needs of large numbers of boarders and day pupils. The School’s 792 boarders benefit from a singular focus and an economy of scale that enables a remarkable depth and diversity of curricular and extra-curricular opportunity. Our day pupils similarly benefit from all the School has to offer. Renowned for music and strength in the performing arts, there is also a strong sporting tradition, now enhanced by the outstanding new Sports Centre opened by Lord Coe in 2011.

Pupils pull together, respecting and enjoying each other’s achievements and supporting each other enthusiastically in their varied activities. The sense of all-round expectation genuinely means that at Uppingham, it’s as cool to carry a cello as a cricket bag. Uppingham is unabashedly a “singing school” and Chapel services provide an exhilarating way for pupils and staff to start most days and generate an unmatchable esprit de corps. The Chapel’s pulpit is not the sole preserve of the Chaplain and the School regularly enjoys morning assemblies from a diversity of staff, visiting speakers and well-motivated school orators!

The entire school gathers once a week for congregational practice, and twice a term for Commendation Assemblies to celebrate the School’s values and individual achievements. The house environment is where individual identities are fostered and Uppingham boarding houses are smaller than those in many schools. Boys’ houses are typically 50 strong whilst girls’ houses have a maximum of 60, reflecting the 10 or 12 pupils per year group in each. This affords a high degree of pastoral care in each house.

House dining is another vitally important feature of life at Uppingham School. At mealtimes, house staff have the chance to catch up with their charges each day whilst the pupils themselves benefit from contact with the constantly changing rotation of staff, and guests, who dine with them at lunch each day, a feature that strengthens the feeling of community, sharing and social engagement. With all of the academic staff involved as tutors in houses, the needs and demands of boarders are appreciated and understood by them all. There is a common culture and a superb team of people around each house. Confidence is nurtured, academic curiosity is encouraged and challenges are given. This leads to higher expectations and, ultimately, greater achievement.

Contact

Type of School Co-educational
School Address Uppingham School, High St W, Uppingham, Oakham LE15 9QE
Number of Pupils 846
Number of Boarders 792
International Boarders 260
Distance from Airports

East Midlands Airport (EMA) – 40 miles (1 hour); Birmingham Airport 60 miles (1 hour 15 minutes); Luton Airport 67 miles (1 hour 25 minutes); Stansted Airport – 80 miles (1 hour 30 minutes); London Heathrow – 97 miles ( 1 hour 55 minutes); London Gatwick 133 miles (2 hours 30 minutes

Distance from London

99.8 miles (2 hours 26 minutes)

Contact
Educational Programmes

GCSE, A-Levels

Co-Curricular Programmes

The co-curricular programme of activities is taken very seriously. Around 40 societies operate within the School, with at least a further 30 areas of activity on offer. Every pupil is given a copy of the Activities Handbook and this lists everything that is on offer to them, apart from lessons and the main sports, to get involved in. Further information is put on the School Intranet and the programme of what is on offer is updated each week. There is an Activities Fair at the beginning of every autumn term and this is where pupils hear about and can sign up for the activities, societies and clubs on offer. Clubs & Societies. Most of the clubs and societies meet regularly throughout the school year: they are open to boys and girls of all ages, and membership is either free or a nominal sum. Some societies come and go and if there isn’t one on offer that covers a particular interest this usually gives pupils the opportunity to establish a new one for themselves. Most of the established clubs and societies were started as a result of individual enthusiasm and determination, and this tradition continues.