10 best UK boarding schools for swimming
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For students passionate about swimming, finding a school that actively nurtures their talent is key. UK boarding schools are renowned for their holistic approach to
Academic Families works with more than 450 schools throughout the UK, and we have become experts at matching children to the right boarding school for them in order to ensure each student thrives.
We're delighted to present one of our partner schools:
Oakham School in the East Midlands, England.
“Our purpose is to teach our pupils knowledge, skills and values to thrive and confidently contribute to Oakham School and beyond. Our four core values of Care, Courage, Contribution and Connection represent qualities that we wish to inspire and instil in all our pupils and that will guide them throughout their lives.”
Oakham School provides an international, interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. The school has been successfully offering the IB Diploma for 20+ years, alongside A-levels and BTECs, with students consistently achieving excellent results each year.
In 2024, 69% of all exams taken (in the IB Diploma, at A-level and BTEC) were awarded A*–B grades (or equivalent). In the IB Diploma Oakham earned an average score of 34.5 (in comparison to the world average of 30) with 15% of pupils achieving 40 points or more. At GCSE nearly half of students – 49% – were awarded 9–7 (A*/A) grades and 70% achieved 9–6 (A*-B) grades.
Every year, the majority of students leave Oakham School having secured places to study at leading universities across the UK and overseas, including Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities. In 2024, 88% of our Sixth Form leavers are at the university of their choice. The other 12% have chosen a gap year of travel, volunteering, work experience and apprenticeships.
The school’s full-time Head of Careers and her team offer in-depth guidance and information on career options and admissions procedures, as well as apprenticeships, which are increasing in popularity.
Oakham has an excellent reputation when it comes to sporting success. Around 60 Oakham students represent their county or country in their chosen sport at any one time. The school’s major sports are rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, tennis, and athletics, with many other sports, including sailing and golf, on offer. The school's rugby teams are particularly strong. The 1st XV boys' rugby team won the NatWest Schools Cup for the third time in 2023 and in 2024 the U16 boys won the Plate and the U14 girls were runners-up in the Rosslyn Park National Sevens competition.
Within the arts, music and drama are key aspects of life at Oakham, either as part of the academic curriculum or as a co-curricular activity. Each week there are over 400 music lessons and around half of all pupils play in musical ensembles, choirs, bands, orchestras and musical theatre productions. Students who study drama at Oakham will learn about all aspects of theatre such as performance, production, lighting and sound, among others. They will get the chance to use these skills in the range of productions, house plays and student pieces that are delivered each year, giving students the necessary experience to pursue a career in performance or production.
Activities are also an integral part of life beyond the classroom, with students able to choose from over 125 activities to take part in each week, to discover and develop their interests and talents, develop leadership skills and provide service to others. The school offers a wealth of trips; in a typical year, running around 90 trips in the UK and abroad.
Oakham’s student body currently represents over 45 countries, including students from Europe, Asia and Africa. They’re internationally minded in their approach to both curriculum and school life and embrace difference and diversity. A school centred on Christian values, Oakham is accepting of all other religions and faiths.
Each of Oakham's 8 Boarding Houses is home to the Housemaster or Housemistress and their families, supported by an experienced team of Resident Tutors and a Matron. The Houses provide the pupils with the care and support they need to develop intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually. There is a real sense of community and family among boarding students. All students eat together, giving them the chance to spend time with friends or siblings who may be in different Boarding Houses. The Barraclough Dining Hall serves an extensive choice of nutritious and freshly prepared food and thoughtfully caters for all dietary requirements.
Beyond the Houses, the state-of-the-art Medical and Pastoral Centre offers a dedicated space to promote wellbeing, as well as offering medical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You'll probably have many questions about the exciting times that lie ahead. We are here to reassure you and support your decision to educate your child in the UK.
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