Uppingham School

For the forward thinkers, makers, debaters and creators. The pioneers who ask why. And why not. For tomorrow’s leaders; not defined by where they have gone. But where they are yet to go.

Our vision for sport is to create an environment where all pupils can achieve success and enjoyment at whatever level they wish to participate.

Our skilled coaches help pupils at all levels to advance their abilities, as well as nurturing elite performers through focused training programmes giving them every opportunity to excel. For pupils who wish to compete in their chosen sports, there are ample opportunities to represent Uppingham.

By integrating sport into everyday life at school, we help pupils to become hard-working, altruistic, risk takers. We encourage boys and girls to take part in a wide range of sports, and help them to appreciate that sport and exercise are essential components of a healthy, happy lifestyle.

We offer both competitive and recreational sports. These range from mainstream options such as football, rugby, cricket, netball, hockey, athletics, swimming and tennis to additional choices such as volleyball, badminton, lacrosse, rounders, dance, squash and basketball. There is something for everyone in our varied sporting programme.

Some of the more unusual options include sailing, golf, shooting, fives, water polo, croquet, fencing, climbing and archery. These are just a selection of the sports on offer in our outstanding facilities. Pupils can flex their sporting muscles on our many playing fields, Astroturf pitches and tennis courts – spread across 65 acres – as well as in the superb Uppingham School Sports Centre. This incorporates a six-court sports hall, a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, gym, squash courts, two dance studios and a 53-station fitness suite.

For pupils who strive to excel in music as part of a rounded education, Uppingham offers the best music provision of any non-specialist music school in the country.

Music is quite simply a way of life at Uppingham. For any pupil with a passion for music, in any form – whether jazz or classical, polyphony or hip-hop – we offer boundless inspiration, opportunity and encouragement. We celebrate and support individual excellence and mass participation – catering to the musical ambitions and abilities of all pupils.

Throughout its history, Uppingham has been associated with music-making pioneers – and that spirt of adventure and vitality is sustained today by our internationally renowned director of music and our inspirational teaching team of professional musicians. Their work is enriched and extended by visiting world-class performers who support our wide-ranging programme of masterclasses and workshops.

Our pupils have access to no fewer than three music schools, equipped with state-of-the art music technology and professional-quality performance spaces. Music-making runs through the whole community at Uppingham. Everyone who plays an instrument is encouraged to take a full part in group music-making, whether as part of major ensembles or orchestras, or in specialist groups such as the bagpipe band, percussion ensemble, guitar ensemble or wind quintet.

Pupils have a vast range of performance opportunities at all levels, from concerto concerts, lunchtime concerts and recital competitions in school, to performances further afield at prestigious venues such as Trinity College, Cambridge, the Royal Albert Hall and The Cathedral of St John The Divine, New York.

In every musical endeavour, we challenge pupils to develop independence and self-discipline; to explore their own artistic identities. Our pupil-led orchestras, bands, ensembles and choirs stage regular professional-calibre performances, which never fail to leave audiences stunned by their quality and virtuosity.

We nurture and develop talented individuals through our musical scholarship scheme, which attracts candidates from the UK’s foremost choir schools. Many pupils progress to Oxbridge scholarships or specialised study at conservatoires, and go on to various music careers.