A Guide to Our Terminology
Uppingham Cairo
Junior School (Primary School)
Pre-Prep (EYFS & KS1)
Prep (KS2)
Senior School (Secondary School)
Lower School (KS3)
Senior School (KS4)
Sixth Form (KS5)
A Guide to our Terminology
Uppingham Cairo is proud to build on the rich heritage of the finest British Public and Preparatory Schools* not only in name but in character, philosophy, values and ambition - the connection is genuine, it is wholehearted and it is exciting.
This means that we often use terminology that is commonly used and understood in British Independent Schools, but which is different to many international schools who are modelled more closely on the UK government (state) school system. This guide is intended to explain our terminology so that the words we use become a shared language that is understood by all
* An important explanation of these two terms can be found later in this guide!
Parts of the School
Uppingham Cairo is very much a ‘whole’ school, and each pupils’ journey through the school is carefully planned to ensure a seamless and natural progression as they grow in maturity and responsibility.
However, for the purposes of organisation, Uppingham Cairo is divided into two major parts or ‘schools’; The Junior School and The Senior School.
The Junior School
The Junior School is home to our pupils who are aged 3 to 11 years, and is divided in two further schools; The Pre-Prep and the Prep.
The Pre-Prep is for our youngest children, who are aged 3 – 7. This is commonly referred to as ‘EYFS’ and ‘Key Stage 1’
The Prep School is for our older Junior School pupils, who are aged 7 to 11 years. This is commonly referred to as ‘Key Stage 2’.
The Senior School
The Senior School is home to our pupils who are aged 11 to 18 years, and is divided in three further schools; The Lower School, the Upper School and the Sixth Form.
The Lower School is for our pupils who are aged 11 – 14. This is commonly referred to as ‘Key Stage 3’.
The Upper School is for our pupils who are aged 14-16, and who are preparing for their IGCSE examinations. This is commonly referred to as ‘Key Stage 4’.
The Sixth Form is for our pupils who are aged 16-18, and who are preparing for their A Level or IBDP examinations. This is commonly referred to as ‘Key Stage 5’.
Junior School
Pre-Prep
Nursery (Foundation Stage 1)
4s (Foundation Stage 2)
5s (Year 1)
6s (Year 2 / Grade 1)
Prep
7s (Year 3 / Grade 2)
8s (Year 4 / Grade 3)
9s (Year 5 / Grade 4)
Top Year (Year 6 / Grade 5)
Senior School
Lower School
First Form (Year 7 / Grade 6)
Second Form (Year 8 / Grade 7)
Third Form (Year 9 / Grade 8)
Upper School
Fourth Form (Year 10 / Grade 9)
Fifth Form (Year 11 / Grade 10)
Sixth Form
Lower Sixth (Year 12 / Grade 11)
Upper Sixth (Year 13 / Grade 12)
Forms
We use the term ‘Form’ instead of ‘Year Group’, so when we talk about ‘a Form’ we are referring to all the pupils in that year group rather than an individual class.
In the Junior School, with the exception of the Nursery and Top Year, the Forms are named after the age of the children in the class on 1st September. So, children aged 8 on 1st September will be in ‘The 8s’ (pronounced The Eights). The children will all turn 9 during the academic year, but they remain in ‘The 8s’ until they all progress to ‘The 9s’ the following September.
The Nursery and Top Year (referred to affectionately as ‘The Tops’) are given special names as they are the first and final years of Junior School.
The table on the left summarises the parts of the school, and the Forms that make up each part. Pupils automatically progress from one Form to the next each year. For reference, the names in brackets are the equivalent terms used in schools based on the UK government school system.
Day Pupils and Day Boarders
Unlike Uppingham School UK, Uppingham Cairo is not a Boarding School. However, the only distinction is that our pupils do not sleep at school. Our unique extended programme means that our pupils can enjoy the same rich immersive experience as their peers in independent boarding schools the UK.
We refer to our pupils as either ‘Day Pupils’ or ‘Day Boarders’, and parents are asked to decide between the two options for their son or daughter each year. This means that a pupil can be a ‘Day Pupil’ in the 6s, for example, but be a ‘Day Boarder’ in the 7s depending on the wishes of the family and pupil.
Day Pupils enjoy the full rigour of our broad academic curriculum from 8.20am until 3.30pm each day. They also have access to many of our cocurricular activities which further extends their day until 4.30pm
Day Boarders follow an identical programme to the Day Pupils during the day, but have access to the full evening programme of co-curricular activities after school. Day Boarders can choose to have breakfast in the Dining Room before the formal start of school at 7.30am. At the end of the day, they can choose to go home after lessons or they can stay for afternoon tea, co-curricular activities, supper, prep and evening cocurricular activities, including our specialist academies.
We offer a great deal of flexibility for both Day Pupils and Day Boarders, enabling them to create a personalised programme that best suits their
The History of our Houses
Farleigh
Farleigh marks the northern boundary of the school and is just two minutes’ walk from the main school buildings. It opened a year after its neighbour, Meadhurst, in 1896, as one of the ‘country houses’ – before Uppingham town extended beyond it. The house sits in its own private gardens, which include a football pitch and a croquet lawn.
Fairfield
Fairfield pioneered coeducation at Uppingham for 11 years, opening in 1975 as a Sixth Form house for 40 girls. The house is an unusual blend of contemporary design and 1930’s art deco, with wide corridors, high ceilings and cosy seating areas. It lies at the heart of the striking architecture and open spaces of the Western Campus.
Brooklands
Brooklands is one of the ‘hill houses’ tucked away in a leafy valley on the southern edge of town, just five to ten minutes’ walk from school. It was built by Reverend William J Earle in 1861. The house is set in a beautiful garden with a mini arboretum and a stream running along the bottom of the garden.
Johnson’s
Named after the founder of Uppingham School, Archdeacon Robert Johnson, the house was built to mark the school’s quatercentenary in 1984. Surrounded by private gardens, Johnson’s marks the western boundary of the school, overlooking the sports centre and playing fields. It is within a minute’s walk of the arts, sports and science facilities of the Western Campus.
interests and aspirations. Please see the ‘Timings of the School Day’ and the ‘UPP&Out’ and ‘UPPStart’ brochures for further details
The Houses
There are 4 Houses at Uppingham Cairo; Farleigh, Fairfield, Brooklands and Johnson’s, named after Houses at Uppingham School UK. Every pupil is allocated a House when they join the school, and extended family members are always in the same house. House ties are worn by all pupils from the 5s.
Our distinctive houses are central to life at Uppingham Cairo, and pupils develop a deep affection for their houses. The house families eat together at lunch and afternoon tea, which is an important and distinguishing feature of our pastoral care. From the 9s in the Junior School, the House Common Room is a sanctuary; a place for rest and contemplation, as well as a hub for communal activity. The experience of being in a house builds friendships that last a lifetime. It teaches pupils to empathise, to motivate, to lead and to play their part in a community of diverse individuals.
There is an atmosphere of healthy competition between the houses, which is encouraged and celebrated through inter-house competitions in sport, music, debating and general knowledge. House Shout is the traditional annual singing competition that is held both at Uppingham School in the UK and at Uppingham Cairo.
Each house has a Housemaster or Housemistress who plays an important role, alongside the Personal Tutor, for the pastoral care of each pupil in the Senior School Pupils in the Senior School gather after lunch each day in their House Common Room for House Callout where they are registered for the afternoon session and to hear any notices and reminders for the day and week ahead Each house also has two House Captains, one boy and one girl selected from the oldest Form in the school, who are the pupil leaders of the House.
Form Teachers and Personal Tutors
All pupils have either a Form Teacher (in the Junior School up to the 8s) or a Personal Tutor (from the 9s onwards). The Form Teacher or Personal Tutor is responsible for overseeing the pastoral and academic care of each of their pupils. Form Teacher and Tutors register their pupils each morning, and get to know the pupils in their care very well indeed. Tutors have a formal meeting with their tutees every week to provide coaching, mentoring and advice.
Prep
Homework at Uppingham Cairo is referred to as ‘prep’, and is set for all pupils from the 5s Day Pupils complete their prep at home, whilst Day Boarders and Junior School pupils have the option to complete their prep in ‘Prep’ at school. Prep is usually completed by Junior School pupils in a classroom in the QEII building and in The Thring Library in the Senior School. Prep is always supervised at school.
UPPStart and UPP&Out
The extensive co-curricular programme at Uppingham Cairo is referred to as ‘UPPStart’ in the Junior School and as ‘UPP&Out’ in the Senior School. Please see the ‘UPP&Out’ and ‘UPPStart’ brochures for further details.
Common Rooms
Common Rooms are rooms where groups of pupils and staff gather to rest and engage in communal activities during the school day. The Thring Common Room is the main staff common room, and each of the houses has a dedicated Common Room on the top floor of the Thring Building.
ISEB Common Entrance Exams
The Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) Common Entrance exams are standardised tests used by many independent schools in the UK at age 11+ and at 13+. The exams are designed to assess a pupil's academic ability and potential across a range of subjects Pupils at Uppingham Cairo are prepared for, and sit, these exams in the Spring Term of Top Year and at the end of the 2nd Form. Further details are sent to parents of children joining the Prep School or the First and Second Form, before the beginning of the academic year.
Classics
Classics is the collective name for Latin, Ancient Greek and Ancient History. The establishment of a Classics department at Uppingham Cairo reflects our commitment to providing a well-rounded education that honours the historical traditions of British Public Schools while developing versatile, intellectually capable pupils.
All pupils in the Lower School have weekly lessons in Latin, and can begin Ancient Greek and Ancient History as part of the UPP&Out programme. Pupils in the Junior School have the option to begin Latin from the 7s, as part of the UPPStart programme.
The Scholars
The Scholars is the collective name for pupils who have been awarded a scholarship to Uppingham Cairo. Scholarship awards are made either for evidence of a high level of attainment and promise or exceptional specialist aptitude which is assessed through test, examination or observation, interview and reference.
The Leighton Group
The Academic Scholars form part of the Leighton Group - an invite-only group of pupils from the 3rd Form who share a high level of academic rigour and curiosity. The group is divided between Humanities and STEM subjects to provide a programme tailored to the specialisms and interests of the scholar. Scholars work on research, internal and external essay competitions, seminars, presentations, experiments - in fact, anything that allows them to focus on their passions In due course, further support will be given for potential university Mathematicians via the STEP programme in the Sixth Form.
Pollies
The pupil prefects at Uppingham Cairo are known as ‘Pollies’, which is the name given to prefects at Uppingham School UK. Pollies are appointed in the Top Year of the Junior School and in the Sixth Form, and have their own distinctive tie.
Gappies
Gappies are gap or graduate assistants. The Gappies are usually recent alumni of Uppingham School in the UK, and join us for a year to gain work experience and to support the co-curricular and sports programme.
Gather
Twice a week the Senior School joins together for ‘Gather’, which might be referred to as ‘Assembly’ in other schools. In the Junior School, the pupils join together for ‘Little Gather’ once a week Gather provides a collective experience that creates a sense of shared identity, ethos and purpose. It is where we sing together and where every pupil feels part of a secure, caring school family
Our Buildings
The names of our buildings reflect the rich heritage of our school, referring to illustrious former Headmasters of Uppingham School, extraordinary Uppinghamians, and other places and people of importance to Uppingham.
The names and functions of our buildings are as follows:
1584 Administration
Robert Johnson Pre-Prep (Nursery and 4s)
HM Queen Elizabeth II Junior School (5s to 8s)
Edward Thring Academic Departments / Leonardo
Sir Patrick Abercrombie Academic Departments
Rutland Sixth Form
Donald Campbell Sports’ Centre
Barbara Matthews Theatre, Performing Arts
The Leonardo
The Leonardo is located on the second floor of the Thring building, and is home to the Art and Design departments which promote creative, ambitious and experimental work in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and film, textiles and fashion, and conceptual art. The Leonardo is named after, and has close links with, The Leonardo Centre at Uppingham School, with its award-winning facilities and industry-standard creative environment
UCSC
UCSC (Uppingham Cairo Sports’ Centre) is exclusively available to members of the Uppingham Cairo school community throughout the year. Occasionally, courses are run at the weekends and during the school holidays which are open to the general public.
All parents of pupils at Uppingham Cairo school are automatically members of UCSC, and we offer a range of associate memberships for extended family members. To enable our members to play matches with non-members, guests of members are welcome on a strictly limited ‘pay and play’ occasional basis for some sports.
UCSC offers studio, gym and pool classes to parents and family members, as well as access to our world class facilities when they are not being used by the school.
Further details are made available to parents ahead of each academic year in the UCSC brochure.
The Dining Room
Pupils eat their lunch (and supper if they are a Day Boarder) in The Dining Room, rather than a ‘cafeteria’ or ‘canteen’. This is because whilst our delicious lunches and suppers are enjoyed in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere, they are also a traditional and relatively formal affair at Uppingham Cairo. Pupils and staff eat together in their Houses, and good manners and etiquette are taught and expected.
Tuck
‘Tuck’ is a traditional British term that refers to light refreshments or snacks that pupils might get from a tuck shop in a school. Whilst we use the term ‘tuck shop’, morning tuck is a healthy snack that is provided by the school during the morning break and there is no charge.
The Buttery
The Buttery is located in the Thring Building, and is the school ‘tuck shop’ where Senior School pupils collect their tuck at morning break. Junior School pupils collect their tuck from the QEII or Johnson’s Dining Rooms.
Parent Portal
The Parent Portal can be found within our Virtual Learning Environment (UPPCNet) which can only be accessed by parents via a secure individual login. It is where you will find your child's reports, make appointments for Parents' Evening and update your personal details. You can find out more about the curriculum, download forms, see photographs of the children learning in the Junior School and so on. It is also the platform that we use to deliver online learning if necessary. Logins are sent to new parents shortly before their child starts at UC.
The Parents’ Circle
The Parents' Circle which is the Parent Teacher Association for Uppingham Cairo. The Parents’ Circle works for the good of the school in a variety of ways including the organisation of charitable and social events including the Michaelmas Fair, the Summer Fun Day, nearly new uniform sales, and so on.
All parents and teachers are members of the Parents’ Circle. Parents’ Circle Representatives from each class meet regularly and, from September 2025, The Parents’ Circle will hold a drinks party for all parents new to the school at the start of the Winter Term.
Public Schools and Preparatory Schools
We are often asked about the meaning of the term ‘Public School’ in the UK. This is a confusing term because, in many other countries, it refers to schools that are publicly funded and free to attend. In the UK, these institutions are known as "state schools".
In the UK, the term "public school" refers to a type of private, independent senior school. These schools are fee-paying institutions and are known for their prestigious status and long histories. They often have a traditional ethos, with many of them being established several centuries ago. Notable examples include Uppingham School, Eton College, Harrow School, and Winchester College.
Preparatory Schools are the Junior School equivalent of the Public Schools. They are called such as they traditionally ‘prepared’ young pupils for the entrance examinations for the Public Schools.
Reports and Reviews
Reports are written for all pupils across the school in accordance with the reporting schedule for each part of the school. From the Third Form, reports are referred to as ‘reviews’ as they are written on a more regular basis to, and for the benefit of, the pupil to provide ongoing feedback on which they are expected to act. Further details of reporting arrangements are sent to parents ahead of the new academic year.
Old Uppinghamians
‘Old Uppinghamians’ is the name given to the alumni of all Uppingham schools. When pupils leave Uppingham Cairo their connection with the School doesn’t end there. By being part of the OUC Association, which is closely affiliated to the OU Association in the UK, they will be part of a club which will be of value to them for the rest of their lives; wherever Uppinghamians go and whatever they do there is a network for them to connect with.
Term of Address
Uppingham Cairo is a warm, friendly and caring school, but it is also one in which traditional good manners and certain standards of formality are expected and observed. Pupils are, therefore, expected to refer to staff by their formal name. For example, Mr Banks or Mrs Palmer. Male members of staff may also be referred to as ‘Sir’. Pupils are not expected, or permitted to, refer to members of staff by their first name.
Founding Families
Founding Families are those families who joined Uppingham Cairo during the 2024-5 academic year. These families have particular privileges which will extend throughout their son or daughter’s time at Uppingham Cairo. From time to time, these privileges will be mentioned in communication and documentation from the School, as and when different arrangements apply to Founding Families.
Uppingham Cairo
KM 22 Cairo-Alex Road, First 6th of October
Giza Governorate 3296170
Egypt
Switchboard: +10 12777777
admissions@uppinghamcairo.com www.uppinghamcairo.com