School for Life

A School for Life

A School for Life has emerged as one of our key priorities for the next few years. With an increasingly tough job market, with global competition for graduate posts and with an economy still struggling to emerge from a long downturn, these are difficult times for younger OUs. However, when pupils leave Uppingham or our OUs complete their degrees, we want them to know that the School will remain an invaluable resource which can help them to decide on their future careers and provide ongoing support in whatever path they choose. Work on this strategy has already begun. Every week we receive requests from OUs seeking contacts from our network who can offer guidance on choosing the right career or the right employer and we are grateful to all those OUs who respond to such requests. This summer we held our first networking group meeting which on this occasion was for young entrepreneurs under the guidance of James Averdieck (F 79), founder of Gü Puddings. Further sessions are planned for different career sectors with a property group in the pipeline for the New Year, and media, the City and more to follow. Other initiatives include building on the annual careers conference at Uppingham which benefits greatly from OUs coming back and giving of their time freely to advise and direct Sixth Formers who are exploring future avenues. We also run a Linked-In group with more than 700 OUs and are looking to hold more careerspecific dinners in the fields of finance, property and law. The strength of the OU network is remarkable and we want to make the network thrive in the best way possible. The support of OUs for this initiative is of course essential. If you would be happy to help as a source of advice or support for your career sector; to participate in either of our events, workshops or conferences; or to discuss the School for Life initiative further, please do contact me or any of the OU team. Patrick Mulvihill

MediaDevil, owned by young entrepreneur Callum Bush (WB 99) is now sponsoring four senior team kits at Uppingham.

OUs in the Dragons’ Den

One strand of the School for Life initiative is a plan for a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style evening in Uppingham in 2014. We are currently exploring a number of options to enable entrepreneurial OUs seeking investment to connect with other OUs and Uppingham parents who might be able to provide venture capital or expertise for new start-up ventures. Uppingham has a history of producing successful entrepreneurs and the Uppingham Foundation is keen to find a way of helping the next generation of business owners to achieve success. Plans are at an early stage but we are looking at following the Dragons’ Den format with OUs presenting their business cases to a panel of senior OUs or parents who have the means and expertise to contribute to the success of selected companies. If you are interested in submitting a business plan or becoming involved as a potential mentor or investor, please contact Patrick Mulvihill in the OU office.

The western quad

Stephen Dorrell (M 65) standing in the Western Quad with the new Science Centre entrance behind him.

View from the Leicester looking towards the new Science Centre in the middle and the Leonardo Centre to the left.

As the great Victorian Headmaster Edward Thring, said, ‘For the young, only the best is good enough’ and this is certainly true of the new Science Centre and quad created in the western campus. We have seen this impressive development take shape over the last 12 months on the site of the old sports centre and you cannot help but notice that this will be a very different environment from the functional and sterile atmosphere that can pervade many Science faculties. We believe that by creating superb facilities this will help new generations of Uppingham pupils to see Science as an exciting and attractive subject to study. As Stephen Dorrell, Chairman of the Trustees, has commented about the Uppingham of today, ‘Think of it less as a caricature English public school and more as a university for young teenagers’.

With the new Science Centre running on time, ready for completion in spring 2014 and on budget, we now turn our focus towards an extension of the Leonardo Arts Centre. The Leonardo, designed with great innovation and imagination by Piers Gough (WB 59), was opened in 1996. The building entrance will now be re-positioned to overlook the new quad and the internal layout re-designed to make better use of the interior space. In recognition of his lifetime of work in Art and Design at Uppingham we are delighted that there will be a gallery within the Leonardo named after Warwick Metcalfe, which offers an opportunity for all those who love art to support this element of the project. Lisa Gilman, Development Manager

Warwic Metcalfe, Head of Art 1958–1988

During his time at Uppingham the Art and Design department flourished and Warwick became involved in a number of major school projects using his architectural training, such as the Chapel extension. He was delighted when the department was re-housed in The Leonardo Centre, designed by his former pupil Piers Gough.

View from the roof of the new Science Centre looking towards the quad and the colonnade.

A Las ting Legacy The completion of the Western Quad will see the culmination of a decade worth of developments at Uppingham and our efforts will then turn towards bursaries. Uppingham currently supports a growing number of pupils with some level of assistance. It enables the School to help children who would not ordinarily be able to study here and can give them the opportunities to benefit from a world-class education. One special way of providing support towards a bursary or scholarship would be through leaving a legacy. Changing your will can be done easily by either contacting your solicitor or the Foundation Office; we will be able to send you a Codicil form which includes all the information you require to make your wishes clear in your will. Your support will help your School to continue to flourish and will change the lives of future generations of pupils forever and leave a lasting legacy at Uppingham.

London The OU Dinner

Thursday 13 th March 2014

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Knightsbridge

Tickets £85.00 per person (£65.00 for OUs aged 29 and under) and includes a pre-dinner cocktail or glass of wine, a three course meal with ½ a bottle of wine and a post-dinner cocktail. Tickets can be paid for by credit card by calling Jo Franklin in OU Office on 01572 820616 or by cheque (payable to ‘The Uppingham Association’).

Tables are limited so please call now to reserve your ticket. For more details please email Jo at jsf@uppingham.co.uk

We are grateful to Nick Wall (Fgh 92) and his company Tails Cocktails for providing cocktails at the event.