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We are proud of our broad and rich curriculum and strong exam results however, an Oratory education is about developing our young people in a much wider sense than exam results alone can demonstrate. There is 'something deeper' in an Oratory education - hard to define but undeniable - by its unique ethos and history as the only school founded by arguably the greatest educational thinker of the Victorian age, Saint John Henry Newman. An Oratory education gives our young people every opportunity to draw out and find their innate gifts and qualities and instills in them a sense of joy and a genuine love of learning. At The Oratory, everyone will find their place to excel. As a Catholic school that welcomes pupils of all faiths or none, visitors often comment on the inclusive family atmosphere of our school, and it is this supportive environment and our strong pastoral care that nurtures the confidence, self-expression, and resilience that are vital for success and happiness in the world of today. By the time they leave the school at the end of Sixth Form, having reached their academic potential, the majority of our pupils gain entry to their first choice of university, including many Russell Group universities. Our pupils leave the school as confident young adults, equipped not only with a well-rounded education, but also with a thirst for further learning, a strong moral compass, and lifelong friends. Our educational philosophy is underpinned by the values of : Integrity Curiosity Joy Confidence Endeavor Respect Kindness. These core values are shared by every member of the Oratory community, shaping who we are and what we do. The Oratory has been providing a holistic, all-round education for 160 years, focusing on the whole young person, seeing them as they are, ’wonderfully made’, and seeking to draw out and develop their innate gifts, skills, and talents, which we believe each of them has in abundance, be they academic, sporting, artistic, dramatic or inter-personal. The Oratory will become a coeducational school, welcoming girls alongside boys from September 2020. This decision means that girls and boys will be able to enjoy an Oratory education from the age of 11 through to 18. The Oratory deliberately remains a small school, with small class sizes, outstanding pastoral care, and a wonderful sense of community. Every young person is known here and we are as far from being an exam factory as can be imagined. However, our results are impressive because of this: while we have a broad academic spread, our value-added results are some of the best in the land. We’re not a small school in terms of facilities, breadth of curriculum, range of opportunities, or sport results. The Oratory has always achieved incredible things for a relatively small school and continues to do so. We are proud of our beautiful campus in the Oxfordshire countryside and our superb facilities. However, most of all we are proud of our young people – whom we call Oratorians – who are warm, kind, purposeful, yet refreshingly informal. Saint John Henry Newman founded The Oratory School intending to provide boys with an alternative to the other Catholic establishments of the day. He had been very influential in the conversion to Catholicism of many formerly Anglican, middle-class, professional men. They now wanted him to educate their sons, giving them a liberal, classical education, which would fit them for universities and public life, but in a sound Catholic context. The Oratory School opened on 1st May 1859, with nine boys. The Head Master was to be the Oratorian priest, Fr Nicholas Darnell, and Newman appointed a Dame, Mrs. Frances Wootten, imitating the great public schools. Over the year the school steadily grew in numbers, in popularity, and prestige. The sons of the old recusant families started to come, too. High-caliber lay staff were employed, schoolrooms built, playing fields rented, and extra-curricular activities thrived: all the trappings of an English public school were present by the late 1860s. In all things, however, the spiritual and religious life of the boys continued to be paramount. Newman’s friend, Ambrose St John, took the helm, though Newman himself was often involved with the finances, the examinations, the annual Latin play, and the orchestra. He often wrote to and had dealings with, the parents. After St John’s death, Fr John Norris and, in the early 20th Century, Fr Edward Pereira, were both outstanding Heads who made the school what it was: successful Catholic attractive to converts and old families alike. Boys went on to university, to Sandhurst and Woolwich, into Medicine and the Law. Many played a notable part in the Armed Forces, with 84 giving their lives in the Great War. Although Newman died in 1890, the school continued to be very much his school, still attached as it was to the Birmingham Oratory Fathers’ house, and with Fr Pereira, a former pupil of the Cardinals’ day, as Head Master. In the early 1920s, a new site became necessary and the school was relocated to Caversham, just north of Reading. In this inter-war period, there were several changes of Head Master, a devastating fire, and national economic difficulties which, together with the removal from the historical Birmingham site, caused problems for the school. In 1941the Caversham, the site was sold to the BBC and a new site was purchased in Woodcote, where the school remains to this day. Extensive building programs under Dom Adrian Morey OSB in the 1960s, Adrian Snow in the 1970s and 1980s, and latterly under Clive Dytor, gave the school hugely improved sporting facilities, classrooms, and new boarding houses. Now with Joe Smith as the Head Master, Newman’s school continues to thrive and is looking forward to welcoming girls alongside boys for the next 160 years. View full school

The Oratory R.C. Primary and Nursery School build upon strong foundations inspired by the teaching of Blessed John Henry Newman ­an advocate of personalized learning and St Philip Neri who believed that ‘cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.’ We are committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and happy innovative learning environment based upon the living tradition of the Catholic Church drawing upon current educational thinking. The school prepares children for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century through a curriculum that is tailored to meet the needs of all. A community of lifelong learners, the school and governors, work in partnership with: families, the Oratory Fathers and Brothers, the Oratory Parish, local community, and external consultants to enable all children to achieve their full potential: spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially. Whilst the prime focus of the Oratory R.C. Primary and Nursery School is to secure the best spiritual and educational provision for the child, the school recognizes that the safety, welfare, and care of children are paramount. We are therefore committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted in our care at all times. We recognize our responsibility to safeguard all who access school and promote the welfare of all our children by protecting them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and bullying. The Department for Education is responsible for education and children’s services in England. We work to achieve a highly educated society in which opportunity is equal for children and young people, no matter what their background or family circumstances. Keeping Children Healthy and Safe from Harm Our pupils are continually taught and encouraged to live healthy lifestyles and adopt safe practices. Our safeguarding policies and practices help to ensure that they are safe, happy, and healthy. We also work in partnership with parents and carers throughout the year through a series of coffee mornings. View full school

The Oratory Preparatory School is an Independent Catholic day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2 to 13. This is our Mission Statement for The Oratory Preparatory School to respect each child as an individual and give each child the confidence and self-esteem to develop his or her talents to the full. "Vertical" tutor groups including pupils from Years 6-8 help to break down barriers between year groups and create opportunities for peer mentoring and modeling of confident yet thoughtful behavior by older pupils. Small class sizes create many opportunities for personal development through participation Opportunities for self-expression, participation, and performance in Department assemblies, plays, public speaking events such as English Speaking Board assessments. Many opportunities to represent the School in sports fixtures, thus developing teamwork, leadership, and self-esteem. To develop the whole child: Intellectually, morally, socially, spiritually, aesthetically, and physically. A wide range of academic subjects, including Latin, taught expertly by specialists and with excellent facilities. Personal and Social Education lessons cover key moral issues for young people. A rich and rigorous Religious Education program ensures that children are both well-informed about the Catholic and other faiths, and develop as enquiring philosophical thinkers. A vibrant music department, with lots of opportunities for performance and enjoyment of others’ talents. A strong art department, with an enviable record of scholarships. Many and varied opportunities for participation in dramatic performances, from a comedy nativity play or a piece about St Thomas a Beckett in a history assembly to a part in Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat or Othello! PE lessons develop core physical skills for all. A full program of matches in a wide variety of sports enables children to express themselves physically in a carefully controlled competitive environment. To develop an effective three-way partnership between children, parents, and school. Good relationships mean that pupils communicate with staff easily and naturally. The annually elected School Council, which includes pupils from Year 3 to Year 8, represents the views of the pupils to the Headmaster and senior staff. Small tutor groups (10-12 pupils) create a relaxed forum for discussion and healthy debate. Prefects, especially the Head and Deputy Head Prefects) represent the views of the pupils to the Headmaster and the Deputy Head (School Management). The school communicates with parents through weekly Newsletters, regularly emailed updates, 3-weekly report cards which are emailed home, and good lines of communication between tutors and parents, whose children, if they have more than one, normally have the same tutor. The Headmaster hosts regular coffee mornings with parents from a year group or two, at which concerns can be raised, as well as annual “Open Forums”, which are open to all parents. Of course, the Headmaster is always happy to meet with parents to discuss issues of concern. As a Catholic School, to offer the experience of living in a Christian community and to encourage a personal relationship with God through prayer and participation in worship. Father Kenneth Macnab is our School Chaplain. As a priest he is a very visible presence in the lives of the pupils, saying Mass several times a week as well as interacting with the children in innumerable less formal ways, such as on the Year 7 cultural and spiritual trip to Rome. We pray every day, so prayer becomes a normal part of the rhythm of the pupils’ day, and we back this up with “Thought for the Day” spiritual talks by the Headmaster and other staff in Assemblies. View full school

As a Catholic boys' school of 320 young men in grades 7-12, We know that we deliver an exemplary education in a tight-knit community. Our emphasis is on preparing our young men to become exceptional leaders, thinkers, and men of faith and action. Our staff takes pride in challenging and caring for every student. This attention to individual growth is the hallmark of an Oratory Prep education. Tremendous accomplishments and service to the community make us incredibly proud of our students. Fortunately, we are blessed with a talented Board of Trustees, supportive parents, and loyal alumni who enhance what we provide to our young men. Our growth over the past few years, coupled with improvements to our facilities, have us in a terrific place. This growth and support have enabled us to keep class sizes small while increasing our offerings – both in and out of the classroom. The mission of Oratory Preparatory School is to develop young men of faith, intellect, and character through an exceptional college preparatory program rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. In a spirit of cooperation and collaboration, we prepare them for life beyond the classroom by focusing on each individual's abilities to graduate young men of action who will contribute positively to our communities, Church, nation, and world. We believe: The Roman Catholic tradition underlies and informs our beliefs, actions, and attitudes A safe and positive environment fosters a culture of mutual respect that allows its members to reach their potential as individuals and as a community A challenging curriculum promotes intellectual, physical, moral, social, emotional, and spiritual development Honesty and integrity are hallmarks of who we are Each individual is unique, possessing gifts and talents that enrich our community A successful school requires the cooperation of all stakeholders - students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, Board members, and the community A diverse school community is essential in developing young men of action who, through their awareness, will become responsible leaders in a global society A positive school experience fosters lifelong learning and produces young men of character and service in educating the whole student Oratory Prep has a long history of academic excellence, yet we improve our overall academic program each year. Our curriculum is highly challenging and prepares our graduates for future study in the nation's finest colleges and universities. We always keep a close eye on our standardized test scores, as we understand the value placed upon them by those schools to which our graduates apply and are very proud of our results. However, while our test scores give us productive feedback on our students' learning outcomes, they are by no means the only drivers of the academic program. We have grown the number of elective classes offered substantially over the last several years and planned to continue to do so. The experience that each student has in the classroom is paramount to us at Oratory Prep. Because of this, we continue to keep our class sizes small, even as our overall student body expands. Our faculty is consistently available for individualized assistance to our students every school day, and our Guidance department develops each student's academic schedule in a personalized meeting. Our one-to-one laptop program and the technology available in the classrooms and throughout the school help keep our students and teachers on the cutting edge of an ever-changing world of learning methodologies and best practices. View full school