A British Catholic co-educational boarding school founded by Saint John Henry Newman in 1859, where rigorous academic standards meet comprehensive student development.
Location and History
The Oratory School occupies a 100-acre estate in the Oxfordshire village of Woodcote, just 45 minutes from Heathrow and easily reached via the M4 and M40. Its campus houses sports fields, a swimming pool, theatre, 12 art studios, and a boathouse on the Thames. Currently enrolling around 360 students aged 11-18, with plans to expand to 450, the school offers flexible arrangements including day, full boarding, weekly, and flexi-boarding options.
Academic Results
Following a successful 2025 ISI inspection, The Oratory School ranks in the top 25% nationally for value-added results at both GCSE and A Level, reflecting how effectively staff nurture students of varying abilities. Half of graduates proceed to Russell Group universities, while others choose prestigious institutions like Exeter, Nottingham Trent, and Oxford Brookes, or international options including the University of Arizona and IE Madrid. Notable alumni include actor Jonathan Bailey, rugby player Danny Cipriani, and Sky News economics editor Ed Conway.
Ex Umbris
The school’s educational philosophy stems from its founder’s vision, embodied in the motto Ex Umbris—”From shadows and images to truth”—which prioritizes deep understanding and critical thinking over mere memorization. Students follow GCSE/IGCSE and A Level programs, with Religious Studies mandatory at GCSE, typically taking three A Levels alongside an optional Extended Project Qualification. The Loquitur program enriches academic work through careers guidance, volunteering, and lessons in financial literacy and cookery, while small class sizes—averaging 15 in junior years and 20 at GCSE—maintain a 6:1 student-teacher ratio.
Creativity and Extracurricular Life
Over 50 clubs span three areas: intellectual development, emotional wellbeing, and practical skills, from medical and debating societies to Young Enterprise. Creative opportunities flourish through the modern theatre, 12 specialized art studios (including photography, ceramics, and 3D design spaces), and musical ensembles ranging from big band to the Schola Cantorum choir. Film, animation, and the school magazine offer further outlets for expression.
Sports Opportunities
With four weekly sessions including matches, sport anchors school life through facilities like playing fields, a pool, real tennis courts, squash courts, and the Thames boathouse. The Oratory School is one of just five British schools offering real tennis, where students train under the current world champion. Sports rotate seasonally:
- Autumn: boys play rugby while girls take up hockey and football
- Spring: girls focus on hockey and netball, with rowing for everyone
- Summer: cricket for boys, tennis for girls, and rowing for all
Teams compete at prestigious venues including Cardiff Arms Park and London’s Olympic Aquatics Centre.
Life at the Boarding House
Operating as a co-educational boarding school, The Oratory School runs Monday through Saturday, with morning lessons and afternoon matches on Saturdays. Four boarding houses—a junior boys’ house, two senior boys’ houses, and one for girls of all ages—are each managed by a resident housemaster or housemistress with support staff living on-site. Student wellbeing is overseen by a deputy head for pastoral care, a full-time chaplain, and a medical centre staffed by five registered nurses working round-the-clock, while most teaching staff live on campus with their families and actively participate in extracurricular life, fostering a genuine community atmosphere.
