Oratory School

The Oratory school – British boarding school, founded in 1859. It offers a traditional education of the highest quality and helps students achieve excellence in academic and personal growth. The school is located on a picturesque 40-hectare country estate, between Oxford and Reading.

The majority of students are from the UK, so English is spoken here constantly, and international students receive all the benefits of a real British education.

The school has about 380 students.

Director (for 2024)

Julian Murphy, education - Birkbeck College; Oxford University, PhD.

Famous school graduates

• Christopher Tolkien, son of the writer, author of "The Lord of the Rings" J. R. R. Tolkien
• Michael Tolkien, son of the writer, author of "The Lord of the Rings" J. R. R. Tolkien
• John Pius Boland, tennis player, Olympic gold medal winner
• Ed Conway, first economics editor of Sky News
• Gregory Woods, poet
• Peter Hope, diplomat
• Jack Miller, US Senator
• Edward Sheil, politician
• George M. von Furstenberg, economist
• Stuart Davison, athlete (cricket)
• Hubert Eaton, athlete (cricket)
• Ayoola Erinle, rugby player
• Tim Mahle, Olympic rower
• Alex Pierce, football player
• Tim Atkins, hockey player
• Michael Levy, historian
• Theobald Matthew, lawyer
• Tom Sandars, television and radio presenter
• Arthur Pollen, journalist, businessman

Key factors

• Oratory School is ranked in the top 3% of British schools in terms of “added quality”. This means that students reach their maximum potential and leave school with higher grades than the national average for their abilities.
• The large number of subjects offered, combined with an extracurricular program, contributes to strong academic development.
• Individual attention is at the heart of school education. Being a small school, relationships between students and teachers are excellent. Teachers know pupils' strengths and weaknesses and support them throughout their education. This ensures that each student achieves their maximum potential.
• High academic performance, most students enter selected universities, and the so-called “first choice universities” (the most desirable for admission).
• For students whose level of English is insufficient, there are English as a Foreign Language (EAL) lessons. The learning goes far beyond teaching basic English. Thanks to these lessons, foreign students feel comfortable and can freely join the school family.

Equipment

The school has a luxurious sports center with equipment worth several million pounds. There is: a 25-meter swimming pool, an indoor sports hall, a gym, exercise bikes, 6 tennis courts, a 9-hole golf course, squash courts, a tennis court. The school also has a boathouse on the Thames for rowers.

The school has a performing arts center, a high-tech fine arts studio and a design laboratory.

Program

GCSE

Two-year program to obtain a certificate of general secondary education. 6 subjects are required to study, 4 subjects are studied electively.

A-level

Two-year program to prepare for entering the university. Students choose 4 or 5 subjects for in-depth study.

Accommodation and accommodation

Accommodation in a residence on the school grounds, in one of 5 houses. There are 150 beds in the boarding house. Almost all rooms are single and double rooms with a shared bathroom. There are rooms with a private bathroom.

Sport

Sports – a significant  part of life at school. Games, including matches, are held four times a week. A variety of sports are offered, ensuring that all students can choose an activity they like and enjoy.Embraces teamwork and is proud of one's achievements. In addition to a strong team of specialist teachers, the school has a number of professional coaches who have competed internationally, providing training at the highest level.

The main sports at school: rugby, football, cricket, hockey, netball, tennis, rowing. And also: athletics, badminton, basketball, golf, handball, horse riding, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball.

Additional activities

The school has over 50 hobby classes. These include: chess, public speaking, filmmaking, board games, science club, chemistry club, literary society, ceramics, debate, investors club, school magazine creation, cooking, young entrepreneurs club, first aid club and much more.</ p>

There is a program for the Duke of Edinburgh's Prize, United Cadet Corps. The ski program presents a real challenge for students outside of their normal comfort zone.

The Good Schools Guide has consistently awarded Oratory top awards for its Art and Design subject, confirming its excellence as one of the best art and design schools in the country. The school has 12 dedicated art studios, including a photography studio and darkroom, a clay room and a 3D room. The school believes that everyone can be an artist. Along with traditional artistic fields, you can study film production, textiles, and animation at school.

Music – an integral part of life at school. Goal – organize a musical journey for every student in the school, regardless of their level of ability. Every day there are rehearsals for ensembles and individual lessons in playing instruments, from piano to bagpipes. The repertoire includes everything from choir and jazz to punk music. The school choir has toured to New York and Hong Kong and frequently performs in London and at prestigious venues such as St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The jazz group played together with members of the Ronnie Scott Jazz Orchestra.

The school's theater is outstanding, helping pupils to express themselves and develop their imagination, self-confidence and public speaking skills. All students have the opportunity to perform in the school's state-of-the-art Theater and Performing Arts Center. However, you don’t have to be on stage to participate in productions: there are opportunities for directors, screenwriters, designers, sound engineers and lighting designers.

The Oratory School has a varied overseas travel program that allows students to broaden their horizons and encourages them to further develop their talents. As part of the sports program, students visited South Africa and Ireland (rugby), Barbados (cricket) and Spain (rowing). There are academic trips to Iceland, Germany, Poland, France; and the music department performs in Hong Kong and the USA.

Cost, 2023-2024

£9,878 - £14,437 per semester (depending on age).
There are 3 semesters in the academic year.

Included in price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals

Additional charge

• Registration fee - £250
• Deposit - £10,000
• Air travel
• Transfers to/from/airport
• Visa
• Educational company services
• Selection of a guardian, which is a mandatory requirement of a British school

Paradise Education London services and fees 

How to choose a school