The Oratory
The Oratory is a co-ed boarding and day school in Woodcote, Oxfordshire, educating pupils aged 11 - 18 and founded in 1859. Boarding fees are £12,003 - £17,760 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 11 - 18
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Guardian required
- Yes
About The Oratory
The story, ethos and character of The Oratory.
- Setting
- Village
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Head
- Mr Matthew Fogg
The Oratory is an Independent Coeducational Day and Boarding School for pupils aged 11-18 with full, weekly and flexi boarding options. We focus on offering an education that responds to the individual needs of families and prepares our pupils fully for their lives beyond school.
Set in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, we offer the best of both worlds - country-estate surroundings with excellent transport links to London and Heathrow. An Oratory education focuses on the whole pupil, nurturing them to achieve their best in whatever it is they set out to do, be they academic, sporting, artistic, dramatic or inter-personal.
We are proud of our broad and rich curriculum, with a strong emphasis on providing an all-round education and placing equal importance on academic, sport and co-curricular enrichment.
It is rated "Excellent" in both categories of 'pupils' academic and other achievements' and 'pupils' personal development' by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. As a Catholic school that welcomes pupils of all faiths or none, visitors often comment on the inclusive family atmosphere of our school; it is this supportive environment that nurtures the confidence, self-expression, and resilience that are vital for success and happiness in the world of .
What the school is known for? Small school with a genuine family ethos and strong pastoral care. We remain, quite deliberately, small enough that we can know every one of our pupils in the way that their parents know them - the hopes, the fears, the enthusiasms and trepidations.
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Academics at The Oratory
What pupils study at The Oratory — and where it takes them.
are taught in small classes by specialists who aim to inspire a genuine love of learning in all pupils. Pupils are encouraged to be intellectually curious and academically ambitious. Following the publication of results in summer 2025, our quality indicator shows the progress made by Oratory pupils at GCSE and A Level is equivalent to the top 25% of schools nationally and the top 10% nationally for girls at GCSE.
We are in the top 10% of schools nationally for GCSE for our value-added in the following departments: Art & 3D Design Chinese English Language Science History Mathematics Music Academic endeavour is very much encouraged; we want our pupils to work hard, take responsibility for their own learning, and strive to achieve everything they are capable of.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
UK Leavers' Destinations for 2025 are (in alphabetical order): Bath University Bath Spa University Bristol, University of the West of England Brunel University, London De Montfort University Durham University Edinburgh University Falmouth University Hartpury University Imperial College London Kings College London, University of London Kingston University Leeds Beckett University Liverpool University Loughborough University Manchester Metropolitan University Newcastle University Northumbria University, University Nottingham Trent University Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama SOAS University of London Swansea University University of the Arts, London University of Brighton University of Exeter University of Leeds University of Nottingham University of Southampton University of Surrey University of Sussex University of Warwick University of Winchester International Leavers' Destinations for 2025 (in alphabetical order): IE Madrid, Spain University of Arizona, USA
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at The Oratory
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at The Oratory.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 1, Boys 3, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
Oratory will provide a foundation for life, success, and personal friendships that last forever. Our boarders experience a nurturing home environment under the supervision of our outstanding Housemasters and Housemothers. We also offer our boarders a whole host of new social and cultural opportunities that contribute another dimension to their broad Oratory education.
Houses are central to life at The Oratory. The school is divided into four Houses - a junior house (boys), two senior houses (boys) and one house for all girls. Our junior boys are part of St Philip House until they graduate into one of the two Senior Houses (Fitz Alan and Norris), while older pupils are assigned to one of our two senior boys Houses when they join the school and remain part of that House during their time with us.
A genuine home away from home
Wootten House - 11 to 18 years (Girls) The first girls' house at The Oratory is named after Mrs Frances Wootten, the first Dame of the Oratory School when it was founded by John Henry Newman in 1859. The 1st - U6 Form (day, flexi and boarding) all live together as one community.
They are proud of their bonds across the years, with buddies and mentors who become big sisters and friends. Wootten girls get involved in every aspect of school life and are proud to each other. The house motto is 'Mulier Fortis et Sapiens', which means 'a strong and wise woman'.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
The Oratory admissions
How children join The Oratory, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Special notes to agents about entry to the school We do not accept students into Year 11 (GCSE exam year) or Year 13 (A Level exam year) as this is too far into the exam curriculum and would negatively impact the current students in their exam preparation.
Application procedure and entrance tests We require students to complete entrance assessment papers which can be completed either with the agent or the students' current school. English levels required for entry to the school We require a standard of English ability suitable for the level at which the pupil wishes to enter the school.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
The Oratory fees & funding
What The Oratory costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for The Oratory.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare The Oratory against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
The Oratory location & travel
Where The Oratory is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address , Woodcote, Oxfordshire, RG8 0PJ, England Airport transfer The school provides transport services at the start of each term and half term to coordinate with the arrivals of pupils travelling from overseas with prior arrangement with school reception and their Housemother.
Outside of these times we can also arrange for pupils to be taken and collected from Reading train station with our pool of accredited taxi companies. There is a regular train service to Reading Train Station from both Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Inside The Oratory
The Oratory — frequently asked questions
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How much does The Oratory cost?
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Considering The Oratory for your child?
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