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About our school

A very warm welcome to The London Oratory School!
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About
Daniel Wright | Headmaster

A very warm welcome to The London Oratory School!  Trad, but quirky, The London Oratory School is amongst the City’s most prestigious Roman Catholic schools.  Founded and formed in the tradition of the light-hearted sixteenth century Italian St Philip Neri and the profound nineteenth century Englishman, St John Henry Newman, the School educates boys aged 7 to 18, with girls in the sixth form.  As befits our Oratorian charism, we put a strong emphasis on music with a liturgical twist and on forming Catholic habits of being and seeing, all as part of a broad, balanced liberal arts curriculum.  

That curriculum prepares pupils not just to thrive in the face of the intellectual tests demanded by the ‘hard currency’ qualifications that we offer – including Latin and Greek - but also shapes pupil character such that London Oratorians can thrive as Catholics in the face of the ‘tests of life’.  On which point, we take seriously our responsibility to develop pupils as active, sacramental disciples of Christ, intentionally forming their character in the great cardinal virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, courage and temperance, both inside and outside of the classroom. What I find continuously striking about this School, is the strong and developed sense of belonging it instils into its pupils and alumni; a shared fondness towards each other, the School and the Church extend well beyond a pupil’s relatively brief, but highly formative time at the School.
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As Newman himself would have it, any education worthy of the name must involve ‘heart speaking to heart’, must involve some sense of personal connection, openness and sympatico.  If you feel drawn to the educational vision set out on our website, or indeed, wish to explore in greater detail what an Oratorian education means in practice, then please do not hesitate to ‘come and see’!  You are most welcome.
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Together, we hope to help you in bringing to life the New Testament in the lives of the children entrusted to us, preparing pupils for accomplished and meaningful living, open and vibrant, and all with a bracing dose of grace, vitality, joy and urbanitas.

All the very best, and, in the words of the School motto, Respice finem.

The Headmaster

Max Curran | Head of School
I quickly found my feet and the Oratory was almost immediately no longer my ‘new’ school.
Anna Kummelstedt | Deputy Head of School
She attends the History Society and the Philosophy Society and acted in both LVI productions.
Read All Prefect Leadership Profiles

Our School

Founded in 1863 by the Fathers of the Oratory, The London Oratory School is one of England's oldest and most distinguished Catholic state-funded boys’ schools. Girls are admitted into the Sixth Form. Importantly, in partnership with parents, the School aims through a Christ-centred curriculum, to develop young men and women of faith, good character, strong intellect and generous spirit, able to move confidently into the world and to use their talents and gifts to lead and serve others.

Our School

The Story of The London Oratory School

The education of children has always been an important part of the work of the Fathers of the London Oratory in Brompton, Knightsbridge. They opened their first school in King William Street in the City of London in 1852 and two parochial schools in Chelsea in 1856. Seven years later, in 1863, at the request of Cardinal Wiseman, who wanted to provide a wider education for Catholic children than was available at that time, the Oratory Fathers established a school for boys in Chelsea, and in 1870 a school for girls staffed by the Daughters of the Cross. These schools were fee paying and they were the forerunners of the present school.

Our History

Our School

Founded in 1863 by the Fathers of the Oratory, The London Oratory School is one of England's oldest and most distinguished Catholic state-funded boys’ schools. Girls are admitted into the Sixth Form. Importantly, in partnership with parents, the School aims through a Christ-centred curriculum, to develop young men and women of faith, good character, strong intellect and generous spirit, able to move confidently into the world and to use their talents and gifts to lead and serve others.

Our School

Our Facilities

The School enjoys first class, tastefully constructed educational facilities.
Do browse  educational facilities enjoyed by the School, linked to on the right hand side.

Swimming Pool

Arts Centre

St Philip Neri Library

School Chapel

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool

Arts Centre

Arts Centre

St Philip Neri Library

St Philip Neri Library

School Chapel

School Chapel

The Story of The London Oratory School


‍The education of children has always been an important part of the work of the Fathers of the London Oratory in Brompton, Knightsbridge. They opened their first school in King William Street in the City of London in 1852 and two parochial schools in Chelsea in 1856. Seven years later, in 1863, at the request of Cardinal Wiseman, who wanted to provide a wider education for Catholic children than was available at that time, the Oratory Fathers established a school for boys in Chelsea, and in 1870 a school for girls staffed by the Daughters of the Cross. These schools were fee paying and they were the forerunners of the present school.

Our History

The Story of The London Oratory School

The education of children has always been an important part of the work of the Fathers of the London Oratory in Brompton, Knightsbridge. They opened their first school in King William Street in the City of London in 1852 and two parochial schools in Chelsea in 1856. Seven years later, in 1863, at the request of Cardinal Wiseman, who wanted to provide a wider education for Catholic children than was available at that time, the Oratory Fathers established a school for boys in Chelsea, and in 1870 a school for girls staffed by the Daughters of the Cross. These schools were fee paying and they were the forerunners of the present school.

Our History

School Governance

The Governing Body

FOUNDATION TRUST GOVERNORS  
Paul Harrington Esq Chairman
Andrew Zarraga Esq Vice Chairman

Charles Doyle Esq                      

Mrs Rosa Kummelstedt    
The Very Revd Julian Large
Paolo Manca Esq
Ward McKimm Esq                    

Gerard O’Doherty Esq
Raj Samarasinhe Esq
Mrs Bridget Tussaud
Peter Ward Esq      

EX OFFICIO
Daniel Wright  Headmaster      

PARENT GOVERNORS (2) (ELECTED)
Ms Heather Alston                                    
Ms Vera Pellegrin                                

STAFF GOVERNORS (2) (APPOINTED)
Hemish Gunasekara Esq                          
Dominic Sullivan Esq                              

CLERK TO THE GOVERNING BODY
Peter Sircar Company Secretary
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Correspondence for the Chairman or Governing Body should be addressed to psircar@los.ac.

Scheme Of Delegation

To view the Scheme of Delegation 2020-2021, please click here to download.
For the Committee Membership 2020-2021, please click here to download.

Strategic Vision

Distinctively Catholic

1.

To be a flagship School for the Catholic character development of pupils, forming a Catholic conscience, and fitting pupils to move with courage, thoughtfulness and decency in a globally interconnected world.

2.

To be a School with varied, unique and distinctive opportunities for pupil growth and contribution, especially in the fields of sport, music, drama and adventure-based learning.

3.

To be a highly efficient, well-structured and well-ordered School, staffed with empathetic, energetic and expert educational staff, actively committed to excellence in all curriculum, teaching and professionally relevant fields.

4.

To be a School with first class, tasteful and inspiring educational facilities.

5.

To be an open, communicative and collaborative School within the Oratorian charism, engaging positively with the challenge of faithful living and working in the 21st century.

6.

To capture and harness the affection, loyalty and active support of pupils, parents and supporters, past, present and future, to sustain and build a supportive community over time, living out the meaning of ‘heart speaking to heart’.

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