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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.
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The Fathers of the Oratory

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.

The School is part of the Catholic Church, and, as such, is conducted in full accordance with the Canon Law and teachings of the Church and the trust deed of the London Oratory Charity.  Religious Education, in particular, is in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church, and at all times the School serves as a witness to the Catholic faith: Religious Education and habituation into a sacramental vision extend beyond Religious Education, and all teachers and members of the School community are encouraged to ‘bring out of the good treasure of their hearts’ the good that is within them for the spiritual, intellectual and moral benefit of the School community.  

The Three Main Internal Structures

The School comprises of three main internal structures, namely, the Junior House, the Senior School and the Sixth Form. Pupils aged 7 to 11 are admitted to Junior House to follow a specialist instrumental and choral education. The vast majority of our pupils join us at 11-16, making up the Senior School. Girls are admitted to the Sixth Form, joining with the boys who progress into the Sixth Form either from the Senior School, or join us as external applicants from other schools.  Overall, there are around 1350 pupils in the whole School, Junior House to Sixth Form inclusive.
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The School puts a very high premium on engagement in co-curricular activity. This includes a full Sport, Music and Drama programme, in addition to intellectually based activities and a range of fun clubs and societies. All staff are expected to contribute to this programme, sharing their talents and interests with the pupils, and helping them to grow.

The School Exists:

  1. to assist Catholic parents in fulfilling their obligations;
  2. to educate children in accordance with the principles and teachings of the Church;
  3. to do this within an environment which will encourage and support the spiritual, physical, moral and intellectual development of the child and help growth towards full Christian maturity;
  4. to provide a wide and rich range of educational, cultural and spiritual experiences which will encourage children to discover and develop their potential to its maximum, striving for high standards of excellence in all activities.

The School’s motto captures this well: Respice finem.  In other words, have full regard to the true end, or telos, of all our thought and action. This can be summed up in the injunction to: ‘live wisely’. 

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

The School benefits from a well maintained swimming pool with adjacent shower and changing facilities, staffed by a full-time Swimming Pool Manager and Lifeguard. The pool is furnished with a diving board and water polo nets. The shallow end is designed for learner swimmers and the deep end is suitable for 1m diving. All pupils in the Junior House first and second form have a timetabled period of swimming once a week and older pupils can opt to use the pool as part of their games afternoon. Water Polo is a popular sport throughout the school with regular fixtures against other local schools. An annual Junior House swimming gala is held in the pool; the annual senior school swimming gala is held at Fulham Pools.

Swimming Pool

The School benefits from a well maintained swimming pool with adjacent shower and changing facilities, staffed by a full-time Swimming Pool Manager and Lifeguard. The pool is furnished with a diving board and water polo nets. The shallow end is designed for learner swimmers and the deep end is suitable for 1m diving. All pupils in the Junior House first and second form have a timetabled period of swimming once a week and older pupils can opt to use the pool as part of their games afternoon. Water Polo is a popular sport throughout the school with regular fixtures against other local schools. An annual Junior House swimming gala is held in the pool; the annual senior school swimming gala is held at Fulham Pools.

Arts Centre

he John Macintosh Arts Centre, which was inaugurated in 1991 by the Prime Minister John Major, has a 305 seat theatre, with fly-tower, dressing rooms and orchestral pit, art studios and gallery space, a pottery, music teaching rooms, a recital area and practice rooms. In the foyer there is a large bronze sculpture of Athena by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and major series of his original prints. In December 2006 the Arts Centre was renamed the John McIntosh Arts Centre in honour of the recently retired Headmaster.Throughout the year there is a varied programme of concerts, recitals, plays, and exhibitions by pupils, parents and visiting artists and performers.

Arts Centre

he John Macintosh Arts Centre, which was inaugurated in 1991 by the Prime Minister John Major, has a 305 seat theatre, with fly-tower, dressing rooms and orchestral pit, art studios and gallery space, a pottery, music teaching rooms, a recital area and practice rooms. In the foyer there is a large bronze sculpture of Athena by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and major series of his original prints. In December 2006 the Arts Centre was renamed the John McIntosh Arts Centre in honour of the recently retired Headmaster.Throughout the year there is a varied programme of concerts, recitals, plays, and exhibitions by pupils, parents and visiting artists and performers.

St Philip Neri Library

The St Philip’s Library is a beautifully designed space in the heart of the school. With a book stock of over twenty seven thousand volumes, it boasts amongst the best stocked maintained school libraries in the land, with titles and periodicals to suit both the intellectual connoisseur and those with a broader palate. Such titles are expressive of the intellectual culture of the Common Room, many of whom regularly select classic titles in relevant fields to share with pupils to support them in their intellectual growth, handing on the very best that has been thought and said. The library also has modern computer facilities and pupils can book laptops to use during afternoon study periods or after school. The Library is open to all pupils before and after School and the younger pupils use it on a rota during the lunch break. It is staffed by two Librarians who are assisted by enthusiastic pupil librarians. All pupils are instructed in the use of the Library and its facilities and are actively encouraged to develop their leisure and academic interests through the books and other material available to them.

St Philip Neri Library

The St Philip’s Library is a beautifully designed space in the heart of the school. With a book stock of over twenty seven thousand volumes, it boasts amongst the best stocked maintained school libraries in the land, with titles and periodicals to suit both the intellectual connoisseur and those with a broader palate. Such titles are expressive of the intellectual culture of the Common Room, many of whom regularly select classic titles in relevant fields to share with pupils to support them in their intellectual growth, handing on the very best that has been thought and said. The library also has modern computer facilities and pupils can book laptops to use during afternoon study periods or after school. The Library is open to all pupils before and after School and the younger pupils use it on a rota during the lunch break. It is staffed by two Librarians who are assisted by enthusiastic pupil librarians. All pupils are instructed in the use of the Library and its facilities and are actively encouraged to develop their leisure and academic interests through the books and other material available to them.

School Chapel

The School Chapel, designed by the School's architect, Richard Hazle, was built in 1992. It seats 220 and has a spacious sanctuary and a fine Ancaster stone altar. Natural materials have been used, such as English oak, hand-made clay bricks and slate flooring and roofing tiles which will mellow with time yet always retain their character. A large, clear, west window gives the interior a constantly changing pattern of light and shadow. A Choir Transept was built in 1996.

School Chapel

The School Chapel, designed by the School's architect, Richard Hazle, was built in 1992. It seats 220 and has a spacious sanctuary and a fine Ancaster stone altar. Natural materials have been used, such as English oak, hand-made clay bricks and slate flooring and roofing tiles which will mellow with time yet always retain their character. A large, clear, west window gives the interior a constantly changing pattern of light and shadow. A Choir Transept was built in 1996.

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool

Arts Centre

Arts Centre

St Philip Neri Library

St Philip Neri Library

School Chapel

School Chapel