The Oratory School is a co-educational Catholic day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, located in Woodcote, South Oxfordshire. Founded in 1859 by Saint John Henry Newman, the school has a long and distinctive history rooted in the Catholic educational tradition. Its motto, “Cor ad cor loquitur” — “Heart speaks to heart” — reflects the school’s emphasis on character, community and the development of the whole person.
Originally established in Birmingham, the school was created to provide a Catholic alternative to the leading public schools of the day. It later moved to Caversham Park before settling at its present site in Woodcote during the Second World War. Over more than 160 years, The Oratory has developed a strong identity that combines academic ambition with pastoral care, faith and a close-knit school community.
The school offers both boarding and day education and today welcomes boys and girls, having become fully co-educational from 2020. The Oratory remains relatively small compared with many independent schools, giving it a distinctive community feel and allowing pupils to benefit from a more personal educational experience. Its four-house system also plays an important role in school life, encouraging participation, friendship and healthy competition across year groups.
Sport is an important part of life at The Oratory, alongside its wider academic and co-curricular programme. The school is particularly notable for being one of only a handful of schools in the United Kingdom with its own real tennis court. The venue has hosted major domestic and international competitions, including world championship events, highlighting a sporting tradition that extends beyond the more conventional school sports.
The Oratory has produced a wide range of notable former pupils across sport, the arts, public life and entertainment. Its alumni include rugby internationals Ayoola Erinle and Danny Cipriani, cricketer Benny Howell, actor Jonathan Bailey and Olympic tennis champion John Pius Boland. With its historic foundations, Catholic ethos and broad sporting and academic culture, The Oratory continues to combine tradition with a modern approach to education.