independent schools 2019

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Newbury Weekly News

The Oratory Preparatory School

ballet and tap-dancing to fencing and cookery at the youngest age, through to archery and clubs for art, science and decoding in the Prep years. An optional Saturday Enrichment Programme broadens the horizons and minds of pupils in Years 5-8. Modules on offer include geology, orienteering, debating, public speaking, life skills, First Aid and philosophy. This programme runs alongside trips to places such as Rome and South Africa. Full, weekly and flexi-boarding is available for boys and girls from Year 4 upwards. The Boarding House is all the richer for its mix of nationalities, with pupils from Spain, France, Nigeria and China. Almost 50 scholarships and exhibitions, ranging from all-round scholarships and exhibitions to academic scholarships and scholarships in music, art, drama and sport, have been awarded to Year 8 pupils over the past three years. In that time, boys have accepted places at schools, including Abingdon, the Oratory School, Marlborough, Wellington College, Radley, Eton, St Edward’s, Pangbourne College, and Bradfield College. Year 8 girls have gone on to St Helen and St Katharine, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Calne, The Abbey, Headington, Wellington, Queen Anne’s, Bradfield College, Pangbourne College and Marlborough College.

learning about size and measurement in the mud kitchens.

THE Oratory Preparatory School is an independent day and boarding school, providing an enriched and exciting education to boys and girls aged two to 13. Set within 65 acres of beautiful and expansive Oxfordshire countryside, with outstanding facilities, the school nurtures happy, resilient and inquisitive children. The school welcomes both Catholic families and children from all faiths. The values of kindness, compassion and forgiveness are at the heart of the school, to help shape the moral awareness and convictions of its pupils. Staff are committed to the growth and wellbeing of each pupil to ensure they feel happy, safe and confident in school. The Pastoral Care Team includes tutors and a school counsellor, led by the Deputy Head Pastoral, and combined with the use of AS Tracking, better enables the school community to gauge the all-round wellbeing of its pupils and provide timely support. ‘A place with a palpable buzz and vibrancy that gets the balance between giving children the freedom to be themselves, while maintaining a focus on traditional values, excellent manners and respect, absolutely spot on’, defines the school, according to The Good Schools Guide . Outdoor learning and Forest School are key features of Pre- Prep education, from exploring the school’s woodlands and natural habitat in the ponds, to THE Oratory has announced that from September 2020, it will become a coeducational school, welcoming girls and boys from the age of 11 to 18. The Oratory is an HMC Independent Day and Boarding School set in the beautiful Chiltern countryside. Head Master Joe Smith said “We are delighted to be making this announcement and excited to be able to offer families of girls and boys alike our unique Oratory education.” Teaching is second to none and value added results at A-level place The Oratory in the top three per cent of schools nationally. The school is proud of its broad and rich curriculum and strong exam results, however an Oratory education is about developing young people in a much deeper sense than exam results alone can demonstrate. “There is ‘something deeper’ in an Oratory education – hard to define, but undeniable – by virtue of its unique ethos and history as the only school founded by arguably the greatest educational thinker of the Victorian age, Blessed John

During their Prep years, pupils conduct science experiments on the school lawns, engage in art classes in the gardens and perform outdoor musical productions. Learning is stimulating, fun and hands-on. Biology, physics and chemistry classes see the pupils’ curiosity blossom as they hold snakes, investigate mock murder scenes and make their own rockets, while technology is incorporated into many aspects of learning. Two astro turfs are the enviable arena for girls and boys sport, including hockey, football and cricket training, and fixtures against other schools. The school boasts a 25m indoor swimming pool for weekly lessons, galas, and before-school swim squad training, as well as the starting point for inter-house Triathlon competitions from Year 3 onwards. There is also a smaller pool for the kindergarten children to enjoy their weekly swims. There is also a huge passion for performing arts across Pre-Prep and Prep, featuring nativity plays, a range of choirs, individual tuition in more than a dozen instruments, orchestra and bands, musical productions and annual plays. Year 2 children participate in the English Speaking Board (ESB) exam promoting self-expression. This also helps feed the desire to act with significant numbers of Henry Newman” said Mr Smith. An Oratory education gives its young people every opportunity to draw out and find their individual innate talents and qualities and instils in them a sense of joy and a genuine love of learning. At The Oratory everyone will find their place to shine. Strong pastoral care is at the heart of what they do. As a Catholic school, which welcomes pupils of all faiths or none, visitors often comment on the inclusive family atmosphere of the school and it is this supportive environment that nurtures the confidence, self-expression and resilience that are vital for success and happiness in the world today. When pupils leave the school as confident young adults they are equipped not only with a well-rounded education, but compass and lifelong friends. The Oratory team would be delighted to show you around their wonderful school so please do get in touch: registrar@oratory.co.uk. Open morning: March 9, 2019. also a thirst for further learning, a strong moral

boys and girls taking up LAMDA from Year 3 upwards, achieving distinctions across the board in last year’s examinations.

Self-confidence and the willingness to try new things is boosted by the range of opportunities on offer during the

school day and within the Pre- Prep and Prep afterschool activity programmes – from learning Spanish and Mandarin,

The Oratory School The Oratory School to welcome girls from 2020