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The London Oratory School
File:Crest col small.jpg
Address
Seagrave Road Brompton, Greater London, SW6 1RX England
Information
Type	Voluntary aided school
Motto	Respice Finem (Look to the end)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1863
Founder	Fathers of the London Oratory
Local authority	Hammersmith & Fulham
Specialist	Arts
Department for Education URN	137157 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Chairman of the Governing Body	The Very Revd Ignatius Harrison MA
Headmaster	Mr David McFadden
Gender	Boys Coeducational Sixth Form
Age	7 (Junior House) to 18
Enrollment	1,350~
Houses	Campion   Fisher   Howard   More   Owen   Southwell   Junior House
Colour(s)	Black and Red
Publication	The Oratorian Review Schola News
Former pupils	Old Oratorians
School Song	quam bonam est in hac fraternitate
Website	http://www.london-oratory.org/tlos/htdocs/default.asp

The London Oratory School, founded in 1863, is a voluntary aided Catholic school for boys aged 7-18 and girls aged 16-18 in Brompton, London. It is historically linked to, but not formally affiliated with, fellow Oratorian institutions the nearby Brompton Oratory or The Oratory School, a boarding independent school in Berkshire. The school is situated near to the Brompton Cemetery, on Seagrave Road which meets the Old Brompton Road. The school is well connected to all parts of London, being close to West Brompton National Rail and Tube station and Fulham Broadway Tube station. The school itself is within walking distance of the Brompton Oratory in South Kensington.

It is notable as the Catholic School to which three of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's children attended. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister and Harriet Harman MP both have had children attend the school.

Introduction

The London Oratory School admits 160 boys to the first form, as well as twenty boys who join the senior school from the Junior House. The School educates boys aged 7–16 and boys and girls aged 16–18 in the sixth form. There are around 1350 pupils including about 350 in the sixth form. The School shares its religious and cultural identity with the Congregation of the Oratory who founded the School and are its trustees. The school is strongly connected to Brompton Oratory and the school aims to create Catholic leaders of the future based on values of service, respect, human dignity and the communion of the school as a Catholic community.

The 2008 Good Schools Guide said that there is "Much that is excellent but also much potential for building this school – in bricks and mortar terms as well as educationally and spiritually. Destined for stardom."

The Ofsted report published in 2006 states that "provision for music throughout the school is outstanding and the specialist music course enables talented students to achieve excellent standards.". The quality of the musical, sporting, artistic and academic curriculum is a reflection of the inheritance from St Philip Neri who saw a path to the beauty of God in the majesty of music and the arts.

History

The school was founded in 1863, by the London Oratory Fathers, and was located in King William Street (now William IV Street) near Charing Cross. In 1863, a boys' school was started in Chelsea and in 1870, a school for girls staffed by the Daughters of the Cross.

The Central Schools were built on Stewart's Grove in Chelsea, a mile to the north-east from the current site near the A308/B304 junction next to the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The schools were amalgamated as Central Schools in 1959, but the Daughters of the Cross were withdrawn in 1962.

Comprehensive school

The school became an all boys, four-form entry school in 1963 in Chelsea (SW3). The Oratory Primary School is now today near this former site, further to the east, on a different site.

Voluntary Aided School

The school moved to its present site in Seagrave Road, Fulham, West London in 1970. It became an all ability school for boys from 11+, admitting 180 boys in the first year. Girls are admitted in the sixth form. In September 1996, a Junior House was opened which admits 20 boys for a specialist musical education with an emphasis on Catholic liturgical music. Also opened in 1996, John McIntosh Arts Centre' provides music and art facilities for the pupils. In 1998 the school became a voluntary aided school once more, having been a grant maintained school since 1989. The school gained Arts College status.

In 1995 Tony Blair sent his son Euan to the school, then Nicky in 1997. Harry Dromey, eldest son of Harriet Harman also attended the school. Ruth Kelly has a son, Eamon Gadd, who is currently attending the school. Euan became deputy Head Boy from 2001-2, and Harry Dromey had been Head Boy.

Academy

The school became an Academy in August 2011. In June 2011, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg looked at the school for his boys to attend.

Headteachers

• David McFadden took over as headmaster on 1 January 2007
• John McIntosh, OBE. 1977-2007 (Deputy headmaster from 1971-7, and had taught Maths there since 1967)
• Ian G. Gaffney (1960-1971)
• Dr. L.J. Summerbell (1930-1960)
• John Menzies Duffy (1890-1930)

Academic standards

The school's most recent Ofsted report, published on 23 April 2009, classed the school as outstanding.

In the 2009 examinations, 90% of pupils attained five or more GCSEs, Grade E and above, including English and Maths. This compared with a national mean of 46.2%. The school's 2010 GCSE's, based on the new EBACC measure, showed that the school was amongst the top schools in the country and the top Catholic state school.

Junior House

Twenty seven-year old boys are admitted to the Junior House for a specialist musical education, including instrumental tuition. Some of the boys are admitted as choristers and sing in The Schola. Boys admitted to the Junior House are full members of the school and are expected to continue their education at the school until the age of eighteen.

Pupils are selected on the basis of their musical aptitude and are required to take part in musical and, in the case of choristers, choral activities arranged outside normal school hours, including weekends and holidays, and to learn at least two musical instruments.

London Oratory School Schola

The London Oratory School Schola was established in 1996. The current Director is Charles Cole.

The Schola sings at the Brompton Oratory, London, every Saturday evening in term time and on major feast days throughout the year, as well as daily in the school's chapel. The choir is due to tour Rome in February 2013 where they will sing in St Peter's Basilica for Capitular Sunday Mass and Vespers and also for a Concert at Sant'Ignazio.

In addition to liturgical and concert performances, the choir has recorded film soundtracks and audio albums. The choir is most famous for its contribution to the double-platinum award winning soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The choir also works extensively for charity, helping raise thousands of pounds for various charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Save the Children and the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program.

Societies

Debating Society

Economics Society

Euclidean Society

Geography Society

History Society

Literary Society

Model United Nations

Newman Society

Science Society

Houses

Campion House - Named after Edmund Campion

Fisher House - Named after John Fisher

Howard House - Named after Phillip Howard

More House - Named after Thomas More

Owen House - Named after Nicholas Owen (martyr)

Southwell House - Named after Robert Southwell (Jesuit)

The Patronal Festival

Staff and Students assemble in the Brompton Oratory Church to honour the School's Patron, Saint Philip Neri. The School celebrates its Patronal Festival with a Pontifical High Mass on the feast of Saint Philip Neri, 26 May, or on the nearest Friday that falls in term time. The Mass is followed immediately by the distribution of prizes to Award Winners and the presentation of Ties and Badges of Office are presented to the Senior Prefects. The official handing over of duties from the outgoing Senior Prefects to the incoming Senior Prefects occurs when the Senior Prefects Badges and Ties of Office are issued. All members of Staff traditionally wear full academic dress (gowns and hoods) on this occasion, though in recent years the current Headmaster, David McFadden, has notably declined to do so.

The Principal Celebrant is usually a high-ranking official of the Catholic Church. Recent Celebrants have included: The Right Reverend Bishop Alan Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (2012); The Reverend Paul Keane, Old Oratorian and Chaplain to the University of Essex (2011); The Very Reverend Richard Duffield, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Promoter of the Cause of Canonisation for John Henry Cardinal Newman (2010); The Very Reverend Robert Byrne, Provost of the Oxford Oratory (2009); The Right Reverend Patrick O'Donoghue, Bishop Emeritus of Lancaster (2008); The Right Reverend Dom Aidan Bellenger, Abbot of Downside (2007); Archbishop Maurice Couve de Murville, Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham (2006); The Right Reverend Dom Cuthbert Brogan, Abbot of Farnborough (2005); The Right Reverend Bishop Alan Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (2004); The Right Reverend Bishop George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (2003); Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster (2002); Bishop Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds (2001); Bishop Victor Guazzelli, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (2000); The Abbot of Ampleforth (1999); The Catholic Chaplain to Harrow School (1998); the Provost of the London Oratory (1997); the Apostolic Nuncio (1996); George Basil Cardinal Hume (1995); Dom Stanislaus Hobbs of St Benedict’s Abbey, Ealing (1994); the Master of St Benet’s Hall, Oxford (1993); and the Provost of the Oxford Oratory (1992). Traditionally the Principal Celebrant also preaches on the life of Saint Philip, although this is not an absolute rule. It is customary, however, for concluding comments to be directed to those pupils leaving the School.

The Guard of Honour is a tradition employed by The London Oratory School for the Principal Celebrant of the Mass and senior guests. It is customary for the Combined Cadet Force, consisting of the Army and RAF divisions to mount the Guard of Honour before the Mass as the Principal Celebrant enters the Brompton Oratory. The London Oratory School CCF has been badged to the Irish Guards since 2010. Previously the Army Section wore the cap badge of the Royal Green Jackets. Major General W G Cubitt, CBE, Major General Commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District was the Reviewing Officer at the CCF Biennial Inspection and oversaw the re-badging, together with the Regimental Adjutant and staff from Regimental Headquarters, making the London Oratory CCF the only Combined Cadet Force badged to the Irish Guards and one of the few CCFs badged to a Household Division Regiment.

Music at the Mass is provided by The Schola Cantorum and Chamber Choir assisted by The London Oratory Sinfonia. Organists for the ceremony have included David Terry, Nicholas O'Neill, Steven Grahl and Jeremy Filsell.

Awards are offered for many aspects of School life, from the curricular to the extra-curricular life of the School.

The end of the Patronal Festival is traditionally marked with the School and congregation singing the School Song, “Quam bonum est”. After Mass there is a reception for the Guests, Senior Prefects, Award Winners and their parents in Saint Wilfrid’s Hall, which is adjacent to the Brompton Oratory.

Notable alumni

• Hayley Atwell, actress
• Euan Blair Eldest son of 74th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair (Selected after attending interview with his parents)
• Simon Callow, actor
• Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop
• Tony Geraghty, writer
• Simon Gipps-Kent (1958-1987), actor
• Jerry Hayes, Conservative MP from 1983-97 for Harlow (school governor)
• Michael Swift, rugby union player
• Joaquin Ardiles, Sean McWeeny, Derya Nagle and Lorenzo Peri from the progressive metal outfit The Safety Fire

References

1. "London Oratory: A highly successful Catholic state school". BBC News. 5 December 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
2. ^ "The London Oratory School - Inspection Report". Ofsted. 12 June 2006.
3. "The Good Schools Guide - The London Oratory School". The Good Schools Guidel. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
4. Croot, Patricia E C (2004). "Social History - Education: Publicly funded schools", A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 12: Chelsea. Courtesy of British History Online. pp. 179–87.
5. ^ "History of the School". London Oratory School. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
6. Oratory Primary School
7. Daily Mail June 2011
8. "The London Oratory School". London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
9. "The London Oratory School - Inspection Report", Ofsted, 19 March 2009
10. "The London Oratory School", BBC News, 10 January 2008
11. ^ "The London Oratory School Junior House"
12. "London Oratory School Schola - Filmography", The New York Times, Accessed 2 May 2008
13. "The London Oratory School Schola News page"
14. The Oratorian, Claremount Press
15. The Oratorian 2009, Claremount Press
16. "Welcome to Downside Abbey from the Abbot, Fr Aidan Bellenger"
17. The Oratorian 2008, Claremount Press
18. The Oratorian 2007, Claremount Press
19. The Oratorian 2006, Claremount Press
20. The Oratorian 2005, Claremount Press
21. The Oratorian 2004, Claremount Press
22. The Oratorian 2003, Claremount Press
23. The Oratorian 2002, Claremount Press
24. The Oratorian 2001, Claremount Press
25. The Oratorian 2000, Claremount Press
26. "The London Oratory School CCF"
27. "The London Oratory School Schola
28. The London Oratory School Service Book and Hymnal, Gresham Books Ltd, Oxford Page 480-1
29. Jackson, Alan (6 September 2008). "The meteoric rise of actress Hayley Atwell". The Times. London. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |(Passed her interview for the sixth-form) url= ignored (help)
30. "Cherie Blair becomes a Schola patron". The London Oratory School Schola Foundation. April 21, 2009.
31. Betsy at the Haymarket Theatre (1975) / Program Biography

External links

• Official site
• Schola site
• Ofsted site for the London Oratory School
• Profile at the Good Schools Guide
• Former VA school at EduBase

• Educational institutions established in 1852
• Roman Catholic secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Westminster
• Schools with Combined Cadet Forces
• Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
• Formerly selective schools in the United Kingdom
• Arts Colleges in London
• Catholic points-based admission school
• Academies in Hammersmith and Fulham
• Primary schools in Hammersmith and Fulham
• Secondary schools in Hammersmith and Fulham
• Roman Catholic primary schools in the Archdiocese of Westminster
• 1852 establishments in England