WHAT? WHERE?

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire EXTERIOR OF SCHOOL

The Oratory Prep School is a Catholic day and boarding school for 340 kids (60/40 boys to girls), tickling the Oxfordshire/Berks border for children aged 2-13. Class sizes are small with no more than 16 per class in Pre-Prep and 18 in Prep. The school was established back in 1859 but only moved to its current location, set in 65 acres of gorgeous Chilterns countryside, in 1969 and the oldest bit of the school date back to 1910. It is now one of 19 UK schools to be part of the Bellevue Education group.

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (2)

The school is a bit 70s in parts (internal wood cladding will not appeal to all) but with its black and white Tudor-style beaming, extravagant fireplaces and beautiful dining room, it still has plenty to recommend it aesthetically. The OPS is a bucolic beauty with a strong identity. Although rooted in tradition, it’s just progressive enough for the kids to adapt with confidence in a modern world. We love the school’s passion for outdoor learning, its friendly, nurturing vibe and all delivered with a sprinkling pizazz.

FACILITIES

Acres and acres of green space which is a gift for sport and outdoor learning, plus a funky new common room for the older kids, bright nature-inspired nursery classrooms and a new Curiosity Corridor.

Sport

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire HOCKEY

In a word, impressive. With no squeeze on space and healthy pupil numbers comes investment and there are 5 full-sized rugby pitches, 8 mini pitches, 6 football pitches, 8 mini football pitches and 7 cricket pitches, plus an astroturf for tennis, netball and hockey and a multi-purpose sports hall.

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire pool

A big calling card for The Oratory Prep is its indoor 25m swimming pool plus separate learner pool, which opened in 2009. All kids from Pre-Prep up have weekly swimming lessons, and there are special squad training sessions before and after school.

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire LION KING PRODUCTION

There’s a 300-seater theatre with lighting rig and sound systems from where to loudly demand your child’s encores. There are lots of opportunities for the children to step into the limelight (even the little ones) – and they perform annually at the Shakespeare Schools Festival and at the Young Voices concert at the O2. Unsurprisingly, there’s a high take-up for LAMDA training and exams and the kids are encouraged to get involved.

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire pupil playing the piano

Music appears to be taken very seriously here – roughly 75% of pupils take instrumental lessons, and in addition all children have class lessons in ukulele (Y3), recorder (Y4), clarinet (Y5) and keyboards (Y6). In Y7 and Y8, the kids compose on Garageband and Sibelius. I’ve not come across such a sustained class instrumental programme before, particularly one where the children are each given their own instrument for a whole year, I think that’s impressive.

For the tra-la-la kids, there are three choirs including a specialist Chorister Choir (led by the Headmaster), an orchestra, concert band and also jazz band where the minimum grade 5 entry, so it’ll be pretty good. There’s clearly kudos to being the leader of these bands as there are plaques on the walls with the names etched on each year.

General

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire Forest School

The grounds are made for outdoor learning and the woodland setting is a gift for Forest School. There’s a big fire pit surrounded by log stools for marshmallow toasting and hot chocolate after a hard day using nature’s store cupboard and learning Bear Grylls skills – from leadership and working as a team to lighting fires and a decent hot chocolate. The sunken playground is a hit with children of all ages, but the younger recruits seem to get dibs here.

LITTLIES

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (10) nursery pupil on ride on tractor

Little Oaks – home to Nursery, Kindergarten and Pre-Reception – is very sweet, set around converted stables and creating an enclosed, safe environment with a central play area. The classrooms are undergoing a refresh to create more calming spaces. The sensory explosion of primary colours and in your face displays are gone – replaced with a soothing palette of pale wood furniture, jute-backed display boards and artwork inspired by nature.

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (7)

You’ll still find the usual free flow play, large sand pit and a lovely art room, but the magic happens outside. The kids go out in all weathers, so waterproof onesies and wellies feature heavily at OPS, they can also get mucky in the mud kitchen and make use of the formal gardens, woodland paths and gorgeous grounds.

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (11) nursery and pre prep

Class sizes are small – up to 12 in Nursery, 16 in Kindergarten, 16 in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. In Year 3 upwards there are 18 in a class – all the better to teach the kids French; take their weekly swimming lessons in the heated indoor pool (yes people, no need to take them to weekend lessons!); and after school activities including fencing, tap and street dance, ballet, Lego, archery and tag rugby.

The teachers are lovely, and the children were bombing around perfectly happy, though if you have any concerns about your children, pastoral care is high on the agenda (isn’t it everywhere now?) with lots of pastoral support in place.

ACADEMICS

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (12)

The Oratory Prep is not an exam-passing factory (the intake is non-selective but children are streamed as they rise up the years), though there’s a strong success rate for pupils moving onto top Senior Schools, with an impressive number of scholarships. Academic scholarships to Radley College, Abingdon School, Wellington College and Headington. Art and music gongs to the super-academic St Helen’s & St Katherine, Leighton Park, Queen Anne’s and St Edward’s School Oxford. Not forgetting the sporty stars who received awards at The Abbey, Bradfield College, Sherborne School and St Mary’s Ascot.

Lesson are fun and interactive, the kids well-behaved and they all seem happy. You can see where your earned school fees are being spent. Quality teaching, classrooms are being refurbished, and there’s plenty of robot and coding kit to come. OPS doesn’t need to enter a facilities arms race, instead it focusses on pupil benefit.

As with most prep schools I visit, maths sets kick in from Y3, specialist teachers are employed for French (taught from Y1), music, DT, sciences are taught as three separate disciplines from Y6. Art and DT are particularly well catered for here. If you’re after a coveted senior scholarship, Y8s can follow a programme that further develops and showcases their talents.

SEND

For those who struggle academically there’s a full-time learning support co-ordinator, visiting specialist teachers, and a counsellor gives wellbeing support to struggling, anxious kids. The SEND team run small groups sessions, but one to one lessons are an option, but there is an extra cost. Once learning support is in place, the pupils often make quick progress. EAL is also available for international day and boarding pupils from Year 3 upwards.

PASTORAL CARE

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (5)

Catholic or not the school’s values mean the pastoral care is exceptional. There’s a warm, happy atmosphere here that you don’t always get at traditional prep schools. The house system creates a sense of community, while the tutor system steps in when problems arise. Diversity, respect and tolerance are promoted are promoted, but are a bi product of the faith, kindness, compassion and forgiveness that run through OPS life.

BOARDING

From Y3 upwards, kids can board on the first floor of the main house, either full-time, weekly, regular part time or flexi. Basically, if you want to divest yourself of your child, you can. The dorms won’t be making it onto Grand Designs any time soon but they are perfectly clean, bright and fitted with standard bedroom furniture. Boarding provision was regarded as excellent in the ISI report of 2021 – talking to one older child who started boarding full-time in Y6 it’s a very full busy experience, with not much downtime, so if your child needs rest and quiet, bear that in mind.

THE HEAD

Andrew De Silva joined The OPS in Sept 2022 – just don’t call him head teacher. He refers to himself as head learner. Take this as your cue, that this is a man who doesn’t conform the traditional head profile. De Silva moved from St Edmund’s School in Canterbury where he was Head of Juniors and has burst onto the The OPS scene with the energy of a Duracell bunny, quoting Buzz Lightyear, ‘To infinity and beyond’ to describe pupils limitless learning journey. He’s a passionate Lego builder, you’ll spot the many builds in his office and talks passionately about the educational power of those little plastic bricks.

His unique style certainly caused a ripple. But parents, staff and pupils have twigged what could be construed as eccentricity, is in fact sharpness and a way of showing curiosity and fun really really matter – regardless of age. The goal is for every day to be amazing. At first you think it’s an unattainable pipe dream. But actually, finding a wow a day defines the expectations in the classroom and develops a cool, positive mindset. He also believes in the power of singing as well as worship and OPS embrace both.

De Silva – a Christian, though not Roman Catholic – lives on site with is wife Nicola, and their children Florence (who is in Little Oaks OPS) and David, a Cathedral Chorister at St Paul’s. Not forgetting new puppy Elgar – a beautiful, leggy ginger teddy bear of a dog that everyone has fallen in love! Beyond The OPS, De Silva supports schools in a wider educational context as the Independent Association of Prep Schools’ Chair of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group, as well as being on the Strategy Group

QUIRKS

The Oratory prep School Goring HEath South Oxfordshire (9)

The Oratory Prep School is happy to admit that it is a traditional school and that’s right – though underwater hockey and a Saturday morning enrichment programme that includes Junk Percussion, Podcast Club, Digital Photography and Frisbee Golf deserves some credit. The Enrichment programme has been in place since Sept 2017 for Y5-Y8 and is optional, replacing the increasingly unfashionable idea of compulsory Saturday School.

A Curiosity Corridor is a first for us, but what at first glance looks like a disco room to bust some moves between lessons, is in fact a funky exhibition space. The displays feature ever-changing, weird and wonderful artefacts. Think ancient puzzles, fossils, memorabilia. If it drops jaws, causes wide-eyed wonderment and a bit of head scratching, it’s in.

What else? Well, Catholicism isn’t a quirk, clearly, but it’s a huge point of difference and it forms the framework for the pupils to follow.

WRAP AROUND CARE

The Oratory prep Schopol Goring HEath South Oxfordshire

A godsend for hardworking parents as the wrap around care is reassuringly robust! The school day is quite long (8.15am-5pm) and there is an optional breakfast club that allows you drop off as early as 7.30am and after school activities run until 6pm. If you’re running late, OPS offers parents the safety net of after 6pm care. Children are scooped up to join the boarders where they are given supper. Expect a £15 charge per child, but it’s a price worth paying for the peace of mind. Very little work is done at home. This is a family-focused school and time together is highly valued. No one will miss the battles over algebra.

ISI REPORT

As of 2021, Oratory Prep has been rated ‘Excellent’ by ISI. What we like to see! Read the report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Boarders are allowed mobile devices but only at set on Wednesday and Saturday nights. For everyone else it’s a mobile-free zone and parents and staff are not allowed to have their phones out when they are one site.

TRANSPORT

The OPS’s rural location is idyllic, but it does narrow your school run options. Mini buses run morning and afternoon to Reading, Shiplake, Watlington and Henley. Alternative routes will be considered if there is sufficient demand, but many children arrive by car.

FEES

Little Oaks (Nursery to Pre-Reception) is from £46-£87 per day. Junior Prep day pupils, £4,517 – £7,512 per term and Senior Prep day pupils, £7,775. Weekly boarding is £10,189; full boarding, £12,045, Flexi-Boarding £60 per night.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Change has an unsettling affect. When OPS was bought by a group and a new head appointed, a few parents decided to move on. But the overwhelming feedback is that those that stayed have been thrilled with the school’s evolution. The pastoral care remains excellent, kids are not pressured academically, it’s friendly and inspiring. Academically parents seem happy, sport is improving, Forest School is a highlight and the breadth of activities on offer allows all children to find something they love. Overall, they rave about the great teachers and amazing facilities.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Those looking for a buzzy rural prep that balances tradition and progression, wellbeing and academic rigour. Not an easy thing to pull off. Sport, music and outdoor education are all strong.

Not for: The Catholicism underpinning OPS may be a Marmite moment for some parents, depending on how they feel about faith schools. But our view is that it simply creates the framework for its top notch pastoral care.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! The next Open Day is on Friday 4 October 2024. Keep an eye out for more announced Open Mornings. See details here.

The Oratory Preparatory School, Goring Heath, Reading, RG8 7SF.. Tel: 0118 984 4511.

The Oratory Prep School, Goring Heath

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