The Oratory Prep School
School summary
Set in Goring Heath near Reading, The Oratory Prep School is a small Roman Catholic independent school for boys and girls aged two to thirteen. Founded in 1969, it offers both day and boarding places to a roll of around 312 pupils, giving it an intimate scale where children are likely to be well known to staff. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education quality and personal development, and found it fully compliant with regulatory standards. Around one in six pupils receives some form of SEN support, suggesting a school accustomed to looking after a range of learning needs.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Free month · No payment needed
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 25 February 2025
Teaching & academics
The school's ISI judgement of excellent for the quality of pupils' academic and other achievements points to consistently strong standards across the prep years. As a school running from age two to thirteen, it prepares children through the full primary phase towards senior school entry at the end of Year 8. The relatively high proportion of pupils receiving SEN support indicates that learning is tailored where it is needed.
Headmaster · Andrew De Silva
Beyond the classroom
Boarding adds a further dimension to school life, with boarders given access to their devices on set evenings before they are locked away securely. The wider day population keeps phones out of school altogether, encouraging a focus on activities and community during the school day.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1969
- Religious character
- RC
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 16.44%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Children are not permitted to bring mobile phones into the school. Boarders have access to their devices on set nights of the week. The devices are then locked away securely.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £12,810 - £23,073
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £32,094 - £37,941
Means-tested bursaries available
Schools nearby
The Oratory School
South East
Pangbourne College
Reading, South East
Aurora Rowan School
Reading, South East
Bradfield College
Bradfield, South East
The Treehouse School
Cholsey, South East
Caversham Preparatory School
Reading, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small Catholic prep school in the Oxfordshire countryside with top ISI marks and a flexible day-and-boarding model. Means-tested bursaries help widen access beyond the published fees.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
Free month · No payment needed
The Oratory Prep School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.