How to get into the Oratory RC Primary (London)

[Sylvaine]

Hello,

I was wondering if any of you has any information on how to get into the Oratory RC Primary school in London. I'm aware of the criteria posted online (catchment area, baptism before 6m, and letter from the priest) but i was wondering about the specifics:

• Do the priests of the Oratory parish give a recommendation to whoever attend mass every Sunday? or only to people who have been attending the parish for a long time and do volunteer work etc?
• Also, the school starts at 5y old. What are the children supposed to do before that; is there any pre-prep they are supposed to attend or they are just supposed to be at home / at daycare before they start the school at 5y old ?

Apologies in advance if my questions are silly but I am not from the UK and just trying to understand how it all works .. Thank you so much in advance!

I have no personal experience but know of someone who got a place - from year 7. As far as I know, you pretty much have to become best friends with the priest - I think you have to be pretty much "established" in the parish and be the "right" sort of family...

Do the priests of the Oratory parish give a recommendation to whoever attend mass every Sunday

The priests reference form is on the Oratory website. The priest must complete the form for any family that applies. Failure to do so could lead to a successful appeal.

Oratory's admission criteria have changed substantially recently following a review by the Schools Adjudicator. The school challenged the Adjudicator's findings in court and described the outcome as a win for the school but actually they lost on most of the important points. In particular they can no longer prioritise children based on their parents' voluntary service to the Catholic church. There are a few points outstanding that have been provisionally decided in their favour. If they lose on those it will be a comprehensive loss.

There's a potential confusion here, as the London Oratory School (of Tony Blair and Nick Clegg fame) has a so-called 'junior house', for boys age 7-11, which is based on teh same site as the senior school in Fulham.

www.london-oratory.org/junior-house/91.html

There's also a primary school called Oratory RC Primary school in Chelsea, which is separate form the London Oratory School (though possibly under the same original foundation). Different site, different admissions criteria, and it's an all-through co-ed rather than a boys'-only 7-11 school.

www.oratory.rbkc.sch.uk/admissions/

My understanding is that the Oratory Junior house selects boys for a specialist music education; I'm not sure how good at music your boy must be (age 7) to get a place.
I think that the usual "route" of admission would be a "normal" primary school for YR & Y1 & then transfer to the oratory. Home education may be an option but certainly the boys are expected to be able to read & write before starting there.
This is just what I have ascertained from reading their admission criteria so I may not be 100% accurate

Someday - see my post below, I think the OP may be talking about Oratory RC primary which is a mainstream CAtholic primary school with the usual Catholic oversubscription criteria.

It will start at Reception (4-5) though, not age 5.

The London Oratory School junior House is boys' only and starts at 7 - admissions based on catholicity and musicality, i think.

Ah, thank you 404

Applications for in-year admittance need to be made to the oratory school directly.

If there is no waiting list and a free space, then he's in. I would be very surprised if that were the case. The waiting list is ordered by the oversubscription criteria -

www.london-oratory.org/force_download.cfm?id=1191

The local authority would need to give you a place somewhere, but there is no guarantee that would be in a school of your choice.

You can appeal for a space in a full school, but that has a relatively small chance of success.

Realistically, The most likely outcome at this point is being offered a space in an unpopular undersubscribed school and getting onto waiting lists for schools you would prefer.

Sorry wrong thread!!

Hi...wanted to check on the Junior house at the London oratory. Are they overly focussed only on music or is it more of balance between music and the regular subjects? i.e. is it just a regular prep school with some extra focus on music? Also I understand they admit students as choristers and also as non choristers into Year 3 i.e in the junior house. How are these 2 different?

Hello,

I am interested in your question about the London Oratory School. Did you ever get any answers? Specifically I need to understand how you get into the London Oratory School at 7. Thanks.

Hello,

My son has applied to the Junior House at the London Oratory School in Fulham. He is being called for an academic aptitude test and possibly a musical aptitude test. Any idea what these tests are?