London Oratory School
Encyclopedia
The London Oratory School is a Catholic secondary comprehensive school
in Fulham
, London
. The Headmaster is David McFadden. It has around 1,365 pupils. It is not to be confused with The Oratory School
, a Catholic boarding school. It was notable at the time as the Catholic School which 3 of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
's children attended.
.
A wide range of ethnic groups attend the school with many langugages spoken as a first language and 6% of pupils receive free school meal
s. The school lies north of the A304, near Fulham Broadway tube station
, in the Anglican parish of St John's, Fulham. The London Film Academy
is to the west.
. There are around 1350 pupils including about 350 in the sixth form. The proportion of minority ethnic
students is much higher than in most schools, with over 50 first languages represented. 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 the a path to the beauty of God in the majesty of music and the arts.
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The schools were amalgamated as Central Schools in 1959, but the Daughters of the Cross were withdrawn in 1962.
.The Oratory Primary School is now today near this former site, further to the east, on a different site.
, 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. Fifty seven state secondary schools were nearer to their home than the London Oratory School. Harry Dromey, eldest son of Harriet Harman
also attended the school. Euan became deputy Head Boy from 2001-2, and Harry Dromey had been Head Boy.
looked at the school for his boys to the school.
report, published on 23 April 2009, classed the school as outstanding.
In the 2009 examinations, 90% of pupils attained five or more GCSE
s, 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 comprehensive school in the country and the top Catholic state school.
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.
The London Oratory School Schola was established in 1996. The current director of the Schola is Lee Ward
.
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 Ireland, where they will perform a sell out concert with the Irish group The Priests
in aid of the Irish charity Trócaire
.
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.
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 Prefect
s. The official handing over of duties from the outgoing Senior Prefect
s to the incoming Senior Prefect
s occurs when the Senior Prefect
s Badges and Ties of Office are issued. All members of Staff traditionally wear full academic dress
(gowns and hoods) on this occasion.
The Principal Celebrant is usually a high ranking official of the Catholic Church. Recent Celebrants have included: 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); His Eminence Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster (2002); The Right Reverend 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); His Eminence 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 capbadge 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 rebadging, 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, directed by Lee Ward
assisted by The London Oratory Sinfonia.
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 Prefect
s, Award Winners and their parents in Saint Wilfrid’s Hall, which is adjacent to the Brompton Oratory.
.
Mr McIntosh then persuaded Margaret Thatcher to introduce grant-maintained schools, to stop interference from LEAs, chiefly those in inner London. Grant-maintained schools were to be abolished by the incoming 1997 Labour government, but were replaced by foundation school
s in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998
.
Adjucator Elizabeth Passmore decided to uphold the complaint about the school's interviewing procedures and confirmed that it has breached the new admissions code. The old code allowed the school to interview parents and prospective pupils to assess religious or denominational commitment. The new code says that interviews should not be used in any part of the application or admission process, except in a boarding school for a boarding place.
The London Oratory defended its right in law to interview prospective pupils to ascertain Catholicity and it won its case in 2006, but subsequently dropped the interview process when the law was changed.
as the nominated charity for a World Aids Day concert. This was one month before the concert was scheduled to take place. (The Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. It advocates the use of condoms to prevent AIDS, and is a lead organisation in the England & Wales gay men's health promotion partnership).
McFadden wrote "The London Oratory school will always want to make sure its charitable fundraising work and its work … are done with organisations whose philosophy, aims and practices support Christian values. As the nominated charity does not meet this criterion, it would be inappropriate for the school to financially support this charity from the proceeds of the concert." The replacement charity Surf helps survivors of the Rwandan genocide who had been "deliberately infected" with Aids.
In response, Actor Simon Callow
threatened to resign as patron of a choir at the school but he did not resign. He was also a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The Headmaster is David McFadden. It has around 1,365 pupils. It is not to be confused with The Oratory School
The Oratory School
The Oratory School is a Roman Catholic, independent school for boys in Woodcote, Berkshire. It is the last Catholic all-boys boarding school remaining in Great Britain. It has approximately 420 pupils...
, a Catholic boarding school. It was notable at the time as the Catholic School which 3 of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
's children attended.
Admissions
When the law was finally changed in 2006 the school ended interviews with prospective pupils which ascertained their Catholic practice and the shared aims and ethos of the school. Today, its junior school offers places to boys for its specialist musical education. All other pupils are admitted using a points system, which gives priority to practising CatholicsCatholic points-based admission school
Catholic points-based admissions are the system used by some Catholic comprehensive schools in London and The Home Counties as over subscription criteria...
.
A wide range of ethnic groups attend the school with many langugages spoken as a first language and 6% of pupils receive free school meal
Free school meal
A Free School Meal, provided to a child or young person during a school break, is paid for by Government. For a child to qualify for a Free School Meal, their parent or carer must be receiving particular qualifying benefits as stated by Government...
s. The school lies north of the A304, near Fulham Broadway tube station
Fulham Broadway tube station
Fulham Broadway is a London Underground station on the branch of the District Line. It is between and stations and is in Travelcard Zone 2. The station is located on Fulham Broadway . It is notable as the nearest station to Stamford Bridge stadium, the home of Chelsea Football Club...
, in the Anglican parish of St John's, Fulham. The London Film Academy
London Film Academy
The London Film Academy was founded in 2002 as a non-profit making trust situated in Fulham, London. The LFA provides practical courses in film-making. The London Film Academy is part of the David Game College Group....
is to the west.
Introduction
The London Oratory School admits 160 boys to the first form. The School educates boys aged 7–16 and boys and girls aged 16–18 in the sixth formSixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
. There are around 1350 pupils including about 350 in the sixth form. The proportion of minority ethnic
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
students is much higher than in most schools, with over 50 first languages represented. The School shares its religious and cultural identity with the Congregation of the Oratory
Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians...
who founded the School and are its trustees. The school is strongly connected to Brompton Oratory
London Oratory
The London Oratory is a Catholic oratory, a community of lay-brothers, and the name given to the London Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri...
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 the a path to the beauty of God in the majesty of music and the arts.
History
The school was founded in 1852, by the London OratoryLondon Oratory
The London Oratory is a Catholic oratory, a community of lay-brothers, and the name given to the London Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri...
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
Daughters of the Cross
Daughters of the Cross is a religious congregation of the Catholic Church founded in Liège in 1833. The foundress, Mère Marie Therese , sent her Sisters over to England in 1863. Its formal title is The Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross of Liège.Daughters of the Cross is constituted as a...
.
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 Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Marsden Hospital is a specialist cancer treatment hospital in London, England. It is an NHS Foundation Trust, and operates facilities on two sites:*The Chelsea site in Brompton, next to the Royal Brompton Hospital, on Fulham Road...
.
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 SW3SW postcode area
The SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as...
.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, FulhamFulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, 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
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
once more, having been a grant maintained school since 1989. The school gained Arts College
Arts College
Arts Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, the performing, visual and/or media arts...
status.
In 1995 Tony Blair sent his son Euan to the school, then Nicky in 1997. Fifty seven state secondary schools were nearer to their home than the London Oratory School. Harry Dromey, eldest son of Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman
Harriet Ruth Harman QC is a British Labour Party politician, who is the Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, and was MP for the predecessorPeckham constituency from 1982 to 1997...
also attended 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. Deputy Prime Minister Nick CleggNick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
looked at the school for his boys to the school.
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)
Former teachers
- Pauline Mathias, Headmistress from 1974-89 of More House School, and President from 1982-3 of the Girls' Schools AssociationGirls' Schools AssociationThe Girls' Schools Association is the professional association of the heads of independent girls' schools in the UK and overseas and is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council .-History:...
(Head of English from 1954-64, and still a school governor)
Academic standards
The school's most recent OfstedOffice for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report, published on 23 April 2009, classed the school as outstanding.
In the 2009 examinations, 90% of pupils attained five or more GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
s, 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 comprehensive school 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
Lee Ward
Lee Ward BMus ARCO is a British organist, conductor and teacher.He first studied the organ with Ian Tracey at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and was appointed Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral at eighteen years of age....
.
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 Ireland, where they will perform a sell out concert with the Irish group The Priests
The Priests
The Priests are a classical musical group made up of three Catholic priests all from Northern Ireland. Fr Eugene and his brother Fr Martin O'Hagan are originally from the village of Claudy, County Londonderry with the family now residing in Derry whilst Fr David Delargy is from Ballymena, County...
in aid of the Irish charity Trócaire
Trócaire
Trócaire is an Irish non governmental organization development agency. The charity is registered in the Republic of Ireland under Irish Charity No...
.
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 Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
. The choir also works extensively for charity, helping raise thousands of pounds for various charities including Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer....
, Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
and the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program.
The Patronal Festival
Staff and Students assemble in the Brompton Oratory ChurchLondon Oratory
The London Oratory is a Catholic oratory, a community of lay-brothers, and the name given to the London Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri...
to honour the School's Patron, Saint Philip Neri. The School celebrates its Patronal Festival
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
with a Pontifical High Mass
Pontifical High Mass
In the context of the Tridentine Mass of the Roman Catholic Church, a Pontifical High Mass, also called Solemn Pontifical Mass, is a Solemn or High Mass celebrated by a bishop using certain prescribed ceremonies. The term is also used among Anglo-Catholic Anglicans.-Origins:In the early Church,...
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 Prefect
Senior Prefect
Senior Prefects are a variant form of prefect taken by students in the British education system.In some British schools the student body or the head teacher appoints a member of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school. Normally a few select...
s. The official handing over of duties from the outgoing Senior Prefect
Senior Prefect
Senior Prefects are a variant form of prefect taken by students in the British education system.In some British schools the student body or the head teacher appoints a member of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school. Normally a few select...
s to the incoming Senior Prefect
Senior Prefect
Senior Prefects are a variant form of prefect taken by students in the British education system.In some British schools the student body or the head teacher appoints a member of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school. Normally a few select...
s occurs when the Senior Prefect
Senior Prefect
Senior Prefects are a variant form of prefect taken by students in the British education system.In some British schools the student body or the head teacher appoints a member of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school. Normally a few select...
s Badges and Ties of Office are issued. All members of Staff traditionally wear full academic dress
Academic dress
Academic dress or academical dress is a traditional form of clothing for academic settings, primarily tertiary education, worn mainly by those that have been admitted to a university degree or hold a status that entitles them to assume them...
(gowns and hoods) on this occasion.
The Principal Celebrant is usually a high ranking official of the Catholic Church. Recent Celebrants have included: 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
Maurice Noël Léon Couve de Murville
Maurice Noël Léon Couve de Murville was the seventh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham from 25 March 1982 until his retirement on 12 June 1999, having formerly been a priest of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and chaplain of Fisher House, Cambridge.-Early career and priesthood:Maurice...
, Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham (2006); The Right Reverend Dom Cuthbert Brogan, Abbot of Farnborough (2005); The Right Reverend Bishop Alan Hopes
Alan Hopes
Alan Stephen Hopes, is a Roman Catholic Bishop in Great Britain. He currently serves as Auxiliary Bishop of the Westminster and titular Bishop of Cuncacestre. He was born in Oxford, England on 17 March 1944....
, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (2004); The Right Reverend Bishop George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (2003); His Eminence Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster (2002); The Right Reverend Bishop Arthur Roche
Arthur Roche
Arthur Roche is an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Bishop of Leeds.-Early life and ministry:...
, 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); His Eminence 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
Guard of honour
A guard of honour is a ceremonial event practice in military and sports as a mark of respect.-Military:In the military a guard of honour is a ceremonial practice to honour visiting foreign dignitaries, or the fallen in war, or a ceremony for public figures who have died.The commander is three paces...
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
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
, consisting of the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
and RAF divisions to mount the Guard of Honour before the Mass as the Principal Celebrant enters the Brompton Oratory
London Oratory
The London Oratory is a Catholic oratory, a community of lay-brothers, and the name given to the London Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri...
. The London Oratory School CCF has been badged to the Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
since 2010. Previously the Army Section wore the capbadge of the Royal Green Jackets. Major General W G Cubitt
William Cubitt (British Army officer)
Major-General Sir William George Cubitt, KCVO, CBE is a former senior British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding London District and Major-General commanding the Household Division, 2007-2011.-Military career:...
, 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 rebadging, 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
London Oratory School Schola
The London Oratory School Schola was established in 1996 and is a choir for Catholic boys. The current director of the Schola is Lee Ward. The choir's patrons are Princess Michael of Kent, the barrister Cherie Booth, the actor Simon Callow and the composer James MacMillan .-Directors of the...
and Chamber Choir, directed by Lee Ward
Lee Ward
Lee Ward BMus ARCO is a British organist, conductor and teacher.He first studied the organ with Ian Tracey at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and was appointed Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral at eighteen years of age....
assisted by The London Oratory Sinfonia.
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
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
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 Prefect
Senior Prefect
Senior Prefects are a variant form of prefect taken by students in the British education system.In some British schools the student body or the head teacher appoints a member of the highest grade or form to perform a series of duties to help the organisation of the school. Normally a few select...
s, Award Winners and their parents in Saint Wilfrid’s Hall, which is adjacent to the Brompton Oratory.
Political interference
In the mid-1980s, the headmaster John McIntosh had publically written about (explicitly) left-wing political interference in the curriculum by some LEAs, notably inner London schools. This attracted the attention of the Prime Minister, Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
.
Mr McIntosh then persuaded Margaret Thatcher to introduce grant-maintained schools, to stop interference from LEAs, chiefly those in inner London. Grant-maintained schools were to be abolished by the incoming 1997 Labour government, but were replaced by foundation school
Foundation school
In England and Wales, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools....
s in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998
School Standards and Framework Act 1998
The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was the major education legislation passed by the incoming Labour government of Tony Blair.This Act:* imposed a limit of 30 on infant class sizes....
.
Additional monthly contribution
In 1999, John McIntosh, the London Oratory School's headteacher at the time and member of a Tory education think tank, was accused of using his position as headteacher to embarrass Labour. In a letter to 1000 boys at the school, as many other head teachers did at the time and since, he asked parents to contribute money to cover a deficit in the school's budget that he blamed directly on government policy. This was on the eve of Labour's party conference and McIntosh attracted much criticism.Pupil interviews
At one time when the law allowed, all prospective pupils were interviewed to ascertain if they practised their faith. A local primary school to complain about the admissions procedures. It also launched a separate complaint about the "clarity, fairness and objectivity" of the school's approach to over-subscription.Adjucator Elizabeth Passmore decided to uphold the complaint about the school's interviewing procedures and confirmed that it has breached the new admissions code. The old code allowed the school to interview parents and prospective pupils to assess religious or denominational commitment. The new code says that interviews should not be used in any part of the application or admission process, except in a boarding school for a boarding place.
The London Oratory defended its right in law to interview prospective pupils to ascertain Catholicity and it won its case in 2006, but subsequently dropped the interview process when the law was changed.
Terrence Higgins Trust
In November 2007, the London Oratory School dropped the Terrence Higgins TrustTerrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. In particular, the charity aims to reduce the spread of HIV and promote good sexual health ; to provide services on a national and local level to people with, affected by, or at risk of...
as the nominated charity for a World Aids Day concert. This was one month before the concert was scheduled to take place. (The Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. It advocates the use of condoms to prevent AIDS, and is a lead organisation in the England & Wales gay men's health promotion partnership).
McFadden wrote "The London Oratory school will always want to make sure its charitable fundraising work and its work … are done with organisations whose philosophy, aims and practices support Christian values. As the nominated charity does not meet this criterion, it would be inappropriate for the school to financially support this charity from the proceeds of the concert." The replacement charity Surf helps survivors of the Rwandan genocide who had been "deliberately infected" with Aids.
In response, Actor Simon Callow
Simon Callow
Simon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...
threatened to resign as patron of a choir at the school but he did not resign. He was also a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust.
Notable alumni
- Hayley Atwell, actress
- Simon CallowSimon CallowSimon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...
, actor - Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of GlossopBernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of GlossopBernard Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop, MBE was a British peer.Fitzalan-Howard was the eldest son of the Francis Fitzalan-Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Glossop and was educated at the London Oratory School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a Captain in the Lovat Scouts...
- Tony GeraghtyTony GeraghtyTony Geraghty is a British-Irish writer and journalist. He served in the Parachute Regiment, and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his work as a military liaison officer with U.S. forces during the Gulf War...
, writer - Jerry HayesJerry HayesJeremy Joseph James Hayes, known as Jerry Hayes, is a British former Conservative politician, the MP for Harlow in Essex from 1983 until 1997. He subsequently returned to practising criminal law.-Political career:...
, Conservative MP from 1983-97 for HarlowHarlow (UK Parliament constituency)Harlow is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
(school governor) - Diarmuid O'NeillDiarmuid O'NeillDiarmuid O'Neill , was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army . O'Neill was killed in London in 1996 during a police raid on the hotel where he and two other IRA volunteers were staying...
, volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army - Michael Swift, rugby union player