Our Faith
Christ is at the centre of everything we do at The Oratory. Our mission is “To Shine As To Be a Light To Others,” and we live this out through our learning, our actions, and our words. Leaders at The Oratory ensure that our Catholic faith is at the heart of our school community, guiding all that we do. We aim to reflect this through Catholic Social Teaching and the Jesuit virtues, helping every child grow in faith, love, and service.Catholic Life and Mission at The Oratory
Catholic Life and Mission at The Oratory is at the heart of everything we do. Christ is our foundation, and our mission “To Shine As To Be a Light To Others” shapes our learning, actions, and words. We strive to ensure that our school is a vibrant community of faith where Gospel values are lived out daily. Our Catholic identity is expressed through prayer, liturgy, and service, and we aim to nurture pupils (who are compassionate, courageous, and committed) to making a difference.
Through Catholic Social Teaching and Jesuit virtues, we help children understand their responsibility to care for others and the world around them, ensuring that faith is not only taught but lived.
Collective Worship
Prayer is an essential part of life at The Oratory. Each day, children pray four times, and every half term they focus on a traditional prayer linked to their year group. We are blessed to have Father David as our school chaplain, who supports the prayer life and spiritual development of our pupils. Across the week, children have many opportunities to take part in Collective Worship, including:
- Monday: Gospel Celebration of the Word
- Tuesday: Class Mass, Choral Worship, or Whole School Mass (led by Father David)
- Thursday: Pupil-prepared Celebration of the Word
- Friday: Celebration Assembly
In addition, we hold Virtues and Catholic Social Teaching assemblies once every half term, and children who demonstrate the virtue focus are invited to a special Virtues Breakfast to celebrate their efforts. We are committed to involving families and the wider community in our faith life, ensuring parents can join us for Stay and Pray sessions, Inspire Workshops, and Whole School Masses. Through these experiences, we nurture a strong sense of faith, community, and service, helping children grow closer to Christ in their daily lives.
The Oratory's Curriculum
At the heart of our curriculum is a strong Catholic core, enabling pupils to reflect on their learning in every subject and connect it to Catholic Social Teaching. We strive to personalise learning so that children see their own lived experiences within the curriculum, helping them to develop cultural capital and benefit from rich enrichment opportunities.
Each half term, our learning is united under a whole-school curriculum theme:
- Autumn 1: It’s a Wonderful World (Link to Laudate Si and St. Francis)
- Autumn 2: Prepare for the Greatest Gift (Link to Advent)
- Spring 1: Justice Begins with Us (Link to Catholic Social Justice)
- Spring 2: The Ultimate Act of Love (Link to Lent)
- Summer 1: Becoming Children of the Light (Link to Pentecost)
- Summer 2: Ready to Grow (Link to Transitions)