The Oratory School

Independent school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Sixth form · Boarding

Woodcote, Reading, South Oxfordshire, Reading, RG8 0PJ

01491 683500 · School website · Map and directions

Inspected byISIIndependent Schools Inspectorate
A level exams graded A* or A23%England 26% · 2024/25
Pupils287Room for 450 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 216 in 2019, 301 in 2021, 358 in 2022, 372 in 2023, 372 in 2024, 337 in 2025. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.

Ofsted inspection

This independent school is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. ISI doesn't publish its judgements as open data, so we can't show them here. You can read its reports on the ISI website.

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Results

We show A level results only. DfE's GCSE figures leave out the IGCSEs many independent schools use, so they can look far lower than pupils' real results. The IB Diploma and Pre-U aren't included in the A level figures either. DfE doesn't publish where independent school students go after sixth form.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

68 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 23% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 54% 53% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 34.7 33.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 36.0This school 2023/24: 32.9This school 2024/25: 34.7 This school England 35 2022/23 36.0 2023/24 32.9 2024/25 34.7

A level subjects, 2024/25

23 subjects, 204 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Business Studies:Single 22 0% 5% 16%
Economics 21 5% 19% 26%
Psychology 18 0% 6% 19%
Art and Design 17 18% 41% 34%
Biology 15 0% 27% 27%
Geography 14 7% 29% 23%
Mathematics 14 7% 50% 40%
English Literature 13 15% 23% 23%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 9 0% 11% 17%
Art and Design (Photography) 8 25% 50% 26%
Art and Design (3d Studies) 7 29% 43% 28%
Chemistry 6 0% 50% 30%
English Language 6 0% 0% 13%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Drama and Theatre Studies, Government and Politics, French, Physics, Spanish, History, Mathematics (Further), Chinese, Music, Religious Studies.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 0.0% 19.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan 0.0% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support 23.4% 17.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language Not published 16.5%* 19.2%

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

How did The Oratory School do in its A levels?

In 2024/25, 23% of A level exams were graded A* or A, 3 points below the England average of 26%.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.