EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST
EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH HEAD
Mr. Andrew De Silva FROM THE ORATORY PREP SCHOOL, OXFORDSHIRE Mr. Andrew De Silva speaks about the importance of child centred learning and his work as the Chair of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools’ EDI group looking to ensure that independent schools are fully supported. He also discusses the admissions process, facilities and ethos at the school. Please tell us a little about yourself and your career to date?
Thank you so much for having me on. I feel almost grown up now, so I feel validated in many ways, but let’s see how the rest of it goes! I’m the Head of The Oratory Prep School, and this is my fifth time working at headship level. I’ve worked at three schools in the state sector and this is my second in the independent sector. Regardless, I am still very much learning, and I think that’s very important. Who am I? Firstly, I try to be as childlike as possible; there’s a wall of lego here in my office. I am a father to Florence and David, and a husband to Nicola. When I’m not doing those things, I’m also a headmaster, or, rather, a head learner at The Oratory Prep School. I have a huge love for music; I’m a singer, and I most recently sang in Winchester Cathedral. I love my singing and lego master building. 20 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | W I N T E R 2 02 2
What do you feel that you have been able to contribute to The Oratory Prep in your role as head?
That’s a really good question. I suppose the thing that I’m trying to add to the school and to the families is a greater sense of listening to all people. The school has a fantastic reputation and had a fantastic head teacher before me, and I’ll do my best to try and continue from what they have done. But what I’m looking forward to bringing to the school is my slightly different faith perspective, because the school is a Catholic school and I am not a Catholic—although faith is very important to me as the son of a retired Anglican priest. I am trying to bring with me my experience in teaching, learning and assessment, and how to get the best we can, as much as possible, from the community we serve and from the children we love and hold so dear. The school motto is ‘Cor Ad Cor Loquitur’ (Heart speaks to Heart) and was given to the school by its founder St. John Henry Newman. Can you explain what this means?
That is a really good question. We are hugely blessed to have St. John Henry Newman as our founder. He adds so much weight to us as a school family, not just for those of us who have a Catholic
