Radley aims to provide boys with the understanding, skills and global awareness needed to contribute positively to a changing world. This is strongly reflected in the recent launch of its Innovation scholarship, going to those with both an entrepreneurial mindset and an ability in coding, electronics, engineering, robotics, computer science or game design.
Head John Moule, since 2014; previously head of Bedford School Pupils 771 boarding boys aged 13-18 Term Fees £20,112 Bursaries 17% of pupils, up to 100%+ Alumni Poet Sir Andrew Motion, rugby player Will Stuart, TV and Radio presenter Jamie Laing Parents say that head John Moule cultivates ‘a fascinating dynamic of mutual respect, engagement and humour’ with his pupils: ‘He sets the tone for the school; and though he isn’t too formal in his manner and has a good sense of humour, he expects high standards and results.’ His charges in turn view him as a ‘supportive’ and ‘reliable’ figure, who has given the school a clear direction. (‘It gives me great pride to be a part of that process’ says one.)
However, it also espouses community outreach, with recent manifestations including a creativity competition for pupils at local primaries – run in partnership with Radley alumnus Jamie Laing and The Oxford Times – as well as 4,500 individual musical opportunities offered to local children and a Community Art Exhibition in which 2,500 pupils from 20 nearby schools were involved. At the moment, there is an ongoing conversation here about digital dependency and the extent to which educational ambitions can be helped or hindered by technology; a new music school is in the works; and there are plans to refurbish the library, spruce up the sports facilities so that there is space for a climbing wall and exciting bouldering room, and convert a barn into a cookery centre.
Sport: a massive part of pupils’ lives; 98 per cent represent the school in some capacity. Gorgeous pitches, rowing tank, fishing lake, boathouse, courts for every racquet sport: a sweetshop of delights. Recent push to get Radleians ‘to look up and out’ one parent says; the new head of sixth form’s remit includes ‘nurturing an enterprising mindset’. Single sex makes sense here – no stereotyping – boys reckoned they do more singing than they would in a co-ed environment. Respect Project with Downe House creates meaningful touchpoints, giving boys experience of working with girls rather than just peering at them across empty dance floors.
Exciting teaching gets the best out of curious boys who are willing to have a go. Radley was never the nerdy one in the gang but, particularly when the mixed selection process is considered, ‘there’s no water’ between Radley and the competition. In fact, lots of parents cited ‘fizzy’ lessons, particularly in the Sixth Form, as their reason for choosing it. And fizzy it is: super discussions being had all over the place, dons (teachers) and pupils asking insightful questions of each other. High energy and really stretching, but we didn’t pick up a particularly competitive edge; boys making intelligent points but not gloating about it. The arts and co-curricular: an astonishing breadth and depth; the new music school will make it better still and demonstrates commitment to the arts. Half learn an instrument. Chapel choir is 120 strong including, we gather, a chunk of the first XV; the sound of all those boys singing with such sincerity gave us rather a lump in the throat (shh). Singing here cool in a way that our guides suspect it’s not elsewhere. Art department busy: ‘creative industries are for boys, too’. Huge design engineering workshop plus computer suites and electronics room.
Central dining for breakfast, lunch, supper. Food really good, especially the kung pao chicken. Much excitement around ‘Shop’, the new dining room in which Socials take turns to have lunch: ‘It’s like a restaurant!’ Cook-ups back at your Social, too. Cocoa, at 9pm each night, also brings the Social together… talking about the world and the things which matter to them… ‘Deep, deep friendships form in the socials,’ we hear. Distinctive sense of collegiality between boys and adults – relationships respectful but relaxed, based on shared experiences, interests, humour. High praise for pastoral care: ‘His tutor went the extra mile’. ‘Sicut Serpentes, Sicut Columbae’ is Radley’s motto: ‘be ye wise as Serpents and harmless as doves’. Wise isn’t the first word that springs to mind (most of those we met still had freckles and train tracks), but they’re on their way to becoming so. Harmless? Yes, but better than that: they’re bright-eyed and bushytailed, bursting with anecdotes from RockSoc, facts about Mount Everest and stories of marsupials. Radley is changing, attracting a broader intake of talented, enthusiastic boys. Still boarders, still boys, still gowned – but in its characteristically quiet and classy way, Radley has been sharpening up. The result? A faithful old dog with some carefullyexecuted new tricks. We think it’s an absolute humdinger of a school.