Founded in 1847 by the Rev William Sewell, Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, to provide a public school education on the principles of the Church of England. Its agreeable and well-equipped buildings lie in a beautiful 800-acre estate, close to Abingdon and Oxford. It is a very successful boarding school for boys and has first-class facilities of all kinds, including two new boarding houses, a 450-seat theatre and a fine design centre. It retains strong links with Oxford and the Church of England. The chapel and religious education are an important part of the college's life. A large and well-qualified staff permits a staff:pupil ratio of about 1:8. Academic standards are high and examination results excellent. A high proportion of leavers goes on to Oxbridge each year. The music department is very strong and there is extensive activity in drama. Sports facilities are exceptionally good and the college is well known for its achievements in rugby, cricket, hockey and rowing (there are boathouses on the Thames, a mile away). There is also a golf course and the college runs its own beagle pack. Numerous clubs and societies cater for virtually every extra-curricular need, there is a large CCF contingent and considerable emphasis on outdoor pursuits. There is an impressive record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme; community service is central to the Radleian's education.
Pupils: Age range 13-18; 661 boarding boys. Entrance: Main entry age 13, very few into sixth. Common Entrance and own scholarship exam used; for sixth form entry, 9 GCSEs, at least 5 with A grades. No special skills required; C of E foundation but other denominations welcome. Pupils come from a wide range of prep schools, some from state schools.
Many scholarships and exhibitions: up to 12 academic, 8 all-rounder, 2 art, 2 drama, 5 music. Foundation awards for state school entrants at 11, 13 and 16 (at 11, the award funds 2 years in a prep school before moving to Radley). Awards may be supplemented by a means-tested bursary. Typical extras £180 a term - theatre trips, account at school shop etc.
10+% live within 30 miles; up to 10% live overseas.
Warden: Angus McPhail, appointed in 2000. Educated at Abingdon and Oxford University (PPE). Previously Headmaster at Strathallan, Housemaster and Head of Economics at Sedbergh, and taught at Glenalmond. Also worked in the Bank of England. Teaching staff: 91 full time, 8 part time plus musicians. Annual turnover 6%. Average age 36.
GCSE: 129 pupils in fifth, almost all gaining at least grade C in 7+ subjects. A-levels: 123 in upper sixth, achieving an average final point score of 427.
Most, if not all, sixth form leavers go on to a degree courses (some 65+% after a gap year), some 17% to Oxbridge. About 3% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 28% in science and engineering, 40% in arts, 23% in social sciences, 5% in art and design.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 27 GCSE subjects, 23 AS-level, 22 A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 A-levels (all exams taken in upper sixth; no exams in Year 12, except some 15% who are taking 5 AS and 4 A-levels). 24% took science A-levels; 38% arts/humanities; 38% both. General studies not taken; but sixth form lecture programme, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, covers great intellectual and cultural moments over 400 years and culminates in a boys writing a 6000-word extended project (validated as equivalent to an AS-level). Vocational: Work experience mandatory for Year 11 after GCSE. Languages: French, German, Spanish and occasionally Portuguese and Russian offered to GCSE, AS- and A-level. Beginners Mandarin available. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum in all subjects, extensively in coursework. 190 computers for pupil use (open all day), almost all networked and all with email and internet access. All pupils take IT key skills. Nearly all pupils have own computers.
Music: Some 40% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Many musical groups including orchestra, chapel choir, choral society, Radley Clerkes, wind band, dance band, jazz group, various chamber groups. A number of recent Oxbridge choral awards. Drama: Drama and theatre studies offered. Majority of pupils are involved in school, social and pupil-directed productions. Art and design: On average, 82 take GCSE, 15 A-level. Design, pottery, photography also offered.
Sport: Options include rugby, rowing, hockey, cricket, tennis, diving, sub-aqua, gymnastics, athletics, squash, swimming, basketball, judo, karate, fives, fencing, real tennis, rackets, soccer, sailing, golf. Boys in county and national teams in various sports; school has produced a number of notable cricketers. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF compulsory for 4 terms at age 14, optional thereafter. Community action programme compulsory (but optional in upper sixth); initiatives across the country and in Romania, India and a school in a township outside Cape Town. Up to 30 clubs, eg Amnesty International, bridge, electronics, film production, debating, political, literary, natural history, racing, trout fishing.
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses (called Socials) for academic, music, drama and sport competition. Prefects, head boy, head of house and house prefects, appointed by the Warden and housemasters. Religion: Church of England. Attendance compulsory at 4 short evening services a week plus Sunday service. Social: Debating, concerts etc with other schools. Oarsmen allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop. No alcohol allowed.
A firm and clear structure. Instant dismissal for use or possession of illegal drugs.
One year in cubicles in a Social Hall; 4 years in single study bedrooms. Houses of approximately 65, same as competitive houses (2 new houses in 2008). Resident qualified nurses. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook own food. Half-term plus 2 or 3 Saturday night exeats each term. All encouraged to make best possible use of Oxford (special Oxford calendar provided termly).
is run by J K Mullard, c/o the college.
Lord Scarman (former judge and chairman of the Law Commission); Peter Cook (comedian); Andrew Motion (poet); Ted Dexter (cricketer); Lord (Richard) Ryder (Conservative politician); Andrew Strauss (cricketer, England captain); Clive Stafford Smith (human rights lawyer, founder of Reprieve); Sandy Nairne (director of the National Portrait Gallery); Lord (Richard) Wilson (former Head of the Civil Service).
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