Radley College

[RaLaRaLa]

I am searching for a school for my son and have come across Radley College. It seems to be ticking many of our boxes and we have an open day booked in. I would love to hear some current information on what type of boy typically suits it? My son is not super sporty, more B team tagging along rather than loving sports. He’s more into science and nature than anything else. Quite bright but not gifted territory. Also- are the socials vastly different in their atmosphere? They all seem to love cocoa…

I see Radley as being good at sports. Lots of range rovers in the car park. Old money. Lots of family connections. Good school I believe but I don’t know too much about it. Used to be name down at birth kinda place but they’ve moved away from that (on paper)….

To add …. I suspect if it’s not a school you yourself as parents were brought up knowing about, then perhaps not the right sort of place for “new” families. This is just hearsay from reputation so I must stress it might not be the case …. Friends with boys there all had fathers that went there. Very ‘country’ families but with family houses in London too, naturally. That’s sort of type I think. Boys I know all had happy times there and turned out very well.

Thanks @leftandaright - this is my i
general impression as well I suppose. I’m not 100% convinced about single sex anyway so we’ll see.

The new head stopped the automatic right to a place just because your father went. It’s forward thinking, well organised, sporty but fully boarding so think carefully about you/your son being ready for this.

Thank you @Beachcomber74

Cocoa is just a term used for an evening gathering, usually with food, and a chance to catch up with people. Very informal. I have a lovely video of DS and his mates singing (??) surrounded by Nesquick tubs, beer bottles (6th form) and empty plates. That was "cocoa" time.
We were pleased with Radley, but socialising within the Social year group can be hit or miss, depending on the intake.

Loads of drama, art, sport and music. Academics good too.

They are increasing their bursary scheme, so the social mix is supposed to be getting better.
Certainly worth going to look around.

Thanks @houselikeashed - I will definitely have a look. I suppose I am just perhaps worried it would be a tad ‘alpha’ with boys only. But I have hear many good things too. It’s tricky with year groups, one of the few things that is completely out of your control I guess. Glad you had a good experience on the whole.

Just had coffee with friend who has two boys there. They are happy with the school. It is very traditional, at least to my eyes. My friend and her DH are both old money (very plummy) but nice people, not snobs. The sporty boys are looked up to. You do need to be clever to get in. Lots of boys sit their maths GCSE a year early for example.

@Chalkstream Thanks! We shall see how we do on the academic front…

Radley boys are some of the laziest and rudest in the university where I work. Soon to be overtaken by Sherborne I think.

@Calcite Be interested to know which uni that is, as my son is both polite and hard working. As are his Radley friends.

The Radley boys I know are all lovely and not at all rude. I suspect one rotten apple will always taint those associated with them but I can’t think of a single school anywhere that routinely produces one type of child; lazy and rude. Such characteristics are personal and can be found in people from any walk of life rather than resulting from an education.

I've been in the business for decades and believe me, it goes in cycles and usually changes a couple of years after the head changes. Marlborough boys preceded the Radley ones in the grim stakes but are pleasant now.

Sort of like The Demon Headmaster then when they used their powers of hypnotisation to turn all the pupils under their watch into rude and lazy human beings. Because I can really see whole school bodies morphing into revolting behaviour on account of the head in charge at the time . Very credible.

It happens in every kind of school. Dynamics and outcomes fluctuate according to the style of leadership and the expectations of the leader. It has nothing to do with mystical powers, just human nature.

@Calcite Then how come my ds and his (Radley) friends are lovely well rounded, down to earth young men?

@Calcite blimey, really? My DS didn’t go to Radley as he is not quite academic enough (doing great though and happy thank God) but I know about four boys currently there and a half dozen others who have left and are finishing their first year at Uni and yes they come from privileged backgrounds but they are bright, polite young men and certainly not rude and obnoxious. Lazy having come from Radley? You sound out of date and prejudiced. I don’t have any connection to Radley other than knowing some of the families with boys there.