Radley College vs Concord College

[happylovelymom]

Hi parents, I know these are vetry different schools but I am struggling and would love to hear your views. My boy will be joining the 13+ class.

For myself, I would love my boy to join a traditional school at this age. However, apart from what I want, I also need to match his personality with the school. He's a very kind but rather passive boy, could be lazy at times who needs to be pushed and guidance to excel. I'm wondering whether Concord will do a better job in tracking and following up with his academics and get him into the studying mode.

The end goal is for him to get into a good university. For now he's interested in law and would like to pursue in that area but of course, it's still too early to tell.

Appreciate all your views.

Radley every time. You probably won’t get much of a steer on Concord on MN as it’s not a a school that’s on a UK parent’s radar. It’s predominantly international ( they get the Uk numbers by offering heavily discounted day places, so as a boarding parent you’re subsidising those places). Its also v sixth form heavy- years 9-11 are relatively small. It focuses on academics and personal statement points ( eg Dof E) to the exclusion of most other things- not sure they even have sports teams. Basically it’s an exam factory for v academic kids who love schoolwork and will cry if they get 98% instead of 100%. I don’t think it’s an awful place but a bright child can get those results for a lot less than 53k a year.

Thanks a lot Sparehair!

Hi happylovelymom
i have to disagree with sparehair - I’ve had two boys at Concord and it’s certainly not an exam factory - nor do they cry if their results are not perfect.
It IS very international, but they’ve found it fun making friends from around the world.
Academics are the focus but there is lots to do ( music, drama and -yes -sport). It’s not sporty in the same way as Radley though ( no rugby or cricket teams) but they were top of the county for basketball last year and have football, badminton, golf fixtures etc and outdoor Ed ( not just DofE) - it depends what you ( or your son) like.
They just won an award for international student experience ( lots of top notch pastoral care ) and Muddy Stilettos had them finalists in sports … it depends on your kid really, if they like the idea of being in a very international environment.
For my two it’s been amazing, very calm and tranquil, super polite school friends and lots of support from teachers. It’s not in any way traditional though. ( no uniform, no rugby, no chapel or CCF so if that’s your thing then Radley is the better fit)
If it’s on your radar I’d go and visit - always worth a look to see if it’s a fit for your child I think.

Thank you so much for your view. 😊

Hello @cricketmom can I dm you about the school please ?

yes, please do.
😊

so what does Concord offer that Radley doesn't?
Plenty of international pupils at Radley as far as I remember. (but I'm a few years out of Radley now.)

We've looked around concord a couple of times and have friends there.
They do do sport but not the usual school team sports like cricket, hockey and rugby. There are few fixtures. I'm sure they do well at badminton and basketball!
There are exams every Saturday and progress tracking and reporting is very keen.
DC went for a day and it wasn't for her. She said the teachers were no better than other schools.. the route to success seemed to be the focus on exams, revision technique etc.
The results are excellent and apparently food is very good. If you are looking for an international scene, well oiled academic machine and not fussed about team sports I would certainly consider it.

Oh and apparently behaviour really is excellent and there's very little bullying if any.

I’d never heard of concord before coming across this post. Radley is well known, a fantastic TRADITIONAL British boarding school offering everything you’d hope from academics to sports to a traditional approach to a broad education that you’d expect from an excellent boarding school.
Concord sounds like a completely different enterprise. Not saying anything negative but exams EVERY Saturday and none of the usual team sports - had my fairly standard DC gone there, they’d have shrivelled up and died a thousand deaths.

the OP is comparing apples with pears with these two schools . Suggest you go and have a look round to see which one your son will thrive in. mid it’s concord go for it. If it’s radley, then you have other schools to compare to if you wish as it’s a “normal” British boarding school with other schools offering a like minded approach.

I’m going to now go and have a lie down. Still not over the thought of exams every Saturday and no matches. The horror 😂

What an odd final two to be choosing between.

Radley is single sex full boarding: old money British families with a small sprinkling of international students (mostly boys who have attended UK boarding prep schools for several years already). A few boys are super academic but a large proportion who view lessons as a necessary evil to be endured until they can hit the rugby field or rowing eight. Boys join a house when they arrive and live in it for the duration, and life (sporting, social, pastoral) is mainly organised around their house.

Concord is coed day and boarding: nearly all international students with a very high proportion from Asia, academics are top priority for everyone, very little competitive team sport. Boarding houses are simply somewhere to sleep and students move between them according to age.

They are also nowhere near one another - Concord is vaguely near Birmingham Airport, Radley vaguely near Heathrow.