Radley College entry

[Shakespearessister1980]

Hi, does anyone have knowledge of the % of candidates offered places at Radley from the Open Entry list vs those on the Radley List? Do you have a sense as to how much emphasis is placed on ISEB pre test results vs the prep head reference and the assessment day? Thank you.

Bump

I was told by their admission the iseb benchmark is around 115+ to get into the second round

Thats very helpful thank you.

Do you happen to know the answer to the first question around % of acceptances of Radley List vs Open Entry?

No idea

Don’t know but from what I can tell, the academic standards seem quite low this year. Several non RL boys from our school with dire ISEB scores have been offered.
I wouldn’t worry too much about RL/OL as there seem to be plenty of places to go round…

Thank you, that's interesting. Could I ask though, how do you know that pupils had dire ISEB scores, as I thought that these were rarely given out?

Is ISEB the only thing that offers are based on? If interview or current head teacher reference also taken into account then it will be very difficult to say what the 'pass' mark will be.

Hi no, no school just relies on ISEB scores, it's one part of the process, but its an important part of the first step, before being shortlisted for an invite to the assessment day. @TheCricketers commented on pupils having low ISEB scores, although I'm not sure how the scores were known, hence the question above.

If you ask the secondary schools you applied to for iseb feedback, sometimes they tell you the score.

Do we know how much of the process is weighted on the ISEB exams? I've always felt that interviews are more important and should serve as the backbone to entry...

At the first stage, the ISEB scores, alongside the Heads reference (which will likley include CAT scores and individual subject attainment and comments) will be everything. Only when through that first cut does the Interview come into play, which is done as part of the assessment day thay boys are invited to, after the first shortlisting. You're correct though, the interview is weighted highly on the day, but it should be nothing to worry about, by that stage (as they'll have the prep school reference) they should know a fair amount about the pupil. The interview is a discursive topic based on the short writing task carried out prior on the assessment day. They make it quite relaxed.

Okay - thank you for this! very helpful. Do you think it's worth undergoing interview practice, just to get them comfortable face to face with the headteacher? Are there any conversational skills to be aware of? or just a 'be yourself' sort of deal?

Because some boys who were initially turned down were told it was because of poor ISEB performance, but then were later offered places.

@GiftWrappedKittyCat2 if your son is RL he will be interviewed by the head. Otherwise likely to be a deputy head or even Sophie Langdale.

...and don't be worried about being interviewed by the Warden. DS was open entry, not RL and was still interviewed by the Warden. He is a fun interviewer and is really keen to know what makes the boys tick, whatever that may be. It can be a good thing, as getting the Warden on side is a big plus. Whether or not interview practice is a good idea, depends on your DS. The school's very much encourage not to, as they want to get a sense of the boy's personality, and certainly dont want to hear rehearsed, wooden answers. That said, if a DS is not naturally outgoing, some basic practice, perhaps more to get them used to being able to think and talk about their interests, talents and opinions can be useful. As I say though, there will be a short writing task, before the interview (not marked) and the main reason for this is to provide an interesting topic of discussion for the interview, in which the interviewer can draw out all of the above, so its really not worth getting too hung up on. If your DS is at a prep then the school should already support this and perhaps the prep head could do some practice with DS.

...and don't be worried about being interviewed by the Warden. DS was open entry, not RL and was still interviewed by the Warden. He is a fun interviewer and is really keen to know what makes the boys tick, whatever that may be. It can be a good thing, as getting the Warden on side is a big plus. Whether or not interview practice is a good idea, depends on your DS. The school's very much encourage not to, as they want to get a sense of the boy's personality, and certainly dont want to hear rehearsed, wooden answers. That said, if a DS is not naturally outgoing, some basic practice, perhaps more to get them used to being able to think and talk about their interests, talents and opinions can be useful. As I say though, there will be a short writing task, before the interview (not marked) and the main reason for this is to provide an interesting topic of discussion for the interview, in which the interviewer can draw out all of the above, so its really not worth getting too hung up on. If your DS is at a prep then the school should already support this and perhaps the prep head could do some practice with DS.

@GiftWrappedKittyCat2
top tip - be positive. Say what you like, not what you don’t like.

Exactly!!! no one knows any boys ISEB test results only the schools you are applying to !

My boy was interviewed by Sophie Langdale (head registrar I believe)
what does it depend on who interviews you ?

Who is available most likely. I expect there is a pool of senior staff involved in admission interviews and it will just depend on timings.

There may be a set process for scholarship or bursary applications.

Thank you , he is going for both scholarship and bursary

Sophie is excellent, and knows the school very well so I would think a very good interviewer. I believe both her sons have been through Radley and her father was a Housemaster. It shouldn't make any difference at all who interviews DS though, as to the eventual outcome. Presumably you are 2028 entry?

Yes my son absolutely adored her !
I believe she was very impressed with him too !
let’s see how he does ,