Sevenoaks or Radley

[N2025]

Confused between Sevenoaks & Radley …we want academically strong boarding school for our DS but at the same time want a happy environment…Sevenoaks being day & boarding apparently have less boarders and I don’t want him to feel lonely but it’s IB grades are excellent …no offense but we experienced a dull environment at Sevenoaks as compared to Radley …More importantly which is better for US universities??

We didn’t look at or apply to Radley, but have visited Sevenoaks a few times over the course of the last year and my son has a boarding place for September 2027. I was initially concerned about the lack of boarders and worried he’d either be one of just a handful in the boarding house at the weekends or stuck in with people all from one foreign jurisdiction who might choose not to speak English at the weekend. Although the boarding population accounts for just one-third of the general student population, the fact that there are only three boys’ boarding houses means that these should not empty out too much at the weekend (I’ve heard tales of Wellington having just three year 9 boarders in on one particular weekend across all houses). I’m lead to believe there is usually at least six out of the ten boys in each house every weekend. I also like the fact that they are not over-scheduled at the weekends and do get to have some down time. Schools such as Marlborough have a very full schedule of weekend activities (I believe this is intentional in the lower years so children don’t have time to get too homesick) and it really leaves no time for any downtime. I know sometimes my children like to just flop on their beds with a book and read and I don’t get the impression they would get hardly any time for this at some schools, save, perhaps, just before bed. My overwhelming impression is that it’s a much more relaxed and down to Earth school and you are less likely to end up with an affected and entitled child than you might get from some of the more traditional public schools. Saying that, I very much feel that choosing a school is akin to buying a house and you will get a better feeling from one than another. I would go with your gut instinct and if you think your son will be happier at Radley then that should be the deciding factor. I know children that are currently there and are really happy and they are certainly not bored at the weekend. The school has good rates of placing people at US universities probably helped by the fact that the head is American and understands the system. Perhaps wait to decide until boarding houses are allocated at each and you get the chance to meet the housemasters that you get paired with? That’s what we are planning to do. It’s going to be a tough decision if we get offers at many more schools.

Thank you for the wonderful insight

With the US universities question, do they not publish a list of their destinations? If not, presumably you could ask how many they have going to the US, and where.

This gives some insight into university destinations at Sevenoaks.

https://www.sevenoaksschool.org/academic/beyond-sevenoaks/university-destinations/#:~:text=In%20this%20competitive%20landscape%2C%20students,%2C%20Columbia%2C%20Brown%20and%20Dartmouth.

Thanks edgeofforever for the much needed info …will be very easy to make decision based on this ..👍😊

From what I can tell, Sevenoaks and Harrow have the best internal departments for dealing with admissions to US universities with dedicated members of staff dealing just with this. Hope that helps!

Thanks flyHigh1

Sevenoaks is indeed dull and many would say soulless. We know it well. There is simply no comparison between these two schools in terms of personality and character. Radley is streets ahead for a strong all rounder and you should have no concerns academically for a bright pupil. Sevenoaks will have the slight edge if US universities are your aim, although Radley will have a few go each year, in addition to Russell Group and Oxbridge.

These two schools are indeed completely different! Sevenoaks is co-ed, IB focused and only a third of the whole school board with very few in the lower year groups, Radley is all boys, boarding and A levels. They are like chalk and cheese! Sevenoaks has a big international contingent, particularly at Sixth Form which make up the large part of the boarding numbers. The school is modern, secular and runs like a university on a campus with tutor groups and no house competitions across the whole school as 70% are day pupils. Radley is traditional, has chapel and runs like an English boarding school, with strong house traditions and competitions. Sevenoaks might have the edge on US universities admissions, but their U6 cohort is some 200+ students all doing the IB which the US understands and Oxbridge dislikes as it's often considered too broad. Radley have about half that size in their U6 but still get a good amount into US and Oxbridge/Russell group universities. As, I said - chalk and cheese!

As others have said, these two schools are totally different!

there should be no confusion as to which is the better choice for you/your child

what exactly are you looking for and I can help

Thanks for your excellent explanation…we are going ahead with Sevenoaks as my DS is much inclined towards it but will definitely try Radley for the younger one …😊