Up close & personal views on Radley or Sherborne (how is new head getting on?)

[Illegalbeagle]

Anyone out there with personal experience of either? We loved both schools but were a little worried that Sherborne boys, while wonderful, were not very motivated. As we have a son who is NOT really a self starter at 11/12 (I realise/hope this may naturally change as he gets older but also think it is something that schools can influence) I thought Radley might get more out of him, they seemed a bit more ‘on it’. He is Mr Average in academics/sport but makes friends easily. Any thoughts? Both schools seem to turn out v charming lovely boys. Any knowledge of the new head at Sherborne?

Both great schools, but probably cater to a slightly different type of boy these days. Radley is very popular at the moment and has a more academic intake (look at recent exam results and subjects offered).

Sherborne is very good at supporting boys that need that little bit more cajoling along, although they will still have a number of bright self motivated boys too. They also have very well established links with Sherborne Girls.

Hi, I've PMd you as my (v positive) experience of Sherborne is too outing to post.
These are both terrific schools and a boy who gains admission should thrive in either. There's much to be said for working out which will be easier logistically and whether your son would be happier in a town or campus setting. I also found it enlightening to attend matches because you catch more flavour of the respective tribes and cultures when they are not on their guard!.
DS attended a main feeder prep for Radley but we didn't apply because it seemed to be going through some unsettled times (7 or 8 years ago) as all schools will from time to time. But I believe it's flourishing at present.
Good luck choosing!

I know parents with boys currently both schools and they are all very happy. No complaints. All very happy.

comes down to what is a better fit for your family and DS

They are two quite different schools. Radley is significantly more academically minded than Sherborne, and has a sharper focus at the higher level sporting wise, so an averagely academic and sporting DS may find Sherborne provides a wider pool of like minded boys. Sherborne also has a natural link with the girls school, so there is more interaction/collaboration with the opposite sex if that is important to you.

Thank you all and love to hear more from anyone

There is loads of recent information about Radely on here, mainly on the multi page Harrow thread and also in the 2026 ISEB thread

less info about Sherbourne but I echo @MrsDiddy

its seen as a less academic choice than Radely with a much broader intake and more SEND.

whilst sport features heavily at the school they tend not to win much (though they did just win a vase at Roselyn Sevens)

on MN there was a fair amount of recent concern about bullying but my friends DS have not seen or experienced that

no info on new head but I thought prior head was unimpressive tbh (having met him) so hopefully new guy is an upgrade

Thank you, I will look now

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Personally I always liked the old Head at Sherborne, who I met several times and have discussed with numerous parents. That said, I also met the new Head twice and I think the school is in good hands.

I like Sherborne as a school. My own DS will be heading there in 2027. The one observation I will make about it, which is not intended to be a good or bad thing, is that the school is going through a period of change and adaptation as the public school environment is changing, but it definitely isn't the only school doing this. While maintaining its identify as a traditional boys public school, Sherborne is also now at the centre of an expanding group of schools including a girls senior school (Sherborne Girls), co-ed and girls prep schools (Sherborne Prep and Hanford), a UK school offering short courses to foreign students (Sherborne International), and a number of overseas schools offering a "UK-style" education (Sherborne Qatar, Sherborne Jaddah and soon Sherborne Riyadh).

Sherborne is not unique in doing this, and in time it may prove to have been a very wise consolidation and diversification, as the market for private education becomes more competitive and schools that have not adapted find themselves increasingly squeezed. However, it will be interesting to see how successful Sherborne is at achieving this success while maintaining its own unique, traditional offering.

This is true, but I think Sherborne Boys and Girls always had a close working relationship, even before the merger.

There is already joint teaching in the Sixth Form for some subjects, so will be interesting to see if they expand on this.

Sherborne International has been around for years already and it now just runs summer courses, so I don't see this impacting on too much on the Boys' School.