Radley - Wardens List

[1805]

Anyone gone via this option? Are we too late at y6? Is it a realistic option? Website says they hold 25 places per year.

Hi 1805. Ring admissions and talk to them about dates for entry etc. Your Head will have to propose your DS and I assume he/she has suggested it. Your DS will need to be 65%+ at common entrance (the entry requirements go up for CE from 55 to 60% in 2014 and WL has always been above the CE requirement), and also have all round talent in other areas. You will need to commit to putting R as your first choice school. You will not get to choose a boarding house (social) - you will be slotted in where there is space and to ensure that there is a mix of boys in each social. Only you and your Head can decide if it a realistic option for your DS - someone has to get those places though!! HTH.

Thanks.

I spoke to Radley today and feel quite excited by the idea! Had never considered boarding before, but he could come home every sunday if he (I) wanted to. Probably won't though!!!

Any RL experiences of Radley most welcome......

I don't think the place empties at the weekend. My impression was very much full boarding, set exeats. Activities are laid on so they all stay put. If you want more flexibility there are loads of options, now you've opened the boarding Pandora's box!!

Search for Radley in the box above. There were some views about pastoral care/ bullying/hierarchy if I remember along with satisfied customers.

My DH went to Radley but we did not send our DS there which, I suppose, tells a story. DH feels it is still a bit "rugger buggerish" and that sporting prowess is overly important to the boys.

This post will probably bring howls of protest from parents whose boys are in excellent theatre productions, orchestras etc - I don't doubt they are.

I need to know EVERYTHING!!!

Open those floodgates!!!!

Other local options now being considered also I suppose! I dont want to feel I've sent my ds away. Radley is close enough to feel he is just at school a lot.

oh about ds.....

We sacrifice to afford private and also need assistance. He is not extrovert, sport, music, art and academics strong. Not good at pushing forward and getting noticed iykwim. Nice boy who wants to do well.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/a1419296-Radley-College

have a read....

My friends son has just got offer from wardens list. All very last minute. The boy is a confident all rounder, v academic. They are thrilled. Had a very supportive prep head who agreed R would suit their son.

It's very sporty rugby is big and they play hard. It suits traditional families. If you've never boarded before it going to be quite a shock for all of you. This is proper boarding you have got be happy giving day to day control of your DS to someone else. I find it a relief they seem much more competent than I!! My DS can like Radley only come out on Sunday but due to our distance from the school he doesn't bother but many do (his school like Radley is only full boarding). I would look at a few others so that you can decide if it's going to suit you. It's good school but I personally wouldn't choose it the ethos is not compatible with mine this is not a criticism of Radely or myself.

I believe that boarding is a positive life changing experience. It doesnt have a negative impact on the relationship with you DCs if you like it or AN Other boarding school go for it don't listen to the anti boarding brigade not one of them is speaking from genuine current or their own personal experience.

Good news Honesty. Thanks.

HG - We live very close, so have been / worked at the school but never considered it as a viable option. Now all of a sudden it has become a very real possibility. Do you think living close by would actually make things harder? Always presumed I would never 'send my children away'. Now I am paying more attention to it, it doesn't seem so bad. What other schools would you recommend looking at?

Of course you can live close by and it will make your life easier as you will be able to get to school to watch matches plays etc but if your DS is going yo get the most out of the full boarding experience you most step back and allow him to turn his energy and attention to the school. We can't pop over to meet my DS for a quick coffee. My DS knows that in the event of a problem he should turn to his housemaster in the first instance and it's easy when your parents aren't five minutes up the road to do this. Every h

Of course you can live close by and it will make your life easier as you will be able to get to school to watch matches plays etc but if your DS is going yo get the most out of the full boarding experience you most step back and allow him to turn his energy and attention to the school. We can't pop over to meet my DS for a quick coffee. My DS knows that in the event of a problem he should turn to his housemaster in the first instance and it's easy when your parents aren't five minutes up the road to do this. Every housemaster will tell you that those who settle quickest and easiest into boarding do not have parents ringing them daily and are not meeting them all the time for afternoon tea and cakes. Boarding is not for parents who are interferring control fanatics only happy when they know what their DC is doing every minute of every day.
What only you can decide is whether or not you like and most importantly your DS like and of course are very traditional (I'm not) if your are more liberal and you DS is an alrounder then St Edwards Oxford is definately worth looking at (I admit my bias my DS is not there but I know it very well PM me if you want to know more) at this stage in the game you could also consider Harrow not for me but many like it and it's very over subscribed and if your DS is bright and less that 10 yrs and 6 months register him for Eton again over subscribed and not for me but as I'm sure you are aware very popular. If you would settle for weekly boarding Cranleigh is popular with friends we know and Charterhouse has loyal followers again you have to be quite bright.
When you ask for recommendations people will come up with a whole range many where boarders are in the minority. My DCs have boarded since yr 3 we will soon be entering our 9 th year we've been 30 mins up the road and 3 1/2 hours away (only at 3 in the morning frequently 5 hours) we have learnt from bitter experience two things never be more that 1 1/2 hours drive (one way) and if you want full boarding make sure that 80% of the other children are also full boarding ditto if you want flexi/weekly/day.

Meant to say don't think of it as "sending them away" think of it as a life changing experience which if it works for them will have an impact on their whole lives. We are currently staying with friends my DS came home this weekend for an exeat. They've never met him before. They are completely taken aback by the way he talks to them manages his life on a daily basis adapts to a different (it was unexpected to say the least) situation they can't believe he's only 14 my other DS had to also unexpectedly go and stay somewhere else with people he's never met again they too are completely taken aback by the same thing. These people have children themselves but just keep commenting on this. As much as I would like to take the credit for this I am convinced it's boarding that's made them what they are. The anti boarding brigade will be convinced that underneath their exterior there is a dysfunctional sociopath unable to form meaningful relationships especially with their parents but this is far far removed from my experience of both my DCs and the many others I come into contact with.

Thanks HappyG. Nice to have a hand to hold!!!!!

I feel quite thrown by this forray into boarding. DS isn't against the idea of boarding - he just said it sounds good and can we go and look at the school properly. We also need a substantial bursary, but Radley seemed happy to see ds and advise on bursary before the need to apply. Current HT knows this of course so am trusting he has some idea that it may be possible.