Radley dilemma - lots of questions, lets not mention Eton or Winchester! ;)

[Colleger]

DS has been offered a place at Radley and we have to accept by the end of this term. I know a lot of parents whose children are going/go there. They are all very nice families but I have felt more comfortable in environments which are perceived to be "posher" because the reality is that the parent cohort are more socially diverse. I feel Radley parents all come from white UMC stock with a history of private education. I have nothing in common with these parents and I am never included in "lunches" etc amongst this parent group at my eldest son's prep.

My son is very quirky, very musical but a square peg. He is sporty but due to his music and full on timetable he is unable to participate in team sports so he swims three times a week and he has begun sailing. If he were to go to Radley he would be one of the weakest in the sports teams eventhough he was a strong athlete before starting music school.

He is currently on a waiting list for one school and he sits Harrow in winter term. We want him to go to both these schools over Radley for the reason mentioned in the first paragraph. Winchester would be great but we cannot prepare for Winchester entrance and I'm not sure he'd get in anyway, regardless of the IQ debate.

Now I really hope he will stay at his music school but he may decide in Y8 that it's not for him or he may fail the re-audition. So do I accept the place? I don't know the school at all and will hopefully go and see it before the end of this term. My gut is that I wouldn't want to take him out of music school for Radley but if he doesn't have a place anywhere else then at least we'd have Radley.

I know he could get a music scholarship at a school like Stowe if we had no options but would it be wise to choose Stowe over a place at Radley?

Colleger I won't repeat what I said on the other thread, but your DS would likely get a music scholarship at Radley too. Don't be prejudiced by the UMC view....go and see it before making your decision. If we end up there (not your year group), I'll talk to you!!! Not everyone is from the country boarding prep, although there is nothing wrong with those schools - I think last year they had children from 58 prep schools. If your son is sporty he will find his place in the right team, and probably won't be one of the weakest. I know boys who go there who are very weak at sport and love it as they still have fun doing it. I would choose it over Stowe every day of the week. If you want a coed option, look at St Edwards over Stowe, if you want that geographical direction...just my opinion!

My DH is an Old Radleian. The Radley of his time did not really suit the "quirky". All schools have changed since then though.
My sense is that it is still a pretty conventional place with sport high on the agenda. I am though very impressed by its academic performance. Relatively low CE pass mark but great GCSEs and A level results. Fantastic "value added".
I understand your reservations.

I think the academic results are excellent for its intake and I know it is the choice for many if not the No.2 choice after Eton for many parents over Harrow and Winchester. I suppose the acceptance deposit isn't as massive as Harrow's but it's still money that could be well spent on his music.

Hello Colleger

I didn't put mine on the Radley list for exactly the sort of "gut feel about the families" reasons which you mention. Wish now that I had done so: it does well with a broad selection of boys and I know at least two really nice families (white UMC but perfectly normal and friendly) who will be heading there in 2014. A place there also takes the pressure off the child for other entrance tests.

I know that it isn't technically good behaviour; but you can always accept the Radley place now, pay the deposit and change your mind later. It's what a lot of people do

Hi, stumbled on this thread whilst looking for something else but just wanted to say that I completely understand your reservations. My son is in his second year at Radley and I just wanted to say I know how you feel but it really is quite different, the academic side is outstanding not just because of the results but because of the enthusiasm that the subjects are taught with. The 1st rugby team does not mean everything to all boys. Each boy seems to find his strength and achieve a huge amount of kudos and street Cred for what they do best be it music, art, a certain sport or infact being just a very nice young man. My son plays first rugby team but plays bottom hockey team which he loves because of the ' banter' as he says.As for the other parents, yes you are right very middle class etc but those that we see most often from the same house/year are just incredibly decent down to earth not flashy people and because we all come from everywhere there is no cliquey lunches going on and it is completely led by your son's choice of friends anyway really.
The place you hold is like gold dust and after 18 months I can see why. The music is phenomenal ( I am a music graduate so feel I can judge reasonably) and I have been amazed at its depth and quality. 2 boys have just achieved their performance DipABRSM . Having thought Radley was a school for a stereotypical prep school boy i have realised it actually nurtures the individuality or quirkiness of each boy. I really hope you go and have a look . re Stowe, it is a really fast changing school making massive headway on all fronts. We have had to wait 18 months to get my daughter a place there for sept 2012. It was completely full for her year of entry for last march! Good luck!

If you are not sure,why doesn't he stay where he is now ? It's a good school. Why does he need to change?