F U N DE D PL A C E S
G I V I NG E V E RY B O Y T H E OPP ORT U N I T Y TO R E A C H T H E I R F U L L P OT E N T I A L
FUNDED PLACES I RADLEY I 01
John Moule, Warden (Headmaster) I did not really set foot in an independent school until I started teaching in one. I remember a church fete being held in the grounds of the local boarding school and, when bored, being allowed to go and watch a cricket match in the distance. I recall the occasional visit to a concert or a play. But I knew nothing about them. And then, when I had my first interview for a job, I was too intimidated by the grounds and the buildings of what was rather a fine establishment to perform well... I was unsuccessful.
Firstly, while Radley is the most beautiful of places, people matter more than buildings and grounds. We pride ourselves on being a vibrant and happy community and you can be assured of a warm welcome. Secondly, we are, quite simply, a school that cares about excellence first and foremost in all that we do. Thirdly, while the pursuit of results has value - and we are proud of what the boys achieve - it is more important to us that boys leave the school as rounded young men ready to face the challenges of the world beyond.
I am reminded of those two things as I write a few words for this brochure. It would be easy to be a little overawed by the grounds and buildings at Radley; it would be easy not to know anything about us... it would be easy to think that it is ‘not for me’. So, as the Warden, I would like you to know three simple things about us.
We are looking for boys who can make the most of an opportunity and in so doing, enrich the lives of all around them. To be part of a community. To fulfil their talents. To develop character. To benefit from a Radley education. If you want the same, then it is for you.
02 I RADLEY I FUNDED PLACES
ABOUT RADLEY Radley offers an environment for boys to grow in self-confidence, thrive academically, and make the most of an enormous range of opportunities. The door is open to any talented candidate, regardless of their means or their background, and we hope that we will have many applicants who wish to join us in the pursuit of excellence. Radley is a full boarding school for approximately 700 boys aged 13-18. We are in the fortunate position of being set in a beautiful 800-acre estate, just three miles from Oxford, which gives boys the space to enjoy a wide range of activities on site and the opportunity to explore and develop their wider interests in such an historic and remarkable city. The three key areas of school life are academia, pastoral care and extra-curricular activities. A feature of Radley is the way that these are so smoothly interlinked, enabling the boys to receive a genuine all-round education.
There is an incredibly dedicated group of teachers and support staff who are prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that the boys are well looked-after in all aspects of their lives. The school is divided into boarding houses (Socials) of approximately 70, with about 14 boys from each of the five years. The Social Tutor is in charge, assisted by a live-in Assistant and a Pastoral Housemistress. This team provides an extraordinarily high level of pastoral care and helps create an atmosphere in which the boys flourish. Above all, the boys are extremely happy at Radley and the friends they make are for life. A Radley education is about academic ambition, learning to live with others and preparation for the world beyond. Above all, it is about the core values that will underpin success in all its forms throughout a Radleian’s life: as leaders, citizens and human beings
04 I RADLEY I FUNDED PLACES
FUNDED PLACES AT RADLEY Radley is able to offer a considerable number of fully or partly funded places to talented boys. All offers are means-tested and can be worth up to 100% of the fees. Please call the Admissions department on 01235 543174. We would be delighted to hear from you. For more details and to complete an application form please visit www.radley.org.uk/funded-places. We are looking for boys who are academically talented or who have outstanding potential in Music, Sport, Art or Drama.
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Funded places are available at 11+, 13+ and 16+. 11+ Funded Places
16+ Funded Places
We are happy to be able to offer several funded places to talented boys at the 11+ stage and assessments are held in Year 6. These places give boys who are currently at primary schools the opportunity to take up a funded place at an independent prep school for two years (Years 7 and 8) before they attend Radley in Year 9. Alternatively, for those boys who have already gained a scholarship to an independent prep school, these places can be assessed at 11+ for funded places at Radley in Year 9. All candidates are required to sit the ISEB Common Pre-test in Year 6 and will also be interviewed.
The process for applicants who require financial support in the Sixth Form is the same as for all Sixth Form candidates, with assessment taking place in Year 11, but in order to be successful, candidates must demonstrate outstanding potential and be of a similar standard to our current scholars entering Sixth Form.
13+ Funded Places We welcome applications from talented candidates who have not been through our earlier entry process and ask them to apply through our scholarship route in Year 8.
Financial Circumstances Form (FCF) Prior to the assessment stage, parents will be sent an FCF so that we can give you a guide as to the level of support we can offer should your son be successful in gaining an Award.
SCHOLAR PROFILE Somto Okereke Opportunity and support were the things that defined my academic experience at Radley; school resources provided me with every opportunity to pursue my academic interests - no matter how big or small - and teachers, who supported me in every pursuit and in every way, gave me direction and intent.
ACADEMIC I RADLEY I 07
ACADEMIC Radley is a school for clever boys who wish to stretch themselves intellectually and engage with others of like mind. The rich variety of activities, within and beyond the classroom, reflect a desire to feed the mind and soul. We aim to cultivate an appreciation of the aesthetic as well as the simply utilitarian. A carefully balanced curriculum, delivered across five years, prepares boys for qualifications that will allow them to apply to the best universities on all continents. Teachers are encouraged to go beyond the strict confines of courses and aim to spark enthusiasm and even love for their subject in the minds of their charges. Critical thinking is developed as a discrete skill in dedicated lessons and activities, as well as being woven into the fabric of subjects’ schemes of work.
Only a few miles from Oxford, Radley was consciously built in imitation of the archetypal Oxbridge college and a love of learning for its own sake permeates the environment. It is typically the case that each week of term there will be: trips to Oxford or London and other places of interest; visits by three or four speakers of major renown; and meetings of academic societies. A large proportion of our staff were educated at Oxbridge and other elite universities, but they come from a wide variety of backgrounds and in some cases have had other careers before teaching. This serves to create a diverse and dynamic academic culture.
08 I RADLEY I MUSIC
“The education, the friendships and the opportunities allow you to develop your character and your personality and then to choose your own direction and path in life.� Old Radleian
MUSIC Music is at the heart of Radley with events almost every day of the school year. The greatest testament to this is the uplifting and exhilarating sound of the whole School singing in Chapel. Throughout their five years at Radley we believe in providing opportunities for all boys of all musical tastes and enthusiasms to have a daily and inspiring practical experience of music, both as performer and audience. The Music Department is always keen to hear from boys who are excited about music. For Funded Places we are looking for boys for whom music is already an essential part of their lives, who show the potential and ambition to achieve the highest levels of performance or composition, and who would be enthused and motivated by the musical possibilities at Radley. For these boys, Radley offers an unparalleled array of masterclasses with top performers in their field, workshops with internationally renowned ensembles and individual mentoring from one of the team of musicians at Radley, to build a personally designed programme of ensemble and performance opportunities. These include weekly informal concerts, concerto performances, chamber orchestras, jazz bands, foreign tours, choral concerts, and much more besides. The School supports boys in attending National Ensembles and Junior Conservatoires. Composers receive regular workshops with renowned professionals and there is the chance to develop new approaches to composition, film music, music technology and sound recording. By the time they leave the school, we hope to develop independent, versatile musicians, with the experience and confidence to lead and thrive well beyond Radley.
SCHOLAR PROFILE Peter Norris My time as a Music Scholar at Radley was incredibly busy but equally enjoyable. The wide variety of ensembles, concerts and opportunities available at Radley gives its music scholars the best chance to progress into young professionals. Having been an original chorister at Radley College from 2004-2008, I’d seen a small snippet of how important music is to the school. Being a music scholar showed me just how much your talent is valued and without that encouragement, I wouldn’t have felt confident enough to become the professional musician I am today.
SCHOLAR PROFILE Zayn Hussain At Radley, all sporting facilities are amazing. My specialism is cricket and in the summer it is a joy to play on the incredible squares. In the winter, there are many ways to improve your game with indoor nets, the bowling machines and one-to-one sessions with the pro Andy Wagner - one of the finest coaches in the country. On Sunday mornings, we have sessions with coaches from the Counties, or sometimes ex-England players, such as Andrew Strauss (an old boy of Radley).
S P ORT I R A DL E Y I 1 1
SPORT Sport is an important part of our balanced programme and Radley prides itself on catering for boys of all sporting ability. For Funded places, we are looking for boys who have the potential to reach regional, national or even international standard. Our main sports are rugby, hockey, cricket and rowing, but a boy will also be considered if he is an outstanding rackets player or golfer. All pupils are given the opportunity to have personally designed exercise programmes; however, those boys aspiring to reach the very top of the performance pyramid are also encouraged to attend a variety of lectures, workshops, training sessions and one-to-one meetings.
These extra sessions are designed to expose boys to various concepts, which we believe are integral to performing at the very highest level. Advice and guidance is offered on sports nutrition, psychology and strength and conditioning. We also pride ourselves on developing the tactical prowess of all players, not just our captains and key decision makers. Sport scholars are expected to play a leading role in analysis sessions and other tasks, which stretch their imagination and ability to think independently. Our intention is to develop talented young sportsmen into well-rounded, resilient team players capable of initiating both individual and collective brilliance on the sports fields.
12 I RADLEY I DRAMA
“Radley was a home to me through five important years and I went on to achieve things I never dreamt possible.” Old Radleian
DRAMA Radley recognises the importance Drama plays in a pupil’s educational and social development; we provide a diverse theatre programme in a stimulating environment allowing boys to reach their full dramatic potential. We are looking for boys who have a natural ability for performance. Some applicants may have had a lot of previous acting experience, but this is by no means essential, as the key ingredients are enthusiasm, interest and a passion for Drama. We would be delighted to consider those who shine at musical theatre, as well as pure acting. Each boy is given the opportunity to ‘tread the boards’ at Radley. In addition to plays in every year group, there are Drama competitions and whole school plays and musicals open to all ages.
A professional design team and technical crew support each production; this, combined with the College’s resources and facilities, gives boys a true taste of the professional theatre industry. Our top dramatists are expected to be creative, committed and self-disciplined individuals; they will be involved in a wide range of performances during their time at Radley and presented with opportunities to explore other avenues outside of acting, such as directing and stage design. They will also show initiative and leadership, promoting the role and value of Drama at school and beyond.
SCHOLAR PROFILE Henry McPherson The exposure to professional stage-work provided at Radley is of an incredibly high standard. The dedication of the staff - in tuition, rehearsal, and performance - is truly unique. The friendliness of the pastoral staff in D Social and the unfaltering support of the Drama department provided me with a platform for personal development without which I feel it is unlikely I would be where I am today.
SCHOLAR PROFILE Phoenix Leonard-Shaw I greatly enjoyed my time with the Art Department at Radley. I took art to GCSE level, and the Department allowed me to find my niche in History of Art at A level. Furthermore, rather than simply paying lip service to the importance of art in the curriculum, it plays a central role in Radley life. This is visible in both the quantity and quality of art displayed around campus, providing daily inspiration and motivation.
ART The founders of Radley College, William Sewell and Robert Singleton, understood the need to expose pupils to Art and culture from a very early age. The Art Department at Radley believes that we should closely follow in the footsteps of our founders and continue to inspire pupils to the highest standards: through engagement and interaction with work that is both rich in aesthetic meaning and diverse in educational content. Talent and creativity seem to go hand in hand with our pupils, which was clearly evidenced recently when the whole of the first-year intake exhibited their work at a prestigious London West End gallery. The exhibition united past and present pupils, in a show that highlighted both diversity and excellence in craftsmanship skills. The Art Department continues to strive for an holistic approach to education and is often instrumental in forging cross curricular links with other subjects such as History, Literature, Music, Geography, Science and Technology. Numerous past pupils have gone on to establish leading roles at the forefront of the Arts in this country: Sculptors Sean Henry, Rupert Till, Charlie Langton, Hamish and Alastair Mackie. Painters Harry Parker and Peter Hawkins and the successful film makers Jake Wilson and Rupert Lloyd. We very much hope that, through awarding these scholarships within the context of the wider world beyond Radley, the fine tradition of excellence within the Arts here at the College will continue into the future and beyond, thus providing inspiration and vision for countless future generations of Radleians.
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“I feel that Radley embodies everything that a sc they are encouraged to think of others before
hool should be. Everyone here is progressive and themselves. The teachers go above and beyond.� Old Radleian
Radley College • Abingdon • Oxfordshire • OX14 2HR Telephone 01235 543 174 Fax 01235 543 106
@radleycollege
www.radley.org.uk
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