Ages 
‘Sicut serpentes sicut columbae’, runs Radley’s motto: ‘be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves’. Wise isn’t the first word that springs to mind (most of the boys we met still had freckles and train tracks), but they’re on their way to becoming so. Harmless? Yes, but better than that: they’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, bursting with anecdotes from RockSoc, facts about Mount Everest, stories of marsupials or cheese toasties. Radley is changing, because slowly but surely Mr Moule has moved the school into a new era, attracting a broader intake of talented, enthusiastic boys. Still boarders, still boys, still gowned – but in its characteristically quiet and classy way, Radley has been sharpening up. The result? A faithful old dog with some carefully executed new tricks. We think it’s an absolute humdinger of a school.
Why read our school review?
Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
Unlock to accessSpark your child’s love of reading with FREE gifts
Get three months of First News digital for free and £5 off Scholastic books when you read our school reviews.
Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 765 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 319 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- Anglican
- Fees
- £60,336 pa
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Warden
Mr John Moule
Since 2014, John Moule MA. Attended local comprehensive in Telford, won a scholarship to Oxford (Lady Margaret Hall), graduated with a first in history. Plan A was academia, but funding for his PhD into 16th century theology was ‘inexplicably’ turned
Entrance
Predominantly at 13+. Sixty per cent from ‘Radley list’ (registered before they turned three) and the remaining 40 per cent through ‘open entry’ pathway (register before the end of year 5). Those applying sit ISEB pre-test early in year 6 and
- Open days
- 11 Open Days held monthly throughout the year during term time
Exit
Very few leave post-GCSE. The rest head off to predictable destinations like Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Imperial or Newcastle in the UK (over 80 per cent to Russell Group). Twelve to Oxbridge in 2025, and one medic. Eighteen headed to the US
Latest results
In 2025, 87 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 61 per cent A*/A at A level (87 per cent A*–B). In 2024, 85 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 65 per cent A*/A at A level.
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Exciting teaching gets the best out of curious boys who are willing to have a go. Radley was never the nerdy one in the gang, but, particularly when the mixed selection process is considered, ‘there’s no water’ between Radley and the competition,
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Fifteen per cent on SEN register; pupils need to ‘thrive despite the many organisational demands’ of school life. SEN is ‘something they’ve been working on’; one parent described new SENCo as ‘fantastic’ but added that understanding of SEN ‘doesn’t
Arts & extracurricular
Astonishing breadth and depth; new music school will make it better still and demonstrates commitment to the arts. Half learn an instrument. Chapel choir is 120 strong including, we gather, a chunk of the first XV; the sound of all those boys singing
Sport
A massive part of pupils’ lives; 98 per cent represent the school in some capacity. ‘What’s the best thing about Radley?’ we asked a hotchpotch group. ‘Sport!’ they chimed in perfect unison, eyes lighting up at the mere thought of a bat, ball or
Boarders
Houses here are socials (‘socius’ is the Latin for ‘companion’). Boarding modelled originally on monasticism and all staff live on site, too (how appropriate, then, that for many staff this not just a job but a way of being). Just under 20 per cent
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1847 (a spring chicken, relatively). Looking to establish a school based on the Christian principles of brotherliness and beauty, founders William Sewell and Robert Corbet Singleton did well to choose Radley Hall (a lovely 1720s pile,
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Tutor (housemaster) and form master will get to know your son very well, though pastoral housemistress (matron) and sub-tutor important, too. High praise for pastoral care: ‘His tutor went the extra mile’; ‘School really took responsibility for
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Monday – Friday: 6-7pm for years 9 and 10; 9pm until bedtime (years 11, 12, 13). Saturday and Sunday: 4pm until bedtime. Years 9, 10 and 11 have to hand in their phone and all devices to their tutor at the end of the day.
Pupils & parents
Intake ‘more diverse’ than it was, says warden, and ‘more international’, say overseas parents (one of whom felt ‘totally outnumbered’ at Radley in the 1980s). Neither pupils nor parents especially alpha: think ‘friendly competition’ and ‘healthy
Money matters
Money – whether you’ve got it, how you spend it – doesn’t matter here as much as elsewhere. Mega push on funded places programme; a sensitive and typically thoughtful approach to supporting boys on transformational bursaries and their families from
- Fee information
- £60,336 pa
The last word
‘Sicut serpentes sicut columbae’, runs Radley’s motto: ‘be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves’. Wise isn’t the first word that springs to mind (most of the boys we met still had freckles and train tracks), but they’re on their way to becoming
