Radley College

"One of the few remaining traditional all-boys, full boarding schools which is highly regarded by parents as a school where boys flourish with superb teaching, close pastoral support and a huge range of excellent sports and activities on offer, including its very own golf course"

About

Tatler’s ‘Best Public School’ 2024, Radley College is a full boarding school for boys aged 13-18 situated on a beautiful 800-acre estate of rural countryside just three miles outside the city and university of Oxford.

As a proudly traditional school with a Christian ethos, we work hard to create a diverse community where boys will be happy, grow in self-confidence, thrive academically, and make the most of the many opportunities on offer.

Founded more than 178 years ago, and numbering 770 pupils, Radley is renowned for added value, outstanding pastoral care and strong community. Every boy is known as an individual and, alongside the teaching staff who live on site, the daily evening Chapel services and central dining promote the sense of family that is so special to Radley.

Academic results are strong – nearly 85% of our Sixth Form candidates went on to Russell Group Universities this year. 12 boys were awarded Oxbridge places and another 19 received offers from prestigious US Universities including Cornell, Duke, Princeton, Stanford and Yale. The school offers a wide range of subjects, including Design Electronics, Computer Science and Geology. We also run Critical Thinking and Curriculum Extension Programmes to encourage breadth and depth – courses include music technology, international relations, film studies, robotics and a mini MBA.

We field teams in 18 different sports but focus on rugby, rowing, hockey, tennis, athletics and cricket. Music plays a major part in the boys’ lives with more than half the school learning an instrument and a 130 strong Chapel Choir. Drama, debating, community service and CCF are popular and we have a strong academic and co-curricular partnership with the local girls’ boarding school, Downe House. Alongside the Radley Zoo, Countryside Centre, art and design engineering workshops, golf course and indoor rowing tank, there are 40 societies and an impressive programme of evening speakers.

Boys live in one of eleven boarding houses and leave Radley having made friends for life. The thriving Radleian Society supports all Radleians past and present, actively building a strong network providing career advice, business connections and mentoring.

We hold a number of Open Days throughout the year where you will meet the staff and boys and see the school in action. Bookings can be made via our website. We very much look forward to welcoming you to Radley. Read more about us in Good Schools Guide.