Dear ORs,

The truth of Richard Morgan's valedictory letter has been evident in my first year at Radley. Richard omitted to talk about his huge contribution in handing on Radley in such fine condition, but I am grateful to him and to Council for the opportunity to lead such a wonderful school. I have, from the first, been aware of the responsibility this involves; as Tony Blair once said,

This is not a time for soundbites, but I feel the hand of history on my shoulders.

Richard was also right when he said that making a good school better is no easy matter. As I said last year the process should, I believe, be one of evolution rather than revolution and the objective is to offer the very best education that we can, in the broadest sense. Nine years ago, the then headmaster of Ampleforth, Dominic Milroy, addressed the Headmasters' Conference and quoted one of Becket's speeches in Murder in the Cathedral.

Delight in sense, in learning and in thought,
Music and philosophy, curiosity,
The purple bullfinch in the lilac tree,
The tiltyard skill, the strategy of chess,
Love in the garden, singing to the instrument,
Were all things equally desirable.

Eliot is summarising the temptations of youth, but Father Dominic was right to see the stanza as a description of what should be happening in a good school. The sadness has been that, in the nine years that have passed since then, little has happened to champion breadth in education; even less has been said or done to ensure there is delight in learning.

This then must be our aim - breadth and delight - and I suppose our decision to stand alone in not sitting AS levels in the 6:1 year has been the most visible sign of our commitment to that. Boys have been able to enjoy a year free of exams, to participate fully outside the classroom and to study beyond the confines of the exam syllabus. In a world where the immeasurable is disbelieved, and even derided, we must continue to stress the importance of character as well as qualifications.

Academic study remains the bedrock and in a year in which nearly 75% of all A levels were passed at A or B grade and an astonishing 84% of GCSEs at A* or A, we have done very well. Just as significant were the achievements of so many ORs in gaining firsts in their finals - 11 at Oxford and Cambridge alone - and the dazzling array of speakers who delighted the sixth form in their programme of talks. Societies and visits provide further breadth and long established traditions such as Declamations continue to encourage quite remarkable performances. The inspiration comes from a vibrant and talented Common Room and this year we have had to say farewell amongst others to James and Charlotte Bamforth, Ed Reid, and the remarkable David Coulton. Their replacements will have much to live up to, but we are fortunate in being able to attract capable and dedicated schoolmasters and scholmistresses.

It is wonderful also to see the tiltyard skill ..and ..singing to the instrument complementing each other. Team games continue to provide much pleasure and are educational in so many ways. Our oarsmen have been remarkably successful and this has come from inspired coaching, hard work and teamwork. All the principal games are thriving and the rugby tour to Australia was a triumph. A young squad made great progress and I was delighted to receive letters commending the boys on their behaviour and sportsmanship. The breadth of opportunity has grown, but has not affected the ability of Radleians to reach the highest levels. ORs involved in First Class cricket have all enjoyed excellent seasons and we celebrated Jamie Dalrymple's blue at Oxford and Andrew Strauss's selection for the Academy side touring Australia. Ross Jennings's two tries helped Oxford win the Varsity Match and Mike Bonham rowed for the Oxford eight. James Male won the World Singles and Doubles rackets championships. Five senior boys represented their country at junior levels - Nick Wood in the England Schools rugby side and Sam Parker, Nick Ford, Rory Sample and Ollie Jack as oarsmen for Britain and England.

There has been a wealth of music throughout the year. The choir and orchestra performed in several venues including the Wigmore Hall and the tour to Andalucia at Easter was a great success. Oliver Loach will join Chris Lipscomb as a Choral Scholar at King's in Cambridge and Richard Levien, Matthew Lomas and Edward Levien all played in the National Schools Symphony Orchestra. It was also pleasing to see so much drama - no fewer than six school productions as well as Social plays and the Haddon Cup and 'La Cantatrice Chauve' performed in French, both at Radley and on tour in France. Guy Henderson did remarkably well to gain a place with the National Youth Theatre.

The past twelve months have also seen the continued development of our external links and partnerships, something essential if Radley is to be outward looking in its approach. Boys have again built houses in Kerala and helped to run a children's club in Romania. An expedition to Peru helped to provide a village with sports equipment. The exchange with Brownhills Comprehensive School in Walsall continues to provide a wonderful opportunity for both sets of Sixth Formers and this year will see the development of links with the Matthew Goniwe School in the townships outside Cape Town and with the musical charity 'MUSE' which seeks to support music making in under-funded inner city schools.

This breadth of activity will be assessed formally when Radley is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in April and we look forward to their visit.

My first year has also been memorable for the opportunity to meet so many ORs and Liz and I have greatly enjoyed dinners and receptions in London and Paris as well as many occasions at Radley. The exciting development of the Foundation has provided other opportunities with further receptions in the United States scheduled in the Autumn. In all these events, the warmth and generosity of ORs has been heartening and we are most grateful. The challenge of making a very good school better remains. Homer exhorts us

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

I am sure that the years ahead will involve much questioning of what we do and how we do it, but it will be essential to balance this with a determination to hold on to that which makes the place so special. This is the task ahead and I look forward to it.

Angus McPhail

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