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GAMES
Radley takes its games seriously and produces numerous, well coached teams and crews which involve large numbers of boys; in the Michaelmas term, when Rugby Football is the school game, up to 21 teams are fielded. In the other two terms when ‘wet-bobs’ row and ‘dry-bobs’ play Hockey and Cricket, with opportunities for Association Football, Tennis and Athletics, it is not uncommon that the school is represented by 24 crews and teams on a Saturday. Boys may also represent the school at many other gamesincluding Badminton, Basketball, Cross-Country, Fencing, Fives, Golf, Rackets, Real Tennis, Sailing, Squash and Swimming.
The 1st XI cricket ground,where Ted Dexter, Andrew Strauss and Jamie Dalrymple started their careers, is close to the main buildings. The other pitches then stretch unbroken for three quarters of a mile. There are two all-weather hockey pitches, 20 hard tennis courts and a tartan athletics track. The school has its own boathouse, and the use of a stretch of the River Thames below Nuneham Courtenay. The VIIIs compete in numerous regattas, and the Boat Club has been amongst the strongest in the country for a number of years. There is a well equipped Indoor Sports Complex including a separate gymnasium, five squash courts, a heated swimming pool, weights room and multipurpose Sports Hall. Swimming, Sub-Aqua and Sailing are taught by qualified instructors and there is a fine nine hole golf course in the school grounds. The school has a pack of beagles which hunts twice a week during the winter months.
MUSIC
Good music has been central to Radley since its foundation.Warden Ferguson and Precentor Monk wrote hymns which are still popular today. The composer, George Butterworth, taught at Radley before the First World War, and prominent professional O.R. musicians include John Lubbock, Robert King, David Pountney, Harry Bicket and Andrew Gant. There is a team of full-time musicians supplemented by some 30 visiting specialists. The Music School is superbly equipped, with a concert hall (Silk Hall) housing 2 matching Steinway grand pianos, recording studio, dedicated percussion room and music technology room, as well as many practise rooms and a large foyer for social events.
There is a full musical calendar of concerts and recitals. Instrumentalists have both large and small performance opportunities available, including lunchtime coffee concerts, intrumental and vocal competitions and large scale concerts. There are many ensembles including 2 orchestras, Wind band, Big Band, smaller jazz ensembles and chamber music groups, as well as bands initiated by the boys themselves. Pianists have some unique opportunities, playing concertos with the orchestras and performing in the Piano Extravaganza - a chance for all pianists to perform in a specially arranged work for piano ensembles scored for up to 21 pianists at 7 pianos.
As many boys as possible are encouraged to play instruments and their progress, alongside the music scholars and exhibitioners, is monitored by the Head of Instrumental Music. Boys are encouraged to join local and national orchestras and choirs and recent Radley musicians have become members of the prestigious National Youth Orchestra. Composition is also important with pupils' work performed by our professional ensembles in residence.
Singing is a particular strength. There is a strong tradition of congregational singing in Chapel, and the entire school learns new repertoire, recently the Hallelujah Chorus and the Gloria from the Nelson Mass. The Chapel choir consists of between 80 and 90 boys. As well as singing regular services at Radley they have performed in Cathedrals both in Oxford and further afield. The choir includes 16 trebles, aged 7 to 13, who attend local schools and come to Radley for regular rehearsals and music lessons under the Choristership scheme. Radley regularly sends boys to Oxford and Cambridge as Choral Scholars.
Musicians are frequently invited to join us for one of our many international music tours which have most recently taken us to Venice (performing in St.Mark's) and Prague (performing in St. Vitus Cathedral).
DRAMA
Radley has a long theatrical tradition. Desmond Llewelyn, Dennis Price and Peter Cook all started their acting and revue careers here. School, junior and year group plays are put on throughout the year and there is a flourishing programme of Social plays. In addition, all new boys start their Radley lives with the Haddon Cup, a Shell (Year 9) drama competition. Drama GCSE and Theatre Studies A level provide a core of committed boys who perform their own work each year. It is fitting that the new Theatre, amongst the finest of any school in the country, should be opened in 2005 to provide peerless facilities for acting.
SOCIETIES
It is important for every boy to develop out-of-school activities, interests and hobbies, for his happiness both at school and for the rest of his life. To this end, there is a very wide range of societies in which the school aims to offer something for all interests and they include: Amnesty International, Beagling, Bridge, Campanology, Chess, Classical, Clay Pigeon, Debating, Dramatic, Electronics, Film, History, Literary, a wide range of Musical Societies, Natural History, Philosophy, Photographic, Poetry, Political, Racing, Scientific, and Sub-Aqua. Similarly, we consider confidence in public speaking to be invaluable. Every boy participates in Declamations and all are encouraged to debate at Senior and Junior level and on a school and Social basis. The Sixth Form has an annual themed conference with a local girls’ school, St. Helen’s, on a range of topics - in recent years the media, Europe and Terror.
CCF AND WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES
All boys in their second year join the Radley College Contingent, Combined CAdet Force (Army, Navy and Air Sections). Each week they work for the Proficiency examination, which takes three terms to achieve. When they have passed Proficiency and completed a week's Corps camp in the holidays, they may opt out of the Corps or remain in a special section for further training. Over 40 options are available for boys not in the Corps. These include such activities as Community Action, Art and Design, Electronics, Photography, Pottery, Board games, Cooking and Mandarin Chinese.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is well-established at Radley, having been part of College life for 50 years. We recently became our own Operating Authority and last year received royal recognition for our committment to the Award Scheme. Radleians participate at Bronze, Silver and/or Gold levels. There are many activities available for the Skills and Recreation Sections and participants have the opportunity to go out into the local community in order to complete their Service SEction. Expedition destinations are wide-ranging , including, for example, Dartmoor, Wales, Scotland, Peru and Borneo.
COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS
All boys in their third year at Radley have to participate for the year in one of a range of community action projects. These include visits to the Nuffield Hospital, performing concert parties in local homes for the elderly and helping children to read or learn a foreign language in local primary schools. In addition, each year Radleians in the Sixth Form are involved teaching in Romania and housebuilding in Kerala. (see Appendix B).
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