Academic Departments
STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC AIMS

The academic aim at Radley is to ensure that all boys exceed their expectations. This we achieve by first class teaching, constant monitoring, and setting clear targets for boys and teaching staff, and by firm and clear management of the departments. Academically, the usual subjects are taken to GCSE, with some option choices available, and 23 subjects are offered at A Level.

The first year at Radley encompasses English, Maths, three Sciences, French, Latin, Spanish or German or Greek, History, Geography, Design & Technology, Art, Music, ICT, PSHE, Religious Studies. This allows boys to see what all the subjects offer them before they make hard choices for the two GCSE years.

At GCSE, a core of compulsory subjects remains: English Language (with Literature for top sets), Maths, French and Dual Award Science. Four other optional subjects are chosen by boys.

The Sixth Form (c.125 each year) sees further specialisation, with boys studying up to 5 AS and 4 A Level subjects. All AS and A2 are taken in VI.2, in order to preserve the integrity of the VI.1 Summer Term. We strongly encourage complementarity, the study of a contrasting subject to the other three. Boys also study ICT.

In addition to formal A Level subjects, Sixth Form boys are given greater breadth by the compulsory Educational Cycle. This contains 6 modules including IT, Presentation Skills, Citizenship and Philosophy. In their final year they attend a series of weekly lectures by eminent visiting speakers covering a range of issues - political, cultural and topical.

The key to Radley's 'major success story', its academic results, is the excellence of its teaching, praised in successive ISI reports. Although much is due to the 'relentless drive' of an exceptional teaching Common Room, we recognise too the value of independent learning in developing the boys' own work habits.

Intellectual stimulus is as important as effective classroom teaching. Each year group has a society consisting of the most able and intellectually curious, who hear talks, debate, and visit theatre productions and concerts.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is provided by the Biology Department in the first year; thereafter, Form Masters cover issues like Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, Personal Relationships and Racism using video and stimulus material in form periods. Religious Studies lessons provide a moral and spiritual context, which is expanded in the Citizenship programme covering Community Involvement and Political Literacy. Learning Support provides a service which enables all boys, including the very able and talented, to achieve their full academic potential.

Andrew Reekes.