The conscious espousal of Independent Learning as a desirable goal is a relatively recent phenomenon. A generation ago it was a given and schools and examiners expected 6th Formers, certainly, to read and think much more for themselves. A combination of public scrutiny through league tables, and the Curriculum 2000 A levels which put a premium on rehearsed exam technique have militated against both risk-taking, and the relaxation of control inherent in letting pupils research and learn for themselves. Societal (technological and cultural) changes, which have led young people to want immediate answers and make them impatient with the timescale of research and wide reading, have probably exacerbated this trend.

Yet it is important for us to aspire to train Radleians to be independent; they should think and discover for themselves, they should be prepared to cope with university demands where they must synthesise from books, articles and lecture notes and subsequently write for themselves; and for their careers, too, they will need to manage, and think critically about, a wealth of information, and make independent judgements which can be rigorously defended.

'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants'

Radley College’s Independent Learning Programme, ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, begins in September 2009. Our aim is to excite and inspire Sixth-formers, encouraging them to think outside the exam syllabuses and pursue knowledge for its own rewards. The Programme will also guide Sixth-formers in the Planning and Research skills needed for successful sixth-form and university study.

‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ takes three forms:

First, a series of Lectures (see below) on topics as wide-ranging as ‘Astronomy’ and ‘African-American Cinema’. Each Lecture topic will be tackled by two Radley dons, enthusing about their own intellectual passions.

The Lectures will then be followed up by small seminar groups, where Sixth-formers and dons will debate and discuss issues raised by the Lectures, with guidance given to boys on possible research resources and skills.

Finally, Radleians applying to highly-competitive Oxbridge or Medicine courses will undertake Edexcel’s AS level 6,000 word ‘Extended Essay’. They will be helped here by dons with significant research experience, on a subject of their choice, inspired by the Programme. All other sixth-formers will also undertake a 2,000 word Project on a topic, again inspired by the Lecture Programme.

‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ promises to be an exciting development - one with huge benefits for Radleians: both in terms of developing research skills and successfully planning written projects

Monday, September 14th, Period 2

‘An Introduction to ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’’

Wednesday, September 23rd, Period 2 – ‘Romanticism’

RWS: ‘Romanticism’ and JFA: ‘The Russian Romantic Hero’.

Friday, October 2nd, Period 2 – ‘How do we Communicate?’

DJCV: ‘The Structure of Logical Argument from Aristotle Onwards’ and PWG: ‘The Oral Tradition: Telling a Story’

Monday, October 12th, Period 2 – ‘Revolution’

SB: ‘The Art of Revolution’ and JRWB: ‘The World Turned Upside-down’

Wednesday, October 21st, Period 2 – ‘People get Ready’

AJOH: ‘Race in Music’ and CRB: ‘Race in the Cinema’

Tuesday, November 3rd, 12 Noon – ‘The Silk Road’

DSB: ‘The Transfer of Knowledge from East to West’ and JRS: ‘Eastern Culture and History’

Thursday, November 12th, 12 Noon –‘Marxism and Feminism’ (Silk Hall)

RKM: ‘Marxism’ and KJL/MCH: ‘Feminist Art’

Tuesday, November 24th, 12 Noon – ‘Paradise Lost’

AER: ‘The Noble Savage’ and RBM: ‘Religious Authority in ‘Paradise Lost’ and Beyond’

Monday, January 11th, Period 2 – ‘The Search for the Spiritual’

TJEF: ‘Faith’ and SK: ‘Nietzsche and Beyond’

Wednesday, January 20th, Period 2 – ‘The Individual and the State’

AWM: ‘Self-help versus Paternalism’ and ISY: ‘Big Brother'

Friday, January 29th, Period 2 – ‘The Discovery of Space’

KAM: ‘Astronomy’ and RKM: ‘Paradigm Shift’

Monday, February 8th, Period 2 – ‘The Discovery of Time’

CDS: ‘The Discovery of Time’ and IKC: ‘The Re-Discovery of the Classical Age’

Tuesday, February 23rd, 12 Noon – ‘Defining Life’

GJAH: ‘Natural Hazards’ and IPE: ‘Turner’s Tempest’

Friday, March 5th, Period 2 – ‘Embracing Death’

RML: ‘The Drama of Death’ and AS: ‘Lyrics of Loss’

Monday, March 15th, Period 2 – ‘Ethics’

MJSH: ‘Baader-Meinhof’ and SAT: ‘Animal Experiments’

Lectures are Compulsory for VI.1. Lectures take place in the New Theatre (unless indicated)