Radley’s Pastoral Housemistresses reflect on the quiet but powerful impact of funded places and partnerships in their Socials, where philanthropy is enabling initiatives that are shaping boys’ lives and experiences.
Earlier this year, we sat down with three of Radley’s much-loved Pastoral Housemistresses (PHMs) – Jane (A Social), Rachel (D Social) and Joanna (G Social) – to hear how these initiatives, made possible by philanthropy, are shaping daily life for boys in their Socials.
In Social, change rarely arrives with fanfare. It appears gradually – over the casual chats at Cocoa; in the evolving themes at Social Prayers, where boys share their cultures, religions and backgrounds; and through quiet shifts in how they listen and relate to one another.
While the boys receiving funding benefit deeply from the opportunity, what stands out is how seamlessly they are included. They’re not marked out as different – instead, their presence enriches the community, not just through their individual talents, but by broadening the perspectives of others.
“You wouldn’t know who’s on a bursary,” says Jane. “They’re just Radleians. But they bring with them different experiences, different ways of seeing the world, and that benefits everyone.”
That sentiment is echoed across Socials. Rachel sees how diversity of background has expanded the conversations boys are having: “It’s good for them to be challenged by a different voice, by someone who sees things from another angle. It adds depth to their thinking.”
Joanna agrees. “Some of the boys who have come in on funding bring a slightly different energy. There’s a quiet confidence, a resilience.’ But what she values most is how naturally boys are included, particularly when they join in the sixth form. “There is never any sense of ‘otherness’ around them.”
Over time, this blend of perspectives creates a more grounded and collaborative atmosphere. “They’re not trying to impress one another, they’re just being themselves, and slowly that gives permission for everyone else to do the same,” says Rachel. “You see it in how they talk to each other, how they listen. It’s respectful, but real.”
At the same time, the Partnerships Programme is giving Radleians a window into other communities – and a sense of purpose. Through music, reading, sport, and mentoring, boys are building relationships in local primary schools, care homes and a range of community settings very different from their own environment.
Rachel has seen the difference this makes: “It makes them realise they can be useful. They go to these local primary schools and see how much the younger children look up to them. It’s quite powerful for a 15-year-old to realise they can inspire someone else.”
Joanna sees the same effect. “They do come back changed. They’re proud of having made a difference. And they’re seeing children and schools that are very different to Radley, which is important.”
These experiences are not headline moments – but they matter, deeply. As Jane puts it, “It’s the small things. You notice it in how they talk to each other, how they listen.” The shifts are subtle but significant – and they go both ways. Funded Places and the Partnerships Programme don’t just broaden access to a Radley education; they broaden Radley itself.
“It’s not big, loud change,” says Rachel. “It’s slow, quiet, human. But it matters.”
