INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE - Radley College

Radley College 16
undertaking individual interviews. Staff report how much they value this link with the
council. One governor has specific responsibility for oversight of child protection and
another for health and safety; other governors provide expert financial guidance.
The Quality of Leadership and Management
4.8 The 2002 report stated that the senior management team lead the management of the school
most effectively. Since 2002, as a consequence of the vision, leadership and administrative
skills of the warden and the SMT and the support of the governing body, the college’s
management has been strengthened even further. Leadership and management are highly
effective.
4.9 Radley’s educational strengths stem from a clearly delineated set of aims, to which the whole
Radley community subscribes, and clear and confident management strategies. This is
confirmed by parents who state that the college’s management team has developed a
uniquely motivating and safe environment in which boys cannot simply reach goals but
regularly surpass expectations. A key factor is the commitment of the warden to the Radley
ideals and to delegation of responsibility to staff of high quality, in relation to management,
teaching and pastoral care.
4.10 Clear educational direction and leadership are provided by those with management
responsibilities, illustrated by the outstanding quality of academic achievement and personal
development, and the fact that the college’s aims and ethos are borne out in the daily lives of
the pupils. The structure of the current SMT ensures that all areas of the school have a voice
and its members confirm the unity and integration of the team. The warden, with the support
of the governors and the SMT, has also been committed to developing further the aesthetic
life of the college. The efficacy of this commitment is seen in the strength of art, drama and
music, and in the boys’ confirmation that these activities are as important as any other aspect
of the college. The college has also invested heavily in the personnel and hardware to run an
exemplary ICT system, which supports teaching, learning and personal development.
4.11 A recommendation in 2002 was to review and improve the monitoring of PSHE, prefects and
the CCF. The teaching of PSHE is included in the annual system of appraisal, and the
training and monitoring of prefects are now well managed, with clear guidelines and regular
discussion with pupils holding senior positions. The monitoring of the CCF is part of the
overall management of the Wednesday activity programme. In addition, the external reports
on the college’s CCF praise the qualities of its training and standards.
4.12 Heads of department and house tutors contribute greatly to the quality of education at
Radley. Heads of department lead strongly and are given the autonomy to develop their
departments in the best interests of the pupils. The careful management of departments, in
terms of teaching techniques, course content and use of resources, contributes significantly to
the high academic achievement. Evidence of the management of departments is confirmed
by the high quality of their areas on the college intranet. Some departments, as well as
supporting their own pupils, contribute teaching and learning material via the internet to
schools locally and nationally.
4.13 Tutors and the pastoral teams in socials are the backbone of pastoral care. Parents comment
that tutors relate very well to the boys and are sensitive to issues affecting the lives of
adolescents. Parents also confirm that tutors, and their teams, are accessible and that they
feel able to discuss any matter with their son’s tutor. As with heads of department, tutors are
given scope to give individual flavour to their socials, whilst, at the same time, understanding
the need for consistency of practice between houses.