6 minute read
College Update 2023
The last school year was vibrant, busy and successful. How nice to say that! It is striking that we don’t seem to talk about Covid anymore, and the restrictions from those dark times now seem long behind us. But the whole experience serves as a reminder for us all not to take anything for granted; we remain vigilant and prepared for the next challenge but celebrate success as it comes. It is striking too that despite all the difficulties in the world, and we are mindful of these at Radley as we seek to look outwards, the campus provides a safe haven where we are equal and can treat each other with respect, and try things out.
As we look back on each year at Radley, it is always a delight to reflect upon that year in which, invariably, much has happened and much has been achieved. Of course, there is little time to reflect, as we immediately turn forward and look ahead to what more needs to be done; our work is never finished.
So, what did we achieve last year? In writing a review, it might seem odd that I do not comment on specifics, but I choose this year to reflect on what success looks like. I might talk about that in terms of financial stability, of bursaries awarded, of building projects delivered, or of a vibrant and committed team of staff supporting all that we do; I could give examples of each. Others will rightly talk of exam success or university entrance, or the many successes we hear about from our Old Radleians as they pursue their careers and interests; they could give examples too. However, for boys and parents (and for many staff) the standout measures of success come in the world of the co-curricular such as the hard-fought battles on the playing field, and outstanding performances on the stage. Examples here are individual and personal – we will all cherish moments either as a performer or as a spectator and play them back in our mind, whether they be in declamations, school plays, musical performance or a singular sporting moment over in a flash.
We are all familiar with the rhythm and cycle of a school year, as former pupils ourselves and maybe as parents or grandparents or in some other way invested in the welfare of those in our families. For those of us who are privileged to work and to serve in the education sector it informs the very rhythm of our lives. The current year and the current year’s aspirations will always feel the most important, but they soon slip into the rear-view mirror as we (pupils and staff alike) look ahead to new goals and targets.
In my case, and I am sure in many current and prospective parents’ cases, we also worry about the affordability of fees, even before the possibility of VAT being added on top. What is our response? Nationally, to support the sector contributing to the debate, and locally to let our actions do the talking such as in the fantastic outcomes from our partnerships across the community. In addition, at a school level, scenario planning to prepare for change, reviewing our cost structure and assessing the possible scale of VAT recovery that will help mitigate the challenge. In addition, we retain a focus on growing our endowment to help soften any affects where we can through our bursary programme, while continuing to deliver what we do as well as we can.
But let’s not dwell on VAT. We must celebrate the moment; it is the very essence of life.
So, art at Radley, drama at Radley, music at Radley, and performance in all its forms are to be cherished. The build up to an event, the rehearsal and continual improvement in preparation, the adrenaline rush during an event and the reflection afterwards all form part of the joie de vivre at Radley. To this, I must also comment on the marvellous work of Radley Video – not only is the quality of film production outstanding, and one that creates a permanent memorable record of each performance, but it is also greatly rewarding for all boys involved in all its components including preparation, anticipation, filming, and editing.
Donkeys' Years - a play set against the backdrop of Chapel Quad.
It is interesting I think to ponder on what helps make a school successful and, in particular, Radley. Is it the people including the teachers and all the other staff who create the environment for boys to thrive? Is it the students themselves with their life formative experiences and performances taking place in the crucible of Radley? Maybe it is the solid financial foundations that enable us to thrive, or our outstanding buildings that provide terrific spaces in which to perform. Buildings incidentally that all creative departments rightly seek to exploit as venues for music, for art or for displaying outstanding work across all disciplines; we all love to see something we have created on display, and the College campus provides a stunning backdrop for that. The College Play held in Chapel Quad during Festival 175 provided the perfect collegiate setting for Donkeys’ Years, not that the Quad was planned as an amphitheatre when it was created!
Not one of these components can easily deliver success without the other parts. It is collaboration and teamwork, and a recognition of all the parts that go into the whole that creates success. Our precentor recently briefed me on the terrific complexity of delivering the number of music lessons to the number of boys that we do, week in and week out. Across last year, we delivered up to 550 music lessons most weeks, or approximately 14,000 lessons in the year to around 350 boys, with a music department of 50 staff. Indeed, on one day alone, at the Radley College Musicathon in June, there were 30 different performances and 150 different performers. I pointed out the number of moving parts in the process (including the financial parts such as the cost of each music lesson and the pay for the teacher, and the people parts such as recruiting the teacher and ensuring they are valued within the community), and it brought to mind the complexity of an orchestra and the importance of the conductor in making everything come together at the right time and in the right way. And so, in the widest possible sense, there are lots of moving parts at Radley, everyone playing a role in supporting and delivering the whole, and there is a need for many conductors to cover all fields of Radley life.
But it’s not just conductors, it’s actors. To paraphrase Shakespeare’s words: “all of Radley’s a stage and all the students and staff are merely players”!
