
Radley College

In their own words
A Radleian is recognisable by his drive and ambition, his confidence and kindness, his loyalty and integrity, and his love of life.
Whilst society has often leaned towards a utilitarian pursuit of tangible outcomes, Radley has maintained a steadfast belief in the importance of good character. In a challenging and changing world, it is not merely skills, knowledge and expertise that will define success in the modern workplace but the ability to act with conviction, creativity and kindness.
It is our privilege to help shape the character of our boys such that they become people of real value: wherever they are and whatever they do. An Old Testament prophet had the right priorities: “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly” (Micah 5:8). At Radley, we always have higher ideals in mind: doing the right things in the right way and developing young men who have the core values that will make a difference in the world. That is our purpose.
Of course, the how is important. We expect a lot from our boys. We want them to be ambitious; to set challenging goals and to meet them. We want them to lead by example and stand for what is right. We want them to be adventurous; to try new things and work in partnership with others. We want them to be engaged thinkers, intellectually curious and ready to engage in debate and discussion.
We have an ambitious academic programme which aims to nurture boys who can critically evaluate information, develop creative and collaborative minds and who work in partnership with others. Our boys are well-prepared for the challenges of public examinations and our strong results are evidence of this. But we know that life doesn’t have a syllabus, so we place great emphasis on intellectual and co-curricular enrichment, and on developing the skills that will allow our boys to flourish.
Everything we do is underpinned by a deep sense of collective spirit. From the moment they arrive, Radleians are immersed in community. It is seen in their singing in Chapel, in the bonds formed with dons at Cocoa and in the friendships they make. In good times and bad, they support each other.
We continue to be shaped by our history, but we look to the future too. We will continue to welcome more boys from different social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Our sector-leading partnership programme will build on our existing links with organisations locally and across the globe. We will embrace the challenges and opportunities of sustainability and digital change. We will encourage boys to learn, think, and act.
It is never easy to summarise the purpose of education but I think the Apostle Paul got it right nearly two thousand years ago: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
We want a Radley education to do that: to explore truth, to value beauty and to pursue excellence. Our founders understood these principles and we hold to them today.
John Moule
Warden
The admissions process uses the online ISEB Common Pre Test (sometimes referred to as the Common Entrance Exam). This exam has a specific format and structure, includes a range of predictable questions types and is taken in an online/computer environment. Students should pay particular attention to the Non-Verbal and Verbal-Reasoning modules, as these sections may include question types they have never encountered before.
We have partnered with the test experts at Ready Steady Pass, to bring you the most accurate and best value ISEB practise material. These exams are audited by AQA and EdExcel exam markers, and ISI independent school inspectors. Tests are taken online, include unlimited resits and emailed results including answer sheets to share with tutors and parents.
Each individual exam contains a full ISEB Common Pre Test experience, covering Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Buy the Bundle or Complete Collection to get the best value for money.
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What questions can I expect?
The ISEB Common Pre Test is a combination of 4 individual exams, all of which are set in a multiple choice, online environment. The exams vary every year, but you can expect to find all or most of the below in this year's test.
Mathematics
Calculations
Money
Place value
Statistics and data
Fractions, decimals, and percentages
Triangles and angles
Area and perimeter
Units and measurement
English
Reading and comprehension
Vocabulary and spelling
Literary devices
Verbal Reasoning
Code breaking
Word meanings
Missing letters
Pairing synonyms
Pairing antonyms
Word combinations
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Visual codes
Missing shapes and shape sequences
Matching shapes
Net-to-cube
Cube-to-net