Radley College - Socials

Socials

The pupils live in one of ten "Socials" — see the school vernacular — named A–H, plus J and K, built for the start of the new academic year in September 2008 (The letter 'I' was excluded since it allegedly resembled the number 1 and the letter J, and because there is a history of 'I Social' being used in satirical College publications, most recently the Chronicle - see below). In the past, some boys additionally spent a number of terms resident in Orchard House, not a Social in itself but a smaller boarding house for about 30 pupils in the upper three years, but it has now been amalgamated into J Social. The socials are sometimes known by the name of their "Tutor" (Housemaster). For example, G Social is also known as Mathews' social after Mr Will O C Mathews. Each social has an Assistant Housemaster ('Resident Sub-Tutor') and Matron ('Pastoral Housemistress') who are also resident in the building. The socials J and K have been recently built to distribute the boys, making them the newest socials added in 100 years. As a result the number of boys in each social has dropped from an average of 80 to about 70, and the overall size of the school has increased notably.

The socials compete against each other constantly in sports and extracurricular activities ranging from debating to chess, bridge, singing and, now, even the efficiency of their recycling of paper, plastic and cans. For the Shells (first years) there is even an inter-social Drama Prize - the Haddon Cup.

Many Socials put on an annual play, performed and perhaps directed by boys in that social. Alternatively or additionally they might have a "Cultural Evening" of assorted musical performances, sketches, dances and dramatic extracts, staged in the Silk Hall or one of the theatres.

Each social has Social colours, worn by all boys as both a strip on their gown and the colours of the Social tie. The colours are different to each other and easily recognisable: A Social - Blue and Brown; B Social - Purple and Black; C Social - Green and Blue; D Social - Navy and White; E Social - Pink and Black; F Social - Wine and Old Gold; G Social - Black and White; H Social - Green and Yellow; J Social - Blue and Pink; K Social White and Green.