Radley College - Vernacular

Vernacular

Radley, like many traditional public schools, has an unusual system for naming the school years, which can cause confusion to those not familiar with the system.

• First year (age 13-14): Shell (boys are grouped by ability from Shell 1 to Shell 7)
• Second year (age 14-15): Remove
• Third year (age 15-16): Vth Form
• Fourth year (age 16-17): VI.1 ("Six One")
• Final year (age 17-18): VI.2 ("Six Two")

In earlier years there was also the "Fourth Form", which confusingly was a smaller group age 12-13 admitted in the summer term, having taken the entrance exams in the spring term.

The term 'Shell' for a lower year group originates from the shell-shaped alcove in 'School' at Westminster where the younger boys were originally taught.

• Midgets - First year sports teams (e.g. Midgets 1 Hockey, Midgets 6 Rugby)
• Warden - Headmaster
• Sub-Warden - Deputy Headmaster
• Don - Teacher
• Pup - School Prefect
• Social - Boarding House
• Social Prayers - the Wednesday evening house assembly (instead of an evening Chapel service that day)
• (Social) Tutor - Housemaster
• Sub-Tutor - Assistant Housemaster
• Leave Away - Half-term
• Privi (short for Privilege Weekend) - Weekend away at home
• Gaudy - Celebrations on the last day of Summer Term (Prizegiving, Tutors' Parties, Fireworks Concert on Pups' Field)
• Bigside - College 1st XV Rugby/1st XI Hockey, Football & Cricket (also the 1st's pitch)
• Stonewall - College 5th & 6th XVs Rugby
• Mem Arch - (short for Memorial Arch) - A memorial to old boys and staff of the College killed in action. College tradition is that boys do not speak when passing under Mem Arch.
• Prep - supervised time in the boarding houses each evening when prep (corresponding to homework in a day school) is tackled
• Wet Bob - A boy who rows in the Lent and Summer terms
• Dry Bob - A boy who plays hockey and cricket in the Lent and Summer terms
• Grockey - Grass Hockey (also refers to the senior 4th and 5th XIs for Hockey, which may be referred to as Bigside Grockey as opposed to Bigside Hockey which would be the senior 1st team who play on astro).