UK private school’s major merger with multiple prep schools

Radley College is a boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18, and earlier this month it received international acclaim when it was included in the Spear’s Schools Index 2026, which named the 100 best private schools in the world.

It was included along with Cothill House prep school near Abingdon.

READ MORE: Global recognition for private school

At the beginning of May last year Radley College and Prep Schools Trust, which includes Cothill House and Chandlings Prep School, announced they were merging in one of the most significant mergers in the charitable independent schools sector.

Chandlings and Cothill, which educate boys and girls from two to 13, are located close to Radley College – one of three remaining full boarding schools for boys aged 13-18. 

Prep Schools Trust is a family of seven junior schools across the country, including Kitebrook in the Cotswolds on the Oxfordshire border which educates 330 pupils.

All eight schools joined forces to form Radley Schools Group in September 2025.

The Council of Radley College, which manages the private school, took on the controlling responsibility for the group.

Radley Schools Group said in a statement: “Radley Schools Group believes in the timeless and authentic values of high quality charitable independent education.

“Through the strength and stability of our group, we are committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for all our pupils throughout their childhood.

“Blending the very best of tradition and innovation, we seek to develop young people of outstanding character and purpose for generations to come.”

John Moule, Warden of Radley College (Image: Radley College)

John Moule, The Warden of Radley College, has overseen the merger, while retaining his day-to-day responsibilities at Radley.

The chief executive of Prep Schools Trust, Tom Beardmore-Gray, had already announced his decision to retire last summer after serving PST for seven years.

He was succeeded as chief executive by Andrew Ashton, Radley’s Bursar.

Prefects at Radley College (Image: Andrew Walmsley/Radley College)

Mr Moule said following the launch: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Radley College to work together with Cothill House, Chandlings Prep and Kitebrook Preparatory School to protect the timeless and authentic values of high quality charitable independent education for families in Oxfordshire.

“That is why we are coming together to create Radley Schools Group.

“Through the strength and stability of a wider group, we are committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for all our pupils throughout their childhood.

“Blending the very best of tradition and innovation, we seek to develop young people of outstanding character and purpose.

George May, headteacher at Cothill House (Image: Cothlll House)

“We, as a college, remain committed to our all boys all boarding offer but this merger will enable us to be a dynamic, thought-leader on the issues of pastoral care, teaching and character education for generations of children to come.”

George May, head of Cothill House, said at the time: “This is an incredibly exciting chapter for Cothill.

“Our pupils already benefit from Cothill’s highly sought-after teaching, pastoral care and extensive extracurricular programme, creating an environment where they can embrace adventure, curiosity and friendship whilst also preparing them for the very best senior schools in the country.”