Radford College

This article is about the school in Australia. For the U.S. institution formerly known as Radford College, see Radford University. For the university in Ghana, see Radford University College.

Radford College
Address
1 College Street Bruce , Australian Capital Territory , 2617 Australia
Coordinates	35°14′36″S149°05′19″E / 35.2433°S 149.0885°E / -35.2433; 149.0885
Information
Type	private, day school
Motto	Truth, Compassion, Wisdom
Denomination	Anglican Church of Australia
Established	11 February 1984 [1]
Sister school	Kure National College of Technology, Hiroshima, Japan Konko Gakuen school, Okayama prefecture, Japan
Chair	Vicki Williams
Principal	Andy Gordon (Acting)
Staff	180+
Grades	Pre–K–12
Gender	Coeducational
Enrolment	2100 (2023)
Colour(s)	Gold, maroon, navy blue
Affiliation	Associated Southern Colleges
Website	radford.act.edu.au

Radford College is an independent school, Anglican, coeducational day school, located in Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Founded in 1984, the college is named after Bishop Lewis Bostock Radford. ^[1] It has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for over 2,100 students from pre-kindergarten to Year 12. ^[1]

History

Radford opened its doors in 1984 under founding principal Jock Mackinnon AM, with 235 students and 15 staff. ^[1] Professor T.B. Millar AO served as the inaugural chairman. ^[2] Radford presently has more than 2,100 students enrolled across its Junior (Years pre-kindergarten to 6), and secondary School (Years 7–12). ^[2]

Principals

Years	Principal [2]
2023–present	Andy Gordon (acting Principal, Head of Junior School)
2014–2023	Fiona Godfrey OAM (formerly headmaster of St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School)
2009–2013	Phillip Heath AM (currently headmaster of Barker College)
2001–2008	David Mulford (later headmaster of Newington College)
1993–2000	Graeme Wigg
1989–1992	Peter Casson
1983–1989	Jock Mackinnon AM (was appointed before the college opened, formerly headmaster of Pulteney Grammar School)

Chairman of the Board

Years	Chairman
2021–present	Vicki Williams
2017–2021	Steve Baker
2008–2017	Ian Morison
2003–2007	Ray Young
1985–2003	Lawrie Willet AO
1982–1985	Tom Millar (was appointed before the college opened)

Curriculum

Junior School pupils undertake the International Baccalaureate Primary Years programme. ^[3]

The Secondary School operates a core curriculum of English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Religious and Values Education, and Physical education as well as various electives including Performing Arts, Creative Arts, Design and Technology, and Languages. ^[4] A strong emphasis is placed upon service learning and active participation in co-curricular activities.

In Senior School, students work toward the Year 12 Certificate, a credential awarded to ACT secondary students on completion of their studies. Radford College offers a range of courses leading to an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), in addition to accredited courses for students not seeking to enter university. ^[5] In 2011, more Radford students sought tertiary entrance than any other school in Canberra, with 93% of students receiving an ATAR. ^[6] Radford College has a record of academic success, with its Year 12 graduates achieving the highest median ATAR of all ACT schools in 2004, ^[7] 2005, ^[8] 2006, ^[9] 2007, ^[10] 2008, ^[11] 2010, ^[12] 2011, ^[13] 2012, ^[14] 2014, ^[15] 2015, ^[16] and 2016.

Connections with other schools

Radford College is an active member in Round Square, with exchanges and participation in conferences and service opportunities.

Radford College is twinned with the following schools:

• Konko Gakuen school in Okayama prefecture, Japan ^[17]
• Kure National College of Technology, in Hiroshima, Japan ^[18]
• BISU High School in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China ^[19]

Collegians and notable alumni

The Radford Collegians are about building a community that provides ongoing support to members on a social, educational and career level. With over 6,500 former students, the group seeks to connect Collegians to each other and the College. It is committed to three core pillars of focus including social & community awareness, business & career opportunities and giving back. These pillars guide the Radford Collegians in success and growth. They organise reunions and mentoring programs, support College functions and raise funds for community outreach programs. ^[20]

• Alistair Coe MLA ^[21] – former leader of the opposition at the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly ^[22]
• Samuel Beever ^[23] – diplomat, former Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus
• Nicholas Bishop ^[24] – actor
• Dale Brede ^[25] – former Supercars Championship Racing driver
• Katherine Calder – skier and Winter Olympian
• Ryan Carters ^[26] – first class cricketer for New South Wales and Victoria
• Jo Clay ^[27] – member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly ^{[28] [29] [30] [31]}
• Jessica Cottis ^[32] – artistic director and chief conductor of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra
• David Dawson – first-class cricketer, a former player for the Tasmanian Tigers and NSW
• Stef Dawson – actress, known for playing Annie Cresta in the Hunger Games film franchise
• Anna Flanagan ^[33] – hockey player for the Hockeyroos
• Chloe Hosking ^[34] – racing cyclist, competing in UCI championship
• Elanor Huntington – Dean of Engineering at the Australian National University
• Nick Kyrgios – tennis player
• Luke Letcher – Olympic bronze medallist, Australian men's quadruple scull
• Sam Michael – Formula One engineer, former director at McLaren F1 and Williams F1.
• Rachel Moseley ^[35] – diplomat, Australian ambassador to Mexico, ^{[36] [37] [38]} former DFAT assistant secretary, Latin America and Eastern Europe Branch, ^{[39] [40]} former Deputy Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea ^{[41] [42]}
• Kaz Patafta ^{[ citation needed ]} – soccer player for Lanexang United F.C.
• Tom Rogic ^[43] – Socceroo, Futsalroo, Nike 'The Chance' winner, and professional soccer player for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.
• Allan Sly – probability theorist, professor of mathematics at Princeton University, 2018 MacArthur Fellow
• Jesse Wagstaff ^[44] – professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats

Notable faculty – current and former

• John Foulcher ^[45] – Australian poet ^[46]

See also

• List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory
• Associated Southern Colleges

References

1. Strategic Plan 2011–2015 Archived 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
2. History and Location Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
3. Junior School Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
4. High School Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
5. Senior School Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
6. BSSS 2011 Overview Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
7. "Students with ACT Tertiary Entrance Statements" (PDF). Annual Report 2004-2005. ACT Department of Education and Training. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
8. "Radford Tops School Tertiary Rankings". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
9. "Students with ACT Tertiary Entrance Statements" (PDF). Annual Report 2006-2007. ACT Department of Education and Training. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
10. "Parents in Dark on UAI Results". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
11. "Colleges Roll Out Rush for Uni Spots". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
12. "Radford Pulls Rank with Exam Scores". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
13. "School Exam Scores Slip". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
14. "On course for bright futures after ATARs". The Canberra Times. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
15. "ACT Year 12 Certificate awards on the rise". The Canberra Times. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
16. Clare Sibthorpe (16 December 2015). "ACT college results: Fewer students admitted to tertiary, more completing year 12". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
17. Sharp, Michele. "A second sister school partnership in Japan".
18. Fitzpatrick, Dianne. "Skype with Radford's sister school".
19. Fitzpatrick, Di. "From the LOTE Department".
20. "About us" . Retrieved 7 February 2018.
21. Radford College Accessed 8 December 2016
22. ACT Legislative Assembly Accessed 8 December 2016
23. "Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus". DFAT. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
24. Nicholas Bishop Biography Accessed 21 December 2011
25. Riotact - Vale Dale Brede Accessed 19 July 2023
26. "Comets focus on former Canberrans". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
27. "Life after Radford with Jo Clay". Radford Collegians. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
28. Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory - Jo Clay Accessed 05 September 2023
29. ACT Greens - Jo Clay Accessed 05 September 2023
30. Carbon Diet - Jo Clay Accessed 05 September 2023
31. Radford Collegians interview with Jo Clay Accessed 05 September 2023
32. "Conductor who does not do anything by halves". Radford Collegians. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
33. "Flanagan picked in Roos". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
34. Annual Report 2010 Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 December 2011
35. "Deputy Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea". Radford Collegians. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
36. Australian Foreign Minister - Senator Penny Wong - Media Release Accessed 18 July 2023
37. - Name reference - Australian Government Directory Accessed 21 January 2024
38. Australian Government Directory Accessed 12 December 2023
39. DFAT Directory Accessed 11 January 2021
40. DFAT Accessed 11 January 2011
41. Radford Alumni Interview YouTube Accessed 11 January 2011
42. Radford Alumni Interview SoundCloud Accessed 11 January 2011
43. Sydney Morning Herald Accessed 4 November 2011
44. Jesse Wagstaff – 2008–09 Men's Basketball
45. John Foulcher – Life beyond Radford
46. John Foulcher – AustLit

External links

• Official website