Head of English

Ratcliffe College is an independent, HMC, co-educational boarding and day school for children aged 3 - 18, with boarding available from age 9 to 18. The School is thriving - there are currently over 800 pupils of which over 100 are boarders, about half of these are international. Our aim at Ratcliffe is to create a learning community in which young people may grow to become confident, competent, articulate members of society. The School was founded in 1847 by the Institute of Charity. Founder Antonio Rosmini was renowned as an educational innovator and that spirit has propelled the College forward ever since. The College ‘Victorian Gothic’ buildings were designed by Augustus Welby Pugin, who co-operated with Sir Charles Barry on the design of the Palace of Westminster. The school is set within 200 acres of beautiful grounds seven miles north of Leicester, in the Midlands and within easy reach of airports and motorways. Whilst we are a Catholic school, children of other denominations and faiths, and none, are welcome.

Academic Success

Examination results are excellent – 

GCSE results in 2018 showed 87% of all grades C/4 or above and 43% of all grades A*/A or 7/8/9 on the new grading system.

A Level students showed an overall pass rate of 99%, 87% of all grades were C or better with 40% of grades A or A*. At the top end, 15% of students achieved grades of A, A, A* or better.  

All students who applied for university courses gained places with the overwhelming majority securing their first choice, many of which are coveted courses at Russell Group and Oxbridge universities, with 10% attending Durham University this year.

Extracurricular activities

We firmly believe that a good school is about much more than academic success alone. Students’ talents and interests are developed through an extensive programme of activities that include rugby, hockey, cricket, swimming, football, rounders and fencing. Drama, film-making, the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are also popular and over a quarter of our students play a musical instrument, with a plethora of choral and instrumental ensembles to join. This year we offer 57 different activities.

Facilities

These include a Chapel; an outstanding modern Sixth Form Centre; high-quality boarding accommodation; sports hall; indoor swimming pool; floodlit all-weather pitch; tennis and netball courts; theatre; ICT suites; art and design centre; squash courts; and conference facilities. In September 2014, a new £4.5m Preparatory School building was opened, with twelve classrooms are located over two floors, as well as a dedicated technology and languages centre, science and food technology laboratory, arts and crafts room, performing arts centre, library and central assembly hall. 

Boarding

There are separate boys’ and girls’ houses. All Years 11–13 students have their own modern room; younger boarders share rooms of no more than three. The boarding Housemaster and Housemistress reside on site, with their own families, thereby helping create a family atmosphere. Ratcliffe College offers an outstanding boarding community, enjoying a comprehensive programme of activities and trips, arranged for evenings and weekends.