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Ratcliffe College is a catholic independent boarding and day school in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The College, situated on the Fosse Way about six miles north of Leicester, was founded on the instructions of Father Antonio Rosmini-Serbati in 1845 as a seminary. In 1847, the buildings were converted for use as a boarding school for middle class boys. The College became coeducational under the Presidency of Father Tony Baxter in the mid 1970s, and now there are around 630 students on roll at Ratcliffe, from ages 3-18.
Buildings & Architecture
The College buildings were originally designed by Victorian gothic revivalist Augustus Welby Pugin. Pugin, who is associated with Catholic architecture throughout the midlands and north of England, is also noted for his collaboration with Charles Barry in the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster. The Square was designed by Joseph Hansom, the designer of the Hansom Cab. Various building works over the years have contributed to Pugin and Hansom's work, and modern buildings include a "new" refectory (constructed in the early years of the twentieth century), a sixties Byzantine-style church, a sports hall, and various teaching blocks.
Management
The school, operated officially by Rosmini's Institute of Charity, originally used the title "Father President" for the most senior member of staff who, up until 1996, was always a Father of the Institute. In 1996, the school appointed its first lay President, Tim Kilbride, and the position was renamed Headmaster.
Peter Farrar took over from Tim Kilbride in 2000 as the second lay Head, and is still Headmaster of the College.
House System
Although the College has used various house systems throughout its history, the current system was resurrected in 1991. There is no strong House rivalry, as in many other independent schools, due to the nature of the school as both coeducational and contains a mix of boarding and day students.
Currently, there are four houses named after major figures in the College's history:
- Emery (named for Father Cuthbert Emery, a former President)
- Leetham (named for Father Leetham, a former President)
- De Lisle (named for Ambrose De Lisle, early patron of the College and Catholic revivalist)
- Arundel (named for Lady Arundel, an early patron of the College and relative of Catholic Duke of Norfolk)
In 2004, the House Shield was won by Leetham.
Old Ratcliffians
The Old Ratcliffians - that is, the alumni of Ratcliffe College - currently count among their number:
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