Prospectus Info Booklet 2019

INFORMATION 2019-2020

CONTENTS
Visit Us and Admissions 4
Fees 7
Scholarships and Bursaries 9
Examination Dates 10
Curriculum 11
Term Dates 13
Transport and Contact Us 14
Strength of Mind • Strength of Values • Strength of Purpose

WELCOME
We are delighted that you have shown a keen interest in Ratcliffe
College. As a Catholic, co-educational, day and boarding school for
students aged 3-18, we are much more than just a school; we are a
family-orientated community committed to the transformation of young
minds, hearts, bodies and souls, in the pursuit of all-round excellence.
We educate students to develop Strength of Mind, Strength of Values
and Strength of Purpose by nurturing their God-given talents, inspired
by Gospel values and an outstanding team of staff working in close
partnership with parents.
Our main intakes are into Nursery, Years 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and Sixth
Form, but we occasionally have places in other Years.
It would be wonderful to welcome you here in person, to meet our
students and staff, and to share with you why we are all so passionate
about this remarkable school.
Mr Jonathan P. Reddin
Headmaster
3

VISIT US
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
We recommend that you come and visit Ratcliffe College. Our
Open Mornings are on:
• Saturday 5 th October 2019 9.30am – 12 noon
• Saturday 7 th March 2020 9.30am – 12 noon
All are welcome. You and your child will also be welcome to visit
Ratcliffe on a normal school day, when there will be a tour of the
School accompanied by a student from the Senior School, and an
individual meeting with the Headmaster. Please contact the Registrar’s
Office to arrange a visit (01509 817072 / 817031 or
registrar@ratcliffecollege.com).
TASTER DAY
Your child may wish to spend a ‘Taster Day’ at Ratcliffe on a
normal school day either prior to taking the Entrance Examination/
Assessment or after being offered a place. Children applying for a
boarding place are also welcome to stay overnight as part of their
Taster visit. Please contact the Registrar’s Office if you would like your
child to spend a Taster Day at Ratcliffe.
Strength of Mind • Strength of Values • Strength of Purpose
The following criteria are used to help determine a student’s suitability
for admission:
• Performance in the School’s Entrance Examination / Assessment
and informal meeting with a member of the Leadership Team;
• A willingness and/or ability to participate in the rich variety of
co-curricular activities;
• A positive report from the applicant’s present school. Apart from
applications to the Sixth Form, interviews will not normally be
held, but the School may wish to interview borderline candidates
whose particular circumstances warrant it;
• The presence of a sibling already in the School and/or previous
family connections;
• In all circumstances, the School’s aim is to admit students with
academic ability and a range of qualities to gain the maximum
benefit from the curriculum and co-curricular opportunities
available at Ratcliffe College;
• By the very nature of the School, priority will be given to Catholic
families, and to families sympathetic to the Catholic ethos of
Ratcliffe College;
• The Headmaster, in consultation with the Board of Governors, is
responsible for all decisions relating to the admission of students.
If there is a waiting list for entry to a particular age group,
applicants will be considered strictly according to the fulfilment
of the criteria and to the date order of registration for each child.
All formal offers of places will be made in writing, either by the
Headmaster or by the Registrar acting on his behalf.

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE
Visit us If you can.
Registration Complete the Registration Form and return to us, along
with the Registration Fee.
School Reference The Registrar’s Department will contact your
child’s current school for a reference, which will be considered
alongside the Assessment / Examination.
Entrance Assessment/Examination Primarily held in January/
February.
Offer Normally we inform you of the outcome of your application
within two weeks of the Assessment.
Acceptance On accepting the offer of a place, you complete the
paperwork and return it to us with the Deposit to secure your child’s
place.
REGISTRATION
The School experiences high demand for places in many year
groups. Early registration is advisable. A copy of the Registration
Form can be found at the back of this booklet, (or can be
downloaded from our website, under the Admissions tab). A nonrefundable
Registration Fee of £99 (UK) and £125 (Overseas) is
payable for all students wishing to apply to Ratcliffe College.
You may register your son or daughter at any age on the clear
understanding that completion of the Registration Form and payment
of the non-refundable Registration Fee does not constitute a binding
contract for admission to Ratcliffe College.
The Registration Form should be signed by both
parents. If only one signature is provided, then legal
proof of sole custody should be provided. The School
reserves the right to refuse entrance based on any
aspect of the Admissions process.
Please note that your application will not be processed
unless we receive both the Registration Form and the
Registration Fee. Once we have received your Registration Form
and Fee, we will request a school reference from your child’s current
school or nursery.
ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS / ASSESSMENTS
Entrance Examinations normally take place in the January or
February, before the September your child is due to start with us. The
dates of the Examinations are published in this booklet and on our
website.
Preparatory School: Nursery (3-5 year olds)
Children spend the morning in the Nursery and are informally
assessed during this time.
Preparatory School: (5-11 year olds)
Years 1 - 6: children spend a half day in School and, during this time,
take assessments in English and Mathematics.
Entry is normally at Year 3 and Year 5 (when additional classes of 18
pupils are admitted), but a small number of places may be available
for entry to other Years if there are vacancies.
5

Senior School: (11-16 year olds)
Entry is normally at Years 7, 9 and 10, but a small number of places
may be available for entry to other Years. Papers are set in English,
Mathematics and Science. There is also an informal meeting with a
member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Specimen English and Mathematics papers for entry into Years 7-10,
and for Science in Years 7-8, are available on request from the
Registrar.
Students with a Specific Learning Difficulty, who have evidence within
a professional assessor report, are allowed extra time. Acceptable
evidence will be in the form of an Educational Psychologist or
Specialist Assessor report which clearly indicates speed scores for
reading, writing or cognitive processing falling below SS85. Medical
reports will also be considered. Such reports will need to be current,
i.e. they will have been completed within two years of the Entrance
Examinations.
Sixth Form: (16-18 year olds)
All applicants are interviewed and entry is also based on successful
performance in GCSE (or equivalent) examinations.
Applicants should obtain at least 6 good passes at GCSE, including
Mathematics and English. For any subject to be studied in the Sixth
Form, applicants should have at least GCSE grade 6 in that subject
or a related subject. GCSE grade 7 or higher is normally required to
study the following subjects in the Sixth Form: Mathematics, Sciences,
Languages and English Literature.
Non-Native Speakers of English from Overseas
It is strongly recommended that overseas applicants should provide
an IELTS or Cambridge Assessment English examination certificate
to confirm their ability in English language. However, applicants
for entry to Years 9 and 10 do have the option of sitting our own
English examinations, but will have to provide an IELTS or Cambridge
Assessment English examination at the end of their first academic
year in order to progress through the School.
Students may also be tested in subjects such as Mathematics and
Science.
Overseas applicants are also interviewed via Skype, if a personal
visit, to the School, cannot be arranged.
OFFER
An offer is made by letter from the Headmaster, accompanied by
Acceptance paperwork.
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance paperwork is to be completed and returned by the stated
deadline. A deposit is payable on entry to all year groups except
in the Nursery, but does need to be paid when moving into the
Preparatory School. For UK students, the deposit is £1,000 (£500
refundable after one term and the remainder on leaving the School).
For overseas students, the deposit is £5,000 (£3,000 refundable
after one term and the remainder on leaving the School).
The deposit is not refundable if the student subsequently fails to take
up the place.
Strength of Mind • Strength of Values • Strength of Purpose

FEES 2019 - 2020
Registration Fee (non-refundable) UK £99
Overseas £125
Deposit (refundable) UK £1,000 (£500 refundable after one term and the remainder on leaving the School)
Overseas £5,000 (£3,000 refundable after one term and the remainder on leaving the School)
Day Fees Per Term Per Annum
Nursery - Cygnets (Age 3+) £3,193 £9,579
Nursery - Swans (Age 4+) £3,602 £10,806
Preparatory School (Years 1 to 2) £3,602 £10,806
Preparatory School (Years 3 to 4) £3,764 £11,292
Preparatory School (Year 5) £4,066 £12,198
Preparatory School (Year 6) £4,696 £14,088
Senior School (Years 7 to 8) £4,696 £14,088
Senior School (Years 9 to 13) £5,538 £16,614
Boarding Fees Per Term Per Annum
Weekly Boarding (Years 6 to 8) £7,099 £21,297
Weekly Boarding (Years 9 to 13) £7,944 £23,832
Full Boarding (UK Students) £8,912 £26,736
Full Boarding (Overseas Students) £10,668 £32,004
7

All fees include mid-day meal and afternoon tea, supervised Prep and a
wide range of co-curricular activities until 6.10pm, Monday to Friday.
Fees are charged at the same rate each term, irrespective of the
number of weeks in the term.
Full Boarding Fees include the cost of the programme of boarding
weekend trips throughout the year.
Overseas Boarding Fees include the cost of EAL lessons where
necessary.
EAL lessons for Day students are charged at £825 per term.
DISCOUNTS
Siblings – A discount of 10% is offered for the second child and 20%
for the third and subsequent children.
HM Forces – A discount of 10% is offered to children of HM Armed
Forces personnel in receipt of the Continuity of Education Allowance.
Direct Debit – A discount of £50 per student per term for payment
using either the School’s Monthly or Termly Direct Debit Scheme.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Regular Boarding
Charged at £49 per night where at least 1 full term’s commitment is
given for either 2 or 3 nights in each week.
Strength of Mind • Strength of Values • Strength of Purpose
Occasional Boarding
Charged at £51 for the first 10 days in any term and £70 for any
subsequent days.
Individual Tuition Charges:
Music tuition – £245 per term (ten 30 minute sessions) for individual
tuition.
Hire of instrument – £37 per term.
Additional teaching – Where required and agreed with parents, this
will be charged at £46 per lesson.
Please note that a full term’s notice is required in writing to
discontinue any optional extras.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
1. Fees are reviewed annually.
2. For convenience, the annual fees are divided into three equal
termly amounts, irrespective of the actual length of each term
or amount of formal teaching in terms during which students sit
public examinations.
3. One full term’s notice is required on leaving or changing status
between day and boarding. Fees in lieu of notice will be charged
if insufficient notice is given.
4. Fees should normally be settled by either monthly or termly direct
debit.
5. Failure to pay fees will result in requesting the withdrawal of a
child from School.

SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships may be awarded up to the value of 50% of the school fee.
Year 7 entry
Academic
Students who excel in our 11+ Entrance
Examinations.
Year 12 entry
Academic ‘Rosminian’ Scholarships are awarded to the
students with the top 5 GCSE results.
Sport
Students will be expected to play representative
sport at county level or the equivalent, preferably,
but not exclusively, in one of the school’s major
Sport
Students will be expected to play representative
sport at county level or the equivalent, preferably in
one of the school’s major team sports.
team sports. Students will be expected to maintain
representative sport at county level through to the
end of Year 11.
Creative
Music students will be expected to play or sing
at Grade 6 (minimum) or equivalent award.
Students will be expected to study Music at A level
Creative
Students will be expected to demonstrate one of the
following :
and/or contribute significantly to the musical life of
the school.
• play a musical instrument or sing at Grade 4
Drama students will be expected to provide a
(minimum), or an equivalent award.
suitable portfolio showcasing their work and will be
• provide a suitable portfolio showcasing their
work in Drama. Students will be expected to
study Drama at GCSE.
• provide a portfolio showcasing their artistic
talent. Students will be expected to study Art or
Design at GCSE.
assessed at School. Students will be expected to
study Drama at A level.
Art & Design students will be expected to provide a
portfolio showcasing their work and will be
assessed at School. Students will be expected to
study Art or Design at A level.
All-Rounder
Provided to students with significant talents in a
range of disciplines.
Assessments will normally take place annually in January each year. The deadline for applications is the last Friday in November. In the interest of being fair to all families, the School will not
usually accept applications that are received after the stated deadline. Scholarships awarded in Year 7 are usually retained until the end of Year 11. Scholarships awarded in Year 12 are for
two years. All awards are subject to a satisfactory annual review.
9

BURSARIES
Bursaries are available for up to 80% of a student’s School Fee and
in exceptional circumstances up to 100%. All awards are subject to
parental means testing.
Old Ratcliffians and Catholic Families
Bursarial support is provided to successful students in these groups via:
• The Ratcliffian Association & Cunningham Fund Bursaries
• The Peter Daley Bursaries
Year 7 entry
Bursaries are available to students joining Ratcliffe from maintained
schools into Year 7.
Year 12 entry
For external students gaining entry into Year 12, we offer Sixth Form
Gifted and Talented Bursaries in the following categories:
• Academic
• Sporting
• Creative:
• Music
• Drama
• Art & Design
• Sir Thomas White Charity Bursary. In exceptional cases, this
charity will provide a 100% bursary (Day fee only) for one strong
academic student joining Ratcliffe College’s Sixth Form from the
maintained sector and who lives in Leicestershire. Ratcliffe may
recommend up to two students per year.
Bursaries are allocated annually, following interview, assessment in
any perceived and noteworthy talent, and a formal application for
bursarial assistance, which includes parental means testing.
Offers will be made based upon satisfactory performance at GCSE
as per the School’s criteria for entry into the Sixth Form.
Strength of Mind • Strength of Values • Strength of Purpose
All Bursaries are subject to meeting the School’s entry requirements,
and (parental) means-tested assessments, and may be reviewed
annually. Students and their families must be in sympathy with the
Catholic ethos of the School.
Deadline for all Scholarship and Bursary applications
for September 2020 entry is Friday 29th November
2019.
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
AND ASSESSMENT DATES
FOR ENTRY IN SEPTEMBER 2020
Entrance Examinations
For entry into Year 3 in 2020:
Age 7+ Assessments Wednesday 22nd January 2020
For entry into Year 5 in 2020:
Age 9+ Assessments Monday 20th January 2020
For entry into Year 7 in 2020:
Age 11+ Examinations (includes assessment for Academic
Scholarships) Friday 10th January and Saturday 11th January 2020
For entry into Years 8, 9 & 10 in 2020:
Age 12+, 13+ & 14+ Examinations Saturday 11th January 2020

CURRICULUM
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
The Nursery provides a broad and balanced child-centred curriculum,
based upon the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
The Preparatory School has developed its own highly creative,
skills-based curriculum, drawing from the strengths of the National
Curriculum while encouraging the children to further develop key
learning habits for life. The curriculum includes specialist taught
Science, Art and Design, Music, Drama, Food Technology, ICT, PE,
French, Spanish, German and Latin, to provide stimulating breadth
and depth for our younger learners. Year 6 is our transition year,
with approximately half the timetable taught in the Senior School by
specialist subject staff.
YEARS 7 & 8
All students follow a broad curriculum which currently includes the
following subjects:
English, Mathematics, Religious Studies, Geography, History,
Art, Music, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Design Technology, Food
Technology, Textiles, ICT, PSHCE, Physical Education and Games.
In addition, students select two languages from Spanish, French,
German, and Latin. They continue with these languages until the
end of Year 9. For a small number of students who are in Learning
Support, they choose one language from Spanish and French.
YEAR 9
In Year 9 students commence IGCSE Science (single, double or triple)
along with GCSE Mathematics, English Language and Religious
Studies. The majority of students also study English Literature.
YEARS 10 & 11
Students start the two year GCSE courses in their chosen subjects. All
examinations are at the end of Year 11, at which time between 8 and
11 GCSEs are assessed.
Core subjects: Mathematics, English Language, Religious Studies,
Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The majority of students study English
Literature alongside English Language.
Optional subjects: Four subjects (at least one of which must be a
Modern Foreign Language) are chosen from: French, German,
Spanish, Latin, Computer Science, Music, Design Technology
(Resistant Materials), Food Preparation & Nutrition, Music, History,
Geography, Physical Education (Academic), Religious Studies, Art,
ICT, Media Studies, Drama.
Further Mathematics is also offered. Students study PSHCE and
Games as part of a balanced curriculum.
CAREERS & HIGHER EDUCATION
Excellent careers advice is offered on university destinations and
careers by a dedicated careers advisor. All Year 11 students have
individual interviews to discuss Sixth Form choices.
11

SIXTH FORM
Currently, students are expected to choose four A level subjects from
the table below. The vast majority of subject combinations are usually
possible, as we adjust the option blocks each year in response to
the students’ choices. During the autumn term of Year 12, the large
majority of students will then decide which three of these subjects
they wish to continue to A level, perhaps with an Extended Project
Qualification (EPQ) to be completed in Year 12. In addition, students
can opt to study the EPQ and the European Computer Driving Licence
(ECDL) Level 3 along with two A level subjects. To ensure a balanced
programme, Games lessons and, Religion, Philosophy and Ethics,
and the Enrichment Programme are also part of the curriculum.
• Academic Physical Education
• Art
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Design Technology (Product Design)
• Drama and Theatre Studies
• Economics B
• English Literature
• Food Science and Nutrition*
• French
• Further Mathematics
• Geography
• German
• History
• ICT
• Latin
• Mathematics
• Media Studies
• Music
• Physics
• Religious Studies
• Spanish
*Food Science and Nutrition is a Diploma Level 3, which is
equivalent to one A level.
CAREERS & HIGHER EDUCATION IN
SIXTH FORM
In recent years, more than 90% of Ratcliffe students have moved on
to university, either immediately after A Levels or following a Gap
Year or foundation course. Typically, 80% will attend their first choice
university and a clear majority of students win places at a Russell
Group University.
Strength of Mind • Strength of Values • Strength of Purpose

TERM DATES 2019 – 2020
Autumn Term 2019
Summer Term 2020
New Student Induction Day
Friday 30 August
Boarders Return
Sunday 19 April
Boarders Return
Sunday 1 September
Classes Begin
Monday 20 April
Term Begins
Monday 2 September
Bank Holiday
Monday 4 May
Half Term Ends (7 weeks)
Friday 18 October (after classes)
Half Term Ends (5 weeks)
Friday 22 May (after classes)
Half Term (Saturday 20 October to Sunday 3 November)
Half Term (Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May)
Boarders Return
Sunday 3 November
Boarders Return
Sunday 31 May
Classes Begin
Monday 4 November
Classes Begin
Monday 1 June
Term Ends (6 weeks)
Friday 13 December (after classes)
Term Ends (5 weeks)
Friday 3 July
Christmas Holiday (Saturday 14 December to Sunday 5 January)
Summer Holiday (Saturday 4 July)
Spring Term 2020
Boarders Return
Term Begins
Half Term Ends (6 weeks)
Sunday 5 January
Monday 6 January
Friday 14 February (after classes)
Half Term (Saturday 15 February to Sunday 23 February)
Boarders Return
Classes Begin
Term Ends (5 weeks)
Sunday 23 February
Monday 24 February
Friday 27 March (after classes)
Easter Holiday (Saturday 28 March to Sunday 19 April)
13

SCHOOL TRANSPORT
HOW TO FIND US
The School currently operates four bus services bringing in students
from a wide area.
The precise route in each case is determined each year based on
the demand from parents, with a rough guide being one route
serving the South and East of Leicester, one route from the direction
of Nottingham, one route covering the Charnwood villages and
Loughborough, and one route through the Vale of Belvoir.
The route serving Leicester is operated by a third party coach
company whereas the other two routes utilise school minibuses with
our own drivers.
Our aim is to have all students in School for 8.15am with a target
first pick up time of around 7.20am.
The College is easily accessible from all directions and benefits from
being free of traffic congestion at peak times.
Situated in the East Midlands, on the A46 seven miles north of
Leicester, close to the towns of Loughborough and Melton Mowbray
and the city of Nottingham, Ratcliffe College is conveniently located
for the national motorway network.
Access by train is equally easy – the College is only 20 minutes
from Leicester’s railway station, with its regular services to London
and the North. For air travellers, the M1 and M42 links bring both
Birmingham (around one hour) and East Midlands (45 minutes)
airports within easy reach, while London-Heathrow and London-
Stansted are around 2½ hours away.
Buses depart after the end of the extended school day at 6.20pm, in
order to allow full participation in our extensive programme of extracurricular
activities, and also at 4.20pm, where there is sufficient
demand.
CONTACT US
For further information about Admissions, please contact the
Registrar on:
+44 (0) 1509 817072 / 817031 or
registrar@ratcliffecollege.com
Ratcliffe College
Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester, LE7 4SG,
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1509 817000
www.ratcliffecollege.com

RATCLIFFE Ratcliffe College COLLEGE
Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester, LE7 4SG,
Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester, LE7 4SG,
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 817000 Email: enquiries@ratcliffecollege.com
Registrar@ratcliffecollege.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 817000 Email: registrar@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk
www.ratcliffecollege.com
Website: www.ratcliffe-college.co.uk
15

t?
r
s
RATCLIFFE COLLEGE
RATCLIFFE COLLEGE
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 817000
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 817000
Email: enquiries@ratcliffecollege.com
Fax: +44 (0) 1509 817004
PREPARATORY
PREPARATORY
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 817010
Tel: +44 (0) 1509 817010
Email: prepadmin@ratcliffecollege.com
Fax: +44 (0) 1509 817004
E-mail: registrar@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk E-mail: prepadmin@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk
Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester, LE7 4SG, United Kingdom
www.ratcliffecollege.com
Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester LE7 4SG, United Kingdom
www.ratcliffe-college.co.uk
C
I ATHOLIC
NDEPENDENT
SCHOOLS’
CONFERENCE
Registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee No 5900743. Registered as a Charity No 1115975
Registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee No 5900743. Registered as a Charity No 1115975