Page 12 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine
P. 12
12 NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE
THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
THURSDAY 26TH MARCH 2015
A royal welcome
Ratcliffe College was delighted to welcome HRH The Duke of The architect, David Franklin, who designed the new building,
Gloucester to officially open the new Preparatory School on talked about his project with the Duke, who took a great interest,
Thursday 26th March. The College has invested £4.5 million having previously trained in Architecture. The Preparatory
in a new, state-of-the-art building for its Junior pupils, which School has been developed to be sympathetic to the original
opened its doors last September. Ratcliffe College Preparatory school building, opened in 1847, which itself was designed by
School, as the new school is now known, provides the latest and the famous architect of the Houses of Parliament, Augustus
best technology and teaching facilities for children aged three Welby Pugin. Coincidentally, David Franklin is a descendant of
to eleven years, in the safe, secure and beautiful setting of the Pugin. The Preparatory School, like the original College, has been
College’s two hundred acre estate. designed around a ‘Quad’, ensuring that the new classrooms are
bathed in natural light. The design was acclaimed so highly that it
The Duke was met by Gareth Lloyd, the Headmaster, won an award in the Charnwood Borough Council’s ‘Charnwood
Fr Christopher Cann, the Preparatory School Headmaster, and Design Awards 2015’.
the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Charnwood, together
with Governors, Old Ratcliffians and Staff, and was greeted Also enjoying the occasion were many Old Ratcliffians and
enthusiastically by the Preparatory School pupils singing ‘I parents who had contributed so generously to the Paving
Believe’. This was followed by a tour of the new building, where Stones Appeal. Adding a wonderful sentiment to the front of the
the Duke enjoyed interacting with pupils as they baked chocolate building, our beautifully inscribed paving stones remember Old
brownies in the Science and Food Technology classroom, Ratcliffians and families who have studied here, alongside names
designed Puginesque tiles in the bespoke Arts and Crafts Studio, of pupils and families who are currently enjoying their time at
and performed Samba Drums in the Music Room. Ratcliffe. Thank you to everyone who has supported the appeals
in the run up to the opening of our wonderful new School.
The new Preparatory School Gareth Lloyd & HRH The Duke of Gloucester
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