The college, situated in 200 acres (0.81 km2) of parkland on the Fosse Way about six miles (10 km) north of Leicester, was founded on the instructions of Blessed Father Antonio Rosmini-Serbati in 1845 as a seminary.

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.

Ratcliffe College has a partnership with the Leicester City Football Club Academy Programme.

Academy players complete their GCSE programme studying and boarding at Ratcliffe College in Years 10 and 11.

The first recorded use of the ground came in 1948, when Ratcliffe College played King Edward's School, Birmingham.