View source for Ampleforth College

{{short description|Public school in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Ampleforth College
 | logo                    = Coat of Arms of Ampleforth College.svg
 | logo_size               = 150px
 | image                   = Ampleforth from air.jpg
 | image_size              = 250px
 | caption                 = Ampleforth and the Valley from the air
 | motto                   = {{lang|fr|Dieu le ward}}<br />([[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] for ''God the protector'')
 | established             = {{start date and age|df=yes|1803}}
 | type                    = [[Public school (United Kingdom)|Public school]]<br />[[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Private]] [[Boarding school|boarding]] and [[day school]]
 | religion                = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] ([[Benedictine]])
 | head_label              = headmaster
 | head                    = Jon Mutton
 | chair_label             = 
 | chair                   = Edward Sparrow
 | city                    = [[Ampleforth]]
 | county                  = [[North Yorkshire]]
 | country                 = England
 | coordinates             = {{coord|54.2018|-1.0839|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100 |format=dec|display=inline,title}}
 | mapframe-zoom           = 12
 | postcode                = YO62 4ER
 | local_authority         = North Yorkshire
 | urn                     = 121735
 | ofsted                  = yes
 | staff                   = 
 | capacity                = 600<ref name="GIAS"/>
 | enrolment               = {{As of|2025}}, 404<ref name="GIAS">{{cite web |title=Ampleforth College |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/121735 |website=Get Information about Schools |publisher=Gov.UK |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>
 | gender                  = [[Mixed-sex education|Co-educational]]
 | lower_age               = 11
 | upper_age               = 18
 | colours                 = {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#800000}} Black and red
 | free_label_1            = Former pupils
 | free_1                  = Old Amplefordians
 | free_label_2            = 
 | free_2                  = 
 | free_label_3            = Diocese
 | free_3                  = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]]
 | website                 = {{URL|https://www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk/college}}
}}

'''Ampleforth College''' is a co-educational [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|fee-charging]] private boarding school. It opened in 1803 as a boys' school. It is near the village of [[Ampleforth]], [[North Yorkshire]], England,<ref name="inspect2013">{{cite web|url=https://www.isi.net/reports/view?t=c&r=GRT6197_20130122.pdf&s=6197&si=6197&fn=QW1wbGVmb3J0aCBDb2xsZWdlIC0gSW50ZWdyYXRlZCAyMDEz|title=AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE = Integrated Inspection|publisher=INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE|date=2013|accessdate=12 July 2024}}</ref> on the grounds of [[Benedictine]] [[monastery]] [[Ampleforth Abbey]]. The school is in a valley with sports pitches, wooded areas, and lakes. The school has the oldest purpose-built school theatre in the United Kingdom, a dedicated student pub, and its own infirmary. It has received national attention for significant [[Sexual abuse scandal in the English Benedictine Congregation|safeguarding failures]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/inquiry-reveals-there-were-serious-past-safeguarding-concerns-at-ampleforth-college-and-abbey|title=Inquiry Reveals There Were Serious Past Safeguarding Concerns at Ampleforth College|publisher=UK Government|accessdate=29 December 2024}}</ref>

St Laurence Educational Trust and the Ampleforth Abbey Trust are responsible for running Ampleforth College.<ref name=adams/> Boarding fees were £46,740 for the school year 2024/2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk/private-boarding-school-admissions-yorkshire/fees|title=Fees|publisher=Ampleforth College|accessdate=12 July 2024}} Updated annually.</ref>

==History==

[[File:Catholic Public School- Everyday Life at Ampleforth College, York, England, UK, 1943 D17351.jpg|thumbnail|left|Pupils work in the library at Ampleforth in 1943]]

The college began as a small school for 70 boys founded by [[Benedictine monks]], at [[Ampleforth Abbey]], in 1803.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abbey.ampleforth.org.uk/index.php?id=1184 |title=History of the Ampleforth Community| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811015655/http://abbey.ampleforth.org.uk/index.php?id=1184 |archive-date=11 August 2011|access-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref> 

The Abbey and school were built upon Anne Fairfax's generous donation of land. Fairfax herself had attended the [[All Saints Roman Catholic School, York|Bar Convent School]] in York, now known as All Saints. This connection has fostered a lasting partnership between the two schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bar Convent - Anne Fairfax |url=https://x.com/barconventyork/status/1764591619381112999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625190821/https://x.com/barconventyork/status/1764591619381112999 |archive-date=25 June 2024 |access-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>

The school formally constituted as a Catholic boarding school in 1900. Various buildings were slowly added, including the school theatre which was built in 1909. The first performances took place in 1910, and in 1922 a cinema projector was acquired, but could not be used until the following year when electric lighting and central heating were installed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/activities/theatre/a-brief-history|title=Theatre – A brief history|access-date=13 May 2012|publisher=Ampleforth College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419211521/http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/activities/theatre/a-brief-history|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first boarding houses were founded in 1926 to accommodate the growing pupil numbers. In 1929, the Abbey gained ownership of [[Gilling Castle]] and opened a preparatory school. Gilling Castle Prep merged with the college's junior school in 1992 before taking on its current name [[St Martin's Ampleforth]] after absorbing another nearby prep school.

In 1998, girls were admitted for the first time when the [[sixth form]] became coeducational. The first girls' boarding house, St Aidan's, was opened in 2001, followed by St. Margaret's in 2004 to extend coeducation to the Year 9 intake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/pastoral/girls-houses/st-margarets|title=Girls' Houses – St Margaret's|publisher=Ampleforth College|access-date=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114161255/http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/pastoral/girls-houses/st-margarets|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://guidetoindependentschools.com/business-directory/ampleforth/ |title=Ampleforth |date=8 February 2018 |accessdate=25 June 2024}}</ref> The college is now fully coeducational.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ampleforth College to admit Year 10 girls |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/ryedale/4818554.Ampleforth_College_to_admit_Year_9_girls |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130806235521/http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/ryedale/4818554.Ampleforth_College_to_admit_Year_9_girls |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2013 |work=[[York Press]] |date=23 December 2009 |access-date=1 December 2012 }}</ref>

Since the [[Catholic emancipation]], Ampleforth gained a reputation as one of several schools, alongside [[Downside School]], [[The Oratory School]] and [[Stonyhurst College|Stonyhurst]], popular within the Catholic aristocracy and labelled the "Catholic [[Eton College|Eton]]"; it has been noted, however, that falling academic standards have seen many Catholics turn away from the school.<ref>{{cite news|title=Have posh Catholics had their day?|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/july-3rd-2015/have-posh-catholics-had-their-day/|work=[[The Catholic Herald]]|date=2 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124153952/http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/july-3rd-2015/have-posh-catholics-had-their-day/|archive-date=24 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== College tramway ===

In 1895, the [[North Eastern Railway (United Kingdom)|North Eastern Railway]] built a {{convert|3|foot|metre}} gauge tramway from [[Gilling railway station|Gilling]] station on the [[Thirsk and Malton Line|Thirsk to Malton Line]]. The tram was horse-drawn, and provided coal for the college to produce gas. It also transported passengers in open wagons. The tramway closed in 1923 when the college changed to electric lighting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gilling Railway Station|url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/g/gilling/index.shtml|website=Disused Stations|access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Ampleforth Abbey and College. - geograph.org.uk - 406908.jpg|thumb|280px|Ampleforth Abbey and College]]
The school says that its primary concern is to provide pupils with not just academic, sporting and other achievements, but also "a spiritual compass for life": moral principles to give guidance in a secular world;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/the-school/an-introduction-from-the-headmaster|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502225544/http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/the-school/an-introduction-from-the-headmaster/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 May 2008|title=An Introduction from the Headmaster|publisher=Ampleforth College}}</ref> within a context where the "Benedictine ethos permeates pupils' experience".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/the-school/school-development-plan/school-development-plan-explored-further|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614203658/http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/the-school/school-development-plan/school-development-plan-explored-further|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 June 2009|title=School Development Plan Explored Further|publisher=Ampleforth College}}</ref>

The ''[[Good Schools Guide]]'' called the school an "Unfailingly civilised and understanding top co-educational boarding Catholic school that has suffered from time to time as a result of its long liberal tradition." The ''Guide'' adds also that there is "A refreshing openness and honesty about the place these days."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/ampleforth-college.html |title=Ampleforth College, York |publisher=The Good School Guide|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218230513/http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/ampleforth-college.html |archive-date=18 February 2011 }}</ref>

Its academic admissions policy is not as exacting as that exercised by some other [[Public school (UK)|English public schools]]. The school is typically between 150-200 in the annual league tables of public examination results, although it was ranked 6th nationally in the 2004 "value added" table. It maintains a scholarship set, with about 5% of pupils gaining the offer of a place at Oxford or Cambridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ampleforthcollege.york.sch.uk/general/development_plan_full.htm#3 |publisher=Ampleforth College |title= School Development Plan 2006–2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301230619/http://www.ampleforthcollege.york.sch.uk/general/development_plan_full.htm#3 |archive-date=1 March 2008 }}</ref> More than 90% go on to university.

In 2018 the school failed an inspection by the [[Independent Schools Inspectorate]] regarding boarding provision, and the school was issued with a formal notice requiring the school to produce an Action Plan to resolve the failings.  The [[Charity Commission for England and Wales|Charity Commission]] had earlier removed pupil safeguarding responsibilities from the school's trustees, and the headmaster had been suspended from the [[Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]] over safeguarding concerns.<ref name=thetablet-20180730>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/9500/ampleforth-faces-possible-closure-if-it-fails-to-improve-standards |title=Ampleforth faces possible closure if it fails to improve standards |last=Gledhill |first=Ruth |website=The Tablet |date=30 July 2018 |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>

In May 2019, the Department of Education performed an unannounced inspection, with poor results. In July 2019 it was reported that the school's acting head was stepping down after 10 months in the job.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jul/03/head-of-top-catholic-school-stands-down-after-damning-report|title=Head of top Catholic school stands down after damning report|last=Sherwood |first=Harriet|date=3 July 2019|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
However, in spring 2019 the school passed a compliance inspection under a new head.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Following a September 2020 report, still unpublished as of November 2020, the [[Secretary of State for Education]], [[Gavin Williamson]], wrote to the college ordering them to stop admitting new pupils over safeguarding failures; the college said that it intended to appeal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Booth |first1=Samantha |title=Ampleforth College ordered to stop admitting new pupils over safeguarding failures |url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ampleforth-college-ordered-to-stop-admitting-new-pupils-over-safeguarding-failures/ |website=Schools Week |date=27 November 2020 |publisher=Lsect|access-date=27 November 2020}}</ref> The ban was lifted the following April.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Turner|first=Camilla|date=16 April 2021|title=Exclusive: Ampleforth School saved from closure after intervention by Gavin Williamson|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/16/exclusive-ampleforth-school-saved-closure-intervention-gavin/|access-date=17 April 2021|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

==School life==
Though originally a boys' school the college is now fully co-educational. In 2009 an OFSTED Social Care report said that the overall quality of care was outstanding;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/1134333/urn/SC007916.pdf|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150324132832/http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/index.php?q%3Dfiledownloading/%26id%3D1134333%26type%3D1%26refer%3D0|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 March 2015|title=Ampleforth College Inspection report for boarding school|work=Ofsted|date=23 January 2009|access-date=18 October 2016}}</ref> in 2013 it was deemed "excellent".<ref name=inspect2013/>{{rp|9}}

[[File:Ampleforth Abbey.jpg|left|thumb|280px|Ampleforth Abbey]]

==Houses==
[[File:Catholic Public School- Everyday Life at Ampleforth College, York, England, UK, 1943 D17367.jpg|thumbnail|right|Boys buy sweets from the tuck shop at Ampleforth in 1943]]
The school is arranged into ten [[boarding house|houses]], with pupils living in separate house buildings, eating together as a house for lunch 6 days a week, and playing sport in inter-house competitions. Each house is named after a British saint. Boys houses are [[St Cuthbert]]'s, [[St Dunstan]]'s, [[Edward the Confessor|St Edward]]-[[Wilfrid]]'s (as of September 2018 became Junior House) which were originally two separate houses, [[Hugh of Lincoln (saint)|St Hugh]]'s, [[Saint John Fisher|St John]]'s, [[Oswald of Worcester|St Oswald]]'s, and [[Thomas More|St Thomas]]'s, and girls, [[St Aidan]]'s, [[St Bede]]'s and [[Saint Margaret Clitherow|St Margaret]]'s.

Some houses are paired into buildings named after people who have been instrumental in the school's history. Hume House building, named after Cardinal [[Basil Hume]], combines St Cuthbert and St Edward-Wilfrid houses. Nevill House building combines St Dunstan and St Oswald houses. Bolton House building was formerly St Edward and St Wilfrid houses before their merger in 2001. Fairfax House building combines St Margaret and St Hugh houses.

==Controversies==
===Fee-fixing===
{{Main|Independent school fee fixing scandal}}
In September 2005, Ampleforth was one of fifty of the country's leading independent schools which were found by the [[Office of Fair Trading]] to be operating a fee-fixing cartel in breach of the Competition Act of 1998. All of the schools were ordered to abandon this practice, pay a nominal penalty of £10,000 each (with minor exceptions) and make ex-gratia payments totalling three million pounds into a trust designed to benefit pupils who attended the schools during the period in respect of which fee information was shared.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06 |publisher=The Office of Fair Trading |title=OFT names further trustees as part of the independent schools settlement |date=21 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140402142426/http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2006/182-06 |archive-date=2 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/independent-schools-face-huge-fines-over-cartel-to-fix-fees-rcwcznjnvnt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912214704/http://www.pressmon.com/cgi-bin/press_view.cgi?id=991819|archive-date=12 September 2012|url-status=live|location=London|work=[[The Times]]|first=Tony|last=Halpin|title=Independent schools face huge fines over cartel to fix fees|url-access=subscription|date=10 November 2005}}</ref> Mrs Jean Scott, the head of the Independent Schools Council, said that they were unaware that the law had changed, and that private schools had not known that they had become subject to competition law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1455730/Private-schools-send-papers-to-fee-fixing-inquiry.html|title=Private schools send papers to fee-fixing inquiry|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=1 March 2004|access-date=15 March 2011}}</ref>

===Safeguarding===
{{main|Sexual abuse scandal in the English Benedictine Congregation}}

Initially several monks and three members of the lay teaching staff were accused of molesting children in their care over a period of several decades. In 2005, Father Piers Grant-Ferris admitted 20 incidents of [[sexual abuse scandal in the English Benedictine Congregation|child abuse]]. The ''[[Yorkshire Post]]'' reported in 2005: "Pupils at a leading Roman Catholic school suffered decades of abuse from at least six paedophiles following a decision by former Abbot [[Basil Hume]] [later a cardinal, and Archbishop of Westminster] not to call in police at the beginning of the scandal."<ref name="Sexual abuse">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Ampleforth-child-abuse-scandal-hushed.1258869.jp |title=Ampleforth child abuse scandal hushed up by Basil Hume|work=The Yorkshire Post|date= 18 November 2005|access-date=22 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Boarding school Ampleforth College initially failed to pass on abuse allegations to authorities| website=[[YouTube]] | date=April 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDwjag-s6X8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/NDwjag-s6X8 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=6 April 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Following the case, the Abbot, Fr  Cuthbert Madden, offered a "heartfelt apology" to the victims of one member of staff.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/nov/18/publicschools.topstories3|title=Silence and secrecy at school where child sex abuse went on for decades|first=Ian|last=Cobain|date=18 November 2005|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref>

The College thereafter established a safeguarding policy, later judged inadequate (see below), but which was said to follow the local inter-agency procedures of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board and the guidance given in the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 and the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ampleforth.org.uk/|title=Ampleforth Abbey & College|access-date=24 March 2017}}</ref> In accordance with this policy, in 2016 Fr Madden temporarily stepped down from his role of Chairman of Governors during the investigation of indecent assault allegations made by four former pupils.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/ampleforth-college-abbot-steps-aside-as-police-probe-historical-abuse-claims-1-8100839|title=Ampleforth College abbot steps aside as police probe historical abuse claims|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=1 September 2016|access-date=15 November 2016}}</ref> Based on the evidence available no further police action was taken, however the English Benedictine Congregation refused to allow him to resume his role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-37878580 |title=Ampleforth College: 'No action' over abuse allegation|website=BBC News|date=4 November 2016|access-date= 4 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vatican intervenes in Madden case |last=Lamb |first=Christopher |work=The Tablet |date=16 October 2018 |url= https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/10872/vatican-intervenes-in-madden-case- |accessdate=17 August 2021}}</ref>

In April 2018, the [[Charity Commission]] appointed a lawyer to take charge of safeguarding at Ampleforth College, as it was not satisfied that the trustees of the charities that run the college had made enough progress in improving pupil safeguarding.

The [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] (IICSA) investigated the [[English Benedictine Congregation]], including Ampleforth College and [[Downside School]], amongst other institutions, and published a report in August 2018.<ref name=iicsa-20180809>{{cite report |url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/6583/download/Ampleforth%20and%20Downside%20Investigation%20Report%20August%202018.pdf |title=Ampleforth and Downside (English Benedictine Congregation case study) – Investigation Report |publisher=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse |date=9 August 2018 |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809184238/https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/6583/download/Ampleforth%20and%20Downside%20Investigation%20Report%20August%202018.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ten individuals from the two schools, including monks, were convicted or accepted a [[Police caution|caution]] for abuse. The report said that abuse was inflicted on pupils over 40 years, but the schools tried to [[cover up]] allegations. The Chair of the Inquiry, Prof. [[Alexis Jay]], said that the schools for decades tried to avoid giving any information to police or authorities, with monks being "secretive, evasive and suspicious of anyone outside the English Benedictine Congregation", prioritising "the reputation of the Church and the wellbeing of the abusive monks" over safeguarding. New procedures were introduced in 2001 following the [[Nolan Report (Catholic Church)|Nolan Report]], recommending that abuse should be referred to the statutory authorities, however allegations continued to be handled internally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45127284 |title=Child abuse inquiry: School 'reputations put before abuse victims'|website=BBC News|date=9 August 2018 |access-date= 9 August 2018}}</ref><ref name=graun180909>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/09/report-damns-culture-of-acceptance-of-sexual-abuse-at-two-catholic-schools |title=Report damns culture of acceptance of sexual abuse at two Catholic schools |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 August 2018 |first=Harriet |last=Sherwood |first2=Rob |last2=Evans|access-date= 9 August 2018}}</ref>

The Department for Education released a report in November 2020 following an inspection, claiming that the school in some respects appeared to have relapsed in the year since the change of leadership. The school was forbidden from admitting new pupils. The school responded that it had taken "very considerable steps forward" and put in place "a robust safeguarding regime, a new senior leadership team, and a new governance structure that has effectively separated the abbey from the college", and said that it intended to appeal the decision.<ref name=busby>{{cite news|title=New pupils barred from top UK Catholic school after abuse scandal |last=Busby |first=Mattha |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 November 2020 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/nov/28/pupils-barred-ampleforth-college-catholic-school-abuse-scandal|accessdate=17 August 2021}}</ref> The admissions ban, due to come in place on 29 December, was delayed. In his first interview on the matter,  headmaster Robin Dyer stated in December 2020 that there was "no evidence expressed in the report" of any instances "to do with emergencies [or] to do with harm to children". Arguing that the Ofsted report was "less than complete" and had little to do with his tenure as headmaster, he requested that a new inspection be conducted in January.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carpani|first=Jessica|date=29 December 2020|title=Head of Ampleforth College hits back at a ban on admitting new pupils|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/29/head-ampleforth-college-hits-back-ban-admitting-new-pupils/|access-date=16 January 2021|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Following a further Ofsted inspection, in April 2021 the admissions ban was lifted by the [[Secretary of State for Education]], [[Gavin Williamson]]. Inspectors reported that they were satisfied with Ampleforth's progress, and the Department for Education signed off on the school's safeguarding action plan.<ref name=":0" />

An [[Ofsted]] report, following an inspection at the end of 2021, found that the school did not meet independent school standards or national minimum standards for boarding schools in several areas.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Education and boarding inspection summary for Ampleforth College |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50179417 |website=Ofsted|accessdate=29 August 2022}}</ref> They rated the school "Inadequate" for "Overall experiences and progress of children and young people", specifically those with  [[Special needs|special educational needs and/or disabilities]]; "How well children and young people are helped and protected"; and "The effectiveness of leaders and managers"; although rated the quality of education as "Good".<ref>{{cite report |url=https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50184449 |title=Inspection report for boarding school: Ampleforth College |last1=Titley |first1=Jane |last2=Richardson |first2=Jamie |date=30 November 2021 |publisher=Ofsted |id=SC007916 |type=PDF|accessdate=16 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Serious failures' over sex and drugs incidents at Catholic school |last=Pidd |first=Helen |newspaper=The Guardian |date=16 March 2022 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/mar/16/ampleforth-college-ofsted-serious-safeguarding-failures|accessdate=16 March 2022}}</ref> The school disputed these findings as unsubstantiated or factually inaccurate, citing evidence, including quotes from a police report, that were inconsistent with Ofsted's findings.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 March 2022 |title=Ampleforth College: Ofsted 'inadequate' rating over secret party |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-60774056 |access-date=28 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Ampleforth College Media Response to Ofsted Report December 2021 |url=https://www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk/college/sites/default/files/downloads/ampleforth_college_media_response_to_ofsted_report_december_2021.pdf |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Ampleforth College}}</ref> The school also referenced multiple independent audits which contradicted the report, and two Ofsted surveys which found 100% of parents felt their child was safe and happy, and 99.6% of students felt safe.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Ampleforth College 'inadequate' with 'serious failures' says Ofsted |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/15137/ampleforth-college-inadequate-with-serious-failures-says-ofsted |access-date=29 August 2022 |website=The Tablet }}</ref> [[Thirsk and Malton (UK Parliament constituency)|Local]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] [[Kevin Hollinrake]] stated that "I want to make clear that I am supportive of the school in this situation, and I feel that there is a fundamental dispute of the facts behind the assessment, that needs to be resolved".<ref>{{cite web |date=26 March 2022 |title='Fundamental dispute' over damning Ofsted report at £37,000-a-year Ampleforth College |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/education/ampleforth-college-ofsted-fundamental-dispute-over-damning-ofsted-report-at-ps37000-a-year-school-3627478 |access-date=29 August 2022 |work=The Yorkshire Post }}</ref>  A 2023 Ofsted inspection rated the college as "good".<ref name=adams/>

The Charity Commission reported in 2024 that its inquiry had found many "serious abuse allegations" of offences committed against pupils by monks and staff over the preceding decade, with  "significant weaknesses" in the safeguarding, governance and management of the two trusts running the college.<ref name=adams>{{cite news| last=Adams | first=Richard | title=Ampleforth inquiry finds alleged serious abuse against pupils in last 10 years |newspaper=The Guardian | date=12 July 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jul/12/ampleforth-inquiry-finds-alleged-serious-abuse-against-pupils-in-last-10-years|accessdate=12 July 2024}}</ref>

===Construction===
Ampleforth Abbey Trust successfully sued [[project management]] firm [[Turner & Townsend]] in 2012 when the latter engaged a [[construction company]] to build residential accommodation for college students, relying on a series of [[letter of intent|letters of intent]] instead of a formal [[contract]]. The college's position was undermined in the absence of a contract, and the court found that Turner & Townsend had breached their [[duty of care in English law|duty of care]] in leaving the trust exposed without contractual protection.<ref>{{cite web |title=Case Note: Ampleforth Abbey Trust v Turner & Townsend |url=https://byrnewallace.com/news-and-recent-work/publications/case-note-ampleforth-abbey-trust-v-turner-townsend.html |website=byrnewallace.com |publisher=ByrneWallace LLP |access-date=31 July 2024 |date=2 November 2012}}</ref>

==Notable headmasters==
*1992–2003: [[Leo Chamberlain]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ampleforth.org.uk/abbey/news/fr-leo-chamberlain-osb-1940-2019|title=Fr Leo Chamberlain OSB (1940 – 2019)|date=25 November 2019|publisher=Ampleforth College|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>
*2019–2022 : [[Robin Dyer]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Jessica |last=Carpani |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/29/head-ampleforth-college-hits-back-ban-admitting-new-pupils/ |title=Head of Ampleforth College hits back at a ban on admitting new pupils |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= 29 December 2020 |accessdate = 17 January 2021 |url-access=subscription |quote=Robin Dyer, who was appointed in July last year, said the restriction order preventing admissions should be revoked quickly.}}</ref>

==Notable Old Amplefordians==
{{main|List of people educated at Ampleforth College}}

The school has educated many notable figures including [[King Letsie III of Lesotho]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/states/africa/lesotho.html|title=LESOTHO|first=Henry|last=Soszynski|website=members.iinet.net.au|accessdate=4 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630221838/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/states/africa/lesotho.html|archivedate=30 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Rupert Everett]]; [[David Stirling]], [[Lord Fellowes of West Stafford]]; [[Anthony Bamford|Lord Bamford]]; [[Sir Antony Gormley]]; [[James O'Brien (broadcaster)|James O'Brien]]; [[Timothy Oulton]]; [[Robert Nairac]]; actor [[James Norton (actor)|James Norton]]; painter [[Vincent Haddelsey]], Rugby World Cup winner [[Lawrence Dallaglio]]; authors [[Piers Paul Read]] and [[John William Polidori]]; historians [[William Dalrymple (historian)|William Dalrymple]], [[Patrick French]] and [[John Keay]].

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Ampleforth]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ampleforth College}}
* Ampleforth College official site [http://www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk www.ampleforthcollege.org.uk]
* [http://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/yorkshire-area-north/york/ampleforth-college/ Profile] at the [[Independent Schools Council]] website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110218230513/http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/ampleforth-college.html Profile] at ''[[The Good Schools Guide]]''
* [https://www.oasonline.org.uk OAs Online] – alumni website

{{English Benedictine Congregation}}
{{Schools in North Yorkshire}}
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{{Diocese of Middlesbrough}}
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[[Category:Schools of the English Benedictine Congregation]]
[[Category:Catholic boarding schools in England]]
[[Category:Catholic private schools in the Diocese of Middlesbrough]]
[[Category:Benedictine secondary schools]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Private schools in North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1803]]
[[Category:1802 establishments in England]]
[[Category:People educated at Ampleforth College| ]]
[[Category:Co-educational boarding schools]]
[[Category:Ampleforth]]