CELEBRATING 160 YEARS

In 1862 the Xaverian Brothers began their long association with what was to become the present Xaverian College Manchester.

The Collegiate quickly gained a good reputation and the curriculum was expanded to cater for the growing Catholic middle classes who were finding their way into the world of business and commerce.

OUR HISTORY

1862

THE CATHOLIC COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

In 1862 the Xaverian Brothers began their long association with what was to become the present Xaverian College Manchester when they began to teach in the Catholic Collegiate Institute, All Saints.

1862

1907

THE MOVE TO VICTORIA PARK

The property known as “Firwood” stood in two and a half acres of grounds. It had been built in 1871 by Alfred Waterhouse, architect of both Manchester’s Town Hall and Prison. It is today the only surviving domestic building by Waterhouse.

1907

1945

DIRECT GRANT GRAMMAR SCHOOL

After the war the College witnessed a new expansion following on the reforms of the 1944 Education Act and the increase in places made available through the 11+ examination.

1945

1975

REDCLYFFE BUILDING

In the autumn of 1975 Redclyffe was opened housing a sports hall, drama studio, art rooms and music suite.

1975

1977

XAVERIAN SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

Direct Grant Grammar School status ended and Xaverian became a Sixth Form College for young men and women aged sixteen to nineteen within the Manchester Local Education Authority.

1977

1993

FURTHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL

College Principal Mrs Quinn led an expansion in student numbers, refurbished and modernised many of the buildings and updated the curriculum with vocationally based courses and the introduction of information technology across many subjects. Her greatest success, however, was to maintain the distinctive Xaverian mission and ethos in a period of much change and uncertainty.

1993

2002–2005

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Capital from the Xaverian Brothers and grants from the FEFC allowed a new multi-resource building, The Ryken, to be constructed in 2002. By 2005, the FEFC had become the Learning and Skills Council and recognised the College’s progress by part funding a state-of-the-art new building, which was named Mayfield.

2002–2005

2007

OUTSTANDING OFSTED INSPECTION

In 2007 Mrs. Mary Hunter was made Principal. Her appointment can be seen as another watershed in the life of Xaverian. Mary Hunter, whose previous experience was in the general FE sector, brought both an objective eye and a heart-felt empathy to a College truly committed to a special Mission. This was recognised in the latest Ofsted Inspection when the College was graded outstanding in all areas of the report. The College was subsequently awarded Beacon status.

2007

2012

150 YEARS

We celebrated this momentous milestone with a series of events throughout the year with pride that our mission and purpose of the College was still as strong as it was when we were founded in 1862.

2012

2016–PRESENT

OUR PRINCIPAL

Appointed as Principal in 2016, Tony Knowles has enabled the College to go from strength to strength but has never strayed from our mission and ethos in responding to the ever-changing needs of the young people of Manchester.

2016–PRESENT

2023

WE ARE OFSTED OUTSTANDING

15 years on from the last inspection, the College was once again rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Inspectors found that, “Students are proud to be Xaverians.”, “Students have an overwhelmingly positive attitude to their learning.” and “Students display exemplary behaviour both in learning sessions and around the campus.” There have been many changes over the years, however the fundamentals have stayed the same. The zeal and passion we have in abundance continues to grow and the success of our staff and students is inspirational.

2023

DOWNLOAD OUR SOUVENIR BROCHURE

In 2012, we celebrated our 150-year anniversary, take a look at our souvenir brochure to learn more about our extensive history of providing high-quality education to the young people of Manchester, integrating our mission and values of our founders, the Xaverian Brothers.