Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School (LGS) is an independent boys’ school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It offers both day and boarding, and it has been part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation since 1962, along with Loughborough High School and Fairfield Preparatory School. The school welcomes pupils from age 10 to 18 and provides means-tested bursaries called School Assisted Places to help with fees.
History and background
LGS was founded in 1495 thanks to a bequest from Thomas Burton, a successful town merchant. The school moved to its current site on Burton Walks in 1852, after land was bought and prepared for a new building. The campus includes several Grade II listed buildings. In 1996, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Queen’s Building to mark the quincentenary celebration of the school. The school has a long history and a strong tradition within Britain’s public school system.
Campus and facilities
The main campus sits on Burton Walks in the town, with historic buildings forming the core of the quad. A 39-acre site in Loughborough and a separate 70-acre sports site in nearby Quorn make up about 110 acres in total. Notable buildings include the Barrow Building, L Block (scientific facilities), Hodson Hall (events and assemblies), Burton Hall (dining), and the Queen’s Building (English and Drama). A modern Philip Tomlinson Music School opened in 2006, and a large sports centre, the Parkin Sports Centre, opened in 2019. There are extra facilities on the western side of Burton Walks, including science and language blocks, as well as shared sports pitches used with Loughborough High School. The school also owns a 70-acre site at Quorn for athletics, rugby, cricket and other sports. A public footpath runs along Burton Walks connecting Shelthorpe to Loughborough town centre.
Academics
Entrance to LGS is through an entrance examination in January for Year 7 (entering Year 7 at age 11). There is also a 13-plus option for entry to Year 9 and a 16-plus route for Sixth Form entry based on GCSE results. Subjects tend to be traditional; the most popular A-Levels include Mathematics, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geography, with Business Studies, Psychology and Physical Education added in recent years. In recent years, GCSE results have shown a high proportion of top grades, and A-Levels have included a significant number of top grades as well. Class sizes are generally small, with GCSE classes up to 24 pupils (often 16–20) and A-Level classes around 12 students. Some subjects at A-Level are taught with pupils from Loughborough High School.
Extracurricular activities
LGS runs a large Combined Cadet Force (CCF) with Navy, Army and RAF sections; about 240 pupils take part, including students from Loughborough High School and Loughborough Amherst School. The CCF participates in Remembrance Parades and Annual Reviews, and has a purpose-built Cadet Force building opened in 2005. The Navy section is linked to HMS Diamond, the Army to the Royal Anglian Regiment, and the RAF to RAF Cosford. The school also runs the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a Scout Troop, adventurous expeditions, and various clubs and societies, including a Debating Society and a student newspaper called VOX. The school frequently hosts charity events and concerts.
Sport
Major school sports are rugby, field hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, football and cross-country. LGS competes in national competitions and supports teams from under-12 to under-18. The school has organized international tours for rugby, hockey and cricket to places such as South Africa, Australia and the Far East. The Loughborough Dynamo Football Club was formed by pupils in 1955.
House system
The school uses a house system with four houses: Abney (green), Yates (yellow), Pulteney (purple) and Davys (sky blue). All boys have a small tie stripe in their house colour. The houses compete in sports, quizzes, chess, bridge and music, with points deciding the Stamper Cup winner. The Eagle trophy is awarded to the house with the most points in non-sporting competitions.
Notable head teachers
Historically notable heads include Cecil William Kaye (1894–1900) and Walter Lucian Garstang (1955–1959). More recently, Paul Fisher led the school from 1998 to 2015.
Old Loughburians
Former students are known as Old Loughburians and form the Old Loughburians Association (OLA). The school publishes an alumni magazine, now titled Beyond the Barrier, since 2016. The association lists many distinguished former pupils across various fields.
Summary
Loughborough Grammar School is one of England’s oldest and most storied independent boys’ schools, with a broad campus, extensive facilities, and a strong tradition of academic and extracurricular achievement. It combines a long history with modern facilities and a commitment to accessible education through bursaries.
This page was last edited on 29 January 2026, at 07:25 (CET).