Our History
Loughborough Grammar School
Loughborough Grammar School was founded in 1495 within Loughborough Parish Church, following generous endowments from local benefactor Thomas Burton. Over the centuries, it evolved from a free town grammar school into part of a wider foundation of educational institutions that now make up the Loughborough Schools Foundation – one of the leading independent school groups in Leicestershire.
By the early nineteenth century, the Foundation managed several schools, including the Reading, Writing and Hickling Schools, before the Grammar School relocated to Churchgate in 1825. The Grammar School Act of 1840 introduced major reform, merging a number of local schools to form the Lancasterian School for Boys and Girls. In 1850, a new Grammar and Commercial School for boys opened on the site we still occupy today, marking a key moment in the School’s development.
The School adopted the historic arms of Ralph Lemyngton in 1860, and a new governing body was established in 1870 to unite the Burton and Hickling Charities. Later in the nineteenth century, the Upper Girls’ School became the Grammar School for Girls, renamed Loughborough High School in 1893.
The twentieth century brought further growth and innovation, including the demolition of the Churchgate School in 1931 and the creation of Fairfield in 1969, following the end of junior boys’ provision at the Grammar School. When the Direct Grant system ended in 1975, both Loughborough Grammar School and Loughborough High School became fully independent schools. In 2018, the Foundation was renamed the Loughborough Schools Foundation, with an updated coat of arms representing a shared heritage and a united vision for the future of independent education in Leicestershire.
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Our History
Loughborough High School Celebrates 175 Years
The year 2025 marks 175 years since Loughborough High School opened its doors, welcoming girls from across the region to study at one of the oldest girls’ grammar schools in the country. From September 2024 onwards, the School has been hosting a series of celebratory events, including the 175 Senior Musical, bell ringing at the Carillon Tower, and the planting of a wisteria to commemorate 175 years of academic excellence and opportunity.
This milestone also marks 100 years of Tableaux and the House Picnic, traditions that remain at the heart of Loughborough High School’s community spirit. Our rich history is woven into everyday learning, inspiring pupils to explore the achievements of the women who helped shape our school and the alumnae who have gone on to achieve remarkable things. Through studying these stories and reflecting on pivotal moments in history, including wartime experiences, our girls gain a deep appreciation of their place within this enduring legacy of excellence in girls’ education.
Our History
Fairfield Prep School
Fairfield Prep School was originally founded in 1929 as part of Loughborough High School, but became autonomous in 1969. In those early days, the School was centred around Fairfield House, known to one and all as the White House, and built in 1828 by a local family of influential hosiery manufacturers. Even with the magnificent additions to the School made in recent years, the White House remains at the spiritual heart of our close community.
This year we celebrate 10 years of Kindergarten at Fairfield Prep School, part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation family. Designed for children aged three and above, the Kindergarten offers an exceptional start to a Loughborough independent education, encouraging curiosity, creativity and confidence within a caring and stimulating environment. Fairfield continues to provide an outstanding foundation for lifelong learning and success, rooted in the tradition of educational excellence that has defined the Foundation for over five centuries.
