A year to grow, try and thrive

Year 7 at Loughborough Grammar School

When I think about what really matters in Year 7, it comes down to one simple thing: happy boys. If a boy is happy, feels supported and believes in himself, everything else follows. My absolute priority is that every boy finishes Year 7 having enjoyed a busy, fulfilling year. A year during which he has tried new things, achieved success in ways he never expected, and grown in confidence as a learner, as a person; as a young man. Year 7 is a year of discovery. It’s about boys realising that they are capable of far more than they may think.

Confidence starts in the classroom

Year 7 is about learning. Our core offering is in the classroom, where boys study a broad and exciting curriculum of around 13 subjects. All we ask of them is simple: turn up, try your best, and engage with the process of learning. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing boys arrive convinced they are “rubbish” at something, maths is a common example, and gradually realise that they can enjoy it, and that they can succeed. Every teacher here wants a pupil to leave their lesson thinking, “I enjoyed that, I found it interesting, and I did well.”

Our approach to teaching is built on encouragement and achievement. Praise matters. Effort matters. We provide boys with lots of ways to demonstrate success, and where extra support is needed, it is highly personalised. Extra support for one boy will be completely different for another. Sometimes that support is as simple as sitting down and revising together before a test, giving a boy exactly what he needs at that moment to feel capable again, or other times it might be to discuss it with his teachers or learning support team. It’s important to me to fully understand what support looks like for each individual Year 7 boy.

Effort first, and achievement follows

Every half term, we reward boys not for attainment, but for effort. If you try hard, the attainment will follow… and that is a message we reinforce constantly. A Year 7 commendation certificate and a genuine pat on the back can make a huge difference to a boy’s self-belief.

We also place great emphasis on character. We want our boys to grow into thoughtful, respectful young men… what I often describe as being a “model citizen”. Through assemblies, charity work and shared experiences, boys learn about kindness, gratitude and social responsibility. Whether it’s fundraising through charity runs or packing Christmas shoeboxes for those in need, our boys understand that not everyone is as fortunate as they are, and that they have a responsibility to look beyond themselves.

A school where every boy belongs

One of the most stereotyped beliefs about an all-boys school is that it will be loud, rugby-obsessed and overwhelming. The reality could not be more different. When I show parents around during a typical school day and they see calm, purposeful classrooms filled with focused, self-controlled boys, they are truly amazed.

Yes of course sport is important here. It’s big here. Just read some of our news stories to get a flavour of the sporting offer… But it’s certainly not everything. Boys who love music, drama, debating, board games, Warhammer, mind sports or simply spending time in the library will absolutely find their place. Whatever a boy is interested in, I guarantee I will help him find others who share that interest. Belonging matters.

From the very start, kindness sits above everything else. I say it on day one, when they arrive in their shiny new suits with blazers slightly too big: “you will be kind to each other, and you will have each other’s backs.” We celebrate difference, we celebrate effort, and when one boy succeeds, the whole year group shares in that success.

Care, communication and supervision

We provide a very high level of supervision and pastoral care in Year 7. Boys have their own designated areas, staff are visible at all times, and we are proactive about noticing anyone who seems isolated. If a boy is unhappy, I want to know about it that day. Issues are dealt with quickly, calmly and thoughtfully. I will not have boys in Year 7 feeling unhappy or unsupported.

Trying things they never imagined

I have countless examples of boys discovering unexpected passions. One boy was dragged along to hockey by friends despite having no interest. By the spring term, he was part of a Midlands runners-up team. Another tried laser run for the first time and went on to represent Great Britain at the European Laser Run Championships, bringing home a gold medal. One family now has a garden full of beehives after a Year 7 beekeeping club sparked a lifelong passion – I may need to apologise for that one!!

But this is what Year 7 is about: finding out what you’re good at…. especially the things you never expected.

Learning courage, resilience and teamwork

Our enrichment programme on Friday mornings is a particular highlight. All boys take part in activities such as cookery, mountain biking, air rifle shooting, first aid qualifications, drama, racket sports and even building an electric buggy, all led by specialist instructors. Everyone tries everything.

I’ve seen boys who believed they were “terrible” at sport show incredible resilience, earning public commendations not for winning, but for perseverance. I’ve seen confidence grow quietly and steadily. And I’ve seen boys take enormous pride in how far they’ve come.

Perhaps the moment that captures Year 7 best for me came on our annual residential a few years ago. One boy was absolutely terrified of abseiling. Instead of laughing or leaving him to it, his friend asked for the ropes to be set up next to each other and volunteered to go with him, holding his hand the entire way down. If I could take one image away from my time in this role, it would be that moment. Boys supporting boys. That is Year 7.

A year that matters

My proudest moments come at the end of the year, when I see a confident, cohesive group of boys laughing together, celebrating each other’s successes and feeling genuinely proud of what they’ve achieved. Year 7 sets the tone… not just for senior school, but for the young men they will become.

Parents often tell me that chatting with our older boys at an open morning is what convinces them to choose this school. And rightly so. Our pupils are our best ambassadors. When they leave us in Year 13, they are confident, grounded, kind young men, ready for the world ahead.

Year 7 is the beginning of that journey. And it is a joy to be part of it.