As a day school with boarding, Loughborough Grammar School boarders are immediately immersed in a wonderfully diverse community with pupils from across the UK, Europe, and around the globe.
Loughborough Grammar provides them with the best of both worlds as a unique single-sex school on a co-educational campus. Our pupils benefit from small classes and a learning environment designed to help them perform to their academic potential, as well as a co-curricular programme which sees them share opportunities and experiences with our neighbouring Loughborough High School; a top independent day school for girls aged 11-18.
An integral part of the co-educational experience for boarders is Loughborough Schools Music. Purpose-built, the music centre provides pupils across the Foundation with the opportunity to explore their musical passions, whether through timetabled lessons, co-curricular activities or a more dedicated approach.
A weekly array of ensembles and choirs bring Loughborough Grammar and Loughborough High School pupils together, helping them to build skills and camaraderie. With concerts throughout the year providing the opportunity for our musicians to showcase their talents, achieve their very best and perform at the highest level, this is a unique opportunity for our boys to experience the best of both worlds.
Two Loughborough Grammar pupils, who were boarders in Year 10 before becoming day boys for Year 11 through to Year 13, have thoroughly enjoyed their time on our campus. Year 13 pupil and pianist, Jeremy, said: “I feel grateful for the facilities we have in this School and the support we get from teachers and staff. We have Steinway pianos, one of the top piano brands in the world, which I get to play every day. I have also received many performance opportunities such as Lunchtime Live every Friday and monthly Tasting Notes where we perform in the Parish Church.”
Fellow Year 13 pupil and Grade 8 xylophone player, Stanley, shared a similar sentiment: “I enjoy playing the xylophone as I think the sound created by it is different from other instruments and at the Music centre, I can always ask for a room to practise whenever they are free. The instruments here are very good in terms of quality and I have lessons where my teacher, Mr Geary, helps me to practise rhythms and techniques to encourage me to improve. I am also a part of the wind band and percussion ensemble; we practise together as a group and have multiple performances over the year which is lots of fun.”
Both pupils also look back fondly on their time in the Grammar School boarding houses, pinpointing the sense of community as a highlight of their experience. Jeremy reflected, “I really liked the connection between myself and the other boarders and I made a lot of friends during that time. I also appreciated the care I received from the boarding staff, which meant that I did not feel such a big difference from being a boarder to becoming a day boy. Even though I no longer live in the boarding house, I still get to meet my boarder friends and teachers during school time. Apart from that, it’s just normal school life.”
Similarly, Stanley said: “When I was boarding what I enjoyed the most was the friends I met and the support I got from the boarding staff. Even now, it always feels like I am in two communities – the day boy community and the boarding community. I don’t think there are a lot of differences between being a day pupil and a boarding pupil, the main difference is just that I have to travel to school and really that’s it!”
Boarding staff strive to ensure the boarding community is thoroughly integrated into the life of the School and co-educational opportunities, such as Music, help to make this as seamless as possible.
