Fairfield Preparatory School

Fairfield Preparatory School, located in Loughborough, offers a comprehensive and nurturing educational environment for children aged three to eleven. The main entry points are kindergarten (3+) and reception (4+), where prospective students undergo a one-to-one session and observation of social interaction in a group setting. From Year 1, the school becomes academically selective, assessing students in English and Maths, and from Year 3, Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) is also included. The school seeks students with average or above-average ability, and some year groups have waiting lists.

Over 95% of students continue within The Loughborough Schools Foundation, provided they join before the start of Year 4. By the end of Year 5, pupils are offered a Year 7 place based on internal tracking and performance monitoring at either Loughborough Grammar School (boys), Loughborough High School (girls), or Loughborough Amherst School (co-ed). Pupils joining from Year 4 sit the 11+ exams for the relevant school. Recent alternative destinations include Trinity School, Whitgift, Alleyn’s, Repton, and Eltham College. Academic scholarships are awarded annually to the top three performing boys and girls transferring to the grammar and high schools, forming an elite group known as Fairfield Scholars. In 2023, three Year 6 pupils also received music scholarships from the Loughborough School’s music department.

Parents describe Fairfield as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Loughborough Schools Foundation. The long-term vision is for children to progress to the senior schools, but many families express regret that the popular head cannot extend his influence beyond the prep. The schools share an extensive campus, allowing for informal mixing between pupils and access to a wide range of facilities. Fairfield itself is surrounded by sports fields, and the long, balconied school building, crowned with a giant clock face, resembles a luxury cricket pavilion.

Despite having over 500 students, Fairfield retains a welcoming feel. Several generations of families have been educated here, and pupils mention a strong sense of belonging. The school boasts an inclusive mix of backgrounds, religions, and family units.

The school is modern and spacious, with immaculately neat corridors and bright atriums adorned with splashes of colour akin to contemporary art galleries. Tidiness is valued, with prizes awarded for best-kept lockers. This emphasis on neatness extends to the students, who are equally smart in their traditional uniforms.

Significant investment, including £8m in 2016, has been made into new facilities, such as a new pre-prep building. Parents describe life in these early years as a ‘protective bubble’ in a positive sense. Learning is brought to life with an interactive ‘White Room’ that uses cinema projection for an immersive experience. The school also features a gymnasium, specialist arts and craft studios, a food technology space, and a counsellor’s room. Outdoor learning is exceptional, with two forest school areas capturing children’s imaginations. There are two libraries, both welcoming and filled with a vast selection of books, eye-catching displays, and cosy reading corners.

From the start, there are specialist teachers for ICT (children use iPads from Year 1), Music, Yoga, French, Art, PE, and forest school. As children move up to the prep for Year 3, there is a shift in gear, with specialist teaching in Science, Design, Technology, and Engineering (DTE), and by Year 6, German, Mandarin, and Latin are also introduced. Expectations are high throughout, and children who have experienced other school settings often find academic standards at Fairfield to be several years ahead. Students are observed to be completely absorbed by their tasks, working calmly and methodically, but unafraid to ask teachers for help.

Curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity are encouraged at every turn. The school is interested in the whole development of the child rather than just focusing on academics. Activities such as seeing chicks hatch, visiting beehives, participating in the Fiver Challenge, or exploring frozen dinosaur eggs spark the imagination. Children flourish because they are helped to make the best of themselves, and they can truly embrace their talents.

Only seven per cent of pupils are on the SEN register, all for milder needs, supported by a dedicated SENCo who teams up with the Head of Pastoral Care to monitor progress. External specialists are brought in if required. Families praise the school’s communication with parents and the seriousness with which any issues are addressed.

Active children will find plenty of opportunities at Fairfield. The school has its own head of PE for both pre-prep and prep, with shared facilities including an expansive Astro and a modern sports hall. Sports such as cricket, football, dance, gymnastics, netball, athletics, and swimming are mainstays, with hockey doing particularly well. The triathlon club is popular, along with boys’ and girls’ football clubs. There are plenty of fixtures with other schools and via the house system, ensuring everyone gets a go. Dance lessons are a big hit, including for boys, and children were mid-rehearsal for a dance performance during our visit.

The school leads by example with its music facilities. As the only ‘All-Steinway School’ in the Midlands, pupils have access to 25 of the finest pianos, a 130-seater recital hall, and recording studios. Every fortnight, there is a soundbites concert, recorded and streamed to parents. Music is on the curriculum, initially focusing on fun and games to build enjoyment. Everyone learns a string instrument from Year 2 and then brass, woodwind, or percussion by Year 4. There is a wide variety of instrumental ensembles and choirs, including chamber choir, guitar club, strings, jazz band, and keyboard skills club.

Each year group performs an annual drama production, with Year 6 recently staging Shrek the Musical. Drama is on the curriculum, and teachers provide frequent acting opportunities throughout the curriculum, including in Literacy, History, and Geography. LAMDA is available.

Art is popular, with lots on display, from smaller ceramics to a collaborative display of sea creatures highlighting the perils of ocean plastic. The art facilities are expansive and light-filled, sparking creativity. Many children consider art their favourite subject.

Clubs and wraparound provision (7.45am-6pm daily) are highly praised by parents, with many clubs running at lunchtimes. The food in the bustling canteen is universally popular, although pupils would like larger portions. The house system fosters camaraderie and competitiveness, with teams named Normans, Saxons, Vikings, and Romans. The head’s weekly raffle draw is a favourite activity, with prizes including extra pudding at lunchtime or walking the head’s dog, Rosie.

In addition to high academic standards, the school’s commitment to pastoral care sets it apart. Every child feels lucky to be there, and kindness is a core value. PSHE has been rebranded as ‘Life skills,’ with a range of wellbeing initiatives, including a ‘time to talk’ button on the children’s iPads to connect with a counsellor. Parents rave about the teachers’ care and dedication to the children’s best interests.

The school’s extensive catchment area covers several counties, with bus services across Leicestershire, south Nottinghamshire, and south east Derbyshire. The PTA is actively involved in bringing the community together, organising events such as black tie dos, balls, and discos.

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