When Sister Mary Agnes stepped off the boat from Italy in 1844, destined for Loughborough, she carried with her a vision rooted in the philosophy of Blessed Antonio Rosmini: that every pupil must be allowed to grow and develop as an integrated human person. Central to a 10-acre campus, the Gothic Revival buildings still stand asA sign of that founding vision, their Grade II-listed chapel and convent designed by Charles Hansom (an acolyte of the celebrated architect Augustus Pugin) forming the cherished core of a school that seamlessly evolved from its 175-year-old convent roots to become the town's only fully co-educational independent institution serving ages 4-18. From 2023 onwards under the leadership of Headmaster James Neville, the school demonstrated extraordinary academic momentum, with 15% rises in top GCSE grades and 18% increases in A-level A*/A grades compared to the previous year. Yet despite this renaissance, the school closed at the end of the 2024-25 academic year due to changing economic circumstances. For families seeking to understand this distinctive community's legacy or evaluating educational alternatives, Loughborough Amherst's 175-year story offers vital lessons about what educational excellence looks like at human scale.
The school has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. The school occupied the same 10 acres where Rosminian Sisters first took charge in 1844. The Victorian Gothic architecture created quadrangles with a contemplative, ordered quality. Staff knew every pupil by name, not as administrative duty but as operational reality in a school that never exceeded 436 students despite having capacity for 600. This scale shaped everything: class sizes capped at 20 pupils, a teacher-to-pupil ratio averaging 1:7.6, and boarding provision (launched in 2019 through a partnership with Loughborough University National Tennis Academy) housing elite junior tennis players rather than large boarding cohorts. The atmosphere reflected its Catholic foundation: the chapel anchored daily rhythms, collective worship occurred regularly, and Religious Studies remained compulsory at GCSE. Yet the school embraced what it called a 'universal' Catholicism, welcoming pupils of all faiths and actively avoiding doctrinal pressure on families outside the faith community.
Headmaster James Neville, appointed in September 2023, read Modern History at Magdalen College Oxford and completed an MPhil at King's College Cambridge, where he served as a Choral Scholar in the world-famous choir. He arrived from English Martyrs' Catholic School in Leicester, where he had served as Senior Vice Principal. His brief tenure nonetheless catalysed significant change. The Minerva philosophy, woven throughout school life, aimed to prepare pupils for a competitive world while maintaining happiness, health, balance and kindness. This wasn't theoretical positioning but embedded in curricular design and pastoral structures.
Loughborough Amherst ranked 668th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 15% of schools within the 'above England average (top 25%)' band. In the latest available cohort, 39% of GCSE grades reached 9-7 (A*-A), sitting above the England average of 54%. Under Mr Neville's leadership, this cohort showed a dramatic 15% increase in the proportion of grades 9-7 compared to the previous year, indicating a significant acceleration in academic attainment. The breadth of A-levels on offer reflected the school's commitment to traditional academic subjects alongside contemporary offerings.
At A-level, the school ranked 945th in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it firmly within the 'in line with the middle 35% of schools in England' performance band covering the middle third of A-level providers. In the most recent cohort, 51% of grades reached A*-B, with 8% achieving A*. The previous year saw an exceptional 18% increase in A*-A grades, demonstrating the accelerating trajectory under new leadership. Students progressed to a spread of universities reflecting both selective and broader-access pathways.
In the 2023-24 leavers cohort, 50% progressed to university, 16% entered employment, and 3% began apprenticeships. The school maintained active partnerships with Loughborough University, and pupil athletes benefited from leading sporting facilities on the university campus. Beyond these headline figures, the school cultivated individuals bound for competitive universities without narrowing the aperture to elite institutions only, a reflection of its inclusive ethos.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
50.79%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
39.08%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The Minerva philosophy served as the curriculum's intellectual spine. At its core lay the belief that pupils should develop mastery of demanding, knowledge-rich content while remaining balanced and kind. This dual emphasis meant rigorous academic teaching alongside explicit pastoral development. Religious Studies remained compulsory at GCSE, reflecting the school's Catholic character but taught intellectually rather than devotionally. Science was taught as separate disciplines from Year 7 onwards, ensuring depth rather than amalgamated coverage. Modern languages featured prominently, with specialist staff and immersive approaches. In mathematics, setting from Year 4 in the primary phase ensured appropriate challenge and support across the ability range.
Teaching staff maintained high subject expertise. As part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation, teachers accessed professional development across four schools and benefited from collaborative curriculum planning. The school's involvement in the Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh schemes, and competitive academic competitions indicated a teaching philosophy that extended learning beyond formal lessons while maintaining academic rigour.
The school's throughput from primary to secondary to sixth form created natural progression pathways. Primary pupils typically moved to the senior school, though families occasionally selected alternatives. The sixth form entry allowed external pupils to join at 16. In the final cohort before closure, leavers distributed across universities, apprenticeships and direct employment in roughly the proportions noted above. For families seeking progression without the disruption of institutional changes, the all-through structure offered continuity from age 4 to 18, though this advantage ceased with the school's closure.
The co-curricular programme showcased distinct strengths across four key domains: music, sport, drama, and academic enrichment.
As part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation, Amherst pupils accessed the Midlands' only 'All Steinway' Music Department, a designation indicating exclusive use of Steinway pianos across teaching and performance spaces. This facility elevated instrumental teaching and chamber music experiences beyond most schools' capacity. Music ensembles included choirs, orchestras, and smaller ensembles offering performance opportunities throughout the year. The Easter music competition calendar involved regional and national festivals. Private tuition in a comprehensive range of instruments remained available, supported by peripatetic staff.
The partnership with Loughborough University National Tennis Academy (LUNTA) represented the school's highest-profile sports initiative, bringing elite junior players as boarders to access leading coaching. This programme produced competitive results: three LUNTA students reached the Junior Wimbledon finals in summer 2023, with one (Henry Searle) winning the Boys' singles championship. Beyond this elite pathway, the school offered mainstream competitive sport including football, netball, hockey, rugby, cricket, athletics, cross-country, basketball, table tennis and swimming. Facilities included the £3.5 million Parkin Sports Centre (completed 2019) and the Grant Sutcliffe Astroturf, shared with the Foundation but accessible to all pupils.
Annual drama productions involved substantial casts and orchestras. The school maintained a tradition of Tableaux performances (a mixed theatrical and artistic event with a century of history at the Foundation's schools), attracting audiences and showcasing pupil creativity. Drama extended into GCSE and A-level curricula, with visiting theatre productions and master classes enriching the programme.
Named clubs underscored the school's commitment to extending curiosity beyond lesson time. Young Medics attracted pupils interested in healthcare careers, meeting regularly to explore medicine and related professions through talks and case studies. Philosophy Society enabled sixth-formers to engage with ethical, metaphysical and epistemological questions in informal settings. Young Enterprise encouraged pupils to launch business projects, developing entrepreneurial thinking. STEM Crest Award provided a structured framework for STEM investigation with external recognition. Debating Society prepared pupils for public speaking and rhetorical reasoning. Alongside these, the school offered creative writing clubs, art clubs and a journalism society supporting a school publication.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award ran as a compulsory or optional pathway depending on year group, offering Bronze, Silver and Gold attainment. The Combined Cadet Force attracted pupils across the Foundation, with Army, Navy and RAF sections offering military training and discipline in a supportive context. Field trips, cultural exchanges and educational visits enriched learning; sixth-formers accessed conference attendance and speaker series to encounter external expertise.
Pastoral enrichment mattered equally. The Sister Celine Award recognised pupils' commitment and excellence in co-curricular activities, shifting focus from academic grades alone to broader achievement. The Personal Development Programme, woven into lessons from Reception onwards, addressed character, wellbeing, resilience and social skills as core curricular elements rather than add-ons.
As an independent school, Loughborough Amherst charged termly fees inclusive of VAT (applicable from January 2025). Fees varied by year group, ranging from approximately £4,365 per term in nursery (for government-funded hours) to £5,690 per term in the senior school. Boarding arrangements, through the elite tennis programme, charged additional fees beyond day provision. An acceptance deposit of £400 was payable upon place confirmation, returnable upon the pupil's departure according to the Foundation's terms.
The school did not publish bursary figures publicly, but made a commitment to families of limited means. Fee payment occurred on the first day of each term via Direct Debit (preferred method) or alternative bank transfer arrangements. The school participated in the Foundation-wide sibling discount policy: from September 2025, 10% discount applied to a third child and 15% to subsequent children studying in the Foundation simultaneously.
Fees data coming soon.
For a Catholic school, the chapel remained functionally and spiritually central. Mass occurred regularly; pupils attended collective worship; RE lessons engaged seriously with Catholic theology alongside comparative religion and ethics. Yet the school's stated commitment to welcoming all faiths and avoiding doctrinal pressure suggested a lived pluralism rather than confessional exclusivity. This balance, rooted in Catholic tradition yet respectful of diverse belief, shaped the daily ethos in subtle ways: grace before meals, but inclusive language; chapel services, but recognition of alternative spiritual frameworks.
Entry occurred at Reception (age 4), Year 7 (age 11), and Year 12 (age 16). Admissions were non-selective; the school did not operate entrance examinations, instead assessing pastoral fit during visits and interviews. A registration fee of £60 (Reception-Year 6) or £120 (Year 7+) was required. For Year 12, sixth form entry required GCSE grades meeting published thresholds, typically around grade 5 (GCSE grade 7) in intended A-level subjects. The school accepted pupils throughout the academic year, though places became scarce as years progressed. Siblings received priority consideration. The school remained accessible to military families through Defence Premium arrangements.
The school's smallness enabled pastoral intensity. Each pupil had an assigned tutor who tracked academic and personal development. The Head of Pastoral Care coordinated wellbeing, behaviour and safeguarding, working alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The school employed a counsellor available to pupils navigating emotional challenges. Safeguarding policies met regulatory standards; the ISI inspection in 2024 confirmed compliance across all required standards.
Behaviour expectations flowed from the Catholic ethos and Minerva philosophy. Pupils were expected to treat others with respect, engage responsibly in school life, and contribute to community wellbeing. Disciplinary procedures ranged from restorative conversations to exclusion in serious cases. The school emphasised positive reinforcement: the Sister Celine Award, for instance, celebrated co-curricular excellence. Bullying was treated seriously, with swift intervention protocols and parental engagement.
The school maintained close liaison with parents through regular reporting, parents' evenings and open communication channels. For boarding pupils (primarily LUNTA tennis players), pastoral care extended to weekend duty staff and on-site medical provision.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) conducted the school's latest routine inspection in 2024, awarding the school 'Excellent' ratings across all assessed areas, including quality of education, pupils' personal development, and leadership. The report praised the school for achieving high standards across a range of starting points, reflecting successful fulfilment of its ambition to provide a challenging, knowledge-rich curriculum with high expectations for all learners. Inspectors noted pupils' positive attitudes to learning, collaborative working and enjoyment of school. Teaching demonstrated subject expertise and clarity. Personal development was characterised as 'Excellent,' with inspectors noting pupils' well-developed understanding of non-material aspects of life, strong moral sense, and genuine respect for diversity.
Historic significance and closure: The school closed at the end of the 2024-25 academic year following a governance decision that rising operating costs, VAT on fees and other financial pressures rendered it unsustainable. This ended a 175-year educational presence in Loughborough. For prospective parents, this closure is historical reality; the school no longer admits pupils.
All-through provision advantage lost: The seamless progression from age 4 to 18 was a significant benefit now unavailable. Families seeking this continuity must look to alternative Foundation schools (Fairfield Prep for primary, then Loughborough Grammar or High School for secondary).
Specialised facilities no longer accessible: Access to the All-Steinway Music Department, Parkin Sports Centre, Grant Sutcliffe Astroturf and other Foundation facilities was a material advantage for families choosing the school. Transfer pupils from Amherst secured places at sibling schools but without automatic rights to the same facilities.
Small community trade-off: The intimate scale, whilst fostering close relationships and personalised teaching, meant fewer specialists, fewer clubs and societies, and less anonymity than larger schools. Pupils thriving in close-knit communities found this ideal; those seeking broader peer groups or niche specialisms sometimes found constraints.
Catholic character and commitment: The school welcomed all faiths but embedded Catholic practice deeply. Families uncomfortable with regular worship, religious education and Christian values woven throughout the curriculum should have clarified this before entry.
Loughborough Amherst was an exceptional independent school whose strength lay in human-scale education rooted in a 175-year Catholic tradition yet authentically pluralistic in spirit. The 2023-24 cohort's 15% and 18% improvements in GCSE and A-level results respectively demonstrated that rigorous academic leadership could drive rapid progress. The Minerva philosophy, embracing both intellectual demand and emotional intelligence, reflected a thoughtful educational vision. Facilities through the Loughborough Schools Foundation elevated music and sport beyond typical independent school offerings. Pastoral care was attentive and personal. For families able to afford fees and living within commuting distance of Loughborough, the school represented genuine value: a selective, small independent institution without the financial premium of boarding schools or metropolitan locations, yet with excellent teaching and meaningful community.
The school's closure ended a distinctive educational offering in the East Midlands. Families seeking similar environments, all-through progression, Catholic foundation, small classes, intensive pastoral support, strong pastoral care, might explore Fairfield Prep (primary), Ratcliffe College (independent day and boarding, Leicestershire), or schools within the Loughborough Foundation family. The school's legacy remains: over 18,000 alumni sustain connections through the Foundation's alumni office, and several now occupy leadership positions in business, medicine and public service, a sign of the formative power of thoughtful, personalised education.
Yes. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded the school 'Excellent' across all areas in its 2024 inspection. GCSE results ranked in the top 15% of schools in England (FindMySchool data). Under Headmaster James Neville's leadership from 2023 onwards, the school achieved a 15% increase in top GCSE grades and 18% increase in A*-A at A-level compared to the previous year. The school closed at the end of the 2024-25 academic year due to economic pressures, not educational quality.
The school was Loughborough's only fully co-educational independent institution spanning ages 4-18, offering all-through progression without institutional changes. Founded in 1844 as Our Lady's Convent School, it maintained its Grade II-listed Gothic Revival buildings central to a 10-acre campus. Pupils accessed the Midlands' only All-Steinway Music Department through the Loughborough Schools Foundation, alongside leading sports facilities. The teacher-to-pupil ratio of 1:7.6, with classes capped at 20, enabled intensely personalised teaching. The Minerva philosophy integrated academic rigour with explicit attention to wellbeing, balance and kindness.
Termly fees ranged from approximately £4,365 (nursery) to £5,690 (senior school) per term, inclusive of VAT from January 2025. Boarding fees for the elite tennis programme (LUNTA) were significantly higher. An acceptance deposit of £400 was payable upon place confirmation. The school did not publish bursary percentages but maintained a commitment to means-tested financial assistance for families of limited means.
The school offered mainstream competitive sports including football, netball, hockey, rugby, cricket, athletics, cross-country, basketball, table tennis and swimming. An elite partnership with Loughborough University National Tennis Academy brought junior international players as boarders, with one pupil winning the Junior Wimbledon Boys' singles championship in 2023. Academic enrichment clubs included Young Medics, Philosophy Society, Young Enterprise, Debating and STEM Crest Award. Duke of Edinburgh's Award ran from Bronze to Gold level. Combined Cadet Force attracted pupils across the Foundation. Drama, music ensembles and cultural trips enriched the co-curricular offer.
Loughborough Amherst was a Roman Catholic school founded in 1844 by Rosminian Sisters. Mass and collective worship occurred regularly; Religious Studies was compulsory at GCSE. Yet the school embraced a 'universal' Catholicism, welcoming pupils of all faiths and avoiding doctrinal pressure on non-Catholic families. The chapel, Grade II-listed, remained the architectural and spiritual centrepiece of campus. Catholic values (justice, compassion, community) permeated the curriculum and pastoral life, though implemented in an inclusive manner respecting diverse beliefs.
In the 2023-24 cohort, 50% progressed to university, 16% entered employment, and 3% began apprenticeships. The school maintained active connections with Loughborough University and pupils accessed university facilities for sport and research. Sixth form leavers distributed across a range of universities, with some securing places at selective institutions. The all-through model meant most primary pupils progressed to the senior school; secondary pupils typically continued to sixth form. Upon the school's closure, the majority of current pupils were offered places at sibling Foundation schools.
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