An innovative design solution has been created by Studio G Architecture to achieve Fairfield Preparatory School’s educational vision, providing pupils with additional space and improved accommodation, including new classrooms, an extended gymnasium with spacious changing rooms, a specialist arts and craft room, designated social areas and essential office space.

The project will provide a purpose built Kindergarten unit, which will be available for children aged 3+ during term time. With the creation of the Kindergarten, Loughborough Endowed Schools will have the potential to educate pupils from 3 to 18 years of age. 


Andrew Earnshaw, headmaster, said: “The new Pre-Prep centre will feature state-of-the-art facilities providing a school designed and equipped to deliver an outstanding education for the 21st century and one that Loughborough can be rightly proud of.’
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The Loughborough Endowed Schools are committed to the environment and this is a key driver in the design and delivery of all new capital developments. The Fairfield project is no exception and considerable effort has already gone into ensuring that the new building meets the highest levels of energy efficiency and regard for the environment.
The technical elements of the project are still at the design stage; however the building will almost certainly include a balance of traditional and novel technologies to achieve the lowest environmental footprint possible. This could include the use of rainwater harvesting, heat exchange systems, solar and photovoltaic energy production and passive heating and ventilation systems.


Jim Doherty, the Foundation’s secretary and treasurer, said: “The aim of the Foundation’s strategic capital plan is to ensure that the schools’ facilities continue to meet the requirements of both today and into the future, whilst at the same time ensuring that tuition fees are kept as competitive as possible. In the case of the Fairfield project, significant financial modelling and assessment was conducted, both internally and by external advisors to ensure that the development is both affordable and sustainable.” 

Prudent financial management has enabled the Foundation to safely commit to projects such as Fairfield and other recently completed developments such as the Joint Music School and Grammar School Science Park.


The Fairfield project has undergone a rigorous requirement analysis process to ensure that the precise needs of the School will be met as cost effectively as possible. Jim Doherty: “The Loughborough Endowed Schools are also very proud of their roots and conscious of their pre-eminence within the Loughborough society meaning that all new developments are delivered in consultation with the local community within which we belong.’
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Loughborough Endowed Schools is one of the few Foundation Schools in the country and comprise three schools – Loughborough Grammar School (Senior Boys Day and Boarding), Loughborough High School (Senior Girls Day) and Fairfield Preparatory (co-ed).
Its governing body has managed through careful financial prudence to develop new and refurbish existing buildings in the last 10 years by finding £20 million to this purpose from fees, with no borrowing.
Jim Doherty: “The Fairfield build will constitute the largest single capital development project ever embarked on by Loughborough Endowed Schools and demonstrates the commitment of the Governors and senior officers to provide a fit-for-purpose environment ensuring that the Heads and their staffs are liberated to concentrate on delivering superlative education.
“At a time when many Independent Schools are challenged for survival, this is a significant achievement.”
