July 2026 Agent Newsletter
Another year of student success and academic excellence
We’re delighted to have reached the end of another fantastic academic year, having seen our pupils achieve so much successacademic, sport, music and more.
This term, pupils have been working hard sitting their summer exams, and we couldn’t be prouder of the dedication we’ve witnessed across all of our varied subject areas.
Beyond academics, pupils have enjoyed a wealth of enriching co-curricular activities, including annual events like the Spring Concert, International Dinner and Combined Cadet Force Review, as well as new opportunities such as our alumni networking dinners. Not only do these experiences complement pupils’ in-classroom learning, but they also develop the skills they need to be successful beyond the school gates - confidence, resilience and emotional intelligence. This well-balanced curriculum ensures that when it comes to making post-18 decisions, our students leave us ready to grab hold of every opportunity available to them.
We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a snippet of life at LGS through the lens of our Agent Newsletter. We look forward to continuing to share these stories with you in the new academic year.
LSF wins third consecutive Royal Air Squadron Trophy, making CCF history
We’re incredibly proud to share that cadets from Loughborough Grammar School’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) have secured the national title at the Royal Air Squadron Trophy (RAST) for a third consecutive year – a remarkable achievement in the history of the School’s CCF. This historic accomplishment cements Loughborough Grammar School CCF’s reputation as one of the leading RAF cadet contingents in the country.
Fourteen RAF cadets from both Loughborough Grammar School and Loughborough High School travelled to RAF Wittering on Sunday 21 June to compete in the national finals, having qualified by finishing first in the regional competition earlier this year. Despite having only a few days to prepare as a team following their GCSE and A Level examinations, the cadets delivered an outstanding performance against some of the strongest competition in the country.
Their combined efforts saw them place:
1st in shooting
2nd in drill, space and cyber
3rd in first aid
5th in leadership
Section Commander, Flt Lt Jo Smith, said: “Three RAST wins in a row – I’m speechless! I am so proud of the entire team for their commitment, determination and talent, especially while balancing the demands of GCSE and A Level exams. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the high level of training at Loughborough Grammar School CCF. ”
Sports spotlight
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Kirkpatrick the new Director of Sport for Loughborough Schools Foundation, with effect from January 2027.
Ben will join the Foundation from Bedford
Modern School, where he is currently Director of Sport and Fitness, leading all aspects of sport,
physical education, physical activity and fitness across a school community of more than 1,200 pupils.
Ben brings a breadth of experience spanning sport, wellbeing and wholeschool leadership. His commitment to fostering both high levels of participation and sporting excellence makes him an outstanding addition to the Foundation’s senior leadership team.
Teacher selected to represent England over 50s against India
PE teacher, Martyn Gidley, was selected to represent England in the over-50s cricket One Day International against India this month.
Taking place at Broxbourne Cricket Club on Sunday 28 June, the team secured a 186-run victory, marking another significant milestone in Gidley’s distinguished International Masters cricket career.
It’s a huge honour to once again represent England, particularly in a fixture against a strong India sideopportunities like this are incredibly special. Balancing playing at this level alongside teaching is something I’m very proud of, and I hope it shows our pupils that a love of sport can stay with you for life.
Training opportunities
Agent and counsellor training is a key part of the AQF, promoting ethical practice, professional knowledge and competency. We would strongly encourage Agent Partners to complete appropriate sector-endorsed training focusing on the national code of ethical practice for education, such as the British Council UK Agent and Counsellor Training and British Council agency management course.
This training enhances knowledge of UK immigration rules and best practices. It is the responsibility of the contracted Agent organisation to ensure that all subagent organisations are also suitably trained and adhere to the required codes of operation.
Further useful resources can be found on the British Council UK agent and counsellor training and engagement hub.
What is life at LGS like?
From first impressions to favourite subjects and food, boarding pupils, Brandon and Wyatt, share their experiences.
How did you choose Loughborough Grammar School?
Wyatt: The school was a recommendation through my agent. I was deciding between two schools and I chose Loughborough Grammar. I had a virtual discussion with the Head of Boarding, Mr Blackman, to answer my questions.
Brandon: I chose the school through relatives (my relatives studied at LGS and were in Year 13 in School House) and also, through my agent who supported me through the visa and moving process. Before we came here, we had an interview in Hong Kong, asked all of our questions and saw images and videos.
What were your first impressions on arriving at the School?
Brandon: I thought it was historic and beautiful. My Mum is a big Harry Potter fan and she described the School as being like Hogwarts! In Hong Kong we don’t have a lot of space so when I arrived, I was surprised that different subjects have their own buildings – the Science Park, Maths Building. It’s a big campus.
Wyatt: I really like the sports facilities – they have a massive field and two astro turfs. And it’s great that they have different blocks for different subjects, because they don’t have that in Hong Kong.
How did you find the food when you arrived at Boarding School in the UK?
Brandon: I’ve heard that our school has much better food compared to most of the other schools. That’s definitely an advantage!
What subjects do you study now and which is you favourite/which do you find most difficult?
Brandon: My favourite is Chemistry, but the hardest for me is definitely Maths. I’m not the person you look for if you need help with Maths!
Wyatt: I like Spanish, because I think it's quite nice to learn a new language - it's quite challenging – and I like Biology because of the practicals.
How easy was it to settle into school life?
Brandon: It’s quite easy because the teachers are really helpful. We have a Form Room and we are assigned a buddy. My Form Tutor assigned me to literally one of my best mates and we talk a lot. This really helped my journey.
Wyatt: You make friends and then you have people to talk to and you’re fine. I have lots of friends who are day students and we can invite them into the Boarding House.
What do you think of Loughborough as a town?
Brandon: It’s safe and quite quiet. It’s a typical British Market town, but it’s a university town as well, so you can find anything you need – there are lots of international shops.
On the horizon...
Student theatre company, ‘Seige of Herons’ , will be returing to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August with two shows for children set to take to the stage.
The new academic year begins on Monday 7 September.
Please note that from September, we will be issuing the Agent newsletter on a half-termly basis. You can expect to receive the next issue in October.