When I found out that I had been offered a place at the school, I was really delighted, but also quite nervous as it was big step up from primary school. None of my friends were coming with me, which made it a little scary at first. However, after I joined, the school’s welcoming and supportive environment helped me settle in really well and I have made many new wonderful friends.

The biggest change between primary and secondary school for me was how much bigger the school was! Although I got a little lost at first, I soon adjusted and can now find my way around comfortably. I also had a lot more independence after joining secondary and needed to be more responsible and organised.

My most memorable moment from my time at Latymer so far was the Year Seven Chamber Concert. I had so much fun putting together a performance with my friends and had an amazing time! I also thought it was a great opportunity to try something new, as I'd never done a performance like that before.

Before starting at secondary school, I thought that it was going to be difficult, the teachers would be very strict, and that I might struggle to make friends. I expected that the subjects would be boring and there would be an overwhelming amount of homework. However, the opposite has been true of Latymer. The teachers are all really friendly and supportive, and I have made a lot of friends. The subjects are challenging in a positive way and really engaging. 

One of the biggest changes between primary and secondary school is the variety of subjects that we learn, and I especially enjoy Geography and German. I felt that primary school didn’t really challenge me, and now at Latymer, I look forward to going to school and learning. 

Another key difference is the number of societies that run, which anyone can join. There are also plenty of sporting fixtures to participate in, as well as more informal games at break and lunch times. I attend the Table Tennis society and Badminton society, and although I didn’t play either before coming to Latymer, I now avidly play both at school. I have also tried out a vast number of societies such as Pokémon society, Comic Making Club, Debate society, and am yet to try out some more! 

My most memorable moment from my time at Latymer so far was taking part in the tours to showcase the school to potential pupils starting next year. I was in a group with my friends, and we met lots of delightful families. It was nice to be able to tell them about the school and everything it has to offer, and I remember just last year when I was in their place!

Before I joined Latymer, I thought the experience of joining a new school was very daunting. I imagined that I would find it very hard to make friends as I am the only one from my primary school to go to Latymer, and I knew nobody before coming to the school. 

The biggest change between primary and secondary is that the work is much more challenging and I don't breeze through it quickly. I find this so much better because it forces me out of my comfort zone and makes learning much more interesting and fun. The choice of languages changed for us as well. In primary school, we only were able to learn one language, but now in secondary school, there are a plethora or new opportunities to learn new skills.

My most memorable moment this year so far at Latymer is when I went to Eco Committee club for the first time. I love my environment and the fact that I could help with a good cause, in any way possible, was amazing. I also enjoyed the open day, where I met my first friends, Maia, Seanna, and Medha. It was a great opportunity to make connections, and it was very memorable.

Before joining Latymer, I already had a clear understanding of what to expect, as my brothers had previously attended the school. From what I had seen and heard, I knew it was not only academically strong but also offered a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, including sports and various societies. This made me feel that Latymer would provide a well-rounded experience. Due to its prestigious reputation, I also expected to be challenged and pushed to achieve my full potential, as well as encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and grow as a person.

The biggest change between primary and secondary school, in my experience, has been the size of the year group and the opportunity to meet a wider range of people. In primary school, we stayed in the same class with the same teacher, which meant we were with the same group of students most of the time. However, in secondary school, we have different classmates for different subjects, which has allowed me to socialize with more people across the year. This has helped me build new friendships and become more confident in interacting with others.

One of my most memorable moments at Latymer so far has been representing the A team in football and competing against other schools in tournaments. This experience has been a highlight of my year, as it allowed me to challenge myself within a competitive environment. Being part of the team has allowed me to make great friendships through our shared passion, and we have developed our teamwork and chemistry on and off the pitch. Overall, it has been a rewarding experience, and I am very thankful to Latymer for it.

Music is an essential part of the Latymer School, with many choirs, ensembles and orchestras. Junior Choir is open to all students in Years 7-9 who enjoy singing, and is usually made up of 40-80 students. They perform a wide range of repertoire in two or more parts, often from memory. There is no audition, and the ability to read music is not required - students are encouraged to bring their lunch and their friends!

As Lily, Year 7, comments “Junior choir is one of the highlights of my week! We always do really fun and interesting repertoire, and I have a great time learning the songs. We perform regularly at concerts in our school, alongside a variety of other large orchestras and choirs. There is a mix of Years 7-9 who attend our weekly rehearsals. We sing lots of different repertoire including songs such as Blackbird by the Beatles and Sleigh Ride at Christmas. There is an upcoming performance at our Easter concert where we will sing a lovely folk song, Linden Lea. We sing in a mixed choir with harmony lines, which always sounds really good and I always look forward to our lunchtime rehearsals.”

Junior Choir make their debut performance in our October 'Music at Latymer' concert and go on to perform in the Winter Concert, the March 'Music at Latymer' and the Gala Concert in July. 

We are also fortunate to have a large team of visiting instrumental and singing teachers who deliver around 400 music lessons each week. We have a variety of instruments available for hire, and teachers regularly visit Year 7 lessons to introduce students to their instruments. Many of our fantastic orchestral musicians began learning their instrument when they joined the Latymer School in Year 7 so, even if you have never played an instrument, it is not too late! 

To learn more about music at Latymer, visit the Music subject page and the Music extracurricular page.

The Latymer School’s library is an oasis of calm at the heart of a dynamic school. The Library has a fantastic range of fiction including Key Stage 3, Young Adult, manga and graphic novels. It also has an eclectic collection of non-fiction for all year groups’ reading which both supports the curriculum and delved into for general interest. Finally our lovely library team provides a range of activities including Book Clubs, World Book Days, author events and quizzes.

Here is the feedback from some current Year 7 students:

• Labeeb: “I love book club because it allows me to explore something I love – literature. The people who attend the club are great, funny people and good company. Ms Bugg, who runs the club [the librarian], always arranges brilliant activities and all of us have very interesting discussions. I find it is a great way to spend my Monday lunchtimes.”
• Sanvika: “I see book club as a fountain of knowledge and imagination where we all come together to exchange ideas and learn invaluable things. Books are mediums of teleportation to your own fantasy world and, although the journey is fun alone, it becomes magical when you’re together.”
• Fram: “Book club is so much fun! We all get to enjoy our lunch with fellow book lovers, to read, discuss and do amazing activities. My highlight was the trip, a day with our friends at a museum where we learn loads while still having so much fun. Book club is the ideal way to spend a Monday lunchtime.”

If your child joins us in September 2027, they will also have a huge library extension to use as we will officially open the two-story extension in September 2026!