How to make friends when your ignored?

right so i've been at my secondary school for 3 years now and i still haven't made any friends. Generally i'm a bit of a loner and i prefer my own company but i don't want people to see me as this loser with no friends so i've decided to change. It's just that people are already in their friendship groups and they just don't seem interested in me and kind of ignore me. I am really shy and quiet and since year7 i've been even more shy but it's about time i make some friends. So where do i start? I don't want to be a tag along i want people to start liking me. Only they don't seem very friendly and approachable and like i said everyone's in their friendship groups and they don't seem to like me much and i don't know why. I wish a new kid came in that i could be friends with and i'm in year 9 so maybe someone new might come in? I don't know what to do anymore. I hate school, i have no friends and i'm too shy to start a conversation. Any advice?