9 - 13 May 2011

Rob Moss, who left Bolton School in 2001, returned to the Sixth Form Common Room this week to revisit his past, whilst raising funds for Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club. Rob, who has twice been England Table Soccer Champion, took on pairs of Sixth Form students in the Common Room, where he first developed his skills. Each student pairing paid £2 each to play the current England Coach and if any pairing beat him, and one couple did (Elliot Lloyd and Chris Sumner), he paid them £20. Rob lost just the one match in an hour's worth of playing.

Chloe Wynne, a Year 11 pupil in the Girls' Division, has won the Be Creative: Be a Screen Champion national competition run by Film Education and The Industry Trust. Her prize is an iPad and the School has received four iMacs, a digital stills camera and a digital video camera. The competition involved students researching, designing and creating an original campaign to promote legitimate film and TV content - both at home and in the cinema - and discourage illegal downloads.

Sport wise, Sixth Form student James Roberts once again represented England as part of the Cerebral Palsy Development Football Squad, this time in the 7-a-side Development Tournament held in Denmark. James was part of the England squad who took on The Netherlands, Scotland and Denmark in matches played over three days in Vejen. Competition was tough but the team came away with the bronze of the tournament after beating Scotland 2-1 in the third place play off, and James even captained the squad in the game against Holland. Year 10 pupil Patrick Whelan has won the national U15s' basketball championship with his team Manchester Magic. The final was held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium and in an exciting game, Manchester Magic ran out winners at 83-73 points against Newham All Stars Sports Academy from London. Patrick has been playing basketball since he was six years old and he currently trains three times a week and plays at least 2 matches per week. His mother played for the Cameroon international team and inspired him to take up the sport. Patrick very much has his sights sets on playing for the U16s' England team. And our U13 boys are County Cricket Indoor Champions, having made their way through the qualifying rounds to the finals at Old Trafford where they beat Audenshaw in the final match to take the title.

And last weekend Bolton School pupils, teachers, parents and friends took over the Arts Centre and danced the night away in their very own version of the BBC's popular television show 'Strictly Come Dancing'. With the School's Swing Band and Guitar Group providing the musical entertainment, a series of dances were performed by members of the School's cross-divisional lunchtime Dance Club, before guests were invited to partake of a group dance and a Barn Dance. However the highlight of the sell-out event was the eagerly-awaited teachers' contest which pitted three pairs of the Boys' Division teaching staff against one another in a dance-off! The event proved to be a splendid evening of fun for all who attended and plans are already afoot for next year's 'Strictly Bolton School' evening.