28 September 2012

The first few weeks of term have been as busy as usual!

Bolton School became the first school from the North of England to win the U15s’ ESCA/ECB T20 National Cricket Final with an emphatic 10 wicket victory over Whitgift School from Croydon. Across the country over 1,000 schools entered the competition and, earlier in the summer, Bolton School became Northern Winners after overcoming Sedbergh in the final. More sporting success as year 11 pupil Jonny Williams won the Under 15 National Series in the Youth Freestyle Kayaking competition in Nottingham. Following his win, Jonny then went on to win the Under 18s’ first of four heats for the Nationals.

Year 11 pupil Katie Hurt has been awarded a full membership of the Halle Youth Orchestra for her cello playing. Katie, who also plays the piano and flute, has been signed up for the 2012/2013 season following a successful audition on the cello which she has been playing since she was in Year 1. And year 13 pupil Rachel Zarrouk has won the Cambridge Psychology Essay writing competition. Rachel is the first ever winner from Bolton School and went to Cambridge to receive her £300 prize.

The School has had a number of visitors in the new term. Year 12 pupils in the Girls’ Division received expert business tips and motivation from 2008 Apprentice finalist Claire Young, as part of a Business Enterprise and Skills Training Day. Successful businesswoman Claire spoke to the girls about her own career, her time on The Apprentice, and the qualities she feels make her a successful businesswoman. Her overall message to the girls was that with hard work, drive and determination anything is possible.

Olympian Ed Scott, who left Bolton School in 2006, returned to school and wasted no time in returning to swimming pool where he first learnt to play water polo and where he honed his skills which allowed him to play in goal for Team GB at London 2012. Ed, just back from having taken part in the spectacular victory parade through the capital, spent an hour in the water passing on tips and coaching advice to Bolton School’s elite water polo players.

And National Geographic Cameraman, Leon McCarron, visited Hesketh House to talk to the girls about his life as an adventure cameraman. In May 2012, Leon concluded a 3000 mile walking expedition, trekking the length of China from Mongolia to Hong Kong and filming along the way. Leon spoke about his adventures, in particular his 3000 mile walk through China. He told of his experiences on the trip including meeting the people and seeing the country on foot, and of problems he faced and lessons learned.

6th September 2012

It was great to see former Bolton School pupils playing a key role in the Paralympics opening ceremony, an event described as "both spectacular and deeply human" by the London 2012 organisers. Old Boy Sir Ian McKellen joined Professor Stephen Hawking to narrate a scientific ‘journey of discovery’, and also played Prospero, a character from Shakespeare's The Tempest in the spectacular ceremony. Fellow former pupil, Sir Philip Craven, entered the ceremony with The Queen, in his role as International Paralympic Committee President.

More good news as the Girls’ Division has been ranked in the top 100 Schools in the UK, based on GCSE results. The Girls’ Division was ranked 83rd in the table, released by the Independent Schools Council. The listings are based on the proportion of exam entries awarded A* or A, which was 72.48 percent in the Girls’ Division. It was one of just three schools in Greater Manchester to make the top 100.

Bolton School's History magazine 'The HistOracle' has won 'Best School History Magazine' for the second year running! To receive the 2012 title in the ‘Young Historian Project’ awards, is a huge honour for the School and the magazine, which is a biannual publication of eclectic historical essays and articles produced by boys of all ages. Two boys also received individual awards for articles they wrote for the magazine. This year, a new Lower and Middle School history magazine will be launched, hopefully to challenge ‘The HistOracle’ for the top spot!

There was more History on the menu during the summer break as Year 9 boys took part in a History trip to the First World War battlefields, and laid wreaths to honour Old Boys of the School who were killed during the war. Wreaths were laid at Vimy Ridge and Thiepval memorials in Northern France, and at Tyne Cot memorial in Belgium, where Bolton School Old Boys are commemorated. The four day trip included visits to the ‘In Flanders’ Fields’ and ‘Passchendaele Memorial’ museums in Ypres, a tour of the trenches and tunnels at Vimy Ridge, key sites on the Somme and attendance at the Menin Gate memorial ceremony.

And Philip Britton, Headmaster of the Boys' Division, now has over 100 followers on Twitter! The Head began his tweets in the Summer Term and he regularly comments on the day-to-day activities of the School and on wider educational issues. You can keep up-to-date with his tweets here: https://twitter.com/Philip_Britton