14 March 2014

The week began with excellent news from the Boys' Division U16s and U18s Water Polo teams. Over the weekend, they competed in the ESSA National Water Polo Finals. After a truly dramatic series of matches, the U16s team came second in their category, while the U18s team emerged victorious with first place!

There has been another great report from the Girls' Division's Lacrosse players this week. Four pupils have been selected to join the England U18s squad - a fantastic achievement!

All of the Sixth Formers have had reason to celebrate this week: their hard work and volunteering efforts have won the school a place at the vInspired awards ceremony at the IndigO2 in London! Eight pupils and two teachers will travel down to represent the school at an evening of good food, entertainment, and of course the individual awards themselves.

The Year 12 pupils were off timetable on Tuesday in order to take part in a World of Work day organised by the Careers department. Throughout the morning they enjoyed a series of talks from professionals in a variety of careers, including seven Bolton School alumni! They then spent the afternoon at the UCAS Higher Education Convention in Manchester. This is the first step on a long journey for the Lower Sixth, and will hopefully encourage them to make the right decisions for their future.

Old Boy Phillip Taylor returned to the school on Wednesday to give a talk about the realities of working in Engineering. The students who attended this talk were given a brief description of his career, and some very sound advice for the future if they choose to go into this field.

Siblings David and Nancy Hartshorn - both Alumni of Bolton School - also visited the school this week, in order to donate an amazing array of items to the school's archive. There are not only items from their 1960s school experience, but also documents and memories from their father and uncle, who attended the school in the 1930s!

Boys' Division band The Parallel Oreos were in the spotlight on Wednesday. They travelled to Ryan Giggs's George's restaurant to entertain the guests at a victory celebration for Bolton contestant Debbie Halls-Evans, who won Channel 4’s cookery show The Taste. The boys were a credit to the school, and their set was a definite hit.

The Year 7 girls have been treated this week to 'Discover Your Voice' workshop day. Run by the English Speaking Union, this day of workshops culminated in some really impressive short debates from the girls, who worked hard to make their arguments as persuasive as possible. The day was organised as part of an week off timetable which also saw them taking trips to Stratford and Chester Zoo.

Finally, the Junior Boys' Year 6 Football Team represented Bolton Wanderers at the Northern Final of the Football League Trust Kids’ Cup - and won! It was by no means an easy feat, with some very tough teams to beat along the way. However, the boys emerged as champions of the North, and will now go on to play in the National Final at Wembley in May!