17 April 2014

With the Easter break now under way, we've been catching up with some of the term's events and successes - and of course the end of term festivities!

Throughout the year, the Year 10 boys have been helping out at the Darcy Lever Gravel Pits as part of their SPACE activities. They have assisted with all manner of tasks to help out the Gravel Pits Action Group, and their contribution has been much appreciated.

A team of four boys from Years 9 to 11 have taken part in this year’s Royal Society of Chemistry ‘Top of the Bench’ competition, and come away in second place! Niall Woodward, Jack Virgin, Akshay Pal and Ross Percey did really well to secure the runners-up trophy despite tough competition from 29 other teams from across the UK and Belgium.

The Girls' Division Under 12, Under 14, Under 15 and Under 16 netball teams were all winners at the Bolton Schools' Netball League Finals! The Under 13 team narrowly missed their place in the final in spite of an incredibly close match, which had to be decided on a 'Golden Goal'. Nevertheless, this is an incredibly achievement for all of the girls and a proud moment for the school.

The Boys' Division Under 12 football team also have cause to celebrate: they have won the Town Plate competition! This is a great end to a tough season for the boys.

On the last Saturday before the end of term, Hesketh House Junior Girls' School opened its doors for the annual Spring Fair. A good time was had by all in spite of the rather grey weather, and the girls even managed to perform the Maypole Dance! You can watch a short video clip of their performance here.

The Girls' Division Year 7 pupils have also been especially busy in the run-up to the end of term. The forms competed to see who could raise the most money by running a series of stalls selling sweet treats, with the proceeds going to the charity LivLife. The girls worked really hard to tempt their fellow students into buying their cakes and sweets!

The Junior Boys bid farewell to the term with their Spring Concert on the last evening before the holidays. After a day of final rehearsals in the Boys' Division great hall, they performed a variety of music in front of delighted parents, grandparents and friends. This was a really fitting way to polish off the term.

We have also been catching up with some Boys' Division alumni this week. Chris Fairweather was on the crew of Oxford's reserve boat, Isis, at the Boat Race on the 6th of April. Chris was one of the strongest contenders on the squad for a position on the Blue Boat Crew, so it is no surprise that his efforts helped the Isis to victory on the day.

Old Boys Ed Scott and Ed Grundy were in Aberdeen last week for the Commonwealth Water Polo Championships! Grundy played for Scotland and came away with a bronze medal, while Scott captained the England squad to victory in the tournament and won Commonwealth gold.

Ed Scott (left) and Ed Grundy with their medals

Finally, we have received a wonderful update from Old Boy Ryan Daniels, who completed his degree in the US and is now a Private in the New Zealand Army! The community of Bolton School alumni truly is global.

4 April, 2014

It sometimes seems that former pupils really do get everywhere – last weekend saw Old Boy Steven Lord become part of history, when, as Camden’s Deputy Superintendent Registrar, he registered one of the UK’s first same sex marriages.
 
As British Summer time began on Sunday 30 March and most people were enjoying the warm weather, members of Bolton School’s Snowboarding Club took to the cool slopes at Chill Factore in Trafford as they graduated on to the big slope! 

Year 11 boys paid a visit to BoltonLads and Girls’ Club and were introduced to the National Citizenship Service, a scheme which encourages citizenship skills and self-development in young people aged 16 and up.  Their visit follows on from the Year 11 girls’ visit earlier in the year. Bolton School pupils have taken part in the scheme for the last 4 years.

 

Sixth Form girls were delighted to show off their completed sensory wall hanging – a present for Pocket Nook, a residential care home for young adults with Autism, who has been undertaking an “under-the-sea” themed refurbishment.

Renowned Particle Physicist Professor Jeff Forshaw of the University of Manchester visited the School and spent an afternoon with Sixth Formers from Bolton School and local schools and colleges before delivering a mind-stretching evening lecture entitled “The Quantum Universe”.

The Boys’ Division U13 water polo team maintained the School’s tradition of excellence in water-polo as they enjoyed success at the Greater Manchester School Games.

Wednesday was a special day as junior school pupils from across the borough visited the School to participate in a Northern Chamber Orchestra workshop, which culminated with a wonderful evening performance by the children of Dream Pictures, a piece specially commissioned for the event by School organist Michael Pain.

 



Sir Philip Craven, front left, discusses proposals with Sue Hincks, Philip Britton and with Cllrs McKeon, Peacock, Connell and Walsh and Dave Singleton, Chair of Bolton Community Leisure Trust.

Old Boy Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, returned to the School to spearhead the launch of the School’s aspirational bid to develop its sport facilities in partnership with the local community and national sport governing bodies.

Year 6 Junior Girls completed the designs of their Victorian fairground rides, an activity they have undertaken with Senior School’s Head of Resistant Materials, Miss Langley, and one which helps prepare them for the move to Year 7.

Infant School Year 1 pupils put everyone in holiday mood through the delivery of their Easter Assembly, especially parents and grandparents who came in for the special morning.

Bolton School pupils have, over the years, travelled to every corner of the globe so the obvious next step is Space – the final frontier! Boys successfully trialled the lift-off of a tethered helium balloon with a payload attached ahead of a summer launch to the edge of near space.

Congratulations also go to Year 3 boy, Joseph Carolan, who representing Lancashire, won a bronze medal in the Regional High Performance Tennis Finals.

 

And for those that never saw last week's stunning joint production of Romeo and Juliet - or for those that want to relive the passion, here is a short reflective film:

 

 

 

11 April, 2014

The last three days of term saw 46 local Year 5 children representing 11 primary schools enjoy a graduation dinner from the SHINE:Serious Fun on Saturdays programme, which was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton.

The First XV rugby team took delivery of their KPMG sponsored shirts and Engineering Service Company polo shirts ahead of their trip to Portugal to take part in an international tournament.

The last day of term saw a truly inspirational presentation from Mark Brocklehurst, who recently rowed the Atlantic and helped raise £275,000 for Bolton Lads and Girls’ Club – a true local hero!

Junior Girls proudly posed for their photograph, having capped a great netball season by winning the Town's High 5s' Tournament.

For those wanting to relive the wonderful evening concert on the day of the Northern Chamber Orchestra Workshop, click here.