26 May 2017

Friday 26 May was the final day of a very busy last week of a very busy term!  Acclaimed author Sophia Bennett spent the day in the Girls’ Division, telling Year 6 girls how to become a writer, lunching with the Dymond Society before informing Year 8 pupils “How to Win Like A Girl” in her inspiring presentation.

After a week of tests, Junior Boys burnt off some energy in their annual charity fancy dress fun run. Working in pairs, they lapped the Senior School sports field raising thousands of pounds for four charities chosen by the pupils - Derian House, Cash4Kids Manchester, Dementia UK and Parkinson’s UK. An on-the-day bucket collection raised a further £500 for the families affected by the Manchester atrocity.

Year 9 girls spent the week “off-timetable” with half the cohort completing the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition walk in and around Rivington whilst the other half engaged in activities in school including a mental health day and a future entrepreneurs’ event organised by the Parents’ Association. Half way through the week, the two groups flipped activities.

Year 6 girls and boys were given a privileged insight into a number of high-flying careers by former pupils. The Junior Careers Carousel saw alumni talk about their journey from Bolton School pupils to careers in medicine, film production, politics and town planning.  Year 8 girls also enjoyed an informative day absorbed in learning about future career options through six engaging and interactive presentations as well as through workshops with Careers staff in the School.

Boys’ Division Organ Scholars - Ben Chowdhury, Oliver Shaw and William Miles - gave an excellent public lunchtime performance in Bolton Parish Church of music by Cesar Franck, Samuel Wesley and Philip Moore.

The Girls’ Division also showed itself in an innovative private-state school partnership, working with Prestolee Primary School and Prestolee School Centre for Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) to improve the quality of teaching and learning in science through an integrated approach incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM). The focus was to develop trainee teachers’ confidence and subject knowledge when delivering scientific enquiry alongside the arts in order to develop children’s enthusiasm and interest in the subject. 

The Boys’ Division was delighted to welcome ten pupils from Thomasson Memorial School, a local primary school for hearing impaired children, to its Science department for a morning of hands-on lessons. 

Old Boy Sam Hilton was in the news, having been handed his first international rugby union cap for Saudi Arabia, who will shortly play Jordan. He joins the ranks of Old Boy rugby internationals such as Phil Hassan, Jack Forster and Anthony Mellalieu.

And at the end of the preceding week, Year 13 girls had fun on their very last day, dressing up as characters from the 1990s. Sixth Form boys, in their valedictory assembly, learnt about the new Alumni Network and from Old Boy David Seddon about a network set up by former pupils to mentor young leavers in presenting themselves for interview and pursuing their career.

The week’s Inspiring Mind was Chris Eatough, six times world champion in 24 hour solo mountain bike racing.