20 December 2019

The Year 2 Choir brought festive cheer to the local community with a special Christmas performance at Christ Church, Heaton. The children sang carols and songs from their Christmas play.

In the Girls' Division, the Ceremony of Carols combined traditional songs and readings with contemporary reflections on the spirit of Christmas to make for a memorable evening. There were stunning performances from the choirs throughout.

Watch a selection of videos from the Ceremony of Carols via the links below:

• Hodie - Chamber Choir
• In Dulci Jubilo - Senior Choir
• The Shepherds Carol - Chamber Choir
• Ding Dong! Merrily On High - Senior Choir
• The Wexford Carol - Lower School Choir
• Nativity Carol - The Accidentals
• Three Kings From Persian Lands Afar

The Christmas Festival filled the Boys' Division Great Hall with a series of rousing carols, interspersed with beautiful choral performances and thoughtful readings and prayers. The evening was a wonderful celebration of Christmas.

Watch a selection of performances from the Boys' Division Christmas Festival via the links below:

• Gloria - Boys' Division Choir
• Christmastime - Lower School Choir
• Precious Child, So Sweetly Sleeping - Boys' Division Choir
• A Little Child There Is Yborn - Joint Chamber Choir
• Mary's Boy Child - Boys' Division Choir and audience

The Junior Girls told 'Stories from the Stable' at their Christmas Concert this year. The Nativity was recounted through song, poetry and narration from the points of view of the animals who were there when Jesus was born.

Click here to watch the Junior Girls' Christmas Concert in full.

A traditional Carol Service heralded the Christmas period for the Junior Boys. As well as traditional songs and lovely choral performances, a selection of Biblical and secular readings helped to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas traditions in Girls' Division raised money and donations for a variety of charities throughout December. Activities such as the Christmas Post and Prefects' Panto as well as more recent additions to the festive calendar like the Urban Outreach Hamper Challenge all focused on helping others while having fun.

The impressive creations baked and decorated by Year 8 and 9 Christmas Cake Club went on display in the Girls' Division just before the Ceremony of Carols. The Year 8 girls' cakes were judged by Miss Hincks, with two worthy winners earning prizes for their efforts.

Over the Christmas period, look out for Year 9 pupil Mia who will appear as a mill girl in BBC One's all-star remake of 'A Christmas Carol'! A trailer for this new, dark adaptation is available here. The programme will air in three parts from 22 to 24 December in the prime-time evening slot.

In sporting news, two girls in Year 8 have this term been selected for regional netball academies. The Junior Boys' Gymnastics Final took place on the penultimate day of term and showcased a very high standard of performance from all eleven boys who took part.

Girls' Division pupils in Years 7 to 9 performed Shakespeare's comedy 'As You Like It' in the Theatre. This impressive production ran for three nights in early December and delighted audiences with their interpretation of this tricky text.

Old Boy Oliver Hill recently got in touch to share his achievements since leaving Bolton School in 2015. Not only has he graduated from university with a first and directed his own short film, he has had the opportunity to work on a number of large-scale film and television productions.

Boys' Division pupils helped to celebrate the end of the international year of the Periodic Table with a contribution to the updated elements song. Spot the Bolton School boys in the The Elements Song 2019 here.

Girls in Year 11 enjoyed a chocolate workshop at Slattery's towards the end of term. They enjoyed learning the history of chocolate making and had a go at making their own chocolate creations.

A date to save for 2020: on Monday 10 February at 7.00pm, Miranda Krestovnikoff will give a free, public talk entitled 'The Sea Around Me'. She will share some of the highlights from her 20-year career filming marine wildlife around the UK. Subscribe to our mailing list here to receive reminders and updates about forthcoming Enrichment Evenings.

13 December 2019

Pupils from across Bolton School have come together to support Urban Outreach's Christmas Hampers campaign. The 'Hamper Challenge' saw families from the Girls' and Boys' Division Senior and Junior Schools collect 2,600 selection boxes to be included in the charity's 1,300 hampers given out to families in need.

Over 1,000 pupils from across the region joined Bolton School boys and girls in the Great Hall for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Flash Bang Show. This chemistry demonstration is annually hosted by Bolton School and enjoyed by pupils from state and independent schools in Year 9 and above.

The Bolton School Foundation gathered to pay tribute to Chairman of Governors and Old Boy Michael Griffiths, who has retired from his post. He has served for 33 years as a Governor and took over as Chairman in 2007. He is succeeded as Chairman by fellow Old Boy Ian Riley.

The guest speaker at this year's Tillotson Lecture as The Rt Hon Sir Ernest Ryder: an Old Boy who is now the Senior President (Chief Justice) of Tribunals in the UK. He talked eloquently about the changing face of justice, giving a comprehensive overview of the justice system's past, present and potential future before taking questions.

The Boys' Division production of 'A Christmas Carol' took place in the Great Hall last week. The impressive performance of this Dickens classic from a cast of talented pupils delighted audience for four nights and was reviewed by Old Boy Sam Warburton.

The families of children attending Beech House, Bolton School's Infant School, helped to bring Christmas cheer to those less fortunate by contributing a huge array of children's toys to the joint Bolton Lions and Bolton News appeal.

Pupils from the Senior School also performed at the Beech House Winter Sparkle Fair recently.

Boys' Division pupils and Sixth Form students from Haslingden High School have been working together on an exciting joint project with optometrist Professor Phil Morgan from the University of Manchester. They have been working to find out how long disposable contact lens material lasts in the environment.

Bolton School Nursery's Christmas Party took place in the Arts Centre, bringing together the children and their families for lots of festive fun.

Pupils in the Boys' Division took part in a Holocaust art project to create moving tributes to the victims and survivors. The work was created by looking at art as an act of spiritual resistance and was based on this year's Holocaust Memorial Day theme: Stand Together.

Congratulations to Old Boy and Lancashire cricketer Matt Parkinson, who has been invited to the England squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa.

Coming up in the New year, the next Girls' Division Enrichment Evening will feature Raynor Winn, author of 'The Salt Path'. Join us for this free, public talk on Monday 27 January at 7.00pm to hear about the remarkable tale of one couple's 630 mile journey around the South West Coast Path. Subscribe to our mailing list here to receive reminders and updated about forthcoming Enrichment Evenings.

6 December 2019

The Junior Boys' School has been named the Fundraiser of the Year at the Bolton News School Awards! The award recognises the work the boys do each summer in raising huge amounts for charity through their fancy dress Fun Run.

Last week, a 400-strong audience of Bolton School families and members of the local community enjoyed an address from anthropologist Alice Roberts. She spoke about how the taming of dogs, horses and cattle changed the world. Her fascinating address culminated in an engaging and wide-ranging Q&A session.

In the Boys' Division, the Deputy Head (Academic) Mr Nic Ford has been listed as one of the 25 nominees for the i25 Awards, which recognise innovation in teaching and learning using technology. During his time at Bolton School, he has overseen the roll out of the one-to-one iPad programme and ensured that the devices have been fully integrated into school life as a teaching and learning tool.

Girls' Division students in Year 7 held a sponsored silence earlier this term to raise money for Hits Radio's Mission Christmas Cash for Kids Appeal. The year group's charity representatives then visited Smyths toy store at Middlebrook for a lunchtime 'trolley dash' to spend the cash on presents for those less fortunate.

Over the weekend, a team of Sixth Form girls won a place at the next round of the English-Speaking Union's (ESU) Mace competition after successfully arguing against the motion "Voting Should be Compulsory".

The Nursery's Butterflies and the Nursery Class for Three- and Four-Year-Olds started Bolton School's festive celebrations with their joint Nativity. They performed 'Whoops-A-Daisy Angel' in front of a large audience of delighted parents, grandparents, siblings and family members.

Looking ahead to the new year, the annual Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh will take place on 25 January 2020. There are currently 35 tickets remaining at £35 each and those interested in coming along for an evening full of tradition should contact the Girls' Division Parents' Association via email at bsgdpa@gmail.com.

29 November 2019

The Joint Concert Band attended the National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) heats earlier in November and, following an impressive performance of three pieces, received the top Platinum Award from adjudicators! They will now play at the Nationals next April.

Year 12 student and Arkwright Scholar Shreya recently attended an award ceremony where she was formally presented with her Scholarship and met a representative from her sponsor, DS Smith packaging.

Old Girl Susan Banister returned to Bolton School to deliver talks to Girls' Division pupils and Boys' Division Sixth Form students about Modern Slavery. She shared her expertise as a Modern Slavery consultant with Hope for Justice, educating current pupils about this crime and its devastating effects.

Over 20 girls have been called up to join the Lancashire County Lacrosse Squads in the Under 18 and Under 15 age groups. These pupils will now have the opportunity to play in Northern Counties tournaments.

Boys will perform 'A Christmas Carol' in the Great Hall next week 4-7 December, 7.30pm. Tickets are still available at £5 and can be purchased on ParentPay or by request from BDInfo@boltonschool.org.

The Girls' Division Christmas production of 'As You Like It' will also take place in the Girls' Division Theatre next week 4-6 December, 7.00pm. Tickets for any remaining seats will now be sold on the door for £5 each.

22 November 2019

Students from both Divisions excelled at the Languages Debating Competition. Two teams from the Girls' Division and one from the Boys' Division took part in the French and Spanish competitions. Not only did all three pairs reach the finals despite facing stiff competition in the preliminary rounds, but both Girls' Division teams won trophies.

At the start of the week, the Girls' Division Middle School Choir visited Bristol to sing for the GSA Conference. The girls performed at the conference service and at the evening Gala Dinner, delighting headteachers from leading girls' schools with their renditions of traditional choral pieces and pop hits.

Old Boy Andrew Warburton (Class of 2014) returned to Bolton School to tell boys studying Computer Science at GCSE and A Level about his path to becoming a Software Engineer. His presentations were packed full of practical tips and advice and also gave pupils a sense of what working in this field is really like.

Pupils in Year 1 were taken on a trip through time to learn all about the Fire of London. This hands-on history session helped them to explore life in 1666.

Old Girl Thorrun Govind (Class of 2010) kicked off World Antibiotics Awareness Week at the Junior Boys' School with a special assembly. Her address was perfectly pitched for the young audience and covered a range of good advice as well as busting some myths about antibiotics.

Concert season began in the Boys' Division this week with the Autumn Concert. A wide range of musical styles from traditional tunes to pop hits and including film scores and songs from musicals formed the programme, with the whole of Year 8 providing a toe-tapping finale.

The Girls' Division Autumn Concert also recently filled the Great Hall with a wide variety of marvellous music from the school's young musicians. Choirs, ensembles, soloists and the massed voices of Year 8 delighted the audience on this special occasion.

The Bolton School Ball 2020 will take place on Saturday 2 May at the Festival Hall, Bolton. Ticket sales have now been launched with a special early bird rate of £75 per person. Download a booking form here or contact BoltonSchoolBall@gmail.com.

Next week, Bolton School will welcome Alice Roberts to give a free, public talk entitled: 'Tamed: Three Species That Changed the World'. The book on which her address is based will be on sale at the discounted price of £9 on the night. More details about this event can be found here and a list of forthcoming Enrichment Evenings is available here. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and reminders about these events.

15 November 2019

Children in the Nursery Class, Infant School and both Junior Schools have been raising money for Children in Need! As well as making those all-important donations, they dressed in Pudsey accessories, added spots to their uniforms and enjoyed themed activities.

The Nursery Class has also helped out Chorley Hedgehog Rescue Centre recently. As part of the children's learning topic 'Into The Dark', they enjoyed a visit from a volunteer who talked about hedgehogs and collected the children's generous donation of food, blankets and newspapers.

Earlier in the week, pupils across the School commemorated Remembrance. Services were held in the Boys' Division, Girls' Division and both Junior Schools to remember those who died in the First World War and every conflict since.

The School's Classicists were in for a treat when they attended a fascinating lecture from Professor Mary Beard, which was organised by the Lytham St Anne's Classical Association.

Arctic Explorer Alex Hibbert visited the Junior Boys' School to speak to Year 6. He gave an enthralling presentation about his experiences and did not shy away from his less-successful expeditions, leading to his key piece of advice: "try to make the very best of the situation" even when things go wrong.

Year 12 student Anna Phillips joined up with the England Women’s U17 Squad at the UEFA Phase 1 Euro Qualifiers held in Bosnia over the half term break, playing in two matches. The England squad won all three of their games.

The Boys' Division Under 13 team enjoyed a victory over The Grammar School at Leeds in the ISFA Cup, putting them in the last 16 teams nationally. A Match Report is now available.

Also in football news: RRG Group Bolton are the new sponsors of Bolton School Boys' Division's football kit. They have sponsored six teams from Under 12s through to the First Eleven.

8 November 2019

Junior Boys were delighted to meet Old Boy Lieutenant Commander Robert De Maine, a Royal Navy helicopter pilot, before breaking up for half term. He was able to answer the boys' excited questions about his career.

More Old Boys returned to Bolton School as the half term ended: Peter Acton and David Seddon spoke to years 12 and 13 about the move from university to the world of work. The talk was part of a mentoring scheme, run by the School's Development office, which offers students help and advice from alumni.

Bolton School opening its doors to the local community for another enrichment lecture towards the end of last half term. Historian Hallie Rubenhold gave a fascinating address about the lives of the five women killed by Jack the Ripper.

This talk was part of a series of Arts and Sciences Enrichment Evenings hosted by Bolton School Girls' Division. The full programme of events for 2019/20 is here and you can subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and reminder emails.

The Under 15 and Under 16 netball teams were in fine form for their recent Town Netball Finals. Both teams gave impressive performances throughout their respective competitions and came away as winners and Town Champions!

Over the half term break, Year 11 student Megan Baxendale enjoyed a busy week with her Air Cadet Squadron, attending a camp at RAF Valley where, amongst other achievements, she earned her Blue Flying Wings Qualification.

Recently pupils have been enjoying huge success in international sporting competitions. Porscha Johnson in Year 10 has been named GPC Under 60kg/Under 16 Powerlifting World Champion, despite starting the sport only 7 months ago. Year 11 pupil Marcus Williams won a gold medal in the Under 16 category at the World Thai Boxing Championships. Gabriella Giambattista-Hunt in Year 8 competed from Great Britain in the Lowland Skiing Championships 2019.

Tickets for the annual Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh are now on sale! This event, organised by the Girls' Division Parents' Association, will take place on on 25 January 2020 in the Arts Centre, starting at 7pm.

Finally, the School's Virtual Tour has now been updated to show the new all-weather sports surface at the Leverhulme Pavilion alongside the rest of the campus.

1 November 2019

The hotly anticipated Bolton Children's Fiction Award 2020 shortlist has now been revealed! The six books will be read by school children across Bolton in the coming months, and young people will ultimately vote to decide who is the worthy winner for 2020.

Throughout October, pupils at Bolton School have been celebrating the Harvest. The Junior Girls, Junior Boys and Beech House Infant School each held assemblies and collections to support Urban Outreach's Winter Watch campaign. The huge amount of produce and supplies donated by generous families will help local people throughout the winter period.

As October drew to a close, Bolton School Nursery held two celebrations. First was Diwali, the festival of lights: children dressed up in their brightest clothing and took part in themed activities. On 31 October they celebrated Halloween with creepy costumes and a whole day of spooky fun! The children also had the exciting opportunity to go pumpkin picking at Windmill Farm.

Pupils in the Junior Boys' School learned how to stay safe at this time of year with a special presentation from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The visit from firefighters was arranged  as part of Greater Manchester’s Safe4Autumn/Treacle campaign, which aims to encourage fire safety during the autumn

The School's cricketers and elite athletes enjoyed a fascinating lunchtime Q&A session with professional cricketers Matt and Callum Parkinson, who are Old Boys of the school. The twins, who now play for Lancashire and Leicester, looked back fondly on their schooldays and talked about their professional careers.

Pupils in the Junior and Senior Schools were also recently inspired by a visit from Olympian Jenny Meadows, who came into School to share her advice on 'Unlocking Your Potential'. In addition to a talk to Senior School boys and girls, she visited the Junior Boys to give a presentation and spent the afternoon coaching younger pupils.

The Senior School's talented musicians put on a fantastic Musical Evening in the Arts Centre. The Joint Clarinet Group were followed by twenty solo performances and one duet, showcasing the wide range of musical ability in the school.

The Nursery has the exciting chance to win a star! Christmas card artwork created by one of the children in the Caterpillar Room has been entered into the www.minimecardco.com National Christmas 2019 art competition.

Local children's author and illustrator Sean Perkins visited Beech House to read his latest book 'Oscar and Ben'. Pupils in Year 1 and Reception were delighted by this very special story time.

The Nursery recently held a Recycling Month, with children enjoying a range of activities to promote awareness of recycling. From tray activities to learning special songs and themed games, there was plenty of opportunity to have fun while learning more about this important subject.

Congratulations to the Girls' Division Year 9 Netball team, who travelled to Condover to take part in the annual Girls’ School Association (GSA) Netball Tournament where they earned Silver in the Trophy Competition!

Lots of the School's young sports stars have also excelled in recent weeks in a wide range of events outside of school. John Oxley-Harrison in Year 9 has won a national Bronze medal in Showjumping. Year 12 student Anna Phillips has been selected for the U17s England Women's Football squad for the 2020 Euro qualifiers at the end of October. A Bronze medal was won by Year 10 pupil Ziyaad Tahier when he competed in the ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) National Championships. Jamie Death, also in Year 10, represented England Judo at the Emmen International Open and received an international Silver medal for his efforts. Well done to them all!

Last summer, the Junior Boys raised over £8,000 with their annual Fun Run. The money has now been split and four charities chosen by pupils have received a boost of more than £2,000! A special assembly was held so that boys could present cheques to representatives from Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Make A Wish UK and RSPCA.

Over 1,000 GCSE and A level students from across the region made the most of the Bolton School Careers and Higher Education Fair hosted and organised by Bolton School in October. This event was attended by pupils from local schools and offered them the chance to speak with more than forty employers and over thirty Higher Education institutions about their future opportunities.

New drone footage of the new all-weather sports surface at the School's Leverhulme Pavilion site on Chorley New Road is available to view here. This space is now being used by pupils and the local community alike.

Coming up in November is a late addition to the Enrichment Evening programme: Alice Roberts will give a talk entitled 'Tamed: Three Species That Changed the World' on Wednesday 27 November at 7.00pm. She will delve into archaeology, history and genetics to reveal the amazing stories of three species that became our allies. This event is free and open to the public. Click here for a full list of forthcoming Enrichment Evening events.