13 September 2019

The highlight of the summer was certainly the two Results Days, during which Bolton School celebrated alongside students collecting GCSE and A Level results.

In the Boys' Division, A Level students achieved an impressive three quarters of grades in the A*-B category, while GCSE students attained the best set of results in recent years!

In the Girls' Division A Level students celebrated the best results in a decade and GCSE students set a new pass rate as well.

Individual successes were numerous across both year groups and both Divisions. Notably, Shreya Kamath not only received a stunning set of GCSE results but also an Arkwright Scholarship, and linguist Emily Manock achieved excellent A Level grades to earn her place at Oxford. Four more Bolton School students will also head to Oxford and Cambridge for university.

During the summer holidays, a strong contingent of former and current Boys' Division students helped the Lancashire U19 cricket team to victory in the county championship; Old Girl Dr Becky Smethurst, who recently returned to the Girls' Division to talk to pupils about her career in astrophysics, was featured on the BBC News during the holidays for creating an inspiring science YouTube channel; and children in the Butterfly Room graduated from the Nursery in a special ceremony.

The Autumn Term began with the official opening of the new all-weather sports surface at the Leverhulme Pavilion site on Chorley New Road. The synthetic turf pitch, which was installed predominantly over the summer holidays, will be shared with the local community.

The Girls' Division's first event of the year was the annual Presentation Evening. The guest of honour was Old Girl Julie Dean, UK Fund Manager and Director at Sanditon Asset Management, who in addition to presenting prizes and certificates offered her 'unchanging principles' for success in life in an address packed with great advice.

Chairman of Governors Mr Michael Griffiths gave his annual report on the past school year and, as this will be his final Presentation Evening before his retirement from the role, also looked back on his many years of association with Bolton School. His speech is available to watch in full here.

Recent leaver Siân Rowlands, who collected her A Level results this summer, gave an expressive rendition of 'Still Hurting' from the musical 'The Last Five Years' by Jason Robert Brown at Presentation Evening. Her performance can be viewed here.

The Boys' Samba Band helped to spur on runners at Bolton Hospice's Bubble Rush event at Queen's Park. Eight pupils enjoyed playing for the participants in this fundraising event and helping to add to the carnival atmosphere.

Next week, the Girls' Division will host the first of this year's Arts and Sciences Enrichment Evenings. Richard A Shirres till talk about "The United Nations: Working to save the biosphere and our future" on 18 September 2019 at 7.00pm. This event promises to look back on the UN's long history of involvement with ecological stewardship and the climate change challenges of the modern day.

This year's programme of Enrichment Evenings is now available to view here, and you can subscribe to our mailing list to receive information and reminders about forthcoming events.

Coming up later this term is the Careers and Higher Education Fair hosted by Bolton School on Thursday 3 October, 6.45-8.45pm. Universities, companies and training providers will be on hand as exhibitors and instructive seminars will be held during the evening. This free event is open to all and promises to be useful for students in Years 9 to 13 and their families.