Friday 27 July 2018

27 July 2018

The academic year ended with lots of activities throughout Bolton School.

The results of a competition to name the Girls' Division science laboratories after famous female scientists were announced on the last day of term. Pupils nominated women who have made a contribution to their scientific field. The scientists chosen range from fossil hunter and palaeontologist Mary Anning to astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell.


On the last weekend before the end of term, the School hosted a spectacular re-enactment of a Civil War battle, which recreated 'The Storming of Bolton' for eager audiences. In blazing sunshine, costumed re-enactors from the Earl of Manchester's Regiment of Foote donned many layers of 17th Century clothes to show how people in Bolton would have lived and brought to life the conflict.


Staff and students from both Divisions enjoyed the the glittering delights of the MEN School Awards ceremony at the Manchester Hilton on Deansgate in Manchester. The School was one of the three finalists in the Secondary School of the Year category.

Year 12 pupils reflected on their volunteering efforts throughout the year at the annual Community Action Celebration. They were joined on the evening by Mr Barry Dixon, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, who congratulated students for all they have done for their local communities and presented their awards for 20, 50 and 100 hours of service.


The whole of the Boys' Division took part in a 10 mile sponsored walk to raise money for a range of worthwhile causes during the last week of term. The biennial walk, which normally sees pupils climb Rivington Pike, was diverted due to the moor fires on Winter Hill and took boys on a new route.


Beech House held a collection in support of the emergency services and armed forces who battled the recent moor fires on Winter Hill. The families of pupils and members of staff donated a variety of items, including water, energy drinks and snacks.


The Battle of the Bands was held earlier this term. The event raised over £1,200 which has now been presented to Ross Smith, a young medical student who was involved in a climbing accident. The money will help to provide a wet room at his home and fund other mobility and personal care aids.

Sports Day in the Girls' Division saw pupils compete in a variety of track and field events, cheered on by their peers. The girls also delighted in watching the Staff Relay, which was extremely close this year, and raised money for Oxfam with donations.


In the Boys' Division, Sports Day saw the return of Tug of War after more than a decade's absence. Boys and their parents cheered on competitors from each of the four Houses throughout the afternoon. The spectacle culminated in the Relays and Tug of War finals.


Pupils enjoyed traditional competitions at the Junior Girls' Sports Day, including including egg and spoon and sack races. Girls competed on behalf of their House in a wide range of events, enthusiastically supported by teachers, fellow pupils and parents.


Boys' Division pupils in Wigan House collectively completed a 200km charity walk this term. They were raising money for two worthy causes: the Dominica Disaster Relief Fund, which inspired the distance, and PAPYRUS.

There was fun in the sun for girls in Year 3 on their Outdoor Learning Day. Staff created a carousel of team building and problem-solving challenges to give pupils an introduction to outdoor pursuits prior to their residential trips to Patterdale Hall in Lake District.


Year 6 pupils at the Junior Girls' School recently completed their English Speaking Board (ESB) examinations. They recited poems, read from novels and created interesting presentations on topics ranging from unusual pets to personal collections to passions such as Indian Dancing or Liverpool Football Club! Watch some of their presentations, readings and recitations via the links here.

The first ever Lower School Prizegiving was held to acknowledge the achievements of Boys' Division pupils in Years 7 to 9. Mrs Waller gave a review of the year which recapped successes in many different fields, and prizes and certificates were awarded for participation, accomplishment and development.


The Year 8 girls' Rounders team ended the season in high spirits after becoming the Town Champions! They were a strong team throughout the competition, and worthy winners.

A team of four Year 12 students in the Girls' Division took part in the North West Regional Biology Quiz. They experienced a day of challenging but fun activities at UCLAN, and ultimately achieved third place in the competition.


Students in the Girls' Division also did well in the Cambridge Lower Sixth Challenge in Chemistry, which stretches Year 12 students beyond the A Level syllabus. Three girls received Copper awards and Millie Wood achieved Silver.

The Nursery's 20th Birthday was celebrated with traditional party games, a raffle and other al fresco activities to take advantage of the brilliant weather.


Hollie in Year 8 has earned medals in two British Championships this year. The most recent was a bronze medal in free skating to add to her gold.

The theme for this year's Junior Girls' Photography Competition was 'A Splash of Colour' and pupils provided a dazzling array of very different photos for the judges. The four year group winners and the overall winner received a canvas print of their entry.


The boys in Year 6 put on an excellent performance of Aladdin as their end of year show. This colourful production, which was Mrs Lockett's last after more than two decades of directing the annual Year 6 play, delighted audiences with the boys' version of this traditional tale.


The Junior Girls' School Charity Afternoon saw Year 6 pupils take over the playground with a colourful array of stalls selling sweets, hosting games and offering a variety of pampering to younger girls. They even arranged a flash mob dance! The afternoon was held to support 15 charities chosen by Year 6.


The annual Celebration Evening for girls in Year 7 and 8 was an evening filled with joy. Girls performed a range of uplifting songs, thoughtful readings and beautiful music on the themes of exploring difference and celebrating uniqueness. Watch recordings of some of performances via the links here.


Boys in Year 12 took part in two Business Enterprise Skills Training (BEST) days to help them develop the skills and ways of thinking needed to succeed in the world of work. A carousel of activities, including an evening of interview practice, challenged students across the two days.

The Junior Girls put on their summer concert, which this year was Alice the Musical. This fast-paced retelling of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland bought the story to life with song, poetry and dance.


Children who will go on to school after the summer holidays celebrated their time at Bolton School Nursery with a lovely Leavers' Assembly. The children shared their memories, sang and danced for their audience of parents.


The Class of 2017 returned to Bolton School to impart the lessons learned to the current Year 12s. They shared their experiences of gap years and university and offered their 'top tips' for surviving and thriving after leaving School.

Old Girl Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff recently became the new Bishop of Lancaster. She was Consecrated at York Minster at the end of June, prior to her Installation Service which formally welcomed to her new Diocese at the beginning of July.

Last month, children at Bolton School Nursery celebrated Eid with delightful themed tea parties in each of the rooms.

Friday 6 July 2018

6 July 2018

Bolton School hosted the Bolton Children's Fiction Award Ceremony 2018. All six of the shortlisted authors joined more than 700 pupils from local schools and Bolton School's Junior and Senior Schools for a morning of talks about their books, writing and the importance of reading. Old Boy Robert Parker then compered the Ceremony itself and announced the Younger Fiction and Overall winners to a very excited audience.


The guest speaker at the "hottest Prizegiving on record" was Old Boy Mr Stuart Brooks CMG. He drew on his thirty-two year career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and current work at Chevron to fill his address with anecdotes and good advice. The evening was a celebration of all that Boys' Division pupils have achieved throughout the year.


Last weekend was busy for the Boys' Division. The school was involved in the Bolton Station Community Gala on Saturday 30 June. The school's young artists, musicians and actors provided entertainment and colour on the day, including a performance of 'My Room, My Bolton', a play specially commissioned from RoughHouse Theatre by the school and based on pupils' work around the Mass Observation Project.


On Sunday 1 July, the Boys' Division staged a museum takeover day at Port Sunlight. The event was titled The Leverhulme Festival, and involved a range of creative activities. These included arts and crafts workshops, musical performances, geocaching and a final outing for 'My Room, My Bolton'. The activities took place in several key locations across Port Sunlight.


Watch a short clip from 'My Room, My Bolton' here.

Watch a clip of the Guitar Quartet's performance here.

Girls' Division pupils in Year 8 enjoyed watching 'Mes Chers Voisins' (My Lovely Neighbours), a play entirely in French from Onatti Productions. The girls had fun watching and taking part in the interactive play while also working on their understanding of the language.


Bolton School's A Level and GCSE pupils' work was included in the Best of Bolton Schools' Art and Design Exhibition. Antonia Jameson won an Achievement Award and the Overall Winner prize at the event.

The Year 7 and 8 Athletics Teams in the Girls' Division were successful at the Town Championships. The girls coped well with the extreme heat and the teams finished second and third overall, with several girls becoming Town Champion in their events.

Ollie Evans in Year 6 at the Junior Boys' School has earned himself the Primary Engineer's Leaders Award for his invention, the 'Ollie Cap', which facilitates easy hair-washing and head massages. He collected his award at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham.