Quite a week at Bolton School and certainly one for the history
books! With the pernicious global spread of Covid-19, UK schools closed and teaching
went remote. Foundation teaching staff, many of them with children of their
own, worked hard showing imagination and creativity and pupils acted maturely
and diligently as physical schools closed, except to key workers’ children and
the vulnerable.
Infants were set a number of tasks to complete at home and particularly
enjoyed story-time with Mrs Mees. Junior and Senior School pupils, using their
iPads, undertook a wide variety of tasks across subject areas as normal
timetables continued. There were many novel approaches to online learning,
including Patterdale Hall setting daily outdoor learning challenges,
stay-at-home DofE activities and sports departments challenging pupils with ‘keepie-uppie’ competitions and keep fit sessions. Many parents expressed through
social media how hugely appreciative of the efforts that teaching staff went
to:
“I have been so impressed with how
smoothly it has all gone this week! Well done.”
“Thanks to you and the staff, it’s made working
for home easier as my daughter is occupied in a constructive way, maintaining
contact with her class, carrying on learning. Really impressed and grateful.”
“Thank you to all at Bolton School for keeping
some rhythm, structure and normality for all pupils. Great directed learning.”
“Thank you to all those involved in keeping the
school going and for providing the daily routine. I can not describe the joy of
hearing the laughter coming from my daughter’s room throughout the day.
“Thank you to you and all your staff for keeping
some normality in our children’s lives during this surreal time. Having the
structure of normal lessons has definitely helped with my daughters’ mental and
physical well being.”
“Bobbed home at lunch, there was much hilarity in
my daughters A level maths class, such a tonic for all at a time when they
cannot meet friends. Thanks for everything you and the other teachers are doing
to maintain normality and support other key workers.”
“Feeling proud 2 have got through Week 1 of
Distance Learning with my 3 boys! We are all still speaking and smiling! So
grateful to the school - brilliant leadership & management of this. Everyone
deserves a glass of wine or two now.”
“Thank you Sue Hincks and Philip
Britton and all the Bolton school staff. Proud of our school. Stay safe.”
“It's a wrap! 1 full week complete
- a huge thank you to Bolton School and Philip Britton for ensuring that our
boys could still learn and develop themselves. Zoom has been a life saver along
with many WhatsApp calls between friends.”
“As I write this our daughter is engaged with her
subject teacher in her remote learning. What a week for everyone. A huge thank you
Sue Hincks and Philip Britton for your leadership and to all the teachers for
your hard work and professionalism this week. We are impressed!”
At the end of the week, teachers were pleased with how it had
worked out and just a little relieved to make it to the weekend:
“Definitely
the most unusual week of my life. Virtual School has been up and running for
five days now. Zoom and Showbie have been most effective and do you know what,
the young creatives have risen to the challenge. Lots being done.”
“Well done to all the Lower School boys,
who have engaged so well with remote learning in our first week! Your teachers
really appreciate your hard work and enthusiasm. Big thank you to parents and
carers for their support. Hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break this weekend!”
“At
the end of the first week of remote teaching a huge congratulations to the 6th
form who have superbly engaged and carried on their studies through Zoom and
Showbie as well as other platforms.”
“Hearing very positive things in our
daily PE zoom meetings with our students about how the girls are looking after
themselves. Pupils in Y7, 8 & 9 are rising admirably to the challenge of
keeping their activity diary up-to-date with some innovative ideas.”
“Well done to Levi for running his own Bee
Keeping ECA club from home today.”
“Six period day done, every class was
fabulous. Feeling ever so slightly more upbeat about the whole situation. Even
my 10 year old Mac has managed to Zoom!”
"Year 4 have been very busy with their home
learning task this week. They have been writing instructions, finding out about
evaporation as well as keeping up with their numeracy skills. Well done girls
keep up the good work.”
"What a week! I've never worked so hard (that's from Mrs Super
Conscientious). It's been exciting, innovative, challenging and occasionally
frustrating. Brilliant support and camaraderie from all at Park Road Juniors.”
“Having used Zoom to have a Form Meeting with 3B, it was
lovely hearing so many varied highlights of their week: many writing their
adventure story, some class discussions on Showbie,, of course Joe Wicks' PE –
the Body Coach -, even the daily calculations made the list.”
“Virtual Bolton School has had a tiring but successful first week. So proud of the pupils who have been ready and engaged for lessons. I've been glad to help staff and pupils work this out! But I am very ready for this weekend!”
Miss Hincks, Headmistress of the Girls’ Division: “Undoubtedly the longest week of my life. Thank you every colleague at Bolton School including our Junior Schools, Infants’ and Nursery for keeping 100 key workers’ children happy and occupied, the majority at Beech House and Nursery, whilst offering home learning to 2,000 more.”
Mr Britton, Headmaster of the Boys’ Division: “Thank
you to parents, boys and colleagues who have made the virtual school work so
well this week. Everyone has played their part to give the boys some structure
at a very strange time for them all, keeping them connected with school and one
another and making progress.”
Mrs Faulkner, Head of Junior Boys’ School: “Well
done to all Park Road Junior Boys, staff and parents for their hard work this
week as we’ve established good virtual learning habits. Enjoy the weekend.”
Mr Britton, Headmaster: “For 110 years the Sergeant
has brought boys to the Headmaster to be asked to be Captain and Vice Captains
of School. Today I appointed the team for 2020/21 by Zoom!”
Former pupil Jonny Ashton helped produce a rapidly put together TV programme for Channel 4, Coronavirus: How to Self Isolate Yourself and another former pupil, Thorrun Govind appeared on BBC News appealing to people to respect boundaries in pharmacies.
One or two stories from the previous week were also posted on the School website, including an article with former Chairman of Governors Michael Griffiths in which he talks about the changing role of governorship, a review of the recent visit by former pupil Professor Mike Waring when he addressed the School’s next generation of scientists and medics, a look at the Nursery’s Early Year Phonics project and its recent Curiosity Approach accreditation.
