27 March 2020

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.