28 October 2016

Last Sunday, Boys' Division Chemistry teacher and University of Manchester lecturer Dr Kristy Turner appeared on BBC's Countryfile to explain a fascinating piece of chemistry relating to conkers. As part of the Countryfile Autumn Special, presenter Naomi Wilkinson looked at how the humble conker was used during the First World War to produce an ingredient vital to the manufacture of shells, and Dr Turner demonstrated the process in a woodland laboratory on camera.

As the half term drew to a close, the Junior Girls enjoyed a House Day filled with lots of fun activities. There was something for everyone to enjoy, from blindfold obstacle courses to writing poetry and even the chance to develop circus skills. All of the pupils enjoyed taking part and getting to know the other girls in their House.

The final matches of the 2016 cricket season have now been played with the Bolton School teams acquitting themselves well in the face of tough opposition and often challenging conditions. The U15s made it all the way to the National Finals at Arundel, while the U13s and U14s both played Lancashire Cup Finals.

There were lots of success stories from the Girls' Division sports teams at the end of the half term. The U16 netball team made it to the final of the Bolton Schools' Netball Tournament, where they came second.

The U18 netball team took part in the National Schools' Netball Tournament, achieving a series of excellent wins in the opening rounds and making it through to the semi-finals. However, the opposition proved too strong in the semi-final and they came in third place.

The Year 7 and Year 8 girls competed in the Bolton Schools' Cross Country Championships, which were held at Smithills School, where both teams did well. Pupils in both age groups ranked highly enough to be offered a spot on the Bolton town team for the Manchester championships in February!

In addition, Georgina Owen and Cate Lord have been re-selected for County-level netball squads this year. This is a great achievement for both girls, who are playing up into higher age brackets.

In the Boys' Division, pupils studying Business and Economics were offered insight into the workings of the Bank of England and the recession by Old Boy Paul Alexander, who now works at the Bank. He also spoke with boys competing in the Target 2.0 competition run by the Bank of England to offer them advice on analysing economic conditions.

Year 8 pupil Matthew Mair recently competed in the National Road Relay Championships as part of a team of three. He ran the last leg of the 3.4km hilly route and his team achieved fourth place overall out of 66 teams from across the UK!

The Junior Boys joined forces with the Brixi Singers for an evening of entertainment in the Boys' Division Great Hall. The two choirs raised their voices to perform a number of pieces, both together and separately, which made for a spectacular evening.

This week's Inspiring Mind is Old Girl Valerie Stevens, whose life-long career as an environmental campaigner saw her on the Board of Management of Friends of the Earth and chair of Optimum Population Trust (now Population Matters). Her profile includes reflections on a career spent addressing the problems the world faces, her fond memories of School, and advice to current pupils to "Be part of the solution!"

21 October 2016

Pupils at Bolton School and visitors from the wider community learned some 'Leadership Lessons from the Tudors' in a special lecture from TV historian Dr Susannah Lipscombe. She encapsulated the lessons into twenty bite-sized messages, each one with a Tudor example. Her talk was warmly received and there was a lively question and answer session afterwards.

The much-anticipated shortlist for the Bolton Children's Fiction Award 2017 has been announced. Extracts from the six books were read out by Sixth Form pupils before an audience of Year 7 boys and girls, and the shortlist was simultaneously live-tweeted from the Bolton School Library account. There was excitement in the Great Hall as each book was announced and pupils started to plan their reading for the months head leading up to the voting in May, and the Award Ceremony in June.

Pupils from the Girls' and Boys' Divisions were joined by St Joseph's pupils for a Media and Digital Media Day where they were inspired by talks from BBC Breakfast's Mike Bushell, former journalist and TV presenter Sarah Jones, Old Boy Mike Lodmore, and a host of other speakers from this fascinating field. With talks on virtual reality, radio and TV broadcasting, behind the scenes and post-production work, and much more, this was a fascinating day for everyone.

Year 6 pupil Toby enjoyed fantastic golfing success over the summer, and completed the season with yet another win in an Under 18s competition. He came away from the final junior competition of the summer as the winner of Bolton Golf Club's J. Maxwell Trophy.

The children at Beech House enjoyed a session with Travelling by Tuba, a musical duo who took them on a whistle-stop tour around the world and back in time through the wonders of music. They learned about a variety of different instruments, from the tiny ocarina to the huge alpine horn, and even got to try to play some themselves!

The Year 3 pupils at Hesketh House learned all about healthy eating at The H Factor. This special session run by the catering staff introduced them to new fruits and vegetables and got them to start thinking about what makes a healthy meal.

Jamie Death in Year 7 has become the Great British Minors Champion at Judo while at the British Minors Judo Championship, which was held in Edinburgh. His family is very proud of his success.

At the start of October, the Sixth Form girls' popular intergenerational tea party, Tea at the Riley, returned with a Harvest theme. As well as their delicious hand-made afternoon tea the guests were treated to musical entertainment from Beech House Choir.

The Boys' Division PA invited a personal trainer to speak to parents at their 'Teenage Journey' series of talks focusing on different aspect of boys' growing up. The subject was Heath and Fitness, and he was able to give some great tips and useful information about staying healthy through correct diet and exercise during these key years.

The Senior Girls once again collected food at Harvest, with their sterling efforts being donated to local charity Urban Outreach. In the Girls' Division Harvest assembly, Year 7 pupils talked about homelessness in Bolton and the work Urban Outreach does, and Amy Scoble in Year 8 spoke about her volunteering with the charity.

The Junior Girls were visited by Travelling by Tuba to learn more about musical instruments. They were delighted by the wide variety of music that was played by the pair of musicians and found out huge amounts of historical and musical information in the fun and interactive session.

Bolton School Girls' Division will host another free lecture titled Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights on Wednesday 9 November. Plasma physicist and author Dr Melanie Windridge will discuss this fascinating phenomenon, interweaving the science with a background of their history, folklore and changing landscape.

This week's Inspiring Mind is Lord Robert Haslam. He attended the Boys' Division from 1934 to 1941, and was Chairman of Governors from 1990 to 1997, succeeding the Third Viscount Leverhulme and following his own stint as Chairman of British Coal! His varied school life, career and time as a Governor is summarised in extracts from The Boltonian.

7 October 2016

The Junior Girls celebrated National Poetry Day this week. Members of Book Club handed out gifts of poetry to the rest of the School, and the girls were encouraged to read their poems aloud to one another. They really enjoyed becoming performance poets for the day!

The Year 9 Netball team made it all the way to the final of the GSA's Netball Tournament, competing against opponents from across the country! They did extremely well to come in second place in the competition, and also had the opportunity to meet England netballers over the course of the weekend event.

Well-Good - the charitable project set up by Girls' Division maths teachers Mr Heppleston and Mr Hitchin which allows pupils to provide clean water to the developing world by solving maths problems - has now funded its first well! Girls' Division pupils completed enough maths problems last year to fund the building of a well in a small rural community in Pakistan, which is a wonderful achievement.

The Junior Girls held their annual Harvest celebration assembly this week with the donations of food once again going to Urban Outreach. The girls were thanked by Laura Bagley, a representative from the charity who also told them more about the important work that Urban Outreach does in Bolton and the surrounding area.

The new manager of Bolton School's Nursery, Miss Joanne Hewitt, has enjoyed her first few weeks in the role. Reflecting on her career to date and her new position, Miss Hewitt was delighted to join Bolton School and is looking forward to her future as the head of the Nursery.

Last week, the Junior Boys' Parents' Association held a Macmillan Coffee Morning to raise money for cancer research. The library at Park Road was packed with guests for this event and everyone was made to feel welcome over warm drinks and delicious cakes.

The Year 9 girls enjoyed an Army Leadership Day last week where they were asked to put their skills to the test in a series of challenges designed to improve their teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. The morning was also organised to help the girls gain confidence and develop their leadership qualities. They really enjoyed taking part in the tasks and finding out more about life in the army.

The Year 8 girls were also off their usual timetable last week for five days of enrichment activities: a trip to Patterdale Hall, visiting Jodrell Bank, and ICT and Music workshops in school. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the activities throughout the week and threw themselves into each new challenge with a great deal of enthusiasm.

This week's Inspiring Mind is Old Girl Vicky Connelly. She attended Bolton School from 1993 to 2000 and remembers the visit of Princess Diana to School when she was in Year 7! She is now Global Procurement Manager for a pharmaceutical company and also a dedicated triathlete, running Ironman events throughout Europe, and has also taken part in the Marathon des Sables 250Km foot race through the Sahara earlier this year!

30 September 2016

The Year 12 girls once again rose to the challenge on the annual Business Enterprise and Skills Training Day. They enjoyed a keynote speech from Fiona Gibson and sessions which set them tasks related to business and helped to hone skills that will be important to them in the world of work.

Bolton School alumni and current pupils recently took part in the annual Golf Day, which was in aid of the School's Bursary Fund. With a host of raffle prizes up for grabs to entice everyone to buy tickets, and the competition entry fee going to the Bursary Fund as well, the participants raised over £2400 through this enjoyable event.

Boys in Years 7 to 9 enjoyed a wonderful virtual reality experience with Google Expeditions. By wearing Google Cardboard virtual reality glasses, the boys ventured into a Roman ruin, travelled to the Amazon rainforest, and even found themselves inside the circulatory system as part of their lessons!

Year 8 pupil Matthew Mair recently competed in the Northern Road Relay championships for his club, running the final 3Km leg of the course. He and his two teammates achieved third place overall, coming in just six seconds behind the winners.

The Junior Girls raised money for the charity Retrak with a non-uniform day at the start of term. The girls' efforts raised £661.53 for the Stockport-based charity, which helps to transform the lives of street children in Africa and South America.

Toby Yates in Year 6 has beaten rivals up to the age of 17 to win the Judge Kershaw Junior Knockout Competition at Bolton Golf Club! He also recently did well in the Under 14 Lancashire Junior Championships and the Old Links Bolton Junior Open, taking podium positions in each competition.

The Junior Girls' Parents' Association hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning at the School to raise money for this very worthy cause. The event has now become an annual occurrence and was very well attended once again this year, with parents and grandparents really enjoying the home-made cakes on order.

23 September 2016

Former newsreader Selina Scott was the guest speaker at this year's Presentation Evening at the Girls' Division. She provided an inspiring address to pupils, covering the many lessons learned in her career, and the girls were delighted to receive their awards from her. The Headmistress, Sue Hincks, praised pupils achievements over the past twelve months, and the Chair of Governors, Michael Griffiths, gave a brief summary of the past year.

Selina Scott's full address can be viewed here.

Old Boy and Judge Roy Battersby returned to the Boys' Division to address the School as part of the 2016 Tillotson Lecture Series. His address on the subject of the Magna Carta and the foundation of Human Rights was both fascinating and informative, and touched upon many contemporary issues, including the current plight of refugees and migrants.

This year, as part of the Boys' Division's 500th Anniversary celebrations, the annual Tillotson Lecture is being conducted as a series of talks running throughout 2016.

The School recently hosted the ISFA Soccer Sixes Tournament. This season opener was played on the Levels and saw twenty-four teams, including Bolton School pupils, enter the competition.

The Joint Samba Band provided entertainment for runners and spectators at the Bubble Rush 5Km run which aimed to raise funds in support of Bolton Hospice.

Over the summer holidays, Year 13 pupil Adam had an article on climate science published in The Young Scientists Journal. His piece focuses in detail on the pros and cons of clean energy production in the UK, with a huge amount of research behind the facts discussed.

GCSE and A Level students attended an enlightening lecture on 'Alternatives to Animal Testing' by Dr Laura Waters from the University of Huddersfield. Dr Waters discussed animal testing for the development of cosmetics but focused her talk on the pharmaceutical industry, where this form of testing is required. She brought up some interesting avenues of discussion and looked at the alternatives that are now being developed to reduce animal testing.

On 13 October, Bolton School will host a free lecture given by historian, author and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb. This talk, titled 'Leadership Lessons from the Tudors' promises to be a fascinating evening, particularly useful to GCSE and A Level pupils studying History but also of interest to those with a love of history. The lecture is open to the public and full details can be found here.

This week's Inspiring Mind is George Lancashire. He was a member of the Boys' Division staff from 1943 to 1983 and is remembered as an inspirational teacher by the pupils of that era. His profile includes reminiscences from Old Boy Andrew Palmer, who talks of a man who helped to define the essence of the school, and the tribute to George written for The Boltonian on his retirement.

16 September 2016

There is plenty of news from the holidays and the beginning of term to catch up on as the first full week of the new Autumn Term draws to a close.

Pupils in both Divisions celebrated excellent examination results on A Level Results Day this year.

The Girls' Division saw an increase of pupils achieving 3 A*/A grades or better, with 16.2% of grades were at the very highest level of A*. The vast majority of girls will go on to their first choice of university and four are set to progress to Oxford or Cambridge.

In the Boys' Division there was a slight improvement on the previous year, with 22.5% of papers being graded at A* - the second best achievement since that grade began. Four boys will go on to study at Oxford or Cambridge, with a large majority progressing to their first choice of university as a result of their grades.

On GCSE Results Day, the story was again one of success in the Boys' and Girls' Divisions. 99% of pupils in both divisions achieved the benchmark of at least 5 A*-C grade.

The Boys' Division saw 25% of papers graded at A*, with one boy receiving 12 A* grades and seven more pupils receiving 10 or more A* grades.

Pupils in the Girls' Division celebrated an improved percentage of A* and A grades at GCSE, with over 71% of grades at A* or A grade. Two thirds of the girls achieved at least eight A or A* grades. Six girls achieved 11 or more A* grades.

Seven pupils who attended the SHINE 'Serious Fun on Saturday Mornings' Programme at Bolton School have now become Year 7 pupils in the Senior Schools! They met up a the start of term to reminisce about the enriching and inspirational experiences they enjoyed at SHINE sessions.

The Boys' Division has committed to increase its arts provision with the aim of achieving the highest level of Artsmark Award. These awards celebrate schools which champion the arts and also give access to high quality, practical resources and networks. The School is already at the Gold level, providing a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences for all pupils, but is hoping to achieve Platinum over the course of the next two years.

The Year 9 boys began their Shakespeare studies at the start of the new term with a visit from the Globe Theatre's storytellers. They broadened their knowledge of the Bard's tragedies by watching an interactive retelling of Macbeth.

Last year, Girls' Division pupils sent a message to the MP for Bolton North East to support the Send My Friend to School campaign, which aims to remind politicians and world leaders of the importance of education for every child. The girls, now in Year 10, have received a reponse not only from their MP but also from the Prime Minister Theresa May!

In August, the International Youth Philharmonic Orchestra - made up of young musicians from Bolton and Paderborn in Germany - used the Girls' Division as a base for their rehearsals. This was in preparation for two concerts, one held at the RNCM in Manchester, and one at the Paderhalle in Paderborn.

Sixth Form pupil Arron Davies has won Silver and Bronze medals at the European Water Ski Championships, held in Italy over the holidays. He was a key member of the four-man GB team at this event, and is now training for the U17 World Championships.

Year 13 pupil Samuel Platt placed seventh in the Fireball Class at this year's European Sailing Championships: an excellent achievement on the international stage.

Sharon Daniel in Year 10 has earned a national call-up to play chess for England over the summer holidays, having won the English Youth Chess Championship earlier in the year. She played for her country at the European Youth Chess Championship, held in Prague, and placed 48th of 120 competitors.

Year 8 sailor Harvey Leigh has raised an impressive £2,662 for Trearddur Bay RNLI and Heads Together by completing a circumnavigation of Holy Island off Anglesey in Wales. He completed the sail alongside a fellow junior sailor. Te pair also took part in the RS Feva Volvo Grand Prix at Draycote Water Sailing Club, where they won the British sailing team qualifier and gained podium positions in the majority of races.

Over the summer, Bolton School Nursery bid a fond farewell to Claire Thompson, who has been the Manager there since the Nursery opened 18 years ago. The Nursery hosted a fun-filled afternoon tea party attended by parents, children and staff as a fitting send-off for her.

A number of Inspiring Minds profiles have been released over the holiday period:

Gill Richards was Head of the Girls' Division from 2005 to 2011. In her profile, she speaks of how welcome the School made her feel, mentions some of her favourite memories, and discusses how proud she was to see new developments - such as the new Beech House and Hesketh House and the beginnings of work on the Riley Centre - take place during her tenure.

Old Boy The Rt Hon Lord Justice Ryder TD DL attended Bolton School from 1962 to 1976 before studying Law at Cambridge. He went on to become the youngest High Court Judge in the country at the age of 45. His profile is extracted from an address he gave to Boys' Division pupils, where he spoke of important lessons he learned at school and his work, among other topics.

Nicola Grinstead is an Old Girl who attended the school between 1989 and 1996. She now works as Deputy Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and is also Chair of the Board of Trustee’s for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Her inspiring profile offers advice to current pupils and talks about the teachers who influenced her during her time at Bolton School.

Sub Lieutenant Peter Hartshorn attended Bolton School between 1931 and 1939 and went on to study Engineering before joining the Royal Navy. His brief profile includes autobiographical from the commemorative book Remembered with Honour by Eric McPherson.

Former professional rugby player and now farmer Jack Forster is another Old Boy of the School. He completed his A Levels in 2005 and went on to plays Premiership and European rugby for six years, picking up England Saxons caps along the way. He talks in his profile about his inspirations, favourite memories and experience of Bolton School.

Anne-Marie Hutchings joined the Girls' Division staff in 1983. She became Head of Modern Foreign Languages in 1986, a post which she held for fifteen years. She sadly passed away in 2004, but left behind a legacy of memories for all of the pupils she taught during her time at the School. Her Inspiring Minds profile was written by one of her former pupils, and captures the essence of her lessons and teaching style in a brief pen-portrait.

Old Boy Wing Commander John Scott-Taggart, OBE MC, left Bolton School in 1915. His fascinating profile charts an inspirational school career and life, beginning with an aptitude for technology that was fostered by the school, continuing into distinguished service in the Army from 1915 and through both World Wars, and on to a variety of other interests which he cultivated throughout his adult life.

16 September 2016

There is plenty of news from the holidays and the beginning of term to catch up on as the first full week of the new Autumn Term draws to a close.

Pupils in both Divisions celebrated excellent examination results on A Level Results Day this year.

The Girls' Division saw an increase of pupils achieving 3 A*/A grades or better, with 16.2% of grades were at the very highest level of A*. The vast majority of girls will go on to their first choice of university and four are set to progress to Oxford or Cambridge.

In the Boys' Division there was a slight improvement on the previous year, with 22.5% of papers being graded at A* - the second best achievement since that grade began. Four boys will go on to study at Oxford or Cambridge, with a large majority progressing to their first choice of university as a result of their grades.

On GCSE Results Day, the story was again one of success in the Boys' and Girls' Divisions. 99% of pupils in both divisions achieved the benchmark of at least 5 A*-C grade.

The Boys' Division saw 25% of papers graded at A*, with one boy receiving 12 A* grades and seven more pupils receiving 10 or more A* grades.

Pupils in the Girls' Division celebrated an improved percentage of A* and A grades at GCSE, with over 71% of grades at A* or A grade. Two thirds of the girls achieved at least eight A or A* grades. Six girls achieved 11 or more A* grades.

Seven pupils who attended the SHINE 'Serious Fun on Saturday Mornings' Programme at Bolton School have now become Year 7 pupils in the Senior Schools! They met up a the start of term to reminisce about the enriching and inspirational experiences they enjoyed at SHINE sessions.

The Boys' Division has committed to increase its arts provision with the aim of achieving the highest level of Artsmark Award. These awards celebrate schools which champion the arts and also give access to high quality, practical resources and networks. The School is already at the Gold level, providing a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences for all pupils, but is hoping to achieve Platinum over the course of the next two years.

The Year 9 boys began their Shakespeare studies at the start of the new term with a visit from the Globe Theatre's storytellers. They broadened their knowledge of the Bard's tragedies by watching an interactive retelling of Macbeth.

Last year, Girls' Division pupils sent a message to the MP for Bolton North East to support the Send My Friend to School campaign, which aims to remind politicians and world leaders of the importance of education for every child. The girls, now in Year 10, have received a reponse not only from their MP but also from the Prime Minister Theresa May!

In August, the International Youth Philharmonic Orchestra - made up of young musicians from Bolton and Paderborn in Germany - used the Girls' Division as a base for their rehearsals. This was in preparation for two concerts, one held at the RNCM in Manchester, and one at the Paderhalle in Paderborn.

Sixth Form pupil Arron Davies has won Silver and Bronze medals at the European Water Ski Championships, held in Italy over the holidays. He was a key member of the four-man GB team at this event, and is now training for the U17 World Championships.

Year 13 pupil Samuel Platt placed seventh in the Fireball Class at this year's European Sailing Championships: an excellent achievement on the international stage.

Sharon Daniel in Year 10 has earned a national call-up to play chess for England over the summer holidays, having won the English Youth Chess Championship earlier in the year. She played for her country at the European Youth Chess Championship, held in Prague, and placed 48th of 120 competitors.

Year 8 sailor Harvey Leigh has raised an impressive £2,662 for Trearddur Bay RNLI and Heads Together by completing a circumnavigation of Holy Island off Anglesey in Wales. He completed the sail alongside a fellow junior sailor. Te pair also took part in the RS Feva Volvo Grand Prix at Draycote Water Sailing Club, where they won the British sailing team qualifier and gained podium positions in the majority of races.

Over the summer, Bolton School Nursery bid a fond farewell to Claire Thompson, who has been the Manager there since the Nursery opened 18 years ago. The Nursery hosted a fun-filled afternoon tea party attended by parents, children and staff as a fitting send-off for her.

A number of Inspiring Minds profiles have been released over the holiday period:

Gill Richards was Head of the Girls' Division from 2005 to 2011. In her profile, she speaks of how welcome the School made her feel, mentions some of her favourite memories, and discusses how proud she was to see new developments - such as the new Beech House and Hesketh House and the beginnings of work on the Riley Centre - take place during her tenure.

Old Boy The Rt Hon Lord Justice Ryder TD DL attended Bolton School from 1962 to 1976 before studying Law at Cambridge. He went on to become the youngest High Court Judge in the country at the age of 45. His profile is extracted from an address he gave to Boys' Division pupils, where he spoke of important lessons he learned at school and his work, among other topics.

Nicola Grinstead is an Old Girl who attended the school between 1989 and 1996. She now works as Deputy Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and is also Chair of the Board of Trustee’s for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Her inspiring profile offers advice to current pupils and talks about the teachers who influenced her during her time at Bolton School.

Sub Lieutenant Peter Hartshorn attended Bolton School between 1931 and 1939 and went on to study Engineering before joining the Royal Navy. His brief profile includes autobiographical from the commemorative book Remembered with Honour by Eric McPherson.

Former professional rugby player and now farmer Jack Forster is another Old Boy of the School. He completed his A Levels in 2005 and went on to plays Premiership and European rugby for six years, picking up England Saxons caps along the way. He talks in his profile about his inspirations, favourite memories and experience of Bolton School.

Anne-Marie Hutchings joined the Girls' Division staff in 1983. She became Head of Modern Foreign Languages in 1986, a post which she held for fifteen years. She sadly passed away in 2004, but left behind a legacy of memories for all of the pupils she taught during her time at the School. Her Inspiring Minds profile was written by one of her former pupils, and captures the essence of her lessons and teaching style in a brief pen-portrait.

Old Boy Wing Commander John Scott-Taggart, OBE MC, left Bolton School in 1915. His fascinating profile charts an inspirational school career and life, beginning with an aptitude for technology that was fostered by the school, continuing into distinguished service in the Army from 1915 and through both World Wars, and on to a variety of other interests that he cultivated throughout his adult life.