Staff in the Spotlight

At the end of the Autumn term the Boys’ Division bade a fond farewell to Mrs Cath Fox after nearly three decades of teaching Religious Studies. As she embarked on her well-earned retirement, she described the highlights of her time at Bolton School.

How long have you worked at Bolton School?

I taught for just over 28 years, although I was only parttime for many of them.

Had you worked in other schools prior to working at Bolton School?

Yes, I was originally primary trained (although my degree was in Theology and Religious Studies). I taught in Garstang, Padiham and Hapton.

What was the best part of working at Bolton School?

It would have to be the staff and the boys. I have appreciated the support of very gifted colleagues throughout my time at Bolton School and have made many good friends. I hope to keep up with some in the future. The vast majority of the pupils have been hardworking, well-behaved, polite and shown an interest in their work; it has been a pleasure to teach them. For most of my time at Bolton School I have been the only RS teacher, which has meant that I’ve taught every boy in Years 7-9, but only for one lesson a week. It has made learning names and completing reports and grade checks on time a daunting task. However, I have enjoyed getting to know my GCSE sets much better and have been impressed with many perceptive comments and lively discussions.

Do you have any standout memories from your time here?

My favourite annual event is the Christmas Festival, for which I have had the privilege of organising the non-music side for 19 years. The musicians and singers are incredibly talented and well-rehearsed by the Music Department. I have always felt that Christmas ‘starts here’, with beautiful music, words and a wonderful atmosphere of joyful celebration and reflection in Great Hall.

How has School life changed over the years?

The most significant change as a classroom teacher has been the technology. When I first arrived, I was impressed by the printers, as I had previously only used Banda machines! However, the use of iPads since then has transformed the way we teach. One example would be that the wealth of resources available online means that relevant articles can be downloaded to supplement textbooks. In my early days in primary schools, I recall herding children into the hall for their one television programme a week – and you missed it if you weren’t all there on time! Whereas now it is so easy to show a couple of short clips per lesson on the large-screen Apple TV in the classroom. It is a huge advantage in RS to be able to see religious practices or hear members of different faiths speaking personally.

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition?

Not really a tradition, but I love the beautiful buildings. I often walked through Great Hall en route back to A25 – just because I could. It always reminded me of what a privileged place it was to work.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m volunteering with Urban Outreach Bolton and doing more at my church, including pastoral visiting. I also plan to do lots of entertaining, cooking and sewing. In addition, Tony and I have signed up to the 1,000-mile challenge and are walking every day.