Thank You
The
The Bolton School FoundationAn Enduring Success
The Bolton School Foundation (‘the School’), the charitable foundation which combines the Boys’, Girls’ and Primary Divisions of Bolton School, has continued to flourish during the 2023-24 academic year, with a staggering breadth of activity, achievement and endeavour of which we can all be proud.
Pupil numbers remain high across all three Divisions, with recruitment for Year 7 entry in September 2024 sustaining the high levels of the previous year. In summer, two sets of excellent examination results at A Level and GCSE were rightly celebrated by pupils and staff, having ensured that each young person was able to realise their individual potential and successfully pursue their ambitions, of whatever hue.
Earlier this year, the Boys’ Senior School and Park Road, the Boys’ Junior School, received a glowing inspection report in which they were assessed as having met all five of the standards judged by the inspectors, with their programmes of extra-curricular and outdoor learning activities commended as being a “significant strength” - a plaudit which recognised our national leadership in this area.
I am delighted to report that, during the 2023-24 academic year, the School continued to benefit from the long-standing tradition of philanthropy within our community. In that 12-month period, an outstanding £2.54 million was donated to support the School’s bursary scheme, with a further £140,000 donated to
support hardship grants and an additional £186,000 gifted to support extra-curricular funding for bursary pupils, academic prizes in all three Divisions, university scholarships and a host of other projects and activities.
The number of individuals giving their time, energy and expertise to support the School and its pupils has also grown, with 272 individuals volunteering in some way during the last academic year. From my fellow Governors and Trustees, to the multiple parents and Alumni who serve the Old Boys’, Old Girls’ and Parents’ Associations, to the many Alumni, parents and friends who offer careers advice and mentoring support to current and former pupils – the support within our community is outstanding, and thank them all for their voluntary service to the School.
During the past year, the Governing Body has been keenly focused on preparing for the imposition of VAT on independent school fees, which was confirmed in the new Labour Government’s first Budget in October. This policy presents a significant challenge to the entire independent school sector and the implications thereof will undoubtedly be felt for many years ahead.