The Cockerel - December 2022

The Cockerel

Foundation comes together for Christmas Hamper Campaign

Foundation comes together for Christmas Hamper Campaign

Children and parents from across the Bolton School Foundation, from Nursery to Sixth Form, stepped up once again this Christmas to smash their target of collecting 2,500 selection boxes for Urban Outreach’s Christmas Dinner on Jesus campaign.

This is the tenth year that Bolton School has taken part in the charity event, which involves the School collecting one or more items for hampers that are delivered to those families and individuals in most need in the town. This year, Urban Outreach were delivering chicken, vegetarian and halal hampers as well as individual collections. The target for the School was to procure 2,500 selection boxes and, at last count, 2,848 had been collected by the eight schools within the Foundation with donations still coming in.

Forty Sixth Form students made up six teams who encouraged pupils around the campus in the campaign and helped with the counting and collecting of items. Students also undertook several fundraising events – a bake sale and a raffle at the community Tea at the Riley event – with the monies collected used to buy more boxes.

Chapter 2

Commons Speaker addresses Local Students

Commons Speaker addresses Local Students

Parliament’s cyber security, to dealing with the aftermath of the death of Jo Cox and the London Bridge terror attack.

ixth Form students from across the borough enjoyed a very special morning with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, The Speaker of the House of Commons, at Bolton School.

Mr. Britton, Head of Foundation, welcomed Sir Lindsay, who opened his address with an overview of his political career. He stressed how getting young people involved in politics had always been a priority for him, and, indeed, how this had been a part of his own experience: he had come from a political family, and became the youngest councillor to serve Chorley at the age of twenty-two. After experiencing local politics, he told how he was encouraged to stand for the Labour Party and spoke about his work as a ‘champion of overseas territories’, even going against the government when necessary.

Sir Lindsay explained how he became a Deputy Speaker and all about his elected position as Chair of Ways and Means, explaining what the role entails and how he fulfils his duties. He also talked about some of the challenges he has faced in the position during what has been a frenetic time in politics, from helping to beef up

Sir Lindsay then went into more detail about his election as the Speaker of the House of Commons, what the role means and how he has brought his own style to the post. He told how, when he arrived, the top three posts in the Speaker’s office were all held by men: it involved some difficult conversations, but he has since changed that to make it a more diverse office. Having good staff, he said, is key to achieving effectiveness, and he talked about some of the people he works with day to day, as well as shedding light on some of the lesser-known aspects of his job: he reminded everyone that ‘sitting in the chair’ is only three hours a day, and this is only a small fraction of his role! As the ‘Chairman’ of the House of Commons, he is also responsible for salary negotiations, making decisions about repairs to the building and a host of other duties and responsibilities. Reflecting on some of the key moments from his time in the House of Commons, he recalled how the mood of the chamber changed completely when word came through that the Queen was ‘very ill’.

In closing, Sir Lindsay said that Parliament had undoubtedly changed over the years. However, he emphasised, there is a need to bring back respect, not just tolerance. He said that people should believe in democracy and that the ballot box should be the answer. Overall, he said he felt ‘lucky’ to have such a ‘wonderful job’ and that the House can be the worst or the best and ‘when it’s the best, there’s no better place to be’.

Sir Lindsay then opened the floor to questions, the first of which was: is it difficult to remain neutral? He replied that being neutral is part of the rules, and he couldn’t have taken the job if he wasn’t prepared to follow them. He admitted that it is sometimes difficult, but he cannot show favouritism. When asked whether it is difficult to represent his constituency as Speaker, he said that he still lives in Chorley and ensures that he makes time to be there and to talk to constituents. He also said that he has a unique position, in that he may not be able to speak in the chamber, but he can summon the Prime Minister, and others, and, in private, use his position effectively on behalf of his constituents.

He talked about Prime Minister’s Questions as being ‘pure theatre’, a good place to raise issues, but not a place for effective scrutiny or to get an answer. He offered his thoughts on Scottish independence, and spoke on the necessity of a scrutinising body, whether that be the Lords or some other entity. He also shared some anecdotes about the Speakers’ Conference, which he hosted in Chorley at the request of Nancy Pelosi! He talked about the psychological impact of the job on MPs, including the abuse and intimidation they can

face, and the work he has done to combat this and encourage positive health and wellbeing.

In light of Liz Truss’s resignation in the days before his visit, several questions were posed about the change in Prime Minister and the possibility of a General Election. Sir Lindsay stressed that it is important for his job to be able to build a relationship with the Prime Minister, whoever they may be, and that the country needs stability most of all. He reminded everyone that the UK does not have a presidential system, and the public selects a political party, not a person.

Finally, Sir Lindsay gave his advice to those looking to pursue a career in politics: get involved in local, grassroots politics and join a party. He said that if you want to be at the cutting edge, look at becoming an MP, but he also reminded the audience that civil servants are often involved in politics at the highest levels without being political.

Mr. Britton thanked Sir Lindsay for his address and his thoughtful answers to the questions posed by students. He also thanked Mr. Winrow of the Bolton School Girls’ Division History and Politics Department for arranging the event.

'Sir Lindsay’s talk was a wonderful opportunity for Bolton School students studying Politics at A Level, as well as younger Girls’ Division pupils involved in Model United Nations (MUN), to hear from a senior political figure about working in Government. I was delighted to extend an invite to local schools and colleges too. All in all, it has been a great morning', said Mr. Winrow.

Former CEO of Sport England and the LTA returns

Former CEO of Sport England and the LTA returns

Returning to Bolton School for the first time in over 30 years, Roger Draper, spoke to A Level PE and Business Studies students in the Boys’ Division and inspected the School’s tennis and badminton provision. Roger is the former CEO of Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Whilst joining in with the badminton session, Roger took a moment to reflect on his visit: ‘It’s actually been quite emotional. It has been 36 years since I was last here. I was a pupil from 8 to 16 years of age and I have a lot of happy memories from that time – of playing football in the Cloisters and the Quad. I also have happy memories of the tuck shop and the Undercroft. I enjoyed lots of participation in sports, particularly tennis, football, cricket and swimming, playing for the School team and also for Greater Manchester.

After Bolton School, Roger graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc (Hons) in PE, Sports Science and Recreation Management and was their first ever student to graduate with international honours in two sports – rugby league and tennis.

During his career, he has been involved in the global business of sport and became one of the youngest CEOs in the UK business world when he took over as Chief Executive of the English Sports Council (Sport England) in 2002, aged

32. As CEO of the government’s agency for sport, he oversaw the half a billion pounds annual investment into sport and was Accounting Officer for major projects such as the London 2012 Olympic bid and the turnaround of Wembley National Stadium.

Roger was the architect of the transformation of English sport, driving major mass participation and bringing a host of international events to the UK and also leading the completion of the £120 million English Institute of Sports Network of high-performance facilities, including major new provision at Bath and Loughborough Universities.

Roger then became Chief Executive of British Tennis and Wimbledon, where he grew the turnover of the business by 45% as a result of major new global TV and commercial deals. When he started the job in 2006, the GB’s men’s tennis team were ranked 53rd in the world and when he left the role, 8 years later, GB was ranked number 1 in the world, had become Davis Cup champions and Andy Murray had become the first men’s British Wimbledon champion for 77 years.

After a recent spell acting as Super League Executive Director, he is now working as a Global Business Adviser for Boston Consulting Group, advising governments around the world on transformational change.

Roger will be the Boys’ Division’s Prizegiving speaker in the summer of 2023.

Boys’ Poignant Service of Remembrance

Boys’ Poignant Service of Remembrance

The whole school came together in the Great Hall as the Boys’ Division held its annual Remembrance Day assembly on the morning of 11th November 2022.

Current pupils and staff were joined by representatives of the Old Boltonians’ Association, led by its Chair Roy Battersby, and the service was streamed on YouTube for those who wished to attend virtually.

Dr. Holland welcomed everyone to the Hall with the reminder that the School community was coming together to commemorate those former pupils and members of staff who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

He spoke movingly about the young men whose names are recorded on the rolls of honour either side of the Memorial Window, and how the catastrophe of war led to them never being forgotten. He read from Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘Futility’ and spoke about the purpose of the Service of Remembrance: not as an act of nationalism, but ‘a time for two minutes of poignant and reverent silence at eleven o’clock, the time at which, as agreed in the terms of the Armistice, hostilities were ended.’ The silence was originally requested by Sir Percy FitzPatrick, whose son was killed in France in 1917, and Dr. Holland shared some of his emphatic statement on the need for this moment.

The names of those alumni who died 80 years ago, during the Second World War, were shared by current pupils along with a short biography of each man, thus turning a list of names into a catalogue of people to be honoured and remembered. They were:

Sergeant Pilot Alfred Ronald Cheadle (killed 26 January 1942, age 20), Flight Sergeant Pilot William Dracas Ashley (killed in action 30 April 1942, age 23), Sergeant Pilot Geoffrey Isherwood Markland (killed in action 6 May 1942), Second Lieutenant Richard Parkinson Gratrix (died in hospital 12 June 1942, age 20),

Sergeant Wireless Operator Air Gunner William Dennis Warburton (lost without trace 15 June 1942, age 20), Sergeant Navigator James Harold Evans (killed in action 16/17 September 1942, age 22), Sergeant Pilot Harry Nuttall (killed in action 25 September 1942), Flight Lieutenant Donald Higson (killed in action 17

October 1942), Flying O fficer Peter Greenhalgh (killed 20 November 1942, age 20), and Pilot Officer Charles Douglas Marshall (killed in action 4 December 1942, age 20).

Dr. Holland also made mention of Lieutenant Charles Reginald Fausset (killed in action 2 May 1915), who taught at Bolton School and was Senior Modern Languages Master 1909-10.

The assembly went on to mark the anniversaries of two historic events worthy of commemoration on Remembrance Day. 2022 is the seventieth anniversary of the first British nuclear trials, and Dr. Holland paid brief tribute to around 20,000 servicemen who were exposed to radiation while witnessing atomic tests. It is also the eightieth anniversary of the disastrous Operation Jubilee, which

took place on 19th August 1942 and has been compared to Passchendaele and the Charge of the Light Brigade. He gave context to this disastrous attack on the harbour of Dieppe, which saw 4,000 British and Canadian troops killed, wounded or captured, but also shared how this terrible loss of life informed the future success of the D Day Landings.

As he brought the assembly towards its end, Dr. Holland spoke about leadership: something which has been of great concern to people of all nations this year. He also talked about the power of

words, and the importance of commemorating those who gave their lives for the freedoms of the peoples of the world: freedoms which must be cherished and protected.

Finally, he said that the day of Remembrance is also a day to look towards the future, and reminded everyone that: ‘Life ... is a gift. It should not be squandered and is best lived purposefully.’

In bringing the assembly to a close, Dr. Holland made reference to the end of the second Elizabethan era and looked ahead to the future. In closing, he spoke the words written on Bolton’s War Memorial: ‘Tell ye your children, our brothers died to win a better world. Our part must be to strive for truth, goodwill and peace, that their sacrifice be not in vain. Lest we forget.’

Following the two minute silence, Sixth Form students processed out of the hall with wreaths of poppies to lay them at the Memorial Window. They were accompanied by Dr. Holland, Mr. Ford (Headmaster), Mr. Britton (Head of Foundation) and representatives of the Old Boys’ Association. As they stood before the Memorial Window, Dr. Holland recited the Ode to Remembrance before the laying of the wreaths.

The Remembrance Assembly can be viewed in full here.

An Evening of Quality Music

An Evening of Quality Music

Twenty-four musicians, spanning Years 8 to 13 in Bolton School Boys’ Division, entertained an enthusiastic and appreciative audience of family and friends in a Musical Evening in the School’s Great Hall.

Excellent solo and duet items were heard on voice, violin, oboe, piano, guitar, trumpet, cornet, drum kit and organ, with a huge range of musical styles expertly presented. The performers were: Year 8 pupils George Burrows, Jenson Byrne, Jamie Chen, Charlie Feng, Alex Hilton-Jones, Charlie Simpson and Ambrose Zheng; Year 9 pupils Advaith Govindu, Dhilan Jacobs, Peter McCreedy and Rith Narla; Year 10 pupils Marcus Law and Nathan Pierson; Year 11 pupils Ethan Caswell, Ollie Evans, Michael Gatenby, Amrit Mishra and Arun Patel; Year 12 students James Bland and Jake Partington; and Year 13 students Barnaby Keogh, James Logan, Oliver Longworth and Xuan Wang.

The accompanists were Ms. Lien and Mrs. Whitmore.

Foundation Director of Instrumental Music, Ian Forgrieve, presented the concert and thanked all of the performers for entertaining the assembled gathering with their impressive musical talents.

Perspectives on Geographyrelated Careers

Perspectives on Geography-related Careers

Addressing a public online audience, four former pupils of Bolton School came together via Zoom to talk about Geographyrelated careers in the latest lecture in the School’s Perspectives series.

The first subject-related presentation saw two Old Girls and two Old Boys consider why students might consider careers associated with a Geography degree, the challenges they might face and what the future holds for the sector.

her team and United Utilities, being how to ensure housing stock is not flooded in the area. Increasingly, she said, she is keen to try and find ways of diverting potential flood water through natural channels.

Rachel recapped a number of work experiences after leaving Leeds University, including working on roads and bridges and large projects such as the building of a car park at Manchester Airport; all of which made her realise that she wanted to work on sustainable projects.

Rachel Crompton (Class of 1983), a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 30 years’ of experience of managing and delivering highway and drainage-related services and projects, was the first to offer her thoughts. Rachel told how she is currently a Flood Risk manager for a substantial Lead Local Flood Authority and explained how her work focuses on both natural and built environments. She talked about the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England and the importance of constructing climate resilient places. Using maps of Withnell Fold in Lancashire, she illustrated the kind of project she is often involved with – her current challenge, working with

Paul Greenhalgh (Class of 2015) is now in his second year as a Geography Teacher at Berkhamsted School, having studied Geography at Cambridge. Answering the question of why pupils might find a Geography-related career fulfilling, he offered an ‘A, B, C, D’ answer. ‘A’, he said, was for the awe and wonder of the subject; ‘B’ represented working towards a better, informed world; ‘C’ was for how the subject is critically relevant, backing up his point with a quote from Michael Palin who said: ‘Geographers hold the key to the world’s problems’. ‘D’, Paul said, was for ‘door opening’ as he pointed towards the many roles students from his course had gone on to, including in

Urban Planning, HR, GIS, Counter Terrorism, the Civil Service, in Parliament as Assistants to MPs, in teaching, sustainable fashion, property and real estate and in a charity helping Afghan refugees!

Paul felt it was impossible to predict the future, reminding the audience that two thirds of secondary pupils will work in jobs that don’t yet exist, but he did say that Geography would certainly give you skills for the future – in areas such as critical thinking, evaluation, oral and written communication, GIS, IT, analysis, data collection and presentation. He concluded by saying that Geography is shaking off some of its negative connotations and is now a serious facilitating subject for university entry.

The most recent leaver, Tom Mair (Class of 2018), told how he had recently taken up a post as a Graduate Water Consultant with a large American multinational infrastructure firm. His work, he

said, revolves around making sure that new developments aren’t in danger of being flooded or of causing flooding. Considering the question of why study Geography at university, Tom said it holds appeal because is a very diverse subject with both human and physical elements and that there is often the possibility of tailoring your degree to your interests as you go along.

Geography, he said, is an applied science that deals with real world issues and he told how, having spent a lot of time in the laboratory at university, he had come to realise that the physical side was where his own interests lay. ln order to succeed in the field, he said you needed analytical abilities and communication skills and, given his own experience in applying for a job, a fair bit of resilience as you put in lots of applications, sit interviews and take tests.

Jennifer also provided real-life examples of the work she might undertake and told how planning involves a wide range of skills. These included, she said, fairness and impartiality, an appreciation of urban design and architecture, networking and sales (particularly in the private sector), an ability to comprehend and utilise technical information from a wide range of specialist areas, to be able to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders but, most importantly, time management and organisation capabilities. Addressing the question of why pupils might enjoy a geography-related career, she said it is often rewarding work that makes a real difference, that it is often focused on the future, that it provides opportunities to travel and get out on site and in the field, that there is a great deal of variety and, also, the opportunity to work anywhere in the country.

Jennifer Joule (Class of 2010) introduced herself as a Senior Planning Officer at Teignmouth District Council. She too had studied Geography at Cambridge and had then gone into teaching for two years before gaining a wide range of work experience and undertaking an MSc in Planning at the University of Plymouth. She told how she then worked in the private sector as a Planning Consultant for three years at Lichfields in Bristol. Her future ambition, she said, is to work for the Planning Inspectorate, the central government body which determines all planning appeals.

The questions and answer session considered how students might secure work experience, how closely planners work with local agencies to mitigate flood risk, whether there is enough money in flood management, what Paul might have done if he’d not become a teacher, top tips for applying to university, what A Level subjects complement Geography and what the Geography curriculum might look like in the future.

You can watch the full Perspectives: Geography lecture here.

Elite Athlete Programme Launches

Elite Athlete Programme Launches

Water polo playing Olympian and Commonwealth Gold medal winner, Dr. Ed Scott, returned to his alma mater to help officially launch Bolton School’s Elite Athlete Programme.

Addressing an audience of elite athletes and their parents and guardians from the across the Foundation, Ed recapped his journey to the very top in Water polo. He told how he had really fond memories of his time at Bolton School and recalled how, with the help of Dr. Yates, Mr. Jones and Mr. Pledger, he found his sporting passion there.

Ed emphasised how he had worked hard and had often taken himself out of his comfort zone, playing with a higher age group to develop his talents. He recalled winning his first of three different age group national tournaments with the School’s Under 14 team and then, shortly afterwards, picking up his first England cap. Ed spoke about joining up with the GB Under 19s’ team for the European Championships and how he was supported through this by his teachers. He recounted how in Year 12 the ‘stars seemed to align’ as he was chosen for the England men’s seniors, ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia where the team just missed out on a bronze medal.

He said sometimes, in life, it is about working hard, being in the right place at the right time and then making your own luck. After completing several years of study at the University of Leeds (a Biomedical degree), he recalled how he was allowed a year out to play Water polo for Barcelona where, through sheer hard work, he became one of the best goalkeepers in the Spanish league. After the 2012 Olympics and a second year in Barcelona, he returned to Leeds to complete his studies. Ed is now a doctor and anaesthetist. This, he said, did give him something to focus his energies on after Water polo and that it was important for athletes to always have a Plan B and to think about their next chapter.

Ed recalled a number of interesting insights into the London Olympics, which he said was a crazy, whirlwind month, including breakfasting with Usain Bolt, tea parties at the palace and open top bus parades! After this tournament, the group largely stayed together and Ed went on to captain the England team that won Gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

his studies! He told of the social experiences that he missed – he was often in the pool at 6.00am in Manchester - but how this was more than worth it as sport had helped shape who he was: an Olympian with a second language, who had travelled the world.

Dr. Mullins from the Boys’ Division and Mrs. Winder from the Girls’ Division also spoke on the evening, outlining how the School is the centre of a child’s life and how it attempts to balance sporting endeavour with academic success.

Ed advised the current crop of athletes to take up every opportunity to find out what they are good at, telling them how he had also played football and taken part in archery and rockclimbing whilst at school. He said he did not do any of these endeavours particularly well until he found the niche position of goalkeeper in a niche sport, Water polo! He also advised boys and girls that they will need to get good with their time management and prioritisation skills. At one point, he was juggling playing for five or six teams and keeping up with

They told how the School aims to develop a positive mindset in pupils, to o ff er guidance on nutrition and strength and conditioning and to provide bespoke curriculum adjustments. There was consideration of certain ‘pinch-points’ as children move up from Primary to Senior School and as they move into their GCSE and A Level years. Both also spoke about the ‘supporting team’ around an elite athlete – their coaches, their parents and their teachers and the importance of mentors within school – be that Heads of Year or others already taking part in that particular sport as well as peer to peer mentoring and, sometimes, from former pupils.

In the question and answer session, Ed explained how he has learnt to deal with pressure, telling how he goes back to basics, to the barebone essentials. This technique, he said, served him both in sport and in his work as an anaesthetist.

You can watch the launch, in full here.

Eco-School Status Celebration

Eco-School Status Celebration

Eco-committee representatives from across the Bolton School campus presented an overview of their work over the previous year to the Governing Body. The event formed part of the celebrations around each of three schools within the Foundation – the Junior Boys’ School, Boys’ Division and Girls’ Division – being awarded a prestigious Eco Schools’ Green Flag. Pupils stood by display boards in the School’s Riley Centre and confidently discussed their work with governors. They spoke about the different projects and events, from bees to garden centre trips and planting trees and potatoes, to picking up litter, recycling and meat-free Thursdays. Students had also been participating in the Earthshot Prize, which is designed to incentivise change and help to repair our planet over the next 10 years. Each school gave a presentation and displayed great knowledge of the eco topics in a very mature and engaging presentational style.

Hesketh House, the Junior Girls’ School at Bolton School is applying this year for eco-status. The award involves working on three distinct topics such as biodiversity and waste.

One Senior School parent said: ‘Being a member of the school Eco Club and council has unlocked and magnified a passion, awareness and appreciation for the environment within our boy, which is a joy to see. Our son is often excited to update us on activities he has participated in, including visiting RHS Bridgewater, birdwatching, litter picking and discussions on waste and recycling. He is clearly developing a sense of social responsibility from his involvement in the Eco Club.’

Chapter 9

Gold Award for School Concert Band

Gold Award for School Concert Band

In late November, Bolton School Concert Band performed at the regional heats of the National Concert Band Festival. After a fantastic performance, the group was presented a Gold Award, with an invite to the National round of the festival in April.

The percussion section received an additional award in recognition of their contribution to the music.

Conductor Miss Sherry said: 'Congratulations to all those musicians and very well done to the Music Department'.

World Karting Finals for Charlie

World Karting Finals for Charlie

Charlie Hart, a Year 10 pupil at Bolton School Boys’ Division, has been seeded 6th in the UK after the recent British Kart Championship final round, which took place at Whilton Mill in Northamptonshire. He competed in a field of 72 entries and successfully secured himself a place in Team GB at the Rotax World Finals at Portimao, Portugal, which runs for a week in late November. The annual ‘Olympics’ of karting sees four to five hundred drivers aged 8-16 years take part from around the world.

His father, Chris Hart, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity and achievement for Charlie and we are very proud. It has been rewarding to watch him progress up through the various levels, often competing against boys much older than himself. Charlie is now signed to drive for Elite Motorsport in the 2023 Ginetta Junior Championship and has already started to test the car with the team. Ginetta Junior is for children between the ages of 14 and 17 and is the stepping stone to an adult career in motorsport, which is where Charlie would like to progress. The races support the British Touring Cars and are often covered live

on tv. We look forward to the World Finals and to see just how far he can go.’

Charlie has been karting since five years of age and follows in the footsteps of his father, who still races, and his grandfather. He began with indoor karting in Manchester then joined Team Sam Pollitt Racing at 6 years of age, a team based in Leigh with whom he has remained throughout his career. He began racing at Wigan’s Three Sisters track and at local clubs by age 8. At age 9, Charlie moved up to competing in national circuits. After three years at this level, he moved to the Junior 125cc Rotax Junior Class (ages 12-16) and last year was the youngest competitor on the grid. Despite his young age, he was seeded 10th in the UK and in 2021 competed in Belgium at the Rotax Euromax Golden Trophy. This year’s 6th seeding comes with him only having recently turned 14 years of age.

A New Charity for Bolton School’s Bursary Funds

A New Charity for Bolton School’s Bursary Funds

2022 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Bolton School Foundation's bursary scheme. In the past quarter of a century, the bursary scheme has enabled over 2,000 young people to receive a first-class education that they would otherwise have been unable to access, before going out into the world to make a difference for good.

Bolton School now offers bursary support to one in every five of its Senior School pupils, many of whom attend with a fullyfunded place, meaning the School has one of the most generous bursary schemes in the UK. The growth of the School's bursary scheme to its current level has only been made possible through the generosity of the School community, particularly its Alumni, and a number of local and national philanthropists and charitable trusts. In the past ten years, the School's benefactors – many of whom themselves benefited from a funded place here – have generously donated almost £11m to the School in support of the continued expansion of its bursary scheme. Each of those supporters shares the School's ambition to level-up the

educational opportunities available to disadvantaged children in Bolton and the local area, so that every young person living locally can reach their true potential, regardless of their family's circumstances.

It is the Governors' objective that, by 2030, one in three pupils at the School should receive bursary funding for their education. If that ambition is to be achieved, then the future growth of the bursary funds available to support pupils at the School must be maximised. In pursuit of that goal, and marking the next exciting phase of the School's fundraising endeavours, earlier this year Bolton School's Governing Body established a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation – The Bolton School Bursary Foundation (BSBF) – which will raise, hold and grant the School’s bursary funds in the future.

By establishing BSBF, the Governing Body seeks to ensure that the funds already given so generously by the School's supporters to the Bursary Fund are ring-fenced for that purpose in the decades to come. The primary charitable purpose of BSBF is to provide bursary funding to the School, and its charitable objectives, in line with the School’s ethos outlined by Lord

Leverhulme, are ‘the advancement of education for the public benefit of those who need financial assistance in particular but not exclusively by the provision to Bolton School of bursary support for the benefit of pupils who would be unable to continue in education at the School or who would be unable to commence education at the School despite being accepted, without financial assistance.’

awarded, in line with the existing admissions and bursary assessment criteria. Existing and future donor-applied restrictions on the use of bursary funds will continue to be honoured by both BSBF and Bolton School. All funds held by the School which have been given by donors to provide for extra-curricular support, hardship funding, scholarships, prizes and capital projects are unaffected by these changes.

Reflecting on the new charity, Ian Riley, Chair of Bolton School’s Governing Body, said: 'During the past two decades, the School’s Bursary Fund has benefited hugely from the generosity of Alumni who wish to ensure that the ladder of social mobility remains in good repair for the next generation of pupils at the School. In establishing BSBF, the Governing Body is seeking to provide our donors with assurance that their gifts will only be used for their intended purpose – namely, the provision of bursary places at Bolton School.'

BSBF will be Chaired by John Craven (Class of 1982), who also serves on the School’s Governing Body. He is joined by five other trustees – Suve Banerjee, Andrew Palmer and Ian Riley (all current Governors of the School), and Michael Griffiths (Former Chairman of the Bolton School Governing Body) and Nigel Wightman (former member of Bolton School’s Investment Committee).

The majority of bursary funds previously held by Bolton School have now been transferred to BSBF where they, alongside new funds raised, will be invested by BSBF’s trustees. The School has retained a modest proportion of the bursary funds in order to provide some flexibility in the future; further transfers may be made by School to BSBF in future years at the direction of the Governors. BSBF’s trustees will make an annual bursary grant to Bolton School to support pupils who need financial assistance. The School’s Senior Officers will decide how this grant is

During the 2021-22 academic year, the School community made pledges and gifts totalling £1.71 million to the Bolton School Bursary Fund. This exceptional generosity enabled the School to spend £3.1 million on means-tested bursary assistance and hardship grants during the year, supporting 342 pupils across the two Senior Schools.

For more detailed information about BSBF, and the School’s ambitions for the growth of its bursary scheme, please click here.

2022 Bolton Children’s Fiction Award Winner Announced

2022 Bolton Children’s Fiction Award Winner Announced

The winner of the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award (BCFA) 2022 was announced to a hall filled with excited pupils just before the summer holidays. Boys and girls from across Bolton visited Bolton School to take part in the Award Ceremony after casting their votes for the winning book.

Authors and books shortlisted for 2022 were: Stewart Foster (The Perfect Parent Project), Ele Fountain (Lost), Elle McNicoll (A Kind of Spark), Lesley Parr (The Valley of Lost Secrets), Helen Rutter (The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh) and Joe Wilson (The Island That Didn’t Exist).

This year, BCFA was partially virtual: Bolton School’s Librarians, who organise the Awards, arranged a series of Zoom talks with the six shortlisted authors. Bolton School Book Club members attended live from the Library and the recordings were shared with everyone involved in BCFA 2022. This followed on from the success of using technology to connect authors and readers during the pandemic, when in-person visits were not possible, and allowed every single person involved in the Awards to hear from all six authors about their books.

On the day of the Award Ceremony, there was a buzzing atmosphere in the Great Hall at Bolton School as pupils congregated to hear the announcement of the winner: Helen Rutter with her book The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.

Helen was delighted to accept the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award for 2022 in person. She addressed the audience, thanking them for their votes and talking more about her journey to becoming an author and how the story of Billy Plimpton, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, came about. She also got the audience involved in collectively creating an outline for their very own story during the event! This memorable and fun activity encouraged everyone to get involved and start thinking creatively.

Earlier in the day, Helen spent an enjoyable morning with members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Division Book Clubs talking about her writing and books more generally.

Children across Bolton can now look forward to the Bolton Children’s Fiction award 2023. The new shortlist will be announced by Bolton School’s Librarians very soon!

Sixth Form Linguists enjoy Cultural Trip to Paris

Sixth Form Linguists enjoy Cultural Trip to Paris

At the end of the school day on Friday 11th November, the Sixth Form trip to Paris set off from Manchester Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle for a long weekend visiting a number of cultural sites and monuments historiques.

On Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast, we walked along the Seine River and saw a memorial for the Algerian war, as well as the Eiffel Tower and many beautiful monuments that have given the riverbanks their UNESCO protected status, such as the Louvre, the bridges and Grand and Petit Palais.

Then, we had lunch at a brilliant little boulangerie, for an authentic baguette au jambon and a coffee éclair, which I really enjoyed. Shortly afterwards was a guided tour round the Musée Carnavalet, in which the French guide Sandra insisted that we were good enough to have the two hour tour in French, which was a challenge. Nevertheless, I did learn lots about the history of Paris and answered several of Sandra’s questions myself.

Then we went to our restaurant, Bouillon République, where I ate snails for the first time and, while I don’t regret the experience, I certainly wouldn't do it again! I also ate steak frites and the most delicious crème brûlée I have ever tasted. I also sampled everyone else's food, which allowed me to taste many French delicacies which my companions were too full to finish. After that, our legs got our rest as we

went to the cinema to watch ‘Novembre’ – a thriller about the work of the counter-terrorist police during and following the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13th November 2015. After that, we returned to our hotel and had a good night’s sleep after a long day.

On Sunday, we all walked along the Passerelle Bichat to see the famous ‘ Amélie’ scene where she skims the stones. Also, we went to a covered market and had a competition to buy the most interesting thing we could for two euros.

In the afternoon, we went to the Musée des Arts et Métiers, then we made our way to the Catacombes, which was a chilling experience seeing all the bones laid out as a spectacle.

Then we had my highlight of the trip, a meal at La Cantine Bretonne, where I ordered crevettes for the starter, big prawns with the heads still on, which were fun to eat, and a chicken salad called La Cocotte.

On Monday, we went to Montmartre and saw various sites connected to the New Wave cinema filmmaker François Truffaut’s childhood and film shoots, including the Montmartre Cemetery. Montmartre was a much calmer part of Paris to what I had seen before then, and the graveyard was very pleasantly serene. We also went into the Sacré Coeur basilica on our way through. We walked down and saw the Moulin Rouge on our way to the Galeries Lafayette, where we had lunch and did some last minute shopping. The Galeries Lafayette were a place of style, the epitome of the French mode. Then we went to the Holocaust memorial – the Musée de la Shoah, where a French guide gave us a tour which was very interesting and moving, highlighting the French Vichy government’s collaboration in the deportation of Jews.

On this trip, I learnt lots about the French language, and how to hold conversation in the language. I improved my quick thinking skills and, by the end of the trip, my brain was hard-wired to French, so that instead of having to think of a translation into French for a sentence, I had to think what I was saying in English after the initial thoughts in French! I am very grateful to my teachers and particularly Miss Sullivan for organising the trip.

Under 13 Rugby Camaraderie and Success

Under 13 Rugby Camaraderie and Success

What an amazing start to the season! The Under 13 ‘A’ team are currently undefeated with ten victories against some very tough and experienced opponents. The whole squad is developing and is becoming a formidable side, receiving many compliments from coaches and referees of the schools we have played. Every player, be it on the ‘A’ or ‘B’ team, has demonstrated the values of this great sport and what being part of a group is all about. The squad varies, from those who are experienced, playing for local clubs, to some that are new to the sport, but all giving 100%. The camaraderie is evident at training and during the fixtures. All boys are eager to represent the School and have committed themselves each Saturday morning to do so, always delivering an outstanding performance each time they take to the field. I am very much looking forward to seeing the squad continue to develop further and wish them well for the remainder of the season. Well done to all of those involved!

Bolton Children’s Fiction Awards 2023 Shortlist Announced

Bolton Children’s Fiction Awards 2023 Shortlist Announced

Bolton School is delighted to announce the Bolton Children’s Fiction Awards 2023 Shortlist. This is a selection of six recently published books Bolton School’s Library staff recommend for younger readers from Years 6 to 9. The list has something for every taste: horror, magical creatures, time travel, animals and the environment, gothic historical and zombie apocalypse!

However, there are common themes throughout the books. One of these is developing a sense of self-identity and confidence. Another thread running through the books is the importance of friendship and acceptance of others’ differences.

This year’s shortlist is:

The Ship of Doom by M.A. Bennett

This is a book that has a fantastic blend of fiction and true facts. A time-travelling tale, packed with interesting people – both from real life (H.G. Wells and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) and a diverse cast of fictional characters.

At the heart of the book is the theory of the ‘Butterfly Effect.’

Three children are tasked to time travel from 1894 onto a famous early twentieth century ship to steal an invention. They face a dilemma; should they change the future to save lives? And if they do, will it affect their present?

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold

This book has already won several prizes including the Blue Peter Award. It’s a story about wildlife, nature and friendship. The descriptions of the extreme cold and life on a barren but striking landscape made the sense of place feel like an extra character.

April is sent to Bear Island with her father, a scientist, who is working on a project about global warming. His long days mean that April is left to explore the harsh environment alone. Despite its name, Bear Island no longer has any bears living there. One day, April catches a glimpse of a magnificent creature and her adventure begins.

How I saved the World in a Week by Polly Ho-Yen

Survival is the theme of this book, which includes creepy zombies and a mysterious virus.

Billy’s Mum is a ‘prepper’ which others dismiss as a hysterical overreaction. After she is taken ill and has to go to hospital, Billy lives with his Dad, who dismisses his ex-wife’s behaviour as ‘nonsense.’ When a mysterious virus breaks out, escaping into

the wild is the only option. Billy and his Dad begin a frantic dash to safety and his father has to accept that prepping might not be such a foolish idea after all!

Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick

This

Goosebumps series. When a group of students are made to attend a Saturday morning detention the last thing they are expecting is their teacher to disappear in front of their very eyes! They are left to investigate the horror whilst trying to stay safe from adults who are not what they seem.

is an age appropriate horror story in the style of the ever-popular

A desperate few hours ensue as they try to evade capture from terrifying underground creatures and learn more about themselves and each other.

Carnival of the Lost by Kieran Larwood

This is a mystery story, set in Victorian London with a cast of quirky characters who are part of a travelling show.

Enlisting the help of his friends, Charlie has to hide the fox, with some hilarious consequences complicated further by his Firefighter father!

Sheba and her friends travel to London, a dirty, smelly and dangerous place where children have been disappearing from the banks of the Thames. They must work together to unravel the mystery and find these forgotten urchins.

Staff felt that the footnotes throughout the book both set the scene and added historical depth to the story.

The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery

This is a funny family story about fitting in and standing up for yourself. One day Charlie comes across a strangely dressed boy who is nervous, as if he’s being chased. The boy is holding a puppy which he asks Charlie to look after for a few days, before vanishing. With its pointy snout, sticky up ears and bright orange fur, Charlie comes to realise it’s not a puppy but a fox. Not only a fox but a magical fox that gives off flames and smoke when its excited or scared!

Over the course of this year, students will be invited to read the Shortlisted books and vote for their favourite. Book Club members will also be able to speak to the authors during lunchtime video conferences and will also be taking part in joint discussions of the books.

On July 4th 2023, there will be a special Awards Day, where participating students will have the chance to meet the winning author, and possibly other authors too.

Local external primary and secondary schools also participate in the Award. Teachers and Librarians make this Shortlist a focus for their Schools’ book clubs. They cascade the recorded author sessions to their pupils. Students then vote for their favourite books and attend the Awards Day to discover the Winner.

Schools interested in joining the Bolton Children’s Fiction Awards should contact library@boltonschool.org to find out more.

Half term in Hamburg for German Student

Half term in Hamburg for German Student

The opportunities are endless for those who study German at Bolton School. During October half term, Year 10 student Ben enjoyed a week in Hamburg, studying German and participating in a football training camp run by FC St. Pauli. The week was organised by the Goethe-Institut, a non-profit cultural organisation which promotes the study of the German language and encourages international cultural exchange. Here, he shares his experiences of the week, said Miss Roddy, Head of German in the Boys' Division.

'This camp was a truly astounding opportunity to learn German and play football in the beautiful city of Hamburg, Germany.

'On the first day we had a tour of Hamburg, and we were all amazed at the brilliant parks and buildings. We spoke lots of

German as we went around the city on some days and we were speaking to citizens asking for directions and making general conversation. Our German lessons were two hours long every day and they were exciting, as we went over some new words and phrases, but also solidified our knowledge on things we already knew. For another two hours every day we had football training with the coaches from FC St. Pauli (a team in the second division of the Bundesliga) academy. They were incredibly kind and always willing to help us with anything we needed.

'The sessions we had were always different and fun and the large match we had at the end was incredible fun as we put all of our newly learned skills to the test. The evening activities were great as we often had different challenges and we went out into the city looking for things to take pictures of for an orienteering task.

On the Saturday, we were lucky enough to watch St. Pauli vs. Darmstadt in an exciting top vs. bottom clash that ended 1-1.

'I absolutely loved the week in Hamburg and cannot thank Simone Pfliegel and Inga Grunwald from the Goethe-Institut enough for organising everything. It was an opportunity of a lifetime! Danke!'

School hosts Anti-Bullying Ambassador Training

School hosts Anti-Bullying Ambassador Training

Over the course of two days, Bolton School Girls’ Division hosted an Anti-Bullying Ambassador Training Programme for primary and secondary school pupils which was conducted by The Diana Award Team.

Day One saw over 120 children from 12 primary schools from across the North West attend, including Year 5 pupils from

Bolton School’s Junior Boys and Junior Girls’ schools. Day Two was aimed at secondary school children and saw girls and boys from nine local schools, as well as pupils from the Girls’ Division and Boys’ Division of Bolton School, attend the event. Through presentations, short films and interactive assignments, the diligent attendees came to understand all about bullying behaviour, what it looks like and how to support those who experience it. At the end of the day, pupils made an action plan

of how to approach bullying issues that may arise in their schools and committed to their roles as AntiBullying Ambassadors; they were all looking forward to promoting zero tolerance policies and helping others in need.

The Bolton School pupils were determined to work towards all four badges in wellbeing, community action, online safety and respect. Mr. Livesley, a Junior Boys teacher at Bolton School who organised the event, said: 'The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign is something which we are really passionate about at Bolton School. It was a pleasure for us to host the event this year, allowing over 250 pupils and members of staff from schools across the region to receive training. The boys and girls in both our Junior and Senior schools thoroughly enjoyed their training day and they already have big plans for introducing themselves to the school as our new Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and working towards our "Wellbeing Badge". This will include: leading an whole school assembly, writing a student friendly anti-bullying policy, introducing new lunchtime activities and creating a student survey to help us address any issues our pupils may have.'

The Diana Award’s Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme is available to schools across the UK and sees trainers working with

students and other young people to change the attitudes surrounding bullying. The programme has a strong peer-to-peer focus, with trainers giving young people the skills and confidence to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors to tackle bullying in their schools long after the training has finished.

A Level student is published in ‘The Historian’

A Level student is published in ‘The Historian’

ALevel Historian Aadam Patel was delighted to see his article about the rise and fall of the remote Pacific island of Nauru published in the latest edition of The Historian, the magazine of the Historical Association.

The Year 13 student's work featured alongside that of professional historians and academics, and was selected by the panel of the Young Historian Awards from hundreds of submissions from schools across the UK.

It is only the second time that an article from the Boys' Division's Sixth Form magazine, The HistOracle, has been selected for national publication in the 12 years that it has been going to press, although the School has won the award for Best Sixth Form Magazine numerous times.

Aadam chose the subject of Nauru as he thought it would make an interesting case study. He is hoping to study Law at The University of Manchester.

A snapshot of extra-curricular school life

A snapshot of extra-curricular school life

Congratulations to Jack Stevens in 12c, who was successful at interview and has been offered a place on the Cowgill’s Future Stars Work Experience Programme.

This half term, 10 students form the Eco Committee visited Salford Road Solar Farm in Bolton. This is a massive wasteland which has been converted to a solar farm to generate renewable energy. We learned about the technology of solar panels, the costs and payback time involved and their plans for the future. Despite it being a very rainy day, with little sun to produce energy, all enjoyed walking around the solar panels and learning about how this technology could provide us with a clean energy future.

The following boys received a Bronze Reading Award this half term for 5 quizzes passed on Accelerated Reader. Faaz Sajid (7a), Ayman Ahmed Sarfraz (7d), Aleks Neklesa-Ford (7e), Adam Atcha (7f), Ahmed Baree (7f), Affaan Haffeji (8c), Tony Chen (8f), Archie Warren (7d) and Salman Khan (9c).

This year for National Poetry Day, BSBD English and BSBD Eco launched a poetry competition to coincide with visiting published author and adventurer Matt Dickinson, who kindly agreed to judge entries and select the winning prize. The theme this year was ‘The Environment’ and this clearly inspired boys and we had many fantastic entries. It was certainly difficult to short list and

Matt had a difficult task in selecting one overall winner. Ethan Knight (7e) was the winner and his poem entitled ‘Rivington’.

In the last few weeks, Year 13 boys entered the British Physics Olympiad Physics Challenge. This was a paper designed to test the most able of students with very challenging physics questions. All achieved good marks. George Seddon (13h) and Siddhant Patel (13c) both achieved the top award of a Merit Certificate. Neerav Patel (13i), Muhammad Akhtar (13d), Dan Jarvis (13h) and Frankie Chen (13b) all achieved a Participation Certificate.

Well done to the winners of the monthly missions in Geography this term. The missions have included completing a walk in the park, the Great Geography Bake Off and writing a country fact-file on their favourite player in the FIFA world cup. A fantastic effort from pupils who have got involved in stretching their learning by completing these extra pieces of work. The winners include Sabry Ibrahim (7f), Haadi Riaz (7f), Ahmed Baree (7f), Daniel Bleakley (7a), Derek Leong (7a), Dan Hinks (7b), George Glover (7e) and Amaar Butt (7f).

The following Year 9 boys took part in the National Language Competition: Hanaan Ahmed (9e), Zain Burrill (9e), Mohammed Gondal (9a), Ben Heath (9e), Kieran Holt (9a), Shayan Kanji (9f), Temka Khadkhuu (9e), Ned Manock (9e), Kenzie Naylor (9e), Matthew Pearson, Leo Simpson (9f) and Jack Singh (9c). This is the first competition of its kind organised by GCHQ, the UK’s

intelligence, security and cyber agency. The boys engaged in a week-long set of immersive language-themed challenges hosted on a virtual platform and demonstrated excellent teamwork and problem-solving skills with enthusiasm and showed real linguistic promise. With over 600 schools taking part the boys made an impressive debut for the school. Well done to all.

Every year, the University of Sheffield runs its nationwide Russian Translation Competition. Ten winners are chosen from the hundreds of entries and competition is always fierce. This year, Barnaby Keogh (13i) took victory for the second time, with Ben Rimmer (12a) winning on debut. Great work and well done, lads!

Following the Art Department’s inaugural whole school Photographic Competition, visitors to our Open Morning voted for their favourite. The three runners up are: Jasper Chan (8g), Shaurya Shaktawat (9a), Subhaan Aslam (11e) and in third place, Hanzalah Sarwar (9b), second place, Phelan Brindle (11a) and in first place, Charlie Smith (11d). Congratulations to those boys and well done to everyone who took part.

The Art Department were astounded by the entries to this year’s Christmas Card Competition. All finalists can be viewed in the stair display cabinets outside A12. The winners are Ewan McCain (7e), Zayd Adam (9f) and Nathan Lim (8e) and the overall winner was Charlie Simpson (8d). Well done to those boys.

Congratulations to Luke Burns (10a), who competed this month in the 2022 UK Speedcubing Championships held over three days in Coventry. Out of 500 competitors at the annual championships, Luke reached fourth place overall and third best in the UK in the 2x2 event with a best solve of 1.41 seconds. Then, in front of hundreds of spectators, he placed eighth best in the UK and twentieth overall in the main 3x3 event with a best solve of 6.92 seconds. Other competitors at the UK Championships included some of the best speedcubers in the world including world record holders Max Park (USA), Tymon Kolasinski (Poland) and Sebastian Weyer (Germany). Very well done to him.

Top Commendations:

Year 7 Yusuf Ali 51 Year 8 Harley Fairclough 41 Year 9 Temka Khadkhuu 30

Year 10 Zain Ahsan Ali & Alan Al-Talabani 18

Year 11 Miguel Jones-Brosed 25 Year 12 Ben Rimmer 18

Year 13 Barnaby Keogh & Oliver Longworth 7

The following boys have been awarded the Year 7 Patterdale Character Prize: Mo Khonat (7a), Harry Dunne (7b), Aryan Nunkoo (7c), Ayron Dhokia (7d), Egan Moore (7e) and James Ogg (7f). This annual award recognises boys who have shown resilience, enthusiasm, kindness and the ability to work collaboratively.

The Year 11 leadership and teamwork skills programme took place at Patterdale this term. Congratulations to Group 2 who were the overall winners from the forms A and B cohort with 325 points. They were a team of 6 boys - Dominic Farrell, Adam Faulkner, Jonathan Frank, Yoji Haddow, Toby Holt Gregson and Isaac Lucas (all 11a). The instructors’ feedback said ‘A very calm group. Did not fail on any of the challenges. Did not argue or become heated. Pleasant, polite, organised. Had good conversations with them on the last night. Passed the leadership around between them on different activities. No passengers, everyone involved’.

Congratulations to the pupils who were successful in their recent instrumental and vocal exams, namely:

Freddie Audley (12i) Grade 8 Piano Distinction

Neeraj Singh (13g) Grade 7 Flute Merit

Jamie Chen (8e) Grade 6 Guitar Merit

William Martin (11b) Grade 6 Organ Merit

Advaith Govindu (9f) Grade 3 Tuned Percussion Distinction

Ambrose Zheng (8d) Grade 3 Piano Distinction

Bryn Edwards (8b) Grade 3 Guitar Pass

Peter McCreedy (9d) Grade 3 Violin Merit

Ruhaan Bhalla (8a) Grade 2 Flute Distinction

Charlie Feng (8c) Grade 2 Singing Merit

never played with before. A great result and a fantastic experience – very well done to him.

A big well done to Daniel Bleakley (7a) who won the Year 7 Town Cross Country race at Rivington, Daniel came first out of all the schools in Bolton and becomes Town Champion!

The following other boys also secured top 20 finishes in their races:

Many congratulations to Gabe Payne (Year 8) who has been awarded a place in the National Children's Orchestra (Under 13s) on percussion. Our Junior swimmers recently competed in the ESSA Championship Finals at The London Aquatic Centre. Bolton School hosted the North West Qualifiers and our Junior Medley Relay team made up of Ethan Blyth (7e), James Vaughan (8g), Jack Rothwell (8d) and Ben Quilliam (8c) did superbly well and qualified for the Final. The Final, held at the Olympic Park, was a fantastic experience for the boys with 29 other schools competing in the same race. They should be commended for their efforts.

Year 7 Ben Howarth & Abbas Khambalia Year 8 Chris Frank Year 9 Hugo James Year 10 Liam Pijper, Matthew Houghton, Oliver Hatton and Harry Howarth

Very well done to all boys that ran and represented the School in tough weather conditions.

Congratulations to Oliver Carter (8f) for being selected to represent the North West regional Water polo team (born 2009) and also to Jimmy Elliot (8a) who was the reserve at the interregional competition which took in Walsall recently – and a fantastic bronze medal win for Oliver. Very well done to him.

Over half term Harry Lumb (11e) travelled to Castlebar in Co. Mayo, Ireland to take part in a junior ITF tennis tournament. This is an International tennis tournament with players 18 and under from across the world. Harry made it to the final and finished as a runner up in the doubles despite partnering with someone he'd

Very well done to Junaid Doctor (10d), who has been selected for the Lancashire County Cricket Under 15's main squad.

The golf team recently played in their quarter final fixture against Ashville School, Harrogate. Joe Emery (12b) drew his match, whilst Tobias Yates (12b) and Thomas Wilson (11f) both won theirs. In the semi-final, they have been drawn against Red House School in Stockton-On-Tess. We wish them the very best of luck with the fixture.

teams are enjoying winning seasons and the U13s, under the guidance of Mr James and Mr Heald, are currently unbeaten. A very considerable achievement.

In the Lancashire RFU competitions:

On Thursday 24th November, we hosted a qualifying round for the ECF Under 19 National Schools Chess Championship. Our A team did not play as they were given a bye to the first round proper, following on from their success in the competition last year. Instead our B and C teams played against teams from Cheadle Hulme, MGS, Calday Grange, Wilmslow, King’s Chester and Crossley Heath. Any team gaining 4 out of 6 possible match points would progress to the next round. After 3 rounds of chess, our B team was one of 5 qualifying teams. Unfortunately, the C team did not do so well, and failed to make the cut. However, the fact that we are now able to enter three teams into this competition, and that we have strength and depth in our A and B teams is great cause for celebration. Well done to all those pupils and staff who have been involved in a very pleasing term of rugby. There have been 68 fixtures played and over 240 boys have represented school so far this season. All

The Under 18s were knocked out of the cup at the Quarter final stage by a strong LRGS side. The Under 14s and Under 15s are due to play their Quarter finals of the plate competitions before the end of term. The Under 16s are through to the semi-finals of the plate, due to be played at the start of next term.

Congratulations to Ziyad Bagasi (7d) and his younger brother who took part in a special children’s triathlon in memory of inspirational Tri Rivington head coach Ray McGloin. Ziyad completed the triathlon in 2 hours 21 minutes and Zaidaan took just 2 hours 23 minutes.

We sold the majority of the poppies in our possession in and around the School foundation and raised hundreds of pounds for the cause. All monies have been donated to the Royal British Legion. Thank you to the Charities Committee for all their hard work.

Credits

Credits

Editor: Miss K.S. Wrathmell

Contributors: Mr. M. Power, Mr. J. Newbould, Miss A. Bradshaw, Mr. T. Winrow, Mr. I.K. Forgrieve, Miss E.A. Bramhall, Miss H. Sherry, Mrs. M. Howarth, Miss O.M. Sullivan, Reuben Simpson (13g), Mr. C. James, Ms. K. J. Roddy, Ben Pursey (10d), Ms. S.V. Burgess