The Cockerel - July 2023

The Cockerel

BOLTON SCHOOL BOYS’ DIVISION NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 41 - JULY 2023

Chapter 1

Pupils enjoy the Physics Olympics

Pupils enjoy the Physics Olympics

Eighteen teams from nine schools from across the North West took part in this year’s Physics Olympics at Bolton School. Each team, named after a famous physicist, comprised four Year 9 scientists who, during the course of the day, took part in a series of challenges, quizzes and tests.

The day allowed gifted and talented pupils from Stockport Academy, Parklands Academy, University Collegiate School Bolton, King’s Leadership Academy, North Halifax Grammar School, St. Joseph’s and The Lowry Academy, as well as pupils from both Divisions of Bolton School, to indulge themselves in a day of fun but stretching Physics activities that their normal timetable might not allow for.

Beginning at 9.30am, the teams took part in six half-hour tasks: Delayed Timing, Rainbow Babies, Bullseye, Sink or Swim, Jelly Baby Towers and, the hardest of them all: Fermi Quiz. After a buffet lunch, prizes were handed out to the six individual event winners and to the overall first, second and third placed teams. There was also a small memento of the day for all who were involved.

Team Feynman from the Lowry Academy of Salford was the overall winner, in second place was Team Joule from Bolton School Boys’ Division and taking the bronze medal was Bernoulli, a second team from the Lowry Academy.

Chapter 2

School contributes over £50m to UK GDP

School contributes over £50m to UK GDP

Bolton School contributes millions of pounds to the local economy, a report using the ISC/Oxford Economics modeller has found.

In the last financial year, Bolton School contributed £23.4 million towards the town's gross domestic product (GDP). Bolton is one of the country’s largest towns and the contribution represents 0.43 per cent of its entire GDP.

Further afield, Bolton School contributes £50,678,897 to the UK’s GDP, a figure which comprises the school’s own GDP plus that of its UK-based supply chain and the induced GDP, which is generated through the spending of staff and the school’s suppliers’ staff.

Philip Britton, Head of the Bolton School Foundation, said:

‘These are significant figures and the contribution of independent schools should not be underestimated. Together they contribute £16.5 billion to the UK economy, supporting 328,000 jobs and £5.1 billion in tax revenues. The sector saves the government £4.4 billion annually by educating pupils who would otherwise

take up a place in state-funded schools. If we did not exist, 2,349 of our own pupils would be entitled to a free state school place.

‘As a School, last year we paid £15.9 million in tax into the Exchequer’s coffers, which included income tax, NICs, plus indirect and induced tax contributions. Payments to other businesses for goods and services relating to our core operations amounted to almost £11m. The total number of jobs supported by our activities is 747.

‘Besides our significant contribution to the local economy, we offer an outstanding education for over 2,500 children and help stimulate social mobility — one in five of our Senior School pupils receives assistance with their fees. Our pupils also contribute enormously to the region through their volunteering and work in the community and we are a regular collaborator with local state schools.’

Chapter 3

Stunning Production of ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’

Stunning Production of ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’

Earlier in the Term, Lower School thespians from the Girls’ and Boys’ Divisions came together to deliver a stunning production of Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’

The large troop, performing over four nights in mid-June, left sellout audiences lauding their acting and singing.

Reflecting on the production, Year 7 pupil Orla Sweeney, who played Mrs. Potts, summed up the thoughts of many of the cast, when she said: ‘During my time in ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ I have experienced many new aspects of theatremaking and performing. One of the best parts of joining the production

was my glamorous costume, which made me feel like a princess and made everything feel more realistic. It was also a huge opportunity for me to make many new friends in my year and others. The collaboration with Boys’ Division was an opportunity to make even more friends! I am so proud to have been part of such an amazing production and was very impressed by the spectacular set. It was such an honour to be a part of the show and I loved every second of it!

Chapter 4

Year 8 Zither Player performs at International Festival

Year 8 Zither Player performs at International Festival

Marton Lange, a Year 8 pupil in the Boys’ Division of Bolton School demonstrated his zither playing skills at the recent Gobe Fest in Manchester’s Cathedral Gardens. Performing with the Manchester Young Zither and Folk Dance Collective, he performed a number of songs at the international festival, which is in its seventh year and celebrates the little-known culture and traditions of the Székler people – a group of ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania, which is part of Romania. Marton performed a solo and gave an interview to BBC Radio Manchester.

Across the weekend of 23-25 June, a wide range of artists performed music and dance, there was a selection of wonderful delicacies from Eastern European countries and workshops focusing on storytelling, folk dance and the zither instrument.

Marton started to play zither last year when the collective was formed. Having taken to the instrument – which is a cross between a guitar and a piano – Marton rehearses weekly in Old Trafford and takes great pride in his playing.

You can learn more about the orchestra through this news article and about Marton’s group (3:14:58) and the festival (1:10) through this BBC Radio Manchester coverage.

School releases its latest Diversity Equity & Inclusion Report

School releases its latest Diversity Equity & Inclusion Report

Bolton School has released its latest Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Report. Reflecting on the paper, which covers the 2022-23 academic year, Bolton School’s Head of Foundation Philip Britton said: ‘We, like many institutions, were minded to examine our approach to inclusion, diversity and equity after the death of George Floyd in May 2020 and the testimonies published by Everyone’s Invited. We have been determined to ensure that our response is sustained, transformative and proactive and this is our fourth such

report summarising our work in this area.

‘As we have acknowledged before, our approach to making sustainable changes has been encouraged by Alumni, who have engaged in a constructive examination of the past. Our Foundation Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group monitors initiatives in this area and we have also created Sexual Misconduct Liaison Officer roles to support students in reporting and responding to sexual misconduct.

‘Recently our Girls' Division and Junior Girls’ School received positive feedback in the ISI inspection regarding their inclusive ethos and the impact of inclusive practices. The introduction of new pastoral programmes in both Senior Schools as well as cocurricular programmes across all divisions, highlight our efforts to address diversity and inclusion.

‘Pupil focus groups showed a positive response to the School's efforts in promoting DEI. Students emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach beyond standalone events and recommended incorporating DEI topics into the curriculum. Changes have already been made to broaden the content and approach for inclusivity and diversity in subjects such as History, English, and Modern Foreign Languages. Our clubs and societies continue to enhance the student experience by offering diverse opportunities. Our Girls’ Division has introduced four new clubs: Culture Club, Proud Club, African Caribbean Club, and Roots Society, which promote cultural awareness and inclusivity.

‘In our Primary Division, access to resources which promote inclusion and celebrate diversity have enabled pupil and family engagement. Hesketh House, our Junior Girls’ School, emphasises access to traditionally male-dominated sports.

‘Across the Foundation, we continue to encourage applications from diverse backgrounds in recruitment, aiming for an inclusive workplace. A review of the Gender Pay Gap has also inspired ongoing discussions on our approach to flexible working.

‘We are conscious now of also needing to develop a long term focus as we equip colleagues with the skills to deliver our DEI agenda, as we listen to pupils and involve them in the development of initiatives and as we prioritise student well-being and create a narrative that links welfare and DEI.’

Achievements Celebrated at Senior Prizegiving

Achievements Celebrated at Senior Prizegiving

The Boys’ Division community came together towards the end of term to celebrate a multitude of achievements in the annual Prizegiving ceremony. This year’s guest speaker was Old Boy Roger Draper (Class of 1986), who has been involved in the global business of sport for over 20 years and is the former CEO of Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Parents, pupils and staff gathered in the Great Hall while Sixth Form Organ Scholars Laurence Britton and Xuan Wang provided music. The evening was punctuated by a further two very di ff erent musical performances from Year 12 students: James Bland played Movement 1 – Elégie (Paisiblement, Dans Presser) from Sonata for Oboe and Piano by Francis Poulenc, accompanied by Mrs. Whitmore; and later in the programme Dylan Lincoln performed Tornado of Souls by Megadeth on the electric guitar. Following a brief welcome from Head of Boys’ Division Mr. Ford, Prizegiving began with the singing of the School Song: Forty Years On.

Mr. Ford then gave his Review of the Year. He noted that this was the first Prizegiving in several years with no pandemicrelated restrictions, and that the boys’ academic achievements have continued despite this disruption to their education. He then described just a few of the many impressive accolades that pupils have collected this year. These included receiving science Olympiad certificates and success in national maths, engineering and computing competitions; achievements in linguistic Olympiads and foreign language debating competitions; and boys becoming ‘Word Millionaires’, earning reading awards and performing in public speaking competitions. He remarked that the half-termly Celebration Assemblies have involved an average of 100 boys every time.

In the world of sport, the School has achieved the School Games Gold Award for the second year running, and over 70 students were celebrated in the annual Cups and Colours assembly. Mr. Ford presented a ‘highlights reel’ of trophies collected in football, rugby, water polo, swimming, athletics, climbing and cross country. Moving on to drama and performance, Mr. Ford looked back on this year’s drama productions, ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’, the Bridgewater Hall Gala Concert

featuring over 600 young musicians, the Young Musician of the Year competition and a full suite of concerts. The Senior Concert Band also won a Gold Award at the Concert Band Festival.

He thanked staff and parents alike for their support of the boys in all of their endeavours. He also expressed his appreciation for the many Old Boys who gave their time to present careers events such as Perspectives Lectures and World of Work talks, as well as being part of the mentoring scheme, which recently was recognised at the Northern Leadership Awards.

Tim Taylor, the Vice Chair of the Governing Body, then took to the podium to give a brief address. He looked back on his own time at Bolton School before congratulating the boys and echoing Mr. Ford’s thanks to parents and staff, who make up ‘the team behind the individual successes’ celebrated at Prizegiving.

Ahead of the presentation of prizes, special guest Roger Draper gave an entertaining and inspirational address. He began by reminiscing about his school days and the staff he remembered fondly. He also said that, despite having Perthes’ disease as a

child and being unable to walk for almost three years, he was ‘sports mad’ and ended up representing school in most sports. He also talked about his years of study at Loughborough University, where he held international honours in two sports: tennis and rugby.

By the age of 32, he was the chief executive of the Sports Council of Sport England: a huge step up when, just ten years before, he was learning about sports policy at university! His first big project was the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He went on to be an Accounting Officer for Wembley national stadium, setting up the Sports Lottery, and worked as Accounting Officer on the London Olympics and Paralympics. He was part of the team that helped to transform UK sport so that the country moved from 22nd or 23rd in the medal table to second or third. Since then, he has run British Tennis for seven years, during which time the UK went from 53rd in the world rankings to first, and ran the Super League for a few years. Most recently, he has been helping to set up the sports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, using sport to change people’s lives.

He shared five things he has learned from 30 years of working with the best sportspeople in the world: high vision and simplicity; excel in planning; focus; seize opportunity; and world class execution. He went on to explain more about these, giving details about how each one is an important aspect of ‘why winners win’. Finally, he gave three lessons from his own experience. He told the boys to always follow their passion and inspiration, and listen to and work with people who share that passion. He advised them to accept that they will fail and don’t be afraid of it, but learn from it and ‘if you do fail, fail fast’. The third lesson was to always be yourself: something he said he has struggled with himself in the past, as a young northerner, but worked to overcome.

Following the presentation of prizes, the Captain of the School, Alexander McKie, led the vote of thanks to Roger.

Mr. Ford then paid tribute to members of staff leaving this year, including three who have accrued a total of 80 years of service between them. The departing staff were: Miss Gillibrand, Mr. Gilligan, Mr. Lucas-Nolan, Mr. Patel, Miss Sherry, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Yates, Mrs. Whitmore and Mr. Fernside. He spoke about their time at the School and thanked them for their varied contributions to school life.

Finally, Head of Foundation Mr. Britton spoke to the gathering to bring the evening to a close. He said that Prizegiving is a celebration of achievement, an appropriate occasion to be proud and an opportunity to ‘look back on what has shaped us and forward to all that might be’. He thanked the Governors for the many hours of time they volunteer to the school, and teaching colleagues for their passion and commitment to the development of young people. He also thanked the parents for their engagement with School and their important support for the

boys, whose talents and personality, he said, are what make up the Boys’ Division.

Prizegiving ended with the whole of the Great Halls standing to sing Jerusalem. Earlier in the day, Roger enjoyed leading a tennis session with a group of pupils at the Leverhulme Pavilion, and held an interesting question and answer session with Year 10 boys studying PE at GCSE.

Huge Range of Achievement at Lower School Prizegiving

Huge Range of Achievement at Lower School Prizegiving

Pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9 were joined by their teachers, parents and guests in the school’s Great Hall for Lower School Prizegiving; an event, founded by Assistant Head Mrs. Waller in 2018, that recognises and celebrates pupil achievement.

Opening the address, Mr. Ford, Head of the Boys’ Division, reflected on his words from the 108th main school Prizegiving Awards, held earlier in the week. He took his audience back to 1952, when Headmaster Mr. Poskitt broke the news to the school of the death of George VI. At that time, shortly after World War Two, Mr. Ford told how parts of the School were still being built, but that there was still a palpable sense of community and working together as a partnership – attributes that still infuse the school today. He recalled how a German visitor commented on how the School offered an education for life and a wide range of extra-curricular activities; again, very much like today. Mr. Ford went on to say how offering such a broad range of opportunities, allows each boy to find their passion and realise their potential.

Mr. Ford commended boys for persevering through what have been some difficult years, pointing out that for the older boys it was their first year of not being disrupted in some way since they were in Year 5. He stressed that it had not held them back.

Assistant Head Mrs. Waller told how she was very proud of the boys, who, she said, had performed outstandingly in a busy and productive year. In her review, she explained how behind each

award there is effort, sacrifice, co-operation, determination, hard work, resilience and willingness.

Mrs. Waller painted a picture of the Lower School years being busy and exciting and of the school being a hive of activity, all of which helps develop happy, successful and fulfilled young people. Recapping the year, she spoke of how boys had engaged with House activities – every pupil representing their House in order to try and win the Lyde Cup and in charitable endeavours. An amazing two-thirds of boys, she said, represented the School in sport, with the Under 13 Rugby team winning all but one game in their season, all the football teams reaching their year group Town Cup Finals and she also spoke of successes in athletics, cricket and water polo, with some Under 14s playing for the Under 15s’ team who became national champions. Mrs. Waller also lauded the artistic, music and cultural life of the boys where, again, the key word was participation. She said there had been nine concerts across the academic year, the most memorable perhaps being at the Bridgewater Hall, and told how all Year 7 pupils had been involved in the Artsmark Award. She thanked boys for their important work in the Lower School Council, which plays an important role in shaping the school. She said that the pastoral team had been really impressed by how boys had supported each other’s well-being and had been heavily involved with Anti-bullying week and quizzes to raise awareness of LGBTQ+, neurodiversity and Islamophobia. She also commended them for their consistent academic achievement and

engagement with a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and societies. Mrs. Waller ended by saying that when she is asked what is the best thing about working at Bolton School, she always answers that it is the pupils.

Antoine Jodeau played The Last on trumpet by Andrew Wilson and awards were made across many areas of school life, including Form Tutor Awards and Commendations and prizes for academic and extra-curricular achievements.

You can watch Lower School Prizegiving event in full here.

Chapter 8

Pupils attend Beginners’ MUN Conference

Pupils attend Beginners’ MUN Conference

Last weekend, a delegation of five Year 10 pupils from Bolton School –Stella Rojek, Nathan Watts, Joseph Williams, Tamim Aani and Freddie Bovill – attended the WIMUN XIV Model UN Conference at Withington Girls' School.

The annual event offers pupils a chance to cut their teeth at a beginner’s one-day MUN Conference. Older students often go on to attend more in depth two-day events. The theme this year was 'modernity' and the Bolton School deputation represented Belgium. Each pupil joined a committee, overseeing fields such as Environment and Science, Technology, Economics and Health and debated issues including far right extremism, the regulation of oil supplies, the education crisis post COVID 19, preparing for future epidemics and protecting endangered wildlife.

Mrs. Holliday, who accompanied the pupils, along with Mrs. Mistry, said: ‘Our students were all first-time attendees and were competing against very experienced delegates. However, they threw themselves into the experience, contributing to their committees and even getting an amendment passed! They pushed themselves out of their comfort zones, debated a range of complex issues and considered viewpoints other than their own, developing very valuable skills. They also met other like-minded debaters. We were exceptionally proud of the confidence and resilience they showed.

Bolton School continues to partner with Adventure Smart

Bolton School continues to partner with Adventure Smart

Bolton School, along with its adventure learning centre Patterdale Hall in the Lake District, remains the only school in the UK to be partnered with Adventure Smart UK.

Tim Taylor, Patterdale Hall Manager, explains the link-up: ‘Our partnership with Adventure Smart UK is a way of demonstrating our commitment to spreading key safety messages in the use of the outdoors. Each year, we introduce thousands of young people to outdoor adventure. Recognising that for many, this is just the start of their journey, the Adventure Smart UK message is shared at every opportunity and is woven throughout all that we do. We believe it enables young people to become responsible and competent outdoor users.

‘The #beadventuresmart hashtag is often shared on social media by those in the partnership and the Adventure Smart UK website is a fantastic resource to signpost.

'The key ingredients for a great day are to check the weather forecast, to know where you are going, to plan for the least able member of the group and to check your equipment - map, compass, mobile phone battery, a torch and whistle and it is important, of course, to stay warm and dry, and fed and hydrated.

‘Time spent in the great outdoors, alone or as part of a group, has proven health and well-being benefits, as well as allowing young people to develop the key characteristics necessary to flourish in other parts of life. Undertaking activities safely whilst maintaining a level of adventure underpins all that we do at Patterdale Hall and through Bolton School.

‘Our ongoing partnership with Adventure Smart UK reflects the key considerations we ask of all our students when we encourage them to undertake activity for themselves and without the close supervision of our professional staff. By consciously embedding these key considerations in people before they venture out, the probability is that they have safer and more enjoyable adventures.

Chapter 10

Enchanting Shakespeare Festival celebrates Intergenerational Learning

Enchanting Shakespeare Festival celebrates Intergenerational Learning

understanding of the plays, but also sparked their creativity and passion for the dramatic arts.

We are thrilled to share the success of our Summer Shakespeare Festival, a groundbreaking project that brought together the creative forces of Rose Bruford (North), Undersong Productions and Bolton School. Made possible by generous funding from the Arts Council, this collaborative endeavour aimed to create an aspirational vertical learning experience, fostering performance skills exchange and inspiration across different age groups, from primary school to undergraduate students.

The festival was a true celebration of the Bard's timeless works and its impact was wide-ranging. As part of the project, our junior schools, Park Road and Hesketh House, actively participated in engaging workshops with Old Boy and actor, Charlie Derrar, immersing themselves in the enchanting world of Shakespeare. These sessions not only deepened their

A Senior Ensemble, comprised of talented pupils from Year 7 to 12, also took part in the festival led by Old Girl and director Collette Murray. These young actors showcased their extraordinary skills as they shared the stage with Rose Bruford actors in captivating performances of both ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ and ‘The Tempest’, directed by Collette Murray and Chris Penney on behalf of Rose Bruford, respectively. The magic of Shakespeare's words were brought alive for Year 3 and 4 pupils during the school day and evening audiences of the casts' families and friends.

Our festival went beyond the boundaries of Bolton School, embracing a wider community of primary schools from across Bolton. We were delighted to welcome

pupils and staff from St. John the Evangelist, ESSA Academy, The Oaks, Walmsley, Johnson Fold and St. Michael's, enriching their cultural experiences through exposure to Shakespeare's masterpieces. Thomasson Memorial School joined us for a BSL interpreted show, ensuring that the beauty of the performances could be enjoyed by all in our local community.

The impact of this unique project will extend far beyond the festival itself. In September, our partnering schools will receive follow-up workshops led by the actors who performed in the shows. These workshops will deepen the pupils' understanding and appreciation of the theatrical process, giving them an opportunity to learn from professionals who brought the characters to life on stage. In addition, the schools will have access to wrap-around digital resources, including rehearsal room video diaries from Rose Bruford rehearsals, providing valuable insights into the creative journey.

We firmly believe that this project is a pioneering initiative in intergenerational learning. It has bridged gaps between age groups, encouraging a

vibrant exchange of ideas and skills. We hope that the case study arising from the project will be a useful resource and an inspiration to other educational institutions.

The setting for our performances added an enchanting touch to the festival. The shows took place in an outdoor theatre dome, with the natural beauty of our school woodland serving as a backdrop and an extension of the stage. It was a truly immersive experience, connecting the audience with the essence of Shakespeare's world and enhancing the magic of the performances.

The Summer Shakespeare Festival has been an incredible journey, filled with creativity, learning, and shared experiences. We extend gratitude to Rose Bruford (North), Undersong Productions, and Arts Council England for their support and collaboration. We also commend the dedication and talent of all the students, actors, and educators involved, as they have made this project an extraordinary experience.

Photo credit: Chris Payne

Chapter 11

Pupils enjoy Bolton Children’s Fiction Awards

Pupils enjoy Bolton Children’s Fiction Awards

Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood was chosen as this year’s Bolton Children’s Fiction Award winner. Each year, children from Years 6 to 9 from across the region vote for their favourite title, chosen from six recently published works shortlisted by the library team at Bolton School.

Over 200 pupils from three local primary schools and eight secondary schools attended this year’s award ceremony, held in the Great Hall of the Boys’ Division at Bolton School. Having already read and reviewed the books and met the authors via Zoom, the audience, which also comprised book clubs, sat in eager anticipation of the announcement. Head Librarian, Mrs. Howarth, compèred the

event, opening by saying: ‘This is always a very exciting day in which we count up the pupils’ votes. The benefits of reading are endless and today we are here to celebrate and promote a passion for stories.’ After praising the six shortlisted authors and all the other wonderful writers out there, she announced this year’s winner as Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood. The author, who was in attendance, was presented with a leather bound copy of her book by Jacob Jones, an avid Year 8 reader from Bolton School, who had written an excellent review of her novel.

Taking to the podium, the author recapped her life, telling how she had always wanted to be a writer, but that a schooldays shyness and lack of self-belief had held her back. While she studied English at university, it was only after she had done a few ‘boring jobs’ that she undertook a Masters in Creative Writing and decided to try and fulfil her ambition of becoming a writer. Jennifer told how she was first published in 2017 with her book Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink. She advised that an author’s work undergoes many rewrites and that it took six and a half years from penning her first novel to it being published. During this time, she said, it was only her stubbornness that

stopped her from giving up on her dream. To date, she has written ten books and will shortly be releasing two more on the same day, 31 August – she even read a ‘world exclusive’ from one of them, a short story called ‘The Pond’, which will be included in the anthology, Read, Scream, Repeat. Her advice to the young audience was to ‘put the work in and have confidence in yourself.’

Jennifer talked about the power of stories and how books can get you through di ffi cult times. She said that she hopes to make people feel better through her own writing. She also spoke about what inspires her and where she gets her ideas for her children’s horror stories, as well as about some of her own favourite books. Jennifer then answered a wide range of thoughtful questions, including: Who do you base your characters on? What insect do you hate the most? Do your books gets translated? Did everyone

think you would become an author? Which book, if you could, would you change?

Boys and girls from Devonshire Road, Hesketh House and Park Road primary schools, along with secondary school pupils from Canon Slade, Bolton St. Catherine’s Academy, St. Wilfrid’s C of E Academy, Parrenthorn High School, The Derby High School and Outwood Academy Hindley, as well as pupils from the Boys’ Division and Girls’ Division of Bolton School then had an opportunity to meet the author, to have her sign books and, using Jennifer’s writing tips, to undertake a creative writing workshop.

One pupil, James from Canon Slade, said: ‘Today I went to the Bolton Fiction Awards 2023 and had the best time of my life. I

loved that we were able to get our books signed by the author that won. I loved that they included interactive things that we were able to do such as creating our own mythological creature, writing our own metaphors and much more.’

Another pupil, Saif Karim from Bolton School, described Jennifer as being: ‘Even better than J.K. Rowling!’

The other five shortlisted books were The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery, Carnival of the Lost by Kieran Larwood, How I Saved the World in a Week by Polly Ho-Yen, The Last Bear by Hannah Gold and The Ship of Doom by M.A. Bennett.

Bolton School receives RCO Accreditation

Bolton School receives RCO Accreditation

At the Girls’ Division Full Assembly on Friday 30th June, Head of Foundation Mr. Britton was delighted to receive the certificate confirming that Bolton School is an RCO Accredited School from Tom Bell, the Royal College of Organists’ North West Director. Mr. Bell addressed the assembly, explaining about the work of the RCO and provided interesting information about the organ, which the RCO actively promotes. Organ Scholars Marissa Hollinghurst and Emily David performed in the assembly, as well as Foundation Organist Mr. Murray, an RCO Accredited Teacher. William Martin and Lucas Ng performed to Mr. Bell on the Boys’ Division organ in a later session. The School looks forward to working closely with the RCO in future projects.

Chapter 13

Pupils enjoy German Enrichment Activities

Pupils enjoy German Enrichment Activities

In the summer half term this year, for the first time, Year 8 completed a film study. Together with Mr. Boyd and Mr. Brace, classes have watched 'Das Wunder von Bern'. They learnt about post-war Germany: the changing roles played by men and women, the after-effects on people and places, and the hope brought by the 1954 World Cup. Students have completed character studies and learnt about some of the famous people portrayed in the film. The German Department is looking forward to watching student presentations at the end of the project and will be awarding prizes for outstanding work.

On 21st June, the German Department hosted Year 8 Futbol Lingo Day when it welcomed Pierce Kiembi from Futbol Lingo to school. Pierce is a former semiprofessional footballer and current academy coach at Burnley FC. He delivered an outstandingly interesting and engaging assembly to the whole of Year 8 about language learning and using languages in the football industry. The students were absolutely captivated. After the assembly, boys in Year 8 who study German were split into groups to take part in workshops. They worked in teams to bid to be the host nation of the ‘Meisterschaft der deutschsprachigen Länder’ – all, of course, in German!

If you would like to find out more about the German Department's activities, please follow us on Twitter: @BSBDGerman.

Year 7 boys enjoying the Paris Trip

Year 7 boys enjoying the Paris Trip

n Day 1, we had to be at school at 4am so we were all very tired, but excited. Once we had set off, it took hours to get to the service station, where we had something to eat. Then we set off again to the ferry. The ferry was really good because we were allowed to do what we wanted. Now we were in France, we just had one more drive to our hotel. Once we had arrived at Parc Astérix, we ate and went to bed.

On Day 2, we visited the Thiepval Memorial, which acknowledges the unknown soldiers, who fell in World War I whilst saving their country. People who were identified are also acknowledged with their names engraved on the Memorial. After paying our respects, we visited the Thiepval Museum, where we saw artefacts and replicas of objects such as planes, bomb shells and guns. Personally, combined with the boards of information, I found this quite interesting. Following this, we had lunch, which was a tuna salad sandwich – there were mixed

opinions about this! Last on the itinerary was Parcours Aventure, a high-ropes course with varying difficulty levels.

On Day 3, we went into Paris and we went to the Ei ff el Tower. When we reached the First Floor, we were given some money to buy some food and we were all given time to practise our French. We wish that we had had the time to go to the Top Floor! Next, we took a boat ride around the city, and the scenes and views were absolutely outstanding. I also really enjoyed the boat trip and would definitely do it again. Next, we journeyed to the medieval city of Senlis, where the monarchs of the early French dynasties used to reside. The boys were quite impressed by the sight of the magnificent Gothic cathedral and its interior as well as the quaint cobbled streets.

We are really looking forward to Friday because we get to go to the Parc Astérix theme park and a new rollercoaster has just been built…!

Chapter 15

A snapshot of extra-curricular school life

A snapshot of extra-curricular school life

Jakub Maron 9a Bronze

The Year 9 and 10 Biology Challenge is a national competition that tests the best young biologists across the nation. Only the top 15% are awarded medals with only the top 5% being awarded gold.

This year’s medal winners are:

Luke Burns 10a Gold

Nathan Watts 10f Gold

Zain Burrill 9e Silver

Jayden Cheung 10b Silver

Ethan Herring 10d Silver

William Simpkins 10f Silver

Noah Spielmann 10a Silver

Abdullah Bux 10d Bronze

Ed Goodfellow 10d Bronze

Daniel Hunter 9d Bronze

Antoine Jodeau 9c Bronze

Jeffrey Lok 10a Bronze

Max Roberts 10f Bronze

Leo Simpson 9f Bronze

Nathaniel Waghorn 10b Bronze

James Woods 10a Bronze

Abdullah Zaeem 9d Bronze

Science Crest Club meets weekly and allows Year 8-9 boys who have a love of science to undertake a project of their choice.

These boys have regularly attended the club and worked incredibly hard and have now achieved the Bronze Crest Award:

Charlie Butler 8e

Jamie Chen 8e

Akshay Kallat 8d

Noah Meadows 9d

Will Richardson 8c

The ChemQuiz team won the prize for the best practical work at the recent competition against the best schools in Greater Manchester. The students had to use their practical knowledge and problem- solving skills to solve a puzzle, and then present their findings in a well-reasoned and comprehensive report. This was an extremely challenging and competitive event and the team performed superbly.

Ethan Herring 10d

Kieran Holt 9a

Neeraj Patel 8c

Akshay Kallat 8c

Once again, a superb effort for all those who have achieved an Accelerated Reading Award as well as our super millionaire readers, Adam Atcha, Tony Chen, Aleks Neklesa-Ford and Archie Warren, who have each read over three and a half million words this year. A huge well done to all.

For outstanding effort and challenging text choices Gold Award Winners are:

Ahmed Baree 7f

Charlie Butler 8e

Amaar Butt 7f

Oscar Hatton 8a

Ewan McCairn 7e

Muneeb Nawaz 8e

Muhhammad Uzair Pandor 7d

Harry Roach 7f

Well done to the following boys, who have achieved the top number of Commendations in their year group:

Year 7: Derek Leong 109

Year 8: Jacob Jones 109

Year 9: Zain Khan 70

Year 10: Arthur Snape 43

Year 11: Isaac Lucas 36

Year 12: Ben Rimmer 29

Year 13: Barnaby Keogh 14

Congratulations to Shivaansh Dubey (10f), who has recently passed his Trinity Grade 3 Classical Guitar examination. Very well done to Charlie Simpson (8d), who has achieved a Merit for his Grade 6 Rock and Pop drumming examination. Congratulations to Alex Hilton-Jones (8d), who received a Merit in his recent Trinity Rock & Pop Grade 3 Drum Kit examination.

Harry Adams (12g) represented the School at the Genocide Memorial Day held at Bolton Town Hall recently. The Lord Mayor delivered a speech and various different representatives from

Bolton spoke briefly about the impact of Genocide. Harry performed a very moving violin piece, Remembrances by John Williams.

Very well done to Tanmay Gokul in 8g, who was given the opportunity to perform at the Elena Cobb Star Prize Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, London on Monday 19th June. Tanmay had taken part in auditions last year to get selected for this event. He performed among children from the USA, Australia and Ukraine. Tanmay performed a piece called Bepop by Paul Birchall and he performed with a live band for the first time. It was an unforgettably experience for him.

After completing the Paddle Start award in Year 7, boys who selected paddle sports for their sport lessons have completed their British Canoeing Discover award. The Discover Award allows you to develop your decision making and practical skills for a fun and safe time on the water, as you become a more skilled and independent paddler. Through this award, you will learn how to choose and effectively use equipment, whilst developing an understanding of the factors which affect your paddling.

Congratulations to:

Tony Chen 8f

Roman Doherty 8d

Rory Freestone 8b

Theodore Jones 8g

Theo Michaelas 8g

Yehia Mohamed 8c

Vincent Parkinson 8b

Shay Patel 8a

Noah Plenderleith 8b

Alexander Preston 8c

Over the weekend of 17-18th June, students of Boys’ and Girls’

Divisions competed at the Royal Yachting Association Northern Region Junior Championships at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club.

Zach Tyrer-Hall (helm) and Neve Haughton (crew) competed in the highly competitive Feva

Championship Fleet. They gained confidence as the weekend progressed and sailed very well on Sunday. Will Colvin competed in his own sailing dinghy and finished 19th in the RS Tera Championship Fleet.

Two school sailing dinghies participated in the Feva Regatta Fleet. Lucia Baker (helm) and Rory Freestone (crew) finished 4th

overall with Emily Fox and Daniel Hunter finishing close behind in 5th position. Meanwhile, Ned Manock (competing for his club) achieved an excellent 13th out of 35 in the Topper 5.3 Championship Fleet.

Congratulations to Jamie Death who took Gold at the Judo English Open Junior Under 21s, which should take him to No. 1 ranking in GB for Under 81kgs, and especially after recovering so quickly from knee injury.

The boys put in some great performances at the regional finals of the ESAA Athletics in the extreme heat at Ellesmere Port. The Intermediate team finished 5th overall, with Gold medals for Joe Nicholson (10b), 1.65m in the High Jump, Finn Sutton (10f), 11.8 seconds in 100m and Sam Fitzpatrick (10c), 12.4 seconds in the Hurdles. Sam Fitzpatrick’s 12.4 seconds for the Hurdles is actually a School record!

The Athletics season began with the English Schools R1 held at Longford Park, Stretford. This team event is always extremely competitive with boys from Years 7-10 involved. Two Year 10 pupils recorded Greater Manchester qualifying scores: Joe Nicholson (10b), 1.65m in the High Jump and Neel Chadha(10e), 2.12 in the 800m.

A massive well done to Joe Nicholson, who represented the borough at Greater Manchester Athletics, winning gold in the High Jump at 1.69m.

Congratulations to Mark Lintott (11b), who won Gold in the 200m Intermediate category at the County Schools track and field event last weekend with a Personal Best of 22.75 seconds. Mark's time is over 1.5 seconds quicker than the current School record, which

is some achievement at 200m! The Year 11 200m record has stood for nearly 50 years by a M.R. Williamson with a time of 24.3 seconds so very well done to Mark.

Very well done to Kyran Chitre (10d), who was part of the Greater Manchester Under 15's Hockey team that won the Northern Regional Finals recently. This term, we have enjoyed great weather and a great turn out each week for the after school tennis club. The Under 13 and Under 15 teams played against MGS in the LTA Youth Tournament, but unfortunately, MGS proved too strong and both

teams were knocked out. More recently, Under 13, Under 14 and Under 15 teams played a friendly against the Girls’ Division and were convincing overall winners! I would like to express a special thanks to Priyesh Fernando (12b) for helping run the after school practice. Well done to our Under 13 cricket team, who progress into the Quarter-final of the Lancashire Cup with a win against Canon Slade.

The Golf team this year consisted of three outstanding players and we are extremely lucky to have them represent our School.

Joe Emery (12b), Toby Yates (12b) and Tom Wilson. (11f) have handicaps of 1, 4, and 5 respectively. They have all represented their county in the past, and I am sure, one day, they will go to all become scratch golfers.

In the Independent Schools Golf Association, the team made the Regional Final, but were narrowly beaten by a superb Leeds Grammar side, which had two players that represent their country. This was an excellent achievement for the team and hopefully next year, they will get one step further and reach the National Finals.

Great news – once again we have gained the Gold School Games Award for our sports provision in School 2022/23. Awarded for our comprehensive fixture list vs. other schools, our ECA/House

and intra-form sports activities. Congratulations to all our pupils and staff for their contributions.

DofE participants from Bolton School dedicated 8,539 hours to volunteering between April 2022 and March 2023, with a social value of £41,329. This is an incredible achievement and we hope you are proud of your sons as much as we are. We know that volunteering has a huge impact on young people – that is why it is such an essential part of the DofE programme.

It has been a fantastic year for primary outreach this year at Bolton School. Well over a thousand children from around 60 schools have been involved in the various activities we have organised. We are very proud of our partnerships with local schools.

We are delighted to have raised over £900 at the recent non uniform House Day. All proceeds will go to the Malawi new school appeal, which is being run by Hesketh House.

Lots of boys have donated to our Manchester House charity, with Oliver Icely (9a) fundraising £200 for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital by taking on a cold water swimming challenge. An excellent achievement, Oliver!

which staff in the Boys' Division bid for. Since 2013, they have awarded £95,678. The money comes from the voluntary annual contribution made by parents and other fundraising activities. Outdoor pursuits, sport and music have received the most funding, which is not surprising, as these activities need expensive kit. The Parents' Association is happy to help fund to improve the range and extent of options for pupils in Boys’ Division and we thank them for all that they do for us all within Boys’ Division.

Since September, the Outgrown Uniform Shop has raised over £1,500 for the Headmaster's Fund, as well as providing great value uniform for pupils and saving good quality items from being wasted.

The Joint Year 11

Prom was enjoyed by all and was a huge success.

Thanks to the Parents’ Association and Friends of Bolton School. Each autumn, the Parents' Association awards wish list funding,

Credits

Credits

Editor: Miss K.S. Wrathmell

Contributors: Mr. J. Newbould, Miss A. Bradshaw, Mr. M. Power, Mr. M.R. Ormerod, Mr. P.J. Britton, Mr. P. Lovatt, Orla Sweeney, Mrs. J. Holliday, Mr. T. Taylor, Ms. N.R. Lord, Chris Payne, Mrs. M. Howarth, Mr. I.K. Forgrieve, Miss K.J. Roddy, Thomas Davis 7c, Ayron Dhokia 7d, Derek Leong 7a, Mrs. V. Tymchyshyn, Dr. N. Morgan, Dr. I.K. Tranter, Dr. M. Yates, Mr. S.J. Bradley, Dr. M. Proctor, Mr. M.G. Chilton, Mr P. Fernside, Mr. A.C. Robson, Miss E.J. Compton, Mr. L. Watkinson, Mr. C. Coffey