Education, All Round

We do this through offering:

• A rich and stimulating educational experience which encompasses academic, extra-curricular and social activities

• A supportive and industrious learning environment for pupils selected on academic potential, irrespective of means and background.

Our Vision

By 2030, we intend Bolton School to stand out as a thriving academically selective independent day school in the north of England - a national leader in promoting social mobility through providing access to the broadest range of pupils, using the benefits from the Boys’ and Girls’ divisional structure to offer a first class modern academic education with effective and focused pastoral care.

The School will encourage participation and excellence in wide ranging activities, promote strong community values, and thereby equip young women and men with the resilience to go out to make a difference in their world.

Primary School Football Competition

Since 2006 Bolton School has hosted an after school Primary School Football event.

In 2024, the 2-day competition was extended to 3 days with the introduction of a new match-day dedicated to girls’ football leading to a significant increase in participation.

The event is supported by approximately 50-60 volunteer referees (which has included students from the Academy, local colleges and pupils from Bolton School).

2025 figures:

• Day 1 – 47 schools and 780 pupils

• Day 2 - 39 schools and 570 pupils

• Day 3 – 31 schools and 500 pupils

Use of Bolton School Pool

The pool facility is used by local primary schools. In 2024/25 this included:

• 10 hours - Thomasson memorial School

• 30.25 hours - Devonshire Road

• 3 hours - All-Huda Academy

In recent years motiv83activ8 have made use of the pool. Their aim is to provide fitness and social activities for women in the Bolton Community.

Cultural Partnerships

Led by the Foundation Director of Creative Learning

Creatives Now is a youth arts collective for 12-18 year olds in Bolton (town centre studio). Facilitated by Bolton School and Bolton at Home. Sessions run each week on a Saturday and seek to empower young people to co-create community driven projects that shape the town’s cultural landscape. Connected to Bolton Cultural Education Partnership, the group also has a youth steer on the town’s cultural strategy. Previous project can be viewed here:

• Project Archive - Creative Now

Saturday Social - 10 week theatre projects for 10 to 14 year olds in partnership with the Octagon Theatre. Hosted on Saturday mornings in the GD Theatre.

Youth filmmaking and festival programming for C&YP aged 12-18 in Bolton - pilots for this in summer ‘23 (filmmaking) and from October ‘23 (programming) with the intention of these becoming annual projects. A partnership with Bolton Film Festival, sponsored by Bolton School and hosted by Creatives Now.

Arts Council funded community theatre projects with Undersong Productions and Rose Bruford (North). 2021/22 The Lost Words - primary school visits, public shows and a summer holiday tour to Bolton at Home community centre grounds. 2022/23 Environmental Shakespeare - 6 visiting primaries (Johnson Fold, ESSA, The Oaks, Walmsley, St John’s BX, St Michael’s) and Thomasson Memorial (primary and secondary). Follow up workshops with actors x 3 per school including a short performance from each school + digital resourcing. TM performances and workshops BSL interpreted.

NW Schools Breakdancing Championship: host in November 2023. Approximately 10 regional schools.

LGBTEd Strand presentation at Wellington Festival of Education July 2022.

Making the Implicit Explicit Conference, June 2023 - Creative Thinking Project sessions for international delegates at Monkton Coombe School with PD colleagues.

Bolton Cultural Education Partnership (BCEP) - monthly strategic and delivery group meetings to develop school, family and social cultural offers for C&YP in Bolton.

Bolton Cultural Leaders Group - quarterly, representing BCEP interests. Upcoming BCEP CPD twilight in October ‘23 - government’s Cultural Education Plan, regional context of cultural development for schools, arts organisations listening exercise with teachers.

Various articles on arts development, community arts practice and creative thinking development for a school readership - Arts Council Creativity Collaborative. Artsmark, Curious Minds, Rethinking Education, Global Institute of Creative Thinking.

Royal Society of Arts ‘Cities of Learning’ network. RSA Festival presentation on the Pupil Design Awards.

Bolton School Community Music.

Primary school performance and recording. On Tuesday 21st January 2025, we welcomed 7 primary schools (Gilnow, Devonshire Road, Beaumont, Leverhulme, Brownlow Fold, Walmsley and St Thomas of Canterbury) bringing around 200 students to Bolton School. Bolton School staff had visited each school to lead rehearsals before the event. On the day visiting pupils performed 3 songs and performed with a staff band, recording the songs for the schools to have afterwards.

Music lessons: For the past year, we have been providing 3 students from local secondary schools with free organ lessons. In 2025/2026 6 students places will be offered.

Volunteering through Duke of Edinburgh.

From April 22 – March 2024 Bolton School pupils undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh’s qualification completed 21,190 hours which equates to a social value of £107,844.