Tuesday 13 July 2010

Bolton School Blog: 5/7 - 7/7/2010




Most schools would think about winding down for the last few days before the summer break but it is quite the opposite at Bolton School.

Sixth Form students were mesmerised by the intricate word play of Carol Ann Duffy, the Poet Laureate. She was appearing as part of a double bill with Dr Jim Wild of the University of Lancaster, who gave a fascinating presentation entitled "In Search of the Northern Lights". The two talks were part of the Year 12 students' Gifted and Talented programme.

The Boys' Division Senior School celebrated a passion for excellence which has permeated the year at the annual Prizegiving afternoon. Old Boy Professor Malcolm Stevens OBE and FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society) was this year's special guest.


In the sporting world, Year 11 pupil, James Roberts, made his debut for England's Cerebral Palsy Development Squad in the Home Nations' Tournament in Dublin, whilst Ben Monks (Year 12) was called up to represent Lancashire Schools once again in the National Schools' Regatta.

Boys from the Senior School also presented a cheque for £2,000 to members of the Halle Orchestra, who were delighted to receive the donation on behalf of Buskaid and in the memory of Mike and Dot Hall. The money had been raised earlier in the year at a Battle of the Bands competition, which had been judged by Old Boy, Mark Radcliffe.

And finally, Bolton School, gave a fond farewell to Mrs Hilary Crawforth, who has given much of her life to the Infant Department, Beech House. She was educated there and, after studying at Cambridge, took up a teaching post there in the mid-1970s. She retired having been Head of Beech House for the past ten years. The School wishes her all the best in her retirement.



Monday 5 July 2010

Bolton School Blog: 28/6 - 5/7/2010

The last weeks before the end of the Summer Term are always packed full of events and activities and this is no exception!

Bolton School Boys’ Division once again linked up with local primary schools to bring an evening of music to the North-West's premier musical venue the Bridgewater Hall. Over 700 children aged 7-18 years, enthralled a sell out audience on the night with performances from Bolton School's Joint Concert Band, the Senior Guitar Group, the Percussion Ensemble and a stunning piano recital from Year 13 student, Ben Smith.

This week saw the official opening of our new Infant School, Beech House by Mr Warren Smith JP, Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. The Lord Lieutenant addressed an audience of over 200 boys and girls aged 4 to 7 years old as well as distinguished guests including governors, former Headmistress, Miss Joyce Boston and former and current teachers as well as representatives from Cassidy and Ashton and Seddons - the designers and builders of the state-of-the-art building.

Year 13 pupil Robert Bolton returned from the regional final of the Young Engineer for Britain 2010 competition at the Big Bang Fair in Liverpool, with not one but two trophies! Robert entered his A-level Technology project the 'Progressive Brake Light' into the competition and won the overall regional event in his age category and the best product prize. He was awarded £400 prize money, and has the chance to become Young Engineer for Britain when he attends the national final in London next March.

Also this week Year 11 and 13 students from Bolton School Boys' and Girls' Division have been showing their art work at the University of Bolton, in a showcase exhibition called "Best of Bolton", organised by the university as part of its drive to interact more with local schools.

Old boy and legendary Lancashire captain of the seventies, Jack Bond, was back at Bolton School as the main guest at the annual MCC fixture, where Bolton School First Eleven cricketers took on an MCC club side and came away victorious! And there was more Cricket glory as Bolton School U14 Cricketers overcame Lancaster Grammar School with an impressive performance to win The Harold Bailey U14 Schools' Cup – an inter-school competition involving over 100 schools from Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The boys will now go on to represent Lancashire in the national competition next summer.

In other sport Bolton School's Year 7 water polo team has won the national Bradbury Cup for the first time in 15 years, and the Junior Boys' swim relay team have been involved in the ESSA 16th National Swimming Championship, narrowly missing out on a place in the National finals.

Our Junior Boys' Chess teams competed in the EPSCA (English Primary Schools Chess Association) regional semi-final of the National Primary Schools Chess Team Championship 2010 at Pontins in Prestatyn. The U11 A team played exceptionally well to achieve 3rd place and they are now eagerly waiting to find out if they have made it to the national finals. The U11 B team achieved equal 20th place, while the U9 A and B teams achieved equal 10th place and 23rd place respectively.