Bolton School Boys’ Division, founded ante 1516 as Bolton Grammar School for Boys, was rebuilt and endowed by Robert Lever in 1644. In 1913, the first Viscount Leverhulme gave a generous endowment to the Bolton Grammar School for Boys and the High School for Girls on condition that the two schools should be equal partners known as Bolton School (Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions).
Bolton School today is a family of schools, where children enjoy an all-through education, joining our co-educational Nursery or Pre-School Class for 3 and 4 year olds or Infant School (ages 4–7) before moving up to our single-sex Junior and Senior Schools with Sixth Forms. We are strong believers that girls and boys from 7+ perform best in a single-sex environment, but one where there are co-educational activities – the best of both worlds.
Situated in imposing sandstone buildings on a 32-acre site, Bolton School Boys’ Division, which comprises a Senior School and Sixth Form, educates over 940 day pupils. The Senior School is fed by our Junior Boys’ School (178 boys aged 7–11 years), which is part of Bolton School’s Primary Division.
Bolton School seeks to realise the potential of each pupil. We provide challenge, encourage initiative, promote teamwork and develop leadership capabilities. It is our aim that students leave the School as self-confident young people equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes that will allow them to lead happy and fulfilled lives and to make a difference for good in the wider community.
We do this through offering a rich and stimulating educational experience which encompasses academic, extracurricular and social activities. We provide a supportive and industrious learning environment for pupils selected on academic potential, irrespective of means and background.
Curriculum. The GCSE programme comprises a core curriculum of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Sport. In addition, pupils select a further four options chosen from Art and Design, Classical Civilisation, Electronics, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education, Product Design, RS, Russian, Science Enrichment and Spanish. Pupils must choose at least one foreign language and one Humanities subject. At A level, approximately 30 different subjects are on offer. Boys generally begin by studying four subjects, with the majority reducing to three A levels in Year 13. While many boys elect to take standard combinations of either Arts or Science subjects in the Sixth Form, a high degree of flexibility ensures that any desired combination of subjects can be offered. Our enrichment programme allows students to pursue other qualifications. Examples include the Extended Project Qualification, Artsmark, Science Crest Award and a Youth Leadership Award among others. All students participate in sports lessons and in community service work. In 2017, the School won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for organisations.
Facilities and organisation. The Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions of Bolton School are housed in separate buildings on the same site and, although the organisation of the two Divisions provides single-sex schools, there are many opportunities for boys and girls to meet and to collaborate. This is particularly so in the Riley Sixth Form Centre, where boys and girls share a Common Room, café and learning areas equipped with the very latest technology. Single-sex teaching remains the norm in the Sixth Form, although in a very few subjects co-educational arrangements are in operation. The buildings of the Boys’ Division include the Great Hall, two libraries, gymnasium, laboratories, art rooms, ICT learning centre, design technology centre, performing arts centre, MFL laboratory, classrooms and dining hall. The Junior School building has recently been extended and refurbished, and contains eight form rooms and specialist rooms for ICT, art & design and science & technology, together with a gymnasium, library and its own dining accommodation. Use of the new £1 million all-weather sports surface, the sports hall, the adjacent 25-metre swimming pool and the arts centre is shared by all sections of the school.
Games and PE. The extensive playing fields which adjoin the School contain 13 pitches. Principal games are football, rugby and cricket. Tennis, hockey, swimming, water polo, badminton, athletics, golf and orienteering are also all played at representative school level. All boys also undertake a gymnastics programme and play volleyball and basketball. The School is divided into four Houses for the purpose of internal competitions.
Art, Drama, Design, Music. In addition to timetabled sessions in each discipline, there are many opportunities for extracurricular activities in these pursuits. Facilities in the art department include a pottery room with kiln; within the very active musical life of the School there are choral groups, orchestras and ensembles catering for all ages and abilities. In addition, arrangements can be made for individual lessons on all orchestral instruments, piano, organ and in singing. Drama is an important part of the work of the English department and boys are encouraged to develop their talents in the drama studio and arts centre. The annual major school play, musical or opera is produced in cooperation with the Girls’ Division. Design and technology features strongly in the curriculum in both Junior and Senior Schools with considerable success each year in the A level technology courses, many boys gaining industrial sponsorships as a result. In addition, a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities exists in both the design technology base and the computer rooms. All boys are encouraged to take part in the extensive lunchtime programme when over 120 clubs, societies and practices are offered to different groups. The School has Platinum Artsmark status.
Outdoor pursuits. Outdoor adventure learning plays an important role in developing our pupils’ resilience, independence and leadership skills. All junior school and senior school pupils up to Year 12 undertake an annual period of outdoor education within curriculum time. In addition, camps, trips, exchanges and expeditions ordinarily go to over 60 destinations over two years, many of them abroad. The School has its own 60-bed Adventure Learning Centre, Patterdale Hall in Cumbria, used by parties of boys for curriculum, weekend, holiday and fieldwork expeditions. Lunchtime and after-school clubs offer opportunities to take part in further outdoor learning, from archery and orienteering to climbing, canoeing and kayaking. In Year 8, boys have the opportunity to camp at Saundersfoot, and to undertake sail-training lessons on Tenacity of Bolton, the boat built by boys at the School. In Year 9, all pupils work towards the DofE Bronze Award and many go on to achieve Silver and Gold. There is a large and active School Scout Group with its own modern headquarters on school premises.
Religion. The School is non-denominational; all boys have periods devoted to religious education. In assemblies the basic approach is Christian although a great variety of readings and methods of presentation are adopted.
Careers Education Programme. In Lower School, the Careers Education Programme is primarily delivered through SPACE and pastoral periods. Pupils are introduced to the Unifrog HE and Careers platform in Year 7 (which they use through to Sixth Form), where they can explore their own skillsets and personality traits that link to possible future careers. Using the Activities and Skills elements of Unifrog, pupils can start to build a year-by-year record of all their achievements and as they progress through the school, they are encouraged to utilise the Unifrog Careers Library which contains a vast array of careers information and guidance. In Upper School, students complete the Unifrog Psychometric Testing modules which serve to form part of an informal Careers interview with a senior member of staff, prior to them making their A level choices. This profiling generates a personalised report for each student and offers suggestions about a range of careers, based on the answers that they gave. In Sixth Form, through Unifrog, boys learn about careers that link to their educational choices; they receive CV and interview skills training and also experience a mock interview with an interviewer whose professional specialism is relevant to the student’s intended future career path or area of study. There are also regular virtual and in-person careers talks, often from inspirational former pupils. Former pupils are invited to sign up for the Find Your Path mentoring scheme, where recent leavers benefit from support and guidance by Old Boy mentors.
Higher Education applications are supported by a specialist team of advisors in the Sixth Form which is led by the Director of HE Applications. Advice is provided to help students make informed decisions about their choice of degree course at university, degree apprenticeship or study overseas. Highly competitive areas (for example, dentistry, medicine or veterinary science, or Oxford or Cambridge colleges) are a key feature of the programme. All aspects of the applications process are explained, and the students’ form tutors play a part in closely monitoring their progress.
Transport. The School provides an extensive coach service covering 20 routes, which offers secure and easy access for pupils from a wide surrounding catchment area.
Admission. An entrance examination is held in January annually for boys over 7 and under 8 on 31 August of the year of admission. Places are available at 7+ and a few additional places thereafter. Admission to the first year of the Senior School is by entrance examination held annually in mid-January. Boys who are over 10 and under 12 on 31 August of the year of entry are eligible. Entry to the Sixth Form is available to boys who have taken GCSE examinations elsewhere on the basis of interview and agreed levels of performance in these public examinations. Boys are also admitted at other ages when vacancies occur; in these cases, admission is gained through satisfactory interview and test performances. There is a co-educational pre-preparatory section – Beech House Infants’ School – which occupies its own purpose-built, state-of-the-art premises. Admission is from the age of 3 and enquiries should be made to PDAdmissions@boltonschool.org. There is also a nursery providing facilities for children from 3 months to 4 years old. Fees per term (2024-2025). Senior School and Sixth Form: £4,772; Infant and Junior Schools: £3,816. Fees include lunches.
Fee assistance. Means-tested bursaries are available and one in five Senior School pupils receives assistance with fees. Scholarships are also available and are offered regardless of parental income, to those pupils whose achievement in the Entrance Examination and the interviews places them at the top of the cohort.
Prospectus and Open Day. The School holds an annual Open Morning in mid-October for the benefit of prospective candidates and their parents. Individual tours can be arranged on working days throughout the year. Further information concerning all aspects of the School is contained in the digital prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from the Admissions Registrar. Enquiries concerning admission are welcome at any time of the School year.
Charitable status. Bolton School is a Registered Charity, number 1110703.
Governors & Staff:
Chairman of Governors: Mr I Riley, MEng, MBA
Head of Foundation: P J Britton MBE, MEd
Head Of Boys’ Division: Mr N L Ford, BSc
Deputy Heads: Dr F H Mullins, BSc, PhD and Mrs H M Brandon, MA
Assistant Heads: Mr P G Davidson, MA; Mr D L Stevens, BSc; Mrs C L Waller, BA; Mr P Newbold, BA
Head Of Sixth Form: Mr M H J Prentki, BA
Foundation Head Of Compliance: Mr J D Williams, BSc
Foundation Head Of Educational Research And Innovation: Ms H E Bradford-Keegan, BA Hons, MA
Heads Of Department:
Art and Design: Mrs Ryder, BA
Biology: Mr Benbow, BSc
Business Studies and Economics: Mr Kettle, BA
Chemistry: Mrs Acton, BSc
Classics: Mr Lamb, BA, MA
English: Ms Sigrist, BA
French: Mrs Cotton, BA, MA
Geography: Mr Jackson, BSc
German: Mr Boyd, BA
History: Miss Burgess, MA
Mathematics: Mr Palmer, BSc
Music (Curriculum): Mr Limb
Physical Education: Mr Chilton (Director of Sport); Mr M Johnson, BSc (Head of PE)
Physics: M R Ormerod, BSc
Religious Studies: Mrs K Porter, BA
Russian: Mr Wyatt, MA
Spanish: Mrs Cotton, BA, MA
Technology: Mr Coffey, BA
Junior School (Age 7–11):
Head: Mrs S Faulkner, BA, MAEd (Acting)
Head of Boys’ Division’s Personal Assistant: Mrs J Higham
Admissions Registrar: Miss A Fenton