Founded in 1877 and is the junior school to Bolton School's Girls Division, to which almost all girls progress. The boys' junior and senior schools are part of the same foundation. The school shares a campus with the senior schools, in an urban setting just west of Bolton's town centre and close to the M61 and M6. The school is housed in its own separate, state-of-the-art building, with excellent new facilities, including a library, spacious classrooms, a large hall, IT suite, laboratory and art and design facility. It also shares with the other schools extensive sports fields, swimming pool and gymnasium, a drama studio and arts & conference centre. The school is academically selective and encourages creativity and independent thinking, enquiry and problem solving. It provides many opportunities for girls to develop their talents outside the classroom; music and sport are particular strengths. There are regular residential visits to Patterdale Hall the school's own outdoor pursuits centre in the Lake District.
Pupils: Age range 7-11, 200 day girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 7; occasionally at other ages. Entrance is academically selective: own entry examination, interview and report from previous school. 2 classes throughout (of approx 25). No special skills or religious requirements.
No scholarships or bursaries. Typical extras, £134 a term for lunches.
Over 60% live within 30 miles.
Head: Mrs Ruth Brierley, in post since 2010. Educated at Nottingham University (education). Previously Headteacher at St Catherine's Prep School. Teaching staff: 10 full-time, 2 part-time. Average age 39.
Pupils take the entrance exam for the associated senior school at age 11.
99% of pupils go on to Bolton School Girls' Division; all must pass entrance exam.
All National Curriculum subjects taught. Specialist subject teachers for PE, music and French. PSHE forms an integral part of the girls' education and taught weekly to every class; it encourages them to value themselves, relationships, society and the environment. Special provision: Designated SEN member of staff works with class teachers to ensure individual needs are identified and met; outside agencies used where appropriate to support diagnosis and intervention. Languages: Spanish taught from age 7-9, French from 9-11. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. ICT suite; girls encouraged to use computers from age 7.
Up to 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams may be taken. Musical groups include choir, flute, recorder and orchestra groups. Majority of pupils involved in school drama productions (scenes from Romeo and Juliet recently). New art and design facilities. Art is offered as an extra-curricular activity. A number of concerts and drama productions annually; all involved in Christmas concert.
Compulsory sports: netball, hockey, lacrosse (winter), tennis, rounders, athletics (summer). On-site facilities include tennis courts, swimming pool, lacrosse pitches, netball courts, gym and playing fields. Girls compete in local leagues, in friendlies with other independent schools and AJIS tournaments. Teams successful at netball, cross-country, biathlon and swimming, often reaching national finals; combined team (with brother school) regularly wins town athletics championship. Activities: Emphasis placed on community service; pupils raise large sums for local and national charities (£1000+ for Haiti disaster appeal). Abseiling, gorge walking, sailing available in school's outdoor pursuits centre, Patterdale Hall, in the Lake District. Up to 30 clubs and activities: academic clubs eg maths, classics, science; sporting clubs, eg gym and run for fun; several music clubs; board games, Young Leaders Group; girls also play chess nationally.
Uniform: School uniform worn. Houses: Competitive houses. Prefects; buddy system (older girls mentor younger pupils at playtime). Religion: Christian. No compulsory attendance at religious worship. Social: Regular activities with other schools in the same foundation eg music swimming, athletics. Trip to Italy every other year. Bikes and scooters not allowed in school. Meals cafeteria-style and compulsory; pupils not expected to bring their own food to school. School shop. Most pupils travel to school by car or by school coach (22 routes). Some supervision available before and after school.
School adopts a positive, proactive approach to pupils wherever possible, only using sanctions in repeated cases of misdemeanour or in cases of totally unacceptable behaviour.
Mrs Carol Haslam c/o the school (chaslam@boltonschool.org)
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