Bolton School - Bolton

Jen Kay

My daughter has just completed her A-levels and my son is preparing to take his GCSEs. Both have attended Bolton School from Year 7. We have been incredibly pleased with every aspect of school in both divisions, but most especially with the wide range of opportunities offered to the children. Sport is very varied, meaning even those children who wouldn't class themselves as 'sporty' can find themselves becoming passionate in certain areas. In our opinion, all children are encouraged to be the best they can be, which is everything we wanted from a school.

Sheila Larkin

My son has attended Bolton School from the age of 5 and has just finished his A levels. He has lots of opportunities throughout his school life . Although his main extra curricular activities have revolved around sport where he has represented the school at football, cricket, water polo and hockey he has also been stretched into the arts having the opportunity to act, and play the trumpet in concerts. Discipline is strong in the school but I have found it fair. Academically he has progressed and has turned into a well rounded individual. Thank you Bolton School.

Beth Ford

My daughter started in Y7 at Bolton School Girls' Division at the beginning of September 2021. Having spent two years in turmoil during COVID, and knowing no-one in the school, we did have concerns over our daughter's social wellbeing and her ability to cope with the academic side of secondary education. We have been overwhelmed by the pastoral support offered to the Girls, alongside the exceptional academic education. Our daughter was encouraged from day one, to develop wide friendship groups, commit herself fully to her studies, and involve herself in as many of the vast array of activities on offer that she wanted to. Bolton School involves parents and guardians, engaging with us every step of the way - academically and socially - giving my daughter an incredible start to young adulthood. With the new 'Hive Hub' launched this year to focus even more so on the Girls' wellbeing, I feel incredibly thankful to Mrs Kyle for her leadership and input.

Jean Cockshaw

Both our sons have been to Bolton school and we have been thoroughly delighted with the standard of education they received both academically and through broader extra curricular activities, opportunities are amazing. The pastoral care is outstanding too.
They started as young boys and left as well rounded young men. They made friends for life.

Glen McKay

When you tell most people that you went to Bolton School, they respond by telling you how lucky you were. But the reality is very different.

First of all, bullying is very common (at least in the Boys' Division where I attended). In fact, it's encouraged by extremely unpleasant teachers who seem determined to create a school of bolshy posh blokes. I was bullied on a daily basis for four years with teachers caring very little. You are not treated as an individual, with competitiveness encouraged to the extreme. If you are quiet and thoughtful, you are made to feel as though something is wrong with you.

On a similar note, everyone is pushed in the same direction; it is just 'assumed' that you will enter the sixth form and pursue a traditional university degree after that. As a qualified teacher myself, I can see now how poor the teaching was that I experienced - 'interactive lectures' followed by a test was the norm with obviously little or no planning involved. If you are not getting straight A's, then you are simply not trying!

The emperor has no clothes when it comes to Bolton School. I wouldn't send my own children there in a million years; unless you are a rugby player or fluent in Ancient Greek, Bolton School is not for you.

giulio argentino

With little resources dedicated to student well being it is not suprise that bullying and back biting are prevalent amongst students and largely goes unchecked.
For many students who do not derive pleasure from the above activities, school can become a miserable experience...every cloud and such forth...if you want high grades at all costs are not to troubled by the absence of pastoral care and are confident that you child will survive the annual cull then look no further...my child did indeed survive the cull..it was the thought of a little lady having to turn feral just to get on in school that motivated us to choose a different independent school with a more gentile population.

A young Student

Bolton School, from the outside a castle like structure standing prominent within its beautifully tendered gardens. Only the luckiest would get an education so rich from; but the grim reality is far different. The competitiveness of the students is honestly saddening, innocent girls fighting over a social crown just so to remain happy within their environment. This is almost encouraged by teachers watching, not doing anything about the tears shed by many pupils.I left a few friends and acquaintances behind all of them unhappy with their day to day experience of bullying. Bolton School taught me that no matter how hard life gets, stay that kind, caring person and remove yourself from an environment fuelled by hatred and jealousy, competing to be number 1. At the young age of 12 I’ve truly learnt what’s important is an education in a school which puts the pupils needs first. I’ve always enjoyed school, now that I have returned to Westholme I am back to my happy self excelling in all my favourite subjects. I’m so happy I’m one of the lucky ones viewing my past at Bolton School as a bad memory, not a bad reality.

Helen R

Bolton School has provided a fantastic, broad education for my three sons, who attended from nursery upwards. The curriculum is broad and the extra-curricular programme second to none. The pupils are bright – it is a selective school, after all – but it is not an exam hothouse. Boys are encouraged and cajoled to do their best academically and of course this is what we would want for our sons. But this is not at the expense of broadening their cultural hinterland, participation in sport, drama, music, art or any other of over 200 clubs and activities. There are some great staff at this school, personalities that the boys will remember fondly, and come back to visit, for years to come. They are led by an extremely talented headmaster who cares deeply about all aspects of the school. Pastoral care is a high priority; boys are nurtured on their journey through school. Issues do arise from time to time, that is the nature of life, but problems are dealt with professionally and with compassion. In all our time at the school I have been nothing less than overwhelmed with the care and attention we have received. There are amazing opportunities for the boys in the form of school trips, outdoor pursuits at Patterdale Hall, participation in top-level sport or performing at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. At all ages there is encouragement to stand up in front of their peers and build confidence, whether playing an instrument, giving a talk or participating in a debate. The confidence and presence that these boys have when they go out into the world could not have been developed were it not for the hard work and dedication of the staff that have guided them through their childhood years. This school is not a preserve of the wealthy - many boys receive some level of help with their school fees – and so this is not a school full of posh rich kids. I would highly recommend this school.