Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) at Bolton School

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

WELL-BEING INQUISITIVE IMAGINATIVE COLLABORATIVE PERSISTENT DISCIPLINED

Unlock Your Potential at Bolton School

WELL-BEING

INQUISITIVE

IMAGINATIVE

COLLABORATIVE

PERSISTENT

DISCIPLINED

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT BOLTON SCHOOL The clubs and societies available at lunchtime, after school and at the weekend are an integral part of Bolton School's co-curricular programme.

These diverse activities complement the academic curriculum and provide opportunities for pupils to explore their interests, develop creative health, and discover new passions.

Engaging in the co-curricular life of the School is an important step on our leadership pathway, and we encourage all pupils in Years 7 to 9 to take part in at least three activities each week. Through these experiences, you will grow in key areas of character, becoming more inquisitive, collaborative, and imaginative. Activities will also help build discipline and persistence, traits essential for success in any area of life.

Some options also serve as career enrichment, allowing pupils to apply their talents in specialist fields and explore future possibilities.

For older students, there are opportunities to take on leadership roles, including starting and running new clubs and societies, providing a chance to shape the extracurricular landscape.

Regular participation in activities not only helps develop new skills but also encourages collaboration across different year groups. Pupils gain valuable communication skills, learn to appreciate diverse perspectives, and develop greater well-being through creative expression.

Whatever activities pupils choose, there is no doubt that they offer a wealth of enjoyment, character development, and personal growth. We encourage all pupils to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.

Philip Britton Head of Foundation.

from Around the World in 80 Days

ARCADE CLUB BD Years 7-13, GD Years 7&8 Arcade Club is a chance for pupils to relive the spirit of the 80s and 90s arcade games with competitions and challenges. From dashing along at speed as Sonic the Hedgehog to chomping your way to victory in Pacman come along and have fun!

ARCHERY BD Years 7-13, GD Year 8 Archery Club is open to all, whether you are a sharp shooting archer or a ready to learn a new skill.

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ART 365

BD Years 7 - 13 Come along to create your own art, in any medium, any size.

Drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking and threedimensional work can all be explored. You might create a piece that takes one session to realise or a whole term.

ART CLUB GD Years 7-9 An opportunity for students to try out different techniques and themes within art.

ANIMATION CLUB GD Year 7 An opportunity to develop a range of animation skills and produce some fun animations within a friendly and supportive environment.

MINDFULNESS ART CLUB GD Years 7 - 11 Mindfulness Art Club is an opportunity to enjoy creating your own pieces of artwork whilst listening to relaxing music and meditation sounds. There is no requirement to be a good artist members can just come along and enjoy art at their own level of ability.

SENIOR ART CLUB BD Years 10-13 This club is for any student in Year 10 and above who wants to create artwork. You do not have to be in a GCSE Art class to attend.

You may have a piece of work you would like support with or be looking for inspiration and interested in continuing to create art. We welcome all.

This club also assists in the further development of pupils' Art practice at GCSE.

ASTRONOMY & ASTRO PHYSICS CLUB + GCSE ASTRONOMY Astonomy & Astrophysics Club: GD Y10-13 GSCE Astronomy: Joint, Year 9 Are you fascinated by the night sky and interested in stories about our continuing exploration of our Solar System and Universe?

This course builds on that interest and examines how theories and technology have developed over time.

You will have the option to take a GCSE in Astronomy from Year 9 and to participate in our exciting weekend field trip to Patterdale.

YOUNG ARCHAEOLOGISTS CLUB GD Years 7 - 13 Learn about archaeology and the secrets we can uncover about the past by exploring the artefacts around us. Craft activities based on archaeological periods and technology.

AMERICAN FLAG FOOTBALL GD Years 9-11 A club for students to introduce themselves to, practice and play American Flag Football.

“Flag” is a non-contact version of American Football which will enter the Olympics in 2028 and involves speed, skill and strategy. The aim is to confuse the opposition with pre-designed play in order to run or throw the ball towards the endzone all the while avoiding defenders trying to pull flags from specially designed belts.

THE AINSWORTH SOCIETY BD Years 7 - 9 The Ainsworth Society offers around fifteen academically strong boys in Years 7, 8, and 9 the opportunity to engage in discussions and debates with the Head of Foundation. Each year group meets separately once per half term in the Headmaster’s Study, with members reading and discussing a book selected for each session. Participanacts are also encouraged to suggest future reading materials and share their thoughts between meetings.

The society is named after Robert Ainsworth, a distinguished 17th-century scholar from Bolton, who published a renowned Latin dictionary in 1736. A copy of this dictionary remains in the school's Chained Library.

BOOK CLUB Joint, Years 7-9 & BD Years 1013 Engaging and fun fortnightly meetings to explore books across a range of genres, including discussion, games and of course, reading! For Seniors, an opportunity to develop critical engagement with the literature that you read.

Explore the literary canon as well as modern, diverse and exciting texts.

B BEE-KEEPING BD Years 7 - 9 & Years 10 - 13

Come along to Beekeeping Club to find out about the fascinating world of Honey Bees. You will get to identify and understand the role of the different bees in a colony, as well as inspecting them for health. At the correct time of the year there should be a honey crop and you will be involved in jarring and labelling the honey.

When the bees are dormant you will be involved in building hives and frames for the following season. Space is limited as you need a beekeeper’s suit (supplied) and there is only a certain amount space in the apiary.

BOARD GAME CLUB GD Years 7-9 You can come on your own and make new friends or bring others along with you. We have a wide selection of games & you can choose to play with the other students or try to beat the staff! It is a wonderful place to try out new games & revisit old ones. Hope to see you there!

BOX FIT GD Years 7-13 Box-Fit is a physical activity that is beneficial to both physical and mental health. No previous boxing experience required. Boxing gloves and pads will be provided. Students can work out at their own level of fitness.

Everyone welcome

CARDS & BRIDGE CLUB BD Years 7 - 13 Learn to play some fun new card games and develop the skills necessary to play Bridge, an advanced card game for 4 players.

C CAREERS BD Years 7-10 There are opportunities for pupils to explore career paths during lunchtimes along four main areas of study – Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Finance, STEM and Healthcare.

CALCULATIONS CLUB GD Year 13 You will work collaboratively tackling interesting, imaginative and challenging chemistry calculations and puzzles in a fun environment.

CHESS BD Years 7-13 GD Years 7-13 Whether you are new to chess or an experienced player, come along and improve your game.

CHRISTIAN UNION Joint, Years 7-9 & Years 10-13 Is Easter more than chocolate? Is Christmas more than presents? Does God exist? Come along to find out more about what the Christian Faith has to say about these big questions.

We will play some games, eat lots of snacks and have interesting discussions. Open to all faiths or none.

CLASSICS CLUB BD Years 7-9 & 10-13 Juniors: Take a fun and explorative look at the ancient world; from gladiators and gods, to deciphering the names of dinosaurs. It is the perfect place to learn about ancient society, and expand your horizons with some truly amazing facts. Seniors: Explore familiar topics from different perspectives and cultures and material from outside the curriculum.

CLASSICAL GREEK Joint, Year 9 This is a unique chance to learn the language of the ancient gods and heroes!

You’ve probably heard of the alphabet well that comes from Greek (first two lessons are alpha and beta). This is a perfect club for anyone who likes to: use their brain, solve puzzles, learn about the ancient world.

world food enrichment

CRAFT CLUB GD Years 8&9 This club is a chance to relax and enjoy a range of mindfulness activities starting with some seasonal crafts. We will be making autumn decorations, producing mandalas, card marking and cross-stitch to name a few of the things you'll get to create and take home. Come along and spend some time chatting and being creative in a calm place- the perfect brainbreak!

CHRISTMAS CLUB GD Years 10-13 Improve your cake decorating skills in this club where you will design, make and decorate your own Christmas Cake.

CROCHET CLUB GD Years 7-9 You are welcome to come along to join our crafty-crochet-club! No previous crocheting experience needed, although we do greatly welcome any experienced crocheters to help run the club. Yarn and crochet hooks are available.

CREST AWARD GD Years 10-13 An opportunity to work independently or in small groups to plan, carry out and write up a science investigation of your choosing. This requires around 30 hours work, some of which will take place during the lunchtime club and some which will be required at other times. You will complete a nationally recognised award.

CONVERSE CLUB GD Years 9-11 An opportunity to talk about moral, social and controversial issues in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

CLUB ANIMALIA BD Years 7&8 Club Animalia is a chance for Year 8 and 9 boys to learn about, handle and help to look after the Biology Department’s collection of animals.

We will eventually have a range of small mammals and insects as well as our corn snake to care for.

CREATIVES NOW A Multidisciplinary Arts Collective for young people in Bolton aged 12 - 18 Our youth-led community arts collective meets on Saturdays in Bolton town centre where they have their own studio space.

The collective engage in local research and commission artists to work with them on projects which support Bolton's cultural development for children , young people and the broader community.

The collective is faciliated by Bolton School and Bolton at Home. Partnership projects with the Octagon Theatre and Bolton Film Festival intoduce storytelling, theatre and filmmaking to the group's repertoire.

CRAFT CLUB BD Years 7-9 For pupils who love making, getting their hands dirty and wish to produce quality pieces of art for sale.

There is a termly theme to Craft Club. Term 1: printmaking, Term 2: ceramics and Term 3: sustainable art from recycled materials.

CLIMBING CLUB BD Year 7, Years 8&9, Years 10-13 GD Years 7 - 13 At Climbing Club, you will learn and develop skills needed for climbing at our indoor climbing wall . You will mostly focus on bouldering skills; bouldering is where you climb without ropes on low-level problems..

CREATIVE WRITING BD Years 7 - 9 & Years 10 -13 GD Years 8&9 Do you have a passion for literature and a flair for creative writing? If so, then this creative writing club is the one for you! You’ll have the opportunity to explore and construct a variety of texts, even entering prestigious writing competitions where your words have the chance to shine on a wider scale.

DRAMA HUB GD Years 10&11, Joint Y12&13 GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre students wishing to progress with coursework and / or exam preparation are welcome to attend Drama Hub. Groups of students can attend by appointment to development material ahead of performance exams. Designers wishing to access the Green Room and / or light and sound box will be welcome to do so. Students are asked to notify Miss Talbot ahead of time. from The Tempest

DRAMA Joint, age range varies by production We are extremely proud of our theatre productions and they are always an exciting, grand affair.

There are lots of different ways to get involved. You may wish to challenge yourself with a lead role, take a smaller part, learn to programme and operate sound and lighting, contribute to set and costume design, special effects makeup, work in front of house roles, marketing or join the back stage crew.

Whichever role you choose, you are bound to have tonnes of fun!

We often work in partnership with the Octagon Theatre; pupils have the opportunity to participate in workshops with the theatre's creative engagement team and benefit from masterclasses and guest direction. Invites to participate in productions will reach you via notices and email.

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DANCE CLUB GD Years 7 - 13 Step into rhythm and discover the world of movement with our Dance Club, featuring both Latin and Ballroom styles. Whether you're passionate about salsa, tango, or the elegance of a waltz, this is your chance to learn, improve, and have fun! No experience is necessary—you will be guided through the steps, making it easy for everyone to shine on the dance floor. Build confidence, make friends, and express yourself through dance.

THE DYMOND SOCIETY GD Years 7-9 The GD Dymond Society, named in honor of Miss Olivia Dymond, headmistress from 1893-1919, celebrates the academic legacy she fostered during her tenure. Miss Dymond oversaw the pivotal 1915 merger of Bolton High School for Girls and Bolton Grammar School, forming what is now Bolton School.

The Society provides a forum for highachieving students to engage in enriching discussions and debates on topics beyond the standard curriculum.

Members meet with the Head of Foundation at least once per half-term to explore academic issues, including group discussions on pre-selected readings. Membership is by invitation only.

DARTS CLUB BD Years 7-9 A chance to show off your throwing skills and develop your mental arithmetic at the same time. A popular club for pupils to have fun and learn the different versions of the game.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY CLUB A club for those wishing to explore new materials and make creative projects in a workshop environment. Each project will take a full half-term to design and make so please come along if you enjoy making things and can commit to the whole half term.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CLUB Joint, Year 9-13 Dungeons and Dragons club is a Year 9+ student-led group with folk from both divisions. This is a cooperative, storytelling game where players take on the roles of different characters. Characters make friends and enemies, fight monsters, discover loot, and complete quests.

EXTREME PHYSICS Joint, Years 12 and 13 An opportunity for A Level Physics Students to go beyond the scope of the A Level course. We tackle harder physics problems (including those found on the Isaac physics Website), discuss any topics that we feel are interesting but might not be on the spec and enter physics competitions..

ECONOMICS CLUB GD Year 10 &11 This club is very helpful for Business GCSE students as it will support their knowledge and understanding of business terminology and the development of their economic and commercial awareness.

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ECO CLUB GD Years 7-9

Join the Eco Club and help make Bolton School more sustainable! If you’re passionate about the environment and want to reduce your impact, this is the place for you. Discuss world issues, learn more about global warming, reduce plastic waste, and get involved in local and school-wide initiatives.

Learn how to live more sustainably, explore local and global environmental issues, take part in litter picks and creative campaigns, organise school events and raise awareness, help deliver an assembly on eco-conscious topics, develop teamwork, communication, and presentation skills, and share ideas to make our school more eco-friendly. Make a difference—join us!

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CLUB GD Years 7-9 A club that combines sustainability with design of products and awareness of the Environment and climate change.

FENCING BD Years 7-9 This is a unique opportunity to learn a new sport, not routinely offered in the curriculum. You will learn how to fight like a true swordsman, and compete in competitions and games with your peers.

No experience is required, all you will need is a pair of trainers.

FORMULA 1 CLUB BD Years 7&8 Research, design and build a CO2 powered vehicle based on F1 design principals.

Teams of 6 will take on different roles to run a mini F1 team. We will attend the regional heats in January where you will race your vehicle against other teams.

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FILM CLUB BD Years 10 - 13 Watch films and discuss all things cinema. Each half-term there is a different focus to the films we watch.

The club will be run primarily by a pupil committee..

FRENCH FILM CLUB BD Years 10 - 13 Learn about French cinema by watching original language French films with English subtitles. A great opportunity for GCSE and A Level French students to broaden their understanding of authentic French and learn about the wider culture.

FRENCH SPELLING BEE BD Year 7 Fancy developing your fluency in the language and attending an all-expenses paid trip to the National Final? Come along and help us retain our winning streak at this competition.

FRENCH TABLE RONDE GD Years 9-11 Do you love the French language and all things French? Come along to discover a whole world of music, literature, TV, language to widen your experience of the French speaking world. We aim to find out about fun idioms, read fairy stories, watch new TV series, discover new musical artists to show how much fun French can be beyond the classroom.

GERMAN MEDIA/ GAMES CLUB GD Years 7-9 A fun KS3 club looking at games, songs, videos, films, language and culture from Germanspeaking countries.

FRENCH DEBATING CLUB GD Years 12&13 Enjoy debating a range of topics in French, such as which is better, a bicycle or a wheelbarrow?

Build your fluency and debating skills whilst having fun!

GERMAN LITERATURE CLUB GD Years 10&11 An opportunity to get to grips with the German language through group reading of classic German stories and fairy tales!

GREEK TRAGEDY CLUB GD Years 10-13 Welcome to the darker side of theatre… there will be witches, mysterious riddles, murder and gore.

Learn how the ancient Greeks put these dramatic shows on stage, and get ready to perform some scenes together

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GARDENING CLUB BD Years 7-9 Come along and learn how to grow and care for plants.

You will plant bulbs and seeds, learn about nature and get creative as you design miniature gardens, upcycle containers and make seasonal gifts.

GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY BD & GD Years 10-13 For students with an interest in current global issues and events with a geographical theme. It is a weekly lunchtime club which provides opportunity for wider learning, debate and research. Activities will be varied including listening to topical lectures/TED talks, responding to current issues and raising awareness about geographical issues amongst the wider school community!

BD & GD Years 7-9 The Junior Geography Society runs every week. You will participate in a range of activities that are designed to enhance your geographical knowledge of the world and support your studies in the lower school. It is a fun and interactive club with games, debates, quizzes and lots of prizes.

JUNIOR GERMAN CLUB BD Years 7-9 You've probably heard of Oktoberfest, but have you heard of Spargelfest? Football, music, the automotive industry, Karneval, Berlin, pretzels... The German speaking world really has it all! Come along and find out more about German language and culture. There will be competitions, artwork, films, snacks and stickers..

GERMAN MUSIC CLUB BD Years 11 - 13 Improve your knowledge of the German language and culture by getting to know classic, cult and modern German music: rock, pop, indie, hip-hop and the weird and wonderful will all feature during the year. This is ideal for anyone in Y11-13 studying or considering A Level German.

THE HUB BD Years 7 - 13 A place for those who enjoy a quieter atmosphere and wish to take a moment away from the business of the school day.

Supervised by the Proctor Team, this is the perfect place to make like-minded new friends.

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HISTORY SOCIETY BD Years 11 - 13

In History Society we always enjoy a wide variety of History-related activities, from quizzes and panel games to debates, film clips and challenges. You will have the chance to learn new things about History that won’t be covered in your school lessons and there are often prizes to be won, so come along and join in.

HISTORICAL MOVIE CLUB BD Years 10 - 13 At Historical Movie Club we look at how historical events and characters have been portrayed in the movies and discuss our favourite historical films. There will be plenty to watch, from classic clips and documentary insights to whole movies.

GD HISTORICAL LITERATURE, TV & FILM SOCIETY GD Years 9-13 Welcome to HLTFS! In this ECA, we explore our favourite historical films, TV and literature. Staff and students arrange weekly short presentations on a historical adaption of theirchoice, watch clips, discuss the historical context - and maybe eat a chocolate biscuit of two!

Think Pride and Prejudice, Gladiator, Dunkirk, Gone with the Wind, The Favourite, War Horse, 1917, Bridgerton - the list goes on!

HISTORICAL CRAFTS CLUB GD Years 7-9

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ITALIAN CLUB BD Years 7-9 A chance to explore the culture, sights and sounds of Italy and an opportunity to learn aspects of the Italian language and how to sound like a real Italian!

Everybody welcome.

Historical Crafts Club is an opportunity to learn about the past through doing a range of crafts. In the Christmas term we create a range of Victorian Christmas inspired crafts and throughout the year learn various craft skills from paper craft, jewellery making and using tools used in the past such as a medieval lucet.

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KARATE

GD Years 7-13

Learn martial arts and self-defense in a fun, welcoming environment. Led by a professional instructor, you'll master key techniques like blocking, punching, kicking, and traditional katas. You can also grade for belts and count Karate towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Open to all levels—regular attendance is key.

LITERARY & DEBATING SOCIETY BD Years 10 - 13 The oldest society in the school.

We discuss and debate topics of national and local interest selected by members of the society. Some meetings are also used to prepare for the inter-school competitions we participate in.

A highlight is the annual Lit and Deb weekend away to Patterdale.

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JUNIOR LIT & DEB BD Years 7-9 We discuss and debate topics of national and local interest selected by member of the society, from sport from to science and from politics to popular culture. Just a Minute is a regular favourite activity, while another highlight is the annual Balloon Debate.

Pupils presenting their films at Bolton Film Festival.

MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN THE MEDIA BD Year 13 Ideal for students pursuing medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, and related fields. Sessions cover medical conditions, health service challenges, and science's role in solving medical issues. You'll also develop key skills like problem-solving, communication, leadership, and teamwork.

M MODEL UNITED NATIONS Joint, Years 10 - 13 Model United Nations is open to Middle School students and 6th formers.

At MUN you will take on the role of a delegate from a different country and discuss real world issues from the perspective of this country.

Weekly meetings consist of debates to solve a particular issue, country research or resolution writing.

MED-SOC | DENT-SOC Joint, Year 12&13 Open to all students with an interest in perusing a career in healthcare. Led and co-ordinated by Y13 potential medic/dental students to enhance knowledge of current issues, this society explores innovating developments, hones presentation skills, hosts Alumni speakers and has fun practical activities.

MINDFULNESS CLUB GD Years 7-11 Do you ever feel stressed, overwhelmed or anxious? Do you want to attend a club at lunchtime where you can take some time out from the hustle and bustle of school life? If you answered ‘YES’ to either of the above questions then Mindfulness Club will be great for you.

MYTHOLOGY CLUB GD Years 7-9

MOCK LAW SOCIETY

Each week we will focus on a particular story or character from an ancient mythology, and there will be an exciting activity to go along with it. Anyone with an interest in ancient myths and stories is welcome, whether you're new to mythology or a seasoned fan!

Joint, Year 11 - 13 Members take on the roles of lawyers, magistrates, witnesses and workers in the law sector in a Mock Trial Competition at Manchester Crown Court.

Lunch will be provided each session. Commitment to attend every session and the Saturday Competition in Manchester is essential.

MUSIC There are a number of ECAs that take place at lunchtime and after school. If any boys wish to discuss which groups they are best suited to they should speak to or email Mr Forgrieve.

Joint Senior Orchestra - Advanced symphony orchestra catering for orchestral winds, brass, strings and percussion.

Joint Jazz Band - for intermediate to advanced saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass guitar, drums and piano players. A wide selection of jazz, Latin and funk music.

BD Drum Corps - for intermediate to advanced (snare) drummers. Play like the Royal Marines Drum Corps!

BD & GD Senior Choirs - All keen singers in Y10-13 welcome. This choirs perform at the school events throughout the year.

Joint Chamber Choir: Our advanced prizewinning vocal group. If you would like to audition for this, speak to or email Mr Forgrieve.

Joint Jazz Ensemble: For intermediate to advanced saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass guitar, drums and piano players. A wide selection of jazz, Latin and funk music.

Joint Senior Concert Band: Our advanced prize-winning Concert Band catering for woodwind, brass and percussion players. A wide variety of styles are covered from film music to Latin.

Joint Senior Orchestra: Advanced symphony orchestra catering for orchestral winds, brass, strings and percussion.

BD Lower School Choir: An informal choir singing a range of repertoire for Y7, 8 and 9.

Turn up, join in and have fun!

Joint String Ensemble: for string players (violin, viola, cello and double bass) of all standards.

Joint Autumn Concert

Joint Intermediate Brass Ensemble: A brand new group for this year open to all brass players from beginner through to Grade 4 in both BD and GD. BD Music Tech Club: For those with an interest in music production and recording. In this club we will be exploring the use of music software in the creation and composition of original music. You will develop the skills to be able to create, record, edit and mix your own original song in a genre of your choice. YEARS? BD Theory Class: For those wishing to study Music Theory, particularly with the intention of passing Grade 5 Theory. YEARS? BD & GD Tuned Percussion Ensembles: Suitable for all tuned percussionists and pianists who wish to perform a wide range of musical arrangements using our extensive range of instruments – marimba, 2 vibraphones, 3 xylophones, tubular bells and countless glockenspiels!

BD (Years 7&8) & GD (Years 7-13) Ukulele ensembles: A very friendly group which anyone can join. No previous experience is necessary! There is a selection of easy to more difficult parts to choose from and you will be taught how to read chord charts and tab. We play a range of fun pieces including film music, musicals, and pop/rock music.

GD Accidentals (Years 10-13): An a cappella vocal group.

GD Chamber Choir (Years 10-13): Girls' sectional rehearsal for the Joint Chamber Choir.

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NEWSPAPER CLUB GD Years 7-13 Join the school newspaper club and embark on a journey where words wield power and creativity knows no bounds! As a member, you'll dive into the heart of journalistic excellence, honing your writing skills while uncovering captivating stories within the school community and beyond. Whether you're passionate about investigative reporting, feature articles, or editorial commentary, our club offers a platform for your voice to be heard. Join us in shaping narratives and sparking conversations and let your creativity flourish.

PHILOSOPHY CLUB GD Years 7-11 In the club we plan to discuss weekly topics relating to philosophy i.e. Socrates the philosopher one week, who created the universe another week.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB GD Years 7-11 Photography club is a new club that is open to all levels of experience and skills. Students will be supervised to take photographs within the school building and grounds. We will aim to hold a termly photography competition and students photographs will be displayed.

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POKEMON CLUB BD Years 7 - 9

The fun and intensity of the world of Pokemon comes alive once a week in this popular club. Bring a battle deck, learn how to play, trade cards and make friends.

PROGRAMMING CLUB GD Years 7-13 An opportunity to develop a range of programming skills using a variety of hands-on resources. This includes coding Minecraft, using robot arms and buggies as well as pure programming using Scratch, Python, etc.

PSYCHOLOGY CLUB POLITICS CLUB GD Years 7-11 A place for students to share their interest, knowledge and understanding of global politics.

PROUD CLUB

Joint, Year 10 Do you want to discover more about human behaviour? Why do some people commit crime - is it nature or is it nurture? How can we improve our memory? What happens to us following brain trauma? How can we treat mental illness, Are psychics real? Come along to Psychology Club where we will investigate these questions through film, discussion, debate, role play activities and competitions.

Joint, Years 11-13 Proud Club offers a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ young people and allies to explore issues of culture, identity, and belonging. It’s a supportive environment where you can discuss topics that matter, celebrate diversity, and build a sense of community. Whether you want to learn more, share experiences, or advocate for inclusion, Proud Club is a place to connect, express yourself, and make a positive impact.

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RUSSIAN CLUB

BD Years 7 - 13 The Russian Club explores Russian culture, history, language, and politics beyond the classroom. Led by senior students, known as the "Politburo," and supported by the Russian department, it meets weekly for activities like videos, quizzes, talks, and even Cossack dancing!

ROBOTICS CLUB Joint, Years 7 - 13 Robotics Club aims to build and program a VEX Robot in preparation for a competition.

This club welcomes all students and may be of particular interest to those with a passion for STEM.

SCIENCE CLUB BD Year 7 Do you love Science? Then come along and learn more about this fascinating subject by carrying out fun experiments which won’t be covered in your lessons.

ADVANCED READERS GD Year 9 This club is for avid readers looking to go beyond Young Adult fiction. You'll explore different genres, discuss both YA and classic texts, and develop your reading skills and confidence with teacher support.

READING GRAPHIC NOVELS & MANGA Joint, Years 7 - 13 Are you a Manga, Anime or graphic novel fan?

Meet like minded students to discuss the popular series, watching anime one week and discussing anime and books the next.

THE SOCIAL BD Years 10&11 A space for Years 10 & 11 to relax, socialise and unwind during lunchtime.

It runs twice a week and is a great opportunity to mix with other form groups.

SCRABBLE CLUB BD Years 11 - 13 Whether you like the wacky world of wondrous words or just a fun game of word puzzles, then Scrabble Club is for you. Meet up with other puzzlers and strategists and have a fun time playing this timeless board game.

Lakeland Creative Writing Retreat

SPANISH CINEMA CLUB BD Years 10 - 13 Improve your Spanish by watching some superb films and maybe the odd Netflix episode.

SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE CLUB BD Years 7-9 A chance to explore the music, customs and culture of Spain and Latin America and learn some language you won’t have done in lessons. For all levels including total beginners...

SOCIAL STITCHING GD Years 8-10 Spend the lunchtime relaxing and enjoying doing your hobby that involves stitches. The stitches could be hand embroidered, crocheted or knitted.

Bring in something from home to work on each week or something to leave in school to just work on in club. It could be a kit, or a project you have found that you want to create. You can work on your project with friends who also enjoy stitched hobbies or take advantage of the opportunity to make friends with like minded people in the club. Y8-10

SPEAK OUT LISTEN IN GD Years 7-10 Speak Out Listen In helps you build essential oracy skills for class and future careers. Develop communication, critical thinking, and presentation skills through fun activities.

Students in Years 7-9 can compete in the prestigious Rotary Youth Speaks competition, with heats starting in January.

SOCIAL SPORTS | HEALTH & FITNESS BD Years 7 to 10 Each year group has a specific lunchtime dedicated to Extra-Curricular Sport. We offer a range of activities to suit all interests. The sports include Badminton, Basketball, Climbing, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis, Rugby, Strength and Conditioning, Swimming and Water Polo.

GD Years 7 to 13 We offer specific lunchtimes dedicated to a range of ExtraCurricular Sport and Fitness activities. We offer options that suit all interests. The sports include Badminton, Hockey, Lacrosse, Football, American Flag Football, Running Club, Karate, Box-Fit, Climbing, Swimming, Kayaking (by invite), Table Tennis, Orienteering , Netball and Water Polo.

STAR WARS CLUB BD Years 7-9 Interested in the Mandalorian, Boba Fett, Bib Fortuna or even Salacious Cumb?

Perhaps you have a Blue Snaggletooth in your action figure collection. Are you able to discuss advantages and disadvantages of x-wings, b-wings, a-wings and t16 Skyhoppers? If so, come along. Concept creation, quizzes, comics, special guests and more!

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL CLUB GD Years 7-13 Join the Science and Technology Journal club where you can research and write articles on topics that will be published in the online school newspaper! Writers, editors and illustrators are all welcome to join!

YOUNG TRADERS CLUB GD Years 12&13 Learn the basics of stocks, shares, and the world of investing. Gain hands-on experience, explore market trends, and develop financial skills through fun, interactive sessions. Perfect for anyone interested in understanding the stock market and making informed investment decisions!

TYCOON BUSINESS GD Year 10 Tycoon is a unique national enterprise competition, the school’s participating team team writes a business plan, is lent money, starts a business and trades, competing with other student companies through Tycoon’s interactive platform, in a safe and controlled environment.

Culture Week celebrations

UKRANIAN LANGUAGE CLUB

WARHAMMER 40,000

BD Years

Joint, Years 7-13

Learn to read and speak basic Ukrainian and discover Ukrainian history, culture and food.

Fight epic battles in the grim darkness of the far future! Use tactics and skill to move models around the battlefield, battling your opponents.

WELL-GOOD CLUB GD Years 7 - 13

U

Help make well-good TikToks and develop fundraising ideas for well-good charitable activities. Well-Good is a charity which aims to alleviate hardship caused by water poverty by funding the construction of wells in the developing world.

W

WORLD CHALLENGE GD Years 12 & 13

For students who have taken on the expedition challenge this year, a chance to build your team, plan your trip, learn about the culture of your destination and develop understanding of what it means to be a responsible traveler in a sustainable way

weekend community arts activities

WELL-BEING

INQUISITIVE

IMAGINATIVE

COLLABORATIVE

PERSISTENT

DISCIPLINED

Discover a world of opportunities with Bolton School’s diverse range of clubs and societies. Our co-curricular programme fosters curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, helping students explore their interests, develop new skills, and enhance their well-being.

From leadership roles to career enrichment opportunities in specialist fields, these activities encourage personal growth through imagination, discipline, and persistence. Whether you’re uncovering a new passion or deepening existing talents, our vibrant co-curricular life offers something for everyone.

Embrace the chance to grow, lead, and thrive.