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The Cockerel

BOLTON SCHOOL BOYS’ DIVISION NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 52 - MAY 2025

Chapter 1 Inaugural Iftar Event - an Evening of Gathering and Peace

Inaugural Iftar Event - an Evening of Gathering and Peace

Soha Pal (Year 12) reports on Bolton School's inaugural Iftar event:

On Tuesday, March 18th, Bolton School hosted their ﬁrst ever Iftar event for the holy month of Ramadan, bringing the school community together for an evening of events, and giving everyone the chance to break their fasts together. This included recitations of the Quran by pupils from the school, as well as stories about the Prophets.

The Boys' Division Dining Hall was beautifully decorated, adorned with ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ balloons, and large bouquets of white flowers on each table. Alongside these decorations, leaflets from the Global Rahmah Foundation (GRF) were placed on the tables, informing guests about charitable causes such as orphan sponsorship and the Gaza Appeal. Since Zakat, a form of charity, is one of the five pillars of Islam, making donations becomes even more meaningful during the month of Ramadan.

Speeches were made by the Head Girl and School Captain, each conveying their respective views on the importance of Ramadan and the signiﬁcance of the event itself. This was followed by Quran recitations from both a Lower School pupil and a Sixth Form student, as well as Prophet stories read by students from both Divisions.

Shortly after, everyone proceeded to either the Boys' Division Great Hall or the Girls' Division Great Hall to break their fasts and complete the Maghrib prayer. Dates and cups of water were provided to all before the prayers began.

Once the prayer concluded, everyone went back to the Dining Hall and were met with plates and plates of much loved dishes in the community, such as biriyani (spicy rice and meat dish), chicken tikkas, samosas and daal (lentils).

A ﬁnal speech was delivered by the Head of Foundation, Mr. Britton. He highlighted his experience and appreciation for the well-delivered, organised event – one that will likely become a cherished tradition at Bolton School for years to come.

Maryam Gul, a Girls' Division Student, said:

"I loved the event, it went above and beyond my expectations. The people who organised it made sure to give the best of the best, and my family and I were so impressed - my dad couldn't stop talking about how well the Maghrib prayer was led.

The catering was top tier, and everything from praying, to opening our fasts went so smoothly, thanks to the Prefects.

The Iftar was certainly a huge success, and was such an important event to hold in school, especially for those who do fast in Ramadan, and also for those learning about it. I especially loved to see everyone's gorgeous outﬁts, and the Quran recitations and Prophet stories made the experience all the more perfect."

Chapter 2 Bolton School’s Trio of Town Cups

Bolton School’s Trio of Town Cups

Three Bolton School Boys’ Division football teams have brought home Bolton Town Cups this year.

The Year 11s were the third team to win the ﬁnal of their age group tournament, which took place in front of a large crowd at the end of April, hosted by Old Bolts AFC. After falling behind in the ﬁrst half, the boys eventually beat a strong Thornleigh team 2-1 with goals from Charles Bennett and Sochi Umeadi.

Earlier in the Spring Term, the Year 10 beat St. James’ 4-2 and Year 7 beat St. Joseph’s 3-2 in their age groups ﬁnals to be named 2025 Town Champions. Congratulations to all three teams.

Year 11 Football Team

Year 10 Football Team

Year 7 Football Team

Chapter 3 Talented Musicians Entertain at Evening Concert

Talented Musicians Entertain at Evening Concert

At the end of last term, on Tuesday 1st April, 39 boys in Years 7-13 presented a highly enjoyable evening of musical entertainment in the Great Hall.

The supportive audience of family and friends fully appreciated the wide range of styles of the various items.

The 13-piece vocal ensemble, directed by Mrs. Whitmore, opened the concert with a foot-tapping rendition of Billy Joel’s The Longest Time. The members of the group are Sam Entwistle (Year 13), Tanmay Gokul (Year 10), Theo Jones (Year 10), Jacob Little (Year 10), William Martin (Year 13), Zak McAlister (Year 12), Theo Michaelas (Year 10), Tejas Neelam (Year 9), Suhayb Pal (Year 9), Alex Pierson (Year 10), Nathan Pierson (Year 12), Cipri Prasad (Year 10) and Thomas Sibley (Year 10).

Solo and duet items were performed by Diyan Challa (Year 8) – ﬂute, Taran Guduru (Year 8) –xylophone, Jamie Ho (Year 8) –piano, Ashton Morrissey (Year 8) – piano, Rohan O’Riordan (Year 8) – piano, Aaryan Patel (Year 8) – violin , Hari

Whitehead (Year 8)

– piano, Tejas

Neelam (Year 9) –

ﬂute, Jamie Daley (Year 10) – piano, Alex Pierson (Year 10) – vocal, Steven

Wang (Year 10) –piano, Antoine

Jodeau (Year 11) –

electric guitar, Jacob Keld (Year 12) – electric guitar, Zak McAlister (Year 12) – vocal, Daniel Simmons (Year 12) – electric guitar, and Sam Entwistle (Year 13) – vocal.

The Ukulele Ensemble, directed by Miss Archer, delighted in sharing their unique arrangement of Neil Diamond’s Sweet

Caroline. The 9 uke players are Jamie Chen (Year 10), Rory Freestone (Year 10), Max Harris (Year 7), Charles Kaboutian (Year 10), Neeraj Patel (Year 10), Ian So (Year 10), Kingsley Sou (Year 10), Philip Tsang (Year 10) and Krishnan Velayutham (Year 10).

The concert ended with the Tuned Percussion Ensemble’s lively performance of traditional Scottish Dances, arranged and directed by Mr. Forgrieve. The twelve members of the ensemble who demonstrated their musical skills using the School’s impressive array of tuned percussion instruments were Diyan Challa (Year 8), Jamie Chen (Year 10), Advaith Govindu (Year 11),

Taran Guduru (Year 8), Tyler Humphreys (Year 8), Charles Kaboutian (Year 10), Justin Li (Year 9), Jeﬀrey Lok (Year 12),

William Martin (Year 13), Nishan Sharma (Year 11), Kingsley Sou (Year 10) and Miss Bird - our graduate Music Assistant.

The piano accompanists were Mr. Forgrieve, Ms. Lien and Mrs. Whitmore. Mr. Limb and Mr. Lovatt expertly controlled the technical aspects.

At the conclusion of the concert, Head of Foundation, Mr. Britton, was extremely complimentary about the performances and thanked all those who had participated, as well as those who had attended to support the event.

Chapter 4 Celebration Day for Young Readers

Celebration Day for Young Readers

Avid readers from over a dozen local schools came together to enjoy the annual Bolton Children’s Fiction Award (BCFA) Celebration Day. This special occasion, hosted by Bolton School, is always a wonderful celebration of reading and this year the authors of all three BCFA shortlisted books were able to attend.

The audience for the day, which included some of Bolton School’s Junior and Senior school pupils, heard from Matt Goodfellow (‘The Final Year’), Piu Das Gupta (‘The Secrets of the Snakestone’) and Ben Davis (‘My Brilliant plan to ﬁx everything’) in three separate talks in the Great Halls. Each author spoke about their shortlisted book, sharing their inspirations and delving into the plot and characters, as well as talking more broadly about the writing process and their current projects. The children were excited to ask questions and ﬁnd out more.

As the day progressed, there were opportunities to buy books from a pop-up stall run by Ebb and Flo Bookshop, and to have books signed by the three BCFA nominated authors.

Chapter 5 Bolton School Launches Transformational Bursary Campaign

Bolton School Launches Transformational Bursary Campaign

On Tuesday 6 May, Bolton School launched its Open Futures Bursary Campaign which aims to restore the growth of the School’s Bursary scheme to eventually support one in three pupils at the School.

The campaign was formally launched by Philip Britton, MBE, the School’s Head of Foundation, at a Centenary Dinner recently held at the School to mark the legacy of its founder, Lord Leverhulme, throughout the past century. He said:

“For generations, Bolton School's socially diverse pupil body –with its mix of fee payers and funded pupils – has been key to what makes the School so special.

Throughout the decades, the School has built a ladder of social mobility which has beneﬁted young people and their families in Bolton and beyond. This was made possible historically through the Direct Grant and Assisted Places schemes, and more recently through the Bursary programme, which the School established in 1997 to replace that government funding, and which currently supports 1 in 5 children in the two Senior Schools.

“Until the addition of VAT on independent school fees, the School was well on track to achieve its long-standing ambition to grow that bursary programme even further, to begin to oﬀer funded places to one in three pupils by the end of this

decade. Instead, because of the choices required to ensure the School remains aﬀordable for all following that policy change, by 2030, 100 children who otherwise would have joined us will be denied the opportunity that would – and should – have been available to them.

We are intent that the growth of our bursary scheme must continue towards supporting one in three pupils throughout the Senior pupils – changing the lives of up to 250 more bursary children than are in the School presently – with as little delay as possible, and we are proud to be launching the Open Futures Bursary Campaign in order to achieve that goal.”

Ian Riley, Chair of the Bolton School Governing Body, added:

“Since its re-foundation 110 years ago, the Bolton School Foundation’s ethos has been that the School should be accessible to every bright child with potential, regardless of their family’s circumstances.

Since then, successive generations of pupils have enjoyed every opportunity a Bolton School education provides; thousands of whom – including myself, a good number of my School friends and many of my fellow Governors – received a funded place to do so.

Please click here to access the Open Futures Campaign website and watch the Campaign Video here.

To be educated at Bolton School is a privilege that the Governing Body believes should be open to all. Every gift to the Open Futures Campaign, of any size, will help ensure that can be the case, and we hope that the entire School community will join us in our mission and support the campaign however they can.”

Chapter 6 School Commemorates Lord Leverhulme's Life and Legacy at Centenary Dinner

School Commemorates Lord Leverhulme's Life and Legacy at Centenary Dinner

On Friday 2 May, over 130 distinguished guests gathered at Bolton School for a black-tie dinner to formally commemorate the life and legacy of William Hesketh Lever, the ﬁrst Lord Leverhulme, ahead of the centenary anniversary of his death on Wednesday 7 May.

Members of the Bolton School community including former pupils, Governors past and present, former Heads and civic dignitaries joined members of the Leverhulme family at the event. Twenty-three former Head Girls and Captains of the School were also in attendance, representing every decade of School life from 1960 onwards up to the present day.

Guests ﬁrst perused an exhibition celebrating Lord Leverhulme's lifetime achievements and enduring impact, staged in the Girls' Division Great Hall. A silver-service dinner was then enjoyed in the Boys’ Division Great Hall, where guests were seated at tables named after meaningful buildings and places from Lord Leverhulme's illustrious life, including Bolton School, which Lord Leverhulme established in its present form and location 110 years ago, in 1915; Wood Street, where Lord Leverhulme was

born in 1851; Thornton Manor, the family's estate on the Wirral; Lancaster House, which Lord Leverhulme gifted to the nation in 1913; and Hall 'i'th Wood, which he gifted to the town of Bolton in 1899. The Toastmaster for the evening was Ian WynneSmythe.

Guests were welcomed to the event by the School's Chair of Governors, Ian Riley, before hearing from George Apsion, the great-great-grandson of Lord Leverhulme and a current Governor of the School. Later, during his closing address to guests, the School's Head of Foundation, Philip Britton, MBE, launched the School's Open Futures Campaign, which aims to secure the growth of the School's Bursary scheme to support one in three pupils at the School.

Later this term, the School's annual benefactors' assemblies will be held for pupils of the Primary, Girls' and Boys' Divisions, during which Lord Leverhulme's life and legacy will be commemorated once again.

Chapter 7 Students Looking Forward to Apprenticeships

Eleven Bolton School Boys’ Division students in Year 13 have been selected for apprenticeships and professional training at prestigious international ﬁrms.

Mr. Deane Lamb, Year 13 Year Tutor and Degree Apprenticeship

Lead in the Boys’ Division, said:

‘I am delighted that so many of our students have received oﬀers of apprenticeships. I am very proud of the students’ hard work and dedication throughout this desirable and competitive process. Academic support, career guidance and opportunities to grow academically and in terms of character are key parts of their experience of Bolton School Sixth Form and it is always a privilege to see how the students develop into young people who will make a positive diﬀerence in the world.’

Suliman, who is looking ahead to a career in Finance, said: ‘I am looking forward to working within my chosen organisation, which reﬂects my character and will undoubtedly enhance my skillset to achieve my personal goals.’

Ziyad, who similarly is moving into the world of Finance, said: ‘I chose this route because it allows me to gain hands-on

experience, learn new skills and start my career straight away.

I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to see where this path takes me.’

Future pilot Luke said: ‘It’s a dream come true!’

The students who have received apprenticeship oﬀers are:

Finance: Alex Cook, Zainulabidin Mohmed, Mohammed-Yusuf Patel, Ziyad Patel and Suliman Sadiq

Manufacturing and Engineering: Adam Davenport, Tristan Hughes, Zack Kitson and Jake Mayor

Pilot Training: Ashton Kay and Luke Yates

Alongside traditional applications to universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and top Russell Group Universities, Bolton School’s Sixth Form supports A Level students with their applications to Degree Apprenticeship placements. Oﬀering bespoke support, the Sixth Form team provides advice on the highly competitive recruitment process, from writing CVs and applications to multi-stage assessments and interviews.

Chapter

Pupils’ Success in BM Schools Academic Quiz Challenge

Congratulations to the following boys on their success in the Intermediate competition of the BM Schools Academic Quiz Challenge. A new competition this year, the quiz saw students from across the UK compete individually against the clock to secure the highest score in a challenging set of general knowledge questions.

Gold Award:

Rith Narla (Year 11) – 9th place overall

Diamond Awards:

Louis Ferguson (Year 10) – top of County and 4th place overall

Yasir Shobowale (Year 10) – 5th place

overall

Dhilan Jacobs (Year 11) – 6th place

overall

Silver Awards:

Xavier Jones (Year 11), Sumedh Joshi (Year 9), Derek Leong (Year 9), Ewan McCairn (Year 9), Kenzie Naylor (Year 11), Haris Tareen (Year 9)

Bronze Awards:

Aryan Agrawal (Year 10), Marton Lange (Year 10), Milan Pitalia (Year 11)

Louis Ferguson

Chapter 9 Raising the Proﬁle of Outdoor Learning in Parliament

Raising the Proﬁle of Outdoor Learning in Parliament

In April, Bolton School’s Director of Patterdale Hall, Tim Taylor, attended a Parliamentary drop-in session in Westminster, organised by Patterdale Hall’s own constituency Member of Parliament, Tim Farron. Tim Taylor chairs the Northern Region of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Learning Centres (AHOEC) and leads on a national basis, working with Members of Parliament to raise the proﬁle, value and beneﬁts of Outdoor Learning.

The event was well attended by almost thirty MPs who came to hear about the Outdoor Learning sector and the reforming of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Learning.

During the session, MPs were asked to sign up to the Early Day Motion, which reads as follows:

That this House recognises the significant benefits of outdoor learning for children and young people; urges the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the value of those benefits; notes that more time learning outdoors provides an opportunity for children to learn skills and characteristics to cope with many of the societal problems of climate change, worsening child mental health, and high child obesity levels; further notes that there is significant evidence that outdoor learning and youth work enables better engagement with education, builds proenvironmental behaviours from a young age, and establishes team work and resilience in young people; and recognises that these practices build on a long heritage of outdoor learning in the UK.

It was excellent to have Bolton School alumnus Phil Brickell MP (Class of 2004) drop into the session and chat to all the guests.

Phil is the Labour MP for Bolton West and fondly looks back on his visits to Patterdale Hall and subsequent outdoor learning with Bolton School, where he developed a lifelong passion for white water kayaking. Also joining the session was Kirith Entwhistle, who is the MP for the constituency that Bolton School is part of.

Tim Taylor said of the event:

‘We would like all MPs to have an understanding of the power and potential of high-quality Outdoor Learning to improve the

wellbeing and mental health of young people. Outdoor Leaning is an excellent tool to help develop key characteristics such a resilience, determination and independence in young people. Outdoor Learning is best when woven through a young person’s schooling, but it is also known that a residential Outdoor Learning visit can be worth a term’s work in the classroom for developing those key characters and social skills. It helps young people get to know themselves and their peer group, but also builds stronger relationships, which transfers back to the classroom in better engagement and ultimately improved exam results and outcomes for young people. Sadly, many schools struggle to fund the amazing opportunities for young people which should be a right for all, not just for the privileged few, so our work with government continues to keep funding being focused where it is needed the most.’

Philip Britton, Bolton School’s Head of Foundation, said:

‘Bolton School remains totally committed to Outdoor Learning, complemented by a strong and purposeful character curriculum. This year the School celebrates 30 years of being at Patterdale Hall, the school’s Outdoor Learning centre in the Lake District. We are delighted to have support of local MPs who recognise the value of the Outdoor Learning we oﬀer, and to have our Patterdale Hall Director Tim lead and contribute to the national perspective in Outdoor Learning.

Chapter 10 Bolton School Celebrates Duke of Edinburgh Award Success

Bolton School Celebrates Duke of Edinburgh Award Success

Bolton School recently held a celebratory evening to honour students who achieved their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Awards. The event, attended by students, parents, and staﬀ, highlighted the dedication and perseverance of the awardees.

A signiﬁcant highlight of the evening was the address by guest speaker, Old Boy Terrence Li. Terrence shared insights from his personal journey, emphasising the importance of resilience, community service, and the value of stepping outside one's comfort zone. His experiences resonated with the students, inspiring them to pursue their goals with determination and to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

The ceremony recognised students who completed various levels of the DofE Award, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each award required participants to engage in activities

across four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. The Gold Award recipients, in particular, demonstrated exceptional commitment, culminating in a challenging expedition that tested their teamwork and leadership abilities.

Head of Foundation, Philip Britton, commended the students for their achievements, noting that the DofE Award not only fosters personal development but also contributes positively to the community. He expressed pride in the students' accomplishments and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence in all their endeavours.

The evening concluded with the presentation of certiﬁcates to the awardees, marking a signiﬁcant milestone in their personal development journeys.

A few weeks later, a group of Sixth Form girls who achieved Gold Awards attended the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards celebration event in Buckingham Palace gardens, accompanied by Mrs. Sells. There, they met with Old Girl Phoebe Chuck, further connecting the school's legacy of achievement and community.

Chapter 11

Interview with the Modern Foreign Language Assistants

Communication and the world around us

Each year Bolton School employs Foreign Language

Assistants in French, German and Spanish who are with us from September to the end of May. They are appointed via our link with the British Council after a rigorous selection process and stay with us for one academic year. They mainly assist with the examination classes providing speaking practice for GCSE and A Level. At Advanced Level, we oﬀer students 1-1 lessons each week which really helps build their conﬁdence and ability to hold a conversation spontaneously. They have also helped with Lower School clubs. As part of their ‘exit interviews’, we asked them to give their own answers to some of the GCSE General Conversation questions they have been practising with the classes all year. Here are a selection of their responses.

What are the advantages and dangers of the internet?

Un des avantages d’Internet est la possibilité d’avoir accès à un très grand nombre d’informations. Cependant, il faut faire attention car certaines informations sont fausses.

One of the advantages of the Internet is the possibility to access a lot of information. However, we have to be careful because some information is not true.

Das Internet hilft dabei immer auf dem neusten Stand zu sein, was Politik und Weltgeschichte angeht. Es ist auch eine große Hilfe, um mit anderen in Kontakt zu bleiben, besonders wenn man im Ausland ist, ist man froh, dass man Videoanrufe machen kann und online Videospiele

zusammenspielen kann. Aber natürlich gibt es auch die Gefahr von Cyberkriminalität, Cybermobbing, Sucht und sozialer Isolation.

The internet helps you keep up with politics and everything that happens around the world. It is also a great help to keep in touch with others. Especially when you are abroad, you are glad that you can make video calls and play video games together online. But of course, there is also the risk of cybercrime, cyberbullying, addiction, and social isolation.

El internet puede ser muy ventajoso, ya que te da acceso a un montón de información. Pero también es cierto que hay aplicaciones que pueden ser muy adictivas como TikTok o Instagram.

The internet can be very advantageous, as it grants you access to a lot of information. However, it is also true that some apps can be very addictive, like TikTok or instagram.

What are the pros and cons of living in the north-west of England?

One of the pros of living in the north-west of England is the proximity of nature and the sea. There are also a lot of cities like Manchester or Liverpool. However, it would be better with more public transport.

Der Norden-Westen hat mit Liverpool und Manchester einiges zu bieten. Ich habe die positive Erfahrung gemacht, dass der Norden etwas günstiger ist und die meisten Museen kostenlos sind. Es ist aber industrieller und auch etwas kälter als der Süden. Ich habe aber keinen guten Vergleich, weswegen es schwer ist von Vor- und Nachteilen zu reden.

The North-west has a lot to oﬀer with Liverpool and Manchester. I have experienced that the North is a bit cheaper and most museums are free, but it's more industrial and a bit colder than the South. I don't have a good comparison, though, so it's diﬃcult to talk about pros and cons.

Por un lado, el noroeste tiene gente muy maja y lugares preciosos, ademas es más barato

que el sur. Por otro lado, pienso que el

Un des avantages de vivre dans le nordouest de l’Angleterre est la proximité avec la mer et la nature, de plus il y a de nombreuses villes comme Manchester ou Liverpool. Cependant, il faudrait plus de transports en commun.

transporte público es muy malo y bastante caro,y también hace muy mal tiempo.

On one hand, people from the North-west are really nice, and there are beautiful sites, moreover, it is cheaper than the south. On the other hand, I think the public transport here is very bad and expensive, and the weather is not that good either.

What would you like to change in Bolton to improve it?

Pour améliorer Bolton, je rendrais la ville plus accessible aux pietons, avec plus de trottoirs et de transports en commun.

To improve Bolton, I would make it more accessible for pedestrians, with more pavements and public transport.

Ich denke die Stadt könnte mehr fußgängerfreundlich sein und mehr Fahrradwege gebrauchen. Ich habe auch das Gefühl, dass viele Einwohner die Innenstadt kaum nutzen. Es wäre deﬁnitiv eine große Verbesserung, wenn die Innenstadt attraktiver für die Leute werden würde und mehr zu bieten hätte.

I think the town could be more pedestrian-friendly and could do well with more cycle lanes. I also feel that many residents hardly use the town centre. It would deﬁnitely be a big improvement if the town centre became more attractive to people and had more to oﬀer.

Yo haría el transporte público más barato y más frecuente. También intentaría tener las calles más limpias.

I would make public transport cheaper and more frequent. I would also try to have cleaner streets.

Popular Culture

What is your favourite celebration and why?

Ma fête préférée c’est Noël car c’est l’occasion de revoir toute sa famille et de passer du temps ensemble. De plus on mange souvent très bien.

My favourite celebration is Christmas because you can see your family and spend time together. Moreover, there is usually very good

food.

Mein Lieblingsfest ist Weihnachten. Ich ﬁnde Weihnachten macht die Winterzeit so viel gemütlicher und weniger trist und grau. Es ist mein Lieblingsfest, weil man viele schöne Aktivitäten mit Familie und Freunden macht, wie z.B. Plätzchenbacken und weil ich die Weihnachtsmärkte in Deutschland liebe.

My favourite holiday is Christmas. I think Christmas makes the wintertime so much cosier and less dull and grey. It's my favourite holiday because you get to do lots of fun activities with family and friends, like baking cookies, and because I love the Christmas markets in Germany.

Mi ﬁesta favorita es la ﬁesta de San Isidro, porque es el patrón de Madrid y hay un montón de conciertos y de actividades para hacer con tus amigos.

My favourite celebration is the festival of San Isidro as it is the patron of Madrid. There are lots of concerts and activities to do with your friends.

Have you ever been to a festival?

Le 21 juin en France c’est la fête de la musique, il fait souvent beau et tout le monde est dehors, de plus il y a beaucoup de musique partout dans les rues et on peut danser.

On 21st June it is the celebration of music. It is often sunny and everyone is outside, there is also a lot of music everywhere and everyone is dancing. Nicht wirklich. Ich war zumindest noch auf keinem großen Festival, aber in meiner Stadt gibt es jeden Sommer ein kleines Festival mit vielen verschiedenen Künstlern aus aller Welt, welches ich gern besuche.

Not really. I haven't been to any big festivals, but there is a small festival in my town every summer that I like to visit. It has lots of diﬀerent artists from all over the world.

Si he ido a la ﬁesta de San Juan en Mallorca, donde encendimos una hoguera con mi hermana en la playa por la noche fue muy emocionante y bonito.

Yes, I went to San Juan in Mallorca where we lit up a ﬁre with my sister in the beach at night it was very exciting and beautiful.

ambassador and her commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

Who is your favourite celebrity?

Ma célébrité préférée est Clémentine Beauvais. C’est une autrice et traductrice française qui écrit notamment beaucoup de poésie.

My favourite celebrity is Clémentine Beauvais. It is a French author and translator who writes a lot of poetry.

Wenn ich eine bestimmte Person aussuchen muss, würde ich Emma Watson sagen. Sie ist nicht nur eine großartige Schauspielerin, sondern ich bewundere sie auch für ihre Arbeit als UN-Botschafterin und ihren Einsatz für Umweltschutz und Nachhaltigkeit.

Mi celebridad favorita es el director Pedro Almodóvar, ya que hace películas muy buenas y siempre se pronuncia a favor de la justicia social.

My favourite celebrity is a ﬁlm director Pedro Almodovar because he does very good ﬁlms and he’s always advocating for social justice.

People and lifestyle

What do you think of Bolton School?

Je pense que Bolton school est une bonne école avec beaucoup d’opportunités pour les élèves, avec de nombreuses matières et clubs proposés.

I think that Bolton School is a good school with a lot of opportunities for students, with a lot of subjects and clubs available.

If I had to pick one, I would say Emma Watson. Not only is she a great actress, but I also admire her for her work as a UN

Ich ﬁnde Bolton School ist eine tolle Schule mit einem historischen Gebäude aber auch moderner Technik. Ich war

beeindruckt wie viele Clubs für Schüler angeboten werden und wie außergewöhnlich der ein oder andere ist.

I think Bolton School is a great school with an historic building as well as modern technology. I was impressed by the number of clubs oﬀered for pupils and how unique some of them are.

Pienso que Bolton School es una gran escuela ya que tiene muchísimos profesores y muchísimas actividades extraescolares para los alumnos. Además, pienso que es muy fácil aprender nuevas lenguas gracias a los auxiliares y a los profesores que son geniales.

I think Bolton School is a great school as it has lots of teachers and lots of extracurricular activities for the students. Moreover, I think it’s very easy to learn new languages there thanks to the language assistants and the teachers which are all great.

What diﬀerences are there between Bolton School and the school you attended?

Il y a beaucoup de diﬀérences entre Bolton School et l’école dans laquelle j’étais. Par exemple, mon école était mixte et nous n’avions pas d’uniforme. De plus mon école avait beaucoup moins d’infrastructures.

There are a lot of diﬀerences between Bolton School and the school I attended. For example, my school was mixed, and we did not have to wear a uniform. Moreover, my school had fewer facilities.

Es gibt einige Unterschiede. Ich war an einer ö ﬀentlichen Schule die weitaus weniger Gelder zur Verfügung hatte, was sich in der mangelnden Ausstattung zeigte. Wir konnten froh sein, wenn der Beamer mal funktionierte.

Wir hatten auch viel weniger Clubs in der Schule, weswegen viele Schüler in Sportvereinen außerhalb der Schule waren.

Ich war auch überrascht, dass hier auch bei kälterem Wetter draußen Sport stattﬁndet.

There are a lot of diﬀerences. I was at a public school that had far less funding, which was reﬂected in the lack of equipment. We were lucky if the projector worked. We also had far fewer clubs in the school, and therefore, most students in Germany go to sports

or free time clubs outside of school. I was also very surprised that sports were held outside, even in colder weather.

La escuela a la que fui en España era pública y no teníamos que llevar uniformes tampoco había tantas excursiones o actividades extraescolares y no teníamos una piscina.

The school that I attended in Spain was a public one and we didn’t have to wear uniform. There weren’t also as many trips or extra-curricular activities and we didn’t have a pool.

What are your favourite foods?

J’adore les lasagnes, particulièrement celles que me préparait ma grand-mère. De plus j’aime beaucoup les desserts et surtout les gâteaux au chocolat.

I love lasagnas especially the ones that my grandma made. Also, I really like desserts, especially chocolate cakes.

Mein Lieblingsessen ist Pizza. Es ist recht simple aber dennoch immer lecker. Aber auch Sushi ist eines meiner Lieblingsessen.

My favourite food is pizza. It's quite simple but always delicious. Sushi is also one of my favourite foods.

Mi comida favorita es el pulpo a la gallega, es un poco picante, pero recomiendo a todo el mundo probarlo. También me gusta mucho el sushi ya que me encanta Japón y su gastronomía.

My favourite food is pulpo a la gallega (octopus). It is a bit spicy, but I recommend everyone to try it. I also like sushi a lot as I love Japan and its gastronomy.

Chapter 12 A snapshot of extra-curricular school life

A snapshot of extra-curricular school life

Mr. Ford was delighted to announce that the Senior Monitors will be Dev Hasija, William Simpkins and Leon McGuigan- Lazo; the Vice Captains will be Oliver Hatton and Zak McAlister; and the new Captain of School will be Nathan Pierson. Many congratulations to them all.

The following boys have received a Commendation Platinum Award and have received an Amazon voucher:

Dawar Hassan 8b

Zaidan Master 8b

Joseph Grundy 8d

Tejas Neelam 9c

Congratulations to Aashrith Govindu and Yaseen Alsharbaty (both Year 8) and Isaac Lucas (Year 13), who were the winners of the Neurodiversity Quiz which took place during the celebration of Neurodiversity Week. The competition saw a huge volume of participants who should all be congratulated on their eﬀorts; the winners were drawn at random.

It is always a pleasure to hear about boys from Bolton School taking their musical talents to perform in their own time. Two boys have managed to secure performances at The Ramp in Horwich as part of a local showcase. Theo Jones (Year 10), performing as a solo act and Max Knight (Year 7), performing with his band 'Hometown Bolton'. Well done to them.

Following music examinations from Grades 1-8 held recently in school with visiting ABRSM and Trinity examiners, congratulations to the following pupils on their results:

James Logan

Arun Patel

Nathan Pierson

William Earnshaw

Zak McAlister

Tanmay Gokul

Nathan Pierson

Thomas Sibley

Year 13

Year 12

Year 10

Year 12

Year 10

Grade 8 Baritone Merit

Grade 8 Trumpet Merit

Grade 8 Singing Merit

Grade 6 Tenor Horn Distinction

Grade 6 Singing Distinction

Grade 6 Classical Guitar Pass

Grade 6 Vioin Pass

Grade 5 Singing Distinction

Shriansh Tol Year 7 Grade 5 Classical Guitar Merit

Yohaan Bhalme Year 10 Grade 5 Classical Guitar Pass

Aashrith Govindu Year 8 Grade 4 Singing Distinction

Theo Michaelas Year 10 Grade 4 Singing Distinction

Joseph Griﬃths Year 10 Grade 4 Classical Guitar Merit

Taran Guduru Year 8 Grade 3 Tuned Percussion Distinction

Jacob Little Year 10 Grade 3 Singing Distinction

Aaryan Patel Year 8 Grade 3 Violin Distinction

Reuben Wardle Year 9 Grade 3 Violin Merit

Om Chandar Year 7 Grade 3 Classical Guitar Pass

Samuel Ducker Year 9 Grade 3 Classical Guitar Pass

Joshua Pilkington Year 9 Grade 3 Trumpet Pass

Taran Guduru Year 8 Grade 2 Violin Distinction

Edward Guest Year 8 Grade 2 Acoustic Guitar Merit

Subhan Khattak Year 8 Grade 2 Violin Merit

Finley Vyas Year 7 Grade 2 Classical Guitar Pass

Mani Abbariki Year 8 Grade 1 Classical Guitar Merit

Saad Alam Year 9 Grade 1 Classical Guitar Merit

Theo Hayton-Weed Year 7 Grade 2 Piano Distinction

Jamie Chen Year 10 Grade 8 Classical Guitar Distinction

Congratulations also go to the boys who took part in the Speedcubing event at the start of the Easter holidays. Zachary Hanif (Year 7) achieved 10 personal records across the weekend and Luke Burns (Year 12) achieved a new National Record on the Clock puzzle with a time of 2.28 seconds, currently standing at 10th fastest in the world!

Congratulations to all the boys whose achievements, service and commitment were recognised in the Sports Colours Assembly on the final day of last term. My thanks go to Mr. Chilton, the Sports Department and the Academic staff who contribute to sport, for their hard work. All of the awards represent individual effort and excellence, very often in the context of teamwork and leadership. Very well done to those boys.

Congratulations to Charlie Hart, Year 12 who has recently won his ﬁrst major European motor race and announced a move to the GT4 European Series for 2025. We wish him the best of luck.

Congratulations also go to Oscar Hatton (Year 10) who was selected as Captain for the National ISFA team together with Harry Roach (Year 10) and Dan Bleakley (Year 10) all three led them to a solid win over the Easter holidays, whilst keeping a clean sheet in the nets.

The following players have recently been representing their County Hockey Teams in a competition called the Junior

Academy Centre Competition (used to be the County Championships).

Playing for Greater Manchester Hockey Teams:

Kyran Chitre

Harry Shannon

Zac McAllister

Daniel Croston

George Pickett

Rohan Chitre

Raees Munshi

Flynn Humphries

Greg Dorsky

Nikhil Patel

Aaron Patel

Playing for Lancashire Hockey Teams:

Archie Flanagan

Janek Zarobkiewicz

Teddy Morrow

Also, Kyran Chitre has been selected and attends the England Hockey North West Academy Centre. Rohan Chitre has been selected to represent Tensworth Academy at the UK schoolboys Under 13’s Tournament.

Year 8 Water Polo teams from both Boys’ and Girls’ Division travelled to Malta over the Easter break. They trained daily and played matches against local teams in the evening, this included an impromptu match with Bangor Barracuda’s from Northern Ireland. During the trip they competed in a tournament with four other local teams and watched a professional game at the National Pool. During an Hawaiian shirts evening, students were thrilled to have their photograph taken with Tony Azevedo, USA 4 times Olympian Silver medallist.

The Under 13s boys finished 3rd in the Country last week in their Water polo finals – a fantastic achievement! They went through the entire competition unbeaten in normal time only losing out on penalties to the eventual winners in the semi final.

1. Edward Simpkins

2. Ethan Kennair (Captain)

3. Ashton Morrissey

4. Noah Walmsley

5. David White

6. George James

7. James Standring

8. Ted Washington

9. Oliver Hughes

10. James Williams

11. Michael Fallon

12. Taran Guduru

13. Janek Zarobkiewicz

The 2nd XI Cricket team put in a fantastic performance to reach the Final of the F15 Cup, held at Sedbergh. On the way, they beat Wirral Grammar in round one and Kirkham Grammar, away from home, in the Quarter-ﬁnal. After a strong win over the hosts in the Semi-ﬁnal, the team fell just short in the Final against an incredibly strong Manchester Myerscough side. Despite the loss, it was a proud run marked by grit and excellent teamwork.

Meanwhile, the 1st XI Cricket team enjoyed a strong showing in the HMC T20 Cup, by making it to the Semi-ﬁnal, where we play the winners of Sedbergh vs. Merchant Taylors. They claimed an impressive away win over King's Chester in the second round before defeating Lancaster RGS at home in a hard-fought Quarter-ﬁnal. Both campaigns highlight the squad’s depth and determination throughout the tournament.

Several boys have won prizes in a School-run Spring Term Boulder League.

In the Year 7/8 category:

Edward Bale – Chalk Ball

In the Year 9/10 category:

1st Evan Isaacs – Chalk ball

2nd Jack McLaughlin – Brush

Year 11+ category:

2nd Ethan Herring – Brush

3rd Thomas Humphreys – Chalk ball

Climbing Squad category:

2nd Jensen Heath – Brush

3rd Xavier Hawkes – Chalk Ball

Congratulations also go to Theo Michaelas (Year 10) who has been cast in ‘Twisted’, the new musical that is touring the UK. He will be performing in theatres in the North West. ‘Twisted’ is a sequel to ‘Oliver Twist’, showing Oliver as a grown up. Theo is playing the part of Young Dodger and is also in the ensemble.

House Day raised £1336.39 - we donated £600 to Bolton Animal Shelter, Wigan and Leigh Hospice and Epilepsy Action. Thank you for all your donations.

Credits

Editor: Miss K.S. Wrathmell

Contributors: Miss A. Bradshaw, Miss. A. Wilson, Mr. N.L. Ford, Mr. P.J. Britton, Miss J.M. Choudhury, Mr. M.G. Chilton, Mr. I.K. Forgrieve, Mrs. M. Howarth, Mrs. A. Caller, The School Development Oﬃce, Mr. D.V.B. Lamb, Mrs. C.A. Brace, Mr. T. Taylor, Mr. A.C. Robson, The School Proctors, Mr. S. Foy, Mr. D.F. Teasdale, Mr. L. Watkinson, Mr. D.W. Kettle, Mr. S. Bradley, Mr. S. Perry