We are a large, all-through independent day school set on a stunning 32 acre campus, a mile or so out of the town centre of Bolton.

"Whichever part of our Foundation you are interested in – be it our co-educational Nursery, Pre-School Class or Infant School or one of our single-sex Junior and Senior Schools – our aim is for every girl and boy to become the best that they can be.

Academic rigour is important to us but so too is character development, which we encourage through delivering a wide range of activities and experiences, including engagement in and with our local community, as well as through outstanding pastoral care. We are also strong believers in the benefits of outdoor education and all our pupils make regular visits to our adventure learning centre, Patterdale Hall, in the Lake District.

An integral part of our mission is to widen access to our outstanding education and to offer genuine social mobility to young people across the region. Ever since our re-foundation by Lord Leverhulme, we have sought to offer children of high potential the best possible education, irrespective of their financial circumstances. Currently, one in five of our Senior School pupils receives a bursary to help cover the costs of their studies and, of these, half enjoy full fee support. Our ethnic make-up mirrors that of our catchment area and, through an extensive coach network covering over 20 routes, we draw pupils from across the North West.

Please do look through our web pages: there is lots to see and they will give you a sense of what we are about, but the best way to truly appreciate our School is to come and visit us."

Philip Britton, MBE, MA, MEd, FInstP - Head of Foundation

"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 a happy and fulfilled life 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, extra-curricular and social activities
• a supportive and industrious learning environment for pupils selected on academic potential, irrespective of means and background.

Our Vision

"By 2030, we intend Bolton School to stand out as a thriving academically selective independent day school in the north of England - a national leader in promoting social mobility through providing access to the broadest range of pupils, using the benefits from the Boys’ and Girls’ divisional structure to offer a first class modern academic education with effective and focused pastoral care.

The School will encourage participation and excellence in wide ranging activities, promote strong community values, and thereby equip young women and men with the resilience to go out to make a difference in their world."

Co-Education: 0-7 Years

For children from birth up to seven years of age, our Nursery, Pre-School Class and Infant School provision is co-educational. Whilst we believe that girls and boys prosper in a single- sex environment from age 7, they still enjoy the 'best of both worlds' as they occasionally collaborate in activities such as music and sport and through travelling into school together.

All-girls Education

At Bolton School, we understand that girls learn best when they feel cherished, understood and secure. Free from the distractions caused by social pressures, girls have the confidence to pursue the academic paths which best suit them, rather than making stereotypical subject choices. It is no surprise that single sex girls' (and boys') schools regularly dominate national league tables based on examination performance.

All-boys Education

Boys and girls learn differently. As Head of the Boys' Division with well over 1,000 boys, I know this from seeing it first hand, but there are a number of compelling studies which support this theory. I watch boys in the school move with consummate ease from the rugby field to singing in the choir to focusing on their academic studies. A boys-only school gives them this freedom as they are less constrained by gender stereotypes.

A place to Discover; From Nursery to Sixth Form, our highly qualified and experienced teaching staff focus on stretching and challenging every child. This is an environment where girls and boys are encouraged to discover and develop their talents, enabling them to reach their full academic potential and to develop a lifelong passion for learning.