The curriculum at Bolton School Boys' Division is organised in the spirit of the National Curriculum but is certainly not limited by it.  You can see our Curriculum Development Statement by clicking here.

It provides a strong framework for future study, in that it:

• offers variety of choice within the constraints of a 40-period weekly timetable
• encourages breadth of experience without sacrificing depth of understanding
• combines traditional academic rigour with opportunities for self-expression and creativity
• offers the chance for all boys to study three science subjects as separate disciplines
• allows the possibility of two or more foreign languages being taken through to GCSE level

All boys in the first five years of the school have a carefully balanced academic programme, set within a wide core of subjects, the majority of which are studied to GCSE level.

Pupils progress through the Lower School and Middle School into the Upper School, where they are joined by students from other schools who have achieved the standard required of all entrants to Year 12.

Monitoring Progress

Pupils' progress is monitored by subject teachers, Form teachers and Heads of Year.  Parents will receive at least two written reports a year and they will have the opportunity to attend a consultation evening for a face to face discussion with those involved in their son's education.  However, they are urged to contact their son's Form teacher if they have any concerns about his academic progress.  Internal examinations for Years 7-10 take place in early June.  Mock examinations for Year 11 and 13 take place in early June.  Mock examinations for Year 11 and 13 take place in January.  A Level module examinations take place in January, June and July.

Homework

Evening homework is set throughout the School, and parents are encouraged to ensure that their sons have adequate working conditions for personal study at home.  Pupils in the Lower and Middle Schools are required to spend between one and two hours a night on homework assignments, and for them a formal timetable of subjects is arranged.  In the Upper School, pupils have greater flexibility, assignments normally being set by the week, allowing them the opportunity of learning to plan their own schedules.  Year 12/13 students need to do considerable reading and research in addition to set exercises, and for this, they have private study periods allocated within their weekly timetable.

Each pupil is given a study planner to help him organise his work.  Parents are encouraged to use the relevant space in the planner to communicate with staff.

Form teachers regularly check these planners in order to monitor pupils' organisation.

Mr Taylor, Director of Studies, is responsible for the organisation of the curriculum throughout the School and welcomes contact from parents or prospective parents to discuss any aspects of our provision in this area.