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Monday, 17 May 2010
Excellent and outstanding - these were the words that repeated
themselves throughout the Independent Schools Inspectorate's report
after their inspection of Bolton School Girls' Division, which
comprises a co-educational nursery and infant school, single-sex
junior and senior schools and Kidzone, an out of school club.
Throughout the whole school pupils' personal development was
found to be exceptional. The culture was described as one in
which pupils have a desire to learn and make progress and that this
permeates the whole school. Children of all ages were seen to
be involved and to learn cooperatively with their teachers and with
each other.
The inspection found students were achieving highly at all
educational stages and were making good progress in relation to
their abilities. In Senior School, reading and writing skills
were found to be well developed and girls to be highly
articulate. Academically, results at A level have been high
and at GCSE have been excellent, when compared with the national
averages.
The report found that pupils were given excellent opportunities
through an outstanding range of interesting and stimulating
extra-curricular activities, which develop their knowledge, skills
and talents and girls have, consequently, enjoyed success on a
national stage in a wide range of activities. Besides being
offered an "exciting array" of subjects beyond the national
curriculum, pupils' cultural development was also furthered through
a range of local visits and travel overseas. The pupils were
also found to work hard for charity and to be involved in many
worthwhile community links.
The inspectors reported "at all educational stages, pupils
demonstrate excellent personal qualities" and pupils of all ages
were found to be proud of their school, its history and its
values. The ethos was described as "distinctive and
inclusive" and one where every member of the community was
valued. The report commented that pupils were eager to take
up the many positions of responsibility that were open to
them. Throughout the age groups, pupils' social development
was found to be excellent and that they exhibited a highly
developed sense of right and wrong.
Relationships amongst pupils and between pupils and staff were
praised as being "extremely strong" and the quality of pastoral
care throughout the whole school was found to be excellent, which
allowed pupils to become confident and self reliant. The
report found that children were comfortable talking to staff and to
older pupils, known as peer mentors, if they had any
problems.
Throughout the school the quality of links with parents was
praised as excellent and it was noted that the active parents'
associations included all parents.
The school was commended for its excellent quality of
governance, leadership and management. Mrs Gill Richards,
Headmistress, said: "I am delighted with this report. Much of
the success of pupils, at all stages, can be put down to the
positive atmosphere in the school - generated amongst the children
themselves and between them and staff. Pupils are willing to
learn and teachers are willing to listen and help. Strong
links with parents ensure we are all pulling in the same
direction. I was pleased that the report highlighted how all
pupils achieve highly - both academically and personally - and make
good progress in relation to their abilities."
The Early
Years Foundation Stage (0-5 years old) was described as
outstanding on every level - the quality of provision, how well the
school meets the needs of children and the effectiveness of the
leadership team. It praised the school for offering highly
effective teaching in an outstanding setting, where the welfare of
the children is of "extreme importance".
Issues relating to the last report in 2004 were found to have
been addressed, including the provision of more spacious
accommodation in the newly built Beech House (Infants) and, the
almost completed, new purpose-built Junior Girls' School.
The ISI Inspection Report 2010 - Bolton School
Girls' Division
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