Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about
Bolton School's Sixth Form. They are answered by Mr Caspar Joseph,
Head of the Sixth Form.
Why should I join Bolton School Sixth Form?
If you are a bright, enthusiastic and dedicated student you
should give the Sixth Form at Bolton School some serious
consideration. We have everything in place here to help you achieve
your dreams - a great tradition of academic excellence, wonderful
facilities, and an amazing portfolio of extra-curricular and social
events allowing you to build leadership, team-working and
interpersonal skills. Our Sixth Form is small enough to allow our
highly qualified teachers to really focus on your individual needs
- we don't just get you to where you want to go, we equip you with
the knowledge, skills and attributes that you will carry with you
throughout your life.
What sort of GCSE grades will I need?
You should expect A grade passes in the subjects that you wish
to follow at A level, or the nearest equivalent in the case of
subjects not being taken at GCSE. You should also expect a minimum
of 5 A*-C passes at GCSE, including Mathematics and English.
External candidates will also be interviewed and references
sought.
As a new student to Bolton School, will I feel left out?
I assume all the other students will already know one another and
will be in their own friendship groups?
Each year, 5-10% of our Sixth Form is made up of students new to
Bolton School. They are always quick to settle into life at the
School. Yes, 90% or so of the students will be moving up from
Bolton School's own Year 11 group but these young men are very
aware of the arrival of new students and they will go out of their
way to befriend you. I think they appreciate some new faces around
the place! Don't worry, you will be warmly welcomed into the fold.
The size of our Sixth Form means that all boys get to know each
other very quickly.
What will the classes be like?
You will certainly notice a difference from your GCSE studies.
Classes will be smaller and although each teacher has their own
style, you will appreciate that the learning process has become
much more of a partnership between you and the lecturer as you work
together to reach your full potential. Rather than studying a broad
range of subjects like you did at GCSE, you will now study just a
few subjects but in much greater depth. You will not just be
spoon-fed the information, you will be encouraged to ask more
questions, to pursue your own research and to think independently.
There is a great deal of work to get through and you will have to
be disciplined and organised in your approach to learning both in
and out of the classroom.
Can I come and have a look around the
School?
Yes, of course. In many ways the best way to see the Sixth Form
is to come and visit us. During term time you can always
email me or contact the Headmaster's Secretary and arrange a
mutually convenient time to come in and visit the School. You might
want to come along to our Sixth Form Open Evening which is held in
the Autumn each year.
How many new students do you take on each
year?
Numbers vary slightly each year but we usually admit about 125
students into each year of the Sixth Form, anything from 5 to 15 of
which will be new to the School.
Are there no girls?
We like to think we have the best of both worlds here. The Boys'
Division and Girls' Division are right next to each other and there
is a lot of social interaction with the girls. You have access to
their Sixth Form Common Room and they have access to yours. There
is opportunity to meet with girls at break and at lunchtimes as
well as on the coaches to and from school. There will be joint
events with the girls, particularly in drama and music. However,
although there are some mixed classes, for the most part, you will
be taught in single sex classes.
I'd like to come but there's no way I'd be able to
afford the fees.
We aim to offer an education for all, irrespective of the
ability to pay. More and more bursaries are becoming available.
From 2007 there is an HSBC bursary which will cover full tuition
fees for a boy joining us from the state sector, we have a number
of Ogden Trust Scholarships for those students wishing to undertake
Science A levels and each year a good number of boys receive bursary-assistance
with their fees.
Where do people go afterwards and what sorts of careers
do they follow?
We have been sending Old Boltonians into the world for almost
500 years and they have made quite an impact!
Upon completion of A level study, the vast majority of our
students (well over 95%) go onto Higher Education; most of them to
their first choice university. You can view a
list of universities that students have gone onto in recent
years.
We have a global network of Old Boys and Old Girls working in a
wide variety of different careers, many rising to the very top of
their profession. The list of former pupils is a prestigious one
and includes captains of industry, household names and a Nobel
Prize winner. Find out more about our famous Old Boltonians.
Particularly active branches of the Old Boys' Association can be
found in London, Oxford, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cumbria and, of
course, Bolton.
If you have any further questions or you would like to arrange a
visit to the School, you can contact the Headmaster's Secretary by
email, ccj@boltonschool.org.uk,
or by calling 01204 840201.
A wonderful experience: the strong community spirit and
excellent facilities make Bolton School Sixth Form a home from
home.
Jackie, Year 13