Sixth Form is a time of transition from GCSEs to life after school, and as such provides exciting opportunities for focussed learning and personal development. Regardless of what your chosen path after A Levels will be – whether it be further study at University or elsewhere, an Apprenticeship, the world of work or a Gap Year – the skills you acquire during your time at Bolton School will equip you for the next step.

The range of subjects on offer is vast, enabling students to choose from a hugely diverse range of combinations. Class sizes are small and students are taught by subject specialists. Sixth Form students here also benefit from a joint Sixth Form Centre (the Riley Centre) whilst retaining single-sex lessons, thus enjoying the best of both worlds.

In addition to the focus on academic development, the variety of extra-curricular activities on offer is exceptional. Leadership opportunities are a particular feature of Sixth Form life and students are also supported in a range of volunteering activities, which we are very keen to encourage them to take part in. The development of key “employability” skills is a particularly important component of their preparation for life after school, and to that end our carefully-designed Curriculum Enrichment Programme ensures that each individual student follows a path tailored to their particular needs. The continuing emphasis we place throughout the school on pastoral care is evident in the Sixth Form as we support our students through the process of applications, interviews and examinations with skill and expertise.

At the end of Year 13, pupils automatically become members of the Bolton School Alumni Network, and through this they are able to connect with hundreds of former Bolton School pupils in their chosen field, thus providing them with unparalleled networking and career opportunities. Members of the Alumni Network also come into school to share their experiences of life after Sixth Form and to offer advice about the ever-changing world of work.

Our experience, knowledge and targeted guidance enables us to provide our students with the best possible preparation for the challenges that lie ahead. Please visit us to discover more about what we can offer you. I look forward to meeting you.

Lynne Kyle

Lynne Kyle
Head of Girls' Division


Welcome from the Head of Sixth Form

The Sixth Form Experience encompasses academic, extra-curricular and social activities. Our aim is twofold: to help you achieve the best possible academic qualifications whilst giving you every opportunity to develop as a person.

In short, we aim to give you the best possible preparation for the future.

Each year the vast majority of pupils in Year 11 of the Girls' Division move into the Sixth Form but we also welcome a significant number of students from other schools.

You will find this a warm and friendly place and you will quickly settle into the Sixth Form. I can guarantee that these will be two of the most important and memorable years of your life.

Our students are a lively and diverse group of people. We draw students from a wide range of backgrounds. We welcome about twenty new sixth formers into the Girls’ Division every year from a variety of other schools, bringing new perspectives and a particular vibrancy into the senior year group.

Each new girl is allocated a tutor group "buddy" to give her as much support as possible, and is invited into school before she officially joins Year 12. All new students quickly become integrated into the school community and make strong, lasting friendships.

Bolton School Girls' Division

The best way to truly appreciate our School is to come and visit us. Please join us at our Sixth Form Open Evening which takes place in the Autumn Term each year. Failing that, you can always find out more about our Sixth Form by contacting me or by arranging a personal visit to the School.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Head of Bolton School girls sixth form, Miss Sarah Gunshon

Miss Sarah Gunshon, BSc
Head of Sixth Form


Subjects

All students embark on a combination of four AS subjects in Year 12, taken from the list below.

Once students have indicated their preferences, we draw up option pools which allow for as many of your different combinations as possible. The enormous flexibility of this arrangement is illustrated by the fact that there are more than 100 different weekly timetables in operation.

  • Art and Design
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Computer Science
  • Design Technology: Product Design
  • Design Technology: Fashion and Textiles
  • Drama and Theatre Studies
  • Economics
  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication
  • Greek
  • History
  • Latin
  • Mathematics and Further Mathematics
  • Music
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Spanish

Community Action and Charitable Giving

There is a strong tradition of taking active part in service to the community and fundraising for charity. As part of the Community Action Programme you can visit the elderly, assist in hospitals or hospices, or go into local primary schools to help children with their reading.

Volunteering in sixth form girls school Bolton.

You can help in school by running Clubs and Societies for younger girls, looking after our Infant children in the morning and at lunchtime, helping in the school libraries, serving on the Common Room Committee or the School Council or lending a sympathetic ear in our confidential 'listening service'.

In addition, there are one-off projects such as the Harvest Festival and the Christmas Shoebox Campaign, which involve the whole School. For the past two years, the Sixth Form have also been very active in helping a local Christmas Hamper project. In the past two years, the girls have gathered together a huge stack of Christmas puddings, mince pies and Christmas biscuits through ingenious fund-raising methods.

Bolton School Girls' Division

All girls in the Lower Sixth are expected to complete at least twenty hours’ of Community Service alongside their studies - and many do far more! At the end of the year, there is a Celebration Evening for those girls who have achieved the highest number of hours.

The range of extra-curricular activities at Bolton School provides countless opportunities for students to establish friendships and develop new skills. Over the years, I have enjoyed participating in various sports teams, music ensembles and other societies which have all enabled me to gain a variety of achievements and successes. Whether sporty, musical, creative or academic, Bolton School will undoubtedly provide something for everyone.

Sophie, Year 12


The Riley Centre

Sixth Form girls share the Riley Sixth Form Centre with Sixth Form students from the Boys' Division, where there is a shared common room and cafe as well as joint study areas. It is a warm and welcoming place equipped with the very latest technological features. Wireless internet and network access is freely available. The common room is the focal point for social activity. The atmosphere is good humoured and dynamic. It is an ideal space for students to relax, read or play music.

The Sixth Form is a time when you will deepen existing friendships and forge new relationships to sustain you for the rest of your life.

Bolton sixth form girls and boys socialising


Planning for the Future: Careers and Higher Education

The Head of Careers and Higher Education works with girls on an extensive programme designed to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life.

Whatever a girl's aspirations for the future, we are keen to support her throughout the sixth form. We aim for students to leave Bolton School feeling confident that they are able to make well informed choices about their immediate and long term plans.