Bolton School was re-endowed in 1913 by the first Lord Leverhulme and to his generosity and foresight it owes the splendid buildings and facilities on its main site of 32 acres. It serves a very wide catchment area due to the school organised special coach services. The curriculum is designed to challenge and stimulate those who are interested in academic study and clearly enjoy and benefit from intellectual challenges. The school has a long tradition of academic excellence, over 90% of the Sixth Form of 250 pupils proceeding to degree courses on leaving. Specialist facilities exist for Art, Computing, Music, Technology and the sciences. All boys follow a wide common curriculum to GCSE which includes two languages and three separate sciences. Over 20 subjects are offered in the Sixth Form to A level in a wide variety of combinations. In games seven major outdoor sports are offered and indoor sports and swimming flourish as do both music and drama. The school has its own outdoor pursuits base in the Lake District and adventurous activities and camps are a strong feature of the life of the school. Assisted from Foundation funds are offered at 11+ and 16+ and where family financial circumstances warrant it the level of assistance will be to the full value of the annual fee.
Alumni - Alumni include Sir Ian McKellan (actor, National Theatre); Lord Haslam of Bolton (former chairman of British Steel and Coal Board); Nigel Short (chess); Peter Jarvis (chairman of Whitbread until 1997); Sir Harry Kroto (Nobel Prize winner for chemistry 1996); Mark Radcliffe (broadcaster). A thriving past pupil association exists and the school operates a resource centre for alumni with its own director.
