Celebration Day at Bolton School

GCSE pupils from the Girls’ Division and Boys’ Division of Bolton School have been celebrating an excellent set of exam results after studying through what has been some unprecedented times. Across the country, it is the first year group to have sat GCSE exams since 2019, after two years of disruption due to Covid. 

Head of Foundation at Bolton School, Philip Britton, said: ‘Today is a day to celebrate endeavour, tenacity and success during the Covid years. Pupils began their GCSEs as their Year 9 studies ran into lockdown and they have stuck with it through absences from school during further lockdowns and with periods of individual self-isolation. Having kept their focus, they have been celebrating some excellent results today with one another and their teachers - and they have given themselves a great stepping-stone to the next stage of their education. For the vast majority, that will be at Bolton School, as our next generation of Sixth Form role models and leaders.’ 

Across both Divisions, two-thirds of papers were graded in the 9-7 range and almost a quarter were at the top mark of 9. Within the excellent set of results there were, as ever, lots of interesting individual success stories, where pupils combined other activities alongside their studies. Joe Carolan, who plays water polo for England U17s, achieved grades of one 8, two 7s and seven 6s. Angelie Chitre, who plays for Bolton Hockey Club and was recently selected for the U17 Lancashire team, walked away with an outstanding set of grades – nine 9s, one 8 and one 7. 

Quite unusually, there were two sets of twins this year across the Divisions. Harriet Dickens, who captained England U17 water polo team at the EU Nations Junior Women’s Water Polo Tournament and was the tournament’s top player, achieved four 8s, four 7s and two 6s. Harriet was also selected for Great Britain at the Euro Championships last month. Her brother, Josh Dickens, who also plays water polo and, along with his sister, coaches the Girls’ Division’s U13 team, celebrated four 8s, three 7s, two 6s and one 5. The Simmonite twins also performed admirably; Suzanna achieved eight 9s, one 8 and one 7 whilst Jacob recorded four 9s, three 8s, two 6s and one grade 4.

Lancashire cricketer Keshana Fonseka came away with seven 8s, one 7 and two 6 grades and Levi Higham, who plays saxophone, also performed with distinction, achieving four 9s, five 8s, one 7 and one A* (HPQ). Girls’ Division pupil Uma Patel, who plays cello and was a member of both the Bolton School Chemquiz team and the BP Ultimate STEM Challenge team, did incredibly well as she collected her results - ten 9s and one 8. Jade Sprott, who plays lacrosse for Lancashire, also came with fine grades of three 9s, five 8s and two 7s. In the Boys' Division, Ben Rimmer's results were also incredibly impressive: he collected eleven 9s, one 8 and an A* (HPQ).