BOLTON School has been named as the TES Independent School of the Year.

The school celebrated winning the top award and Senior School of the Year at a glittering ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Bolton School is one of the oldest schools in Lancashire, with a history that can be traced back to the early 16th century.

Over the last academic, the school has celebrated individual and team pupil successes, but it was the role the school played in the community which made it stand out from the competition.

This includes acting as the Northern SCITT ­— School Centred Initial Teacher Training ­— hub for modern foreign languages and physics as part of the government’s teacher recruitment drive, to hosting public lectures such as the RSC Christmas Lecture and the Royal Statistical Society, alongside travelling theatre productions and a re-enactment of the English Civil War.

Events for local schoolchildren have included the Football Festival and Bolton Children’s Fiction Award, attended by 700 pupils.

Lead judge Dr Helen Wright said Bolton was chosen because of "their impressive outreach and the way in which they involve the whole community in a plethora of enriching events".

Sue Hincks, headmistress of the girls division, said: "It was a wonderful evening and we were incredibly proud to pick up our awards on behalf of everyone who is part of the Bolton School family,

"Aside from strong academic results, we were delighted that both our extra-curricular provision and work in, and with, the local community was recognised as these are areas that are very important to us."

Headmaster of the boys’ division Philip Britton added: "It was a very special night and a pleasing affirmation of all the time, energy and initiative that boys, girls and colleagues put into their work and how well that is supported by parents and alumni.

"The evening also recognised how we ­— and many other independent schools ­— work hard to progress learning across our region and enjoy mutually beneficial relationships with a wide variety of local schools and their pupils. The award also touched on how we endeavour to provide an education for all through our generous bursary provision with one in five of our pupils receiving fee assistance."

The awards follow other recent accolades including being named Independent School of the Year by the Independent School Parent, becoming the first school to earn Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service status and winning last year’s TES Community Initiative Award.

The Girls’ Division was highly commended in the Independent School Parent Girls’ School of the Year Award and the Boys’ Division won the Boys’ School of the Year Award. The Boys’ Division was also recently re-awarded Apple Distinguished School status and a Platinum Artsmark.