IT'S all change at the top for Bolton leading school.

Bolton School has announced management changes with a new headteacher in charge of Bolton School boys' division and a promotion for the current head, Philip Britton, who will oversee the whole of Bolton School, in the new position of head of foundation.

Mr Britton, who governors say has successful boys' division since being appointed in 2008, will oversee both the boys and girls school as well as a newly created primary division.

Lynne Kyle will continue as head of girls’ division, and Nic Ford, currently deputy head, in the boys’ division, has been appointed as head.

A recruitment process will take place to make permanent appointments to both of these roles.

A head of primary division, overseeing the nursery, pre-school class, infant school, two junior schools and wraparound childcare facility, Kidzone, has also been created with Sue Faulkner, currently the head at Beech House, appointed to the role.

Ian Riley, Chairman of Governors, said: " The Foundation of Bolton School envisaged by Lord Leverhulme intended much closer co-working between the two Divisions than has often been the case in our first century, whilst maintaining the vibrant identities of both single-sex girls’ and boys’ schools for children aged seven- to- 18 years.

"The school’s founding ethos - that children of the highest potential should be afforded the best possible education, irrespective of their financial circumstances – forms the blueprint for the governors’ vision for the future of the foundation. Led by Philip Britton, this new structure will help keep our fees affordable for parents whilst driving forward the Governors’ agenda of widening access to the School through its bursary scheme, delivering true social mobility in Bolton and beyond."

Mr Britton said: "It has been a great pleasure to lead the boys’ division for the last 13 years, sharing all that the boys and my colleagues have achieved. The opportunity to be the first head of foundation for the school is an enormous privilege. In the last decade, we have become nationally recognised as a leader in education and that focus on the experience of the girls and boys being the best they can be will continue to inspire us. Both Divisions are amongst the largest single-sex schools in the country and have shown the huge benefits to pupils of that approach to education, whilst also working together to provide the 'best of both worlds' for pupils with mixed activities where that adds value to the school day. Being able to take an overview of the next steps for the foundation and to ensure its continued success, alongside the primary division and our commercial activities at Patterdale Hall and within school, will help us prosper in the future as we consolidate and develop our reputation as leaders in academic success, character development through activity, e-learning, social mobility and partnership work."