A gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games athlete and Olympian returned to Bolton School to launch its Elite Athlete Programme.

Dr Ed Scott, an alumnus of Bolton School who won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games for England as a goalkeeper in the men’s water polo team, officially opened the programme.

He addressed an audience of elite athletes and their parents and guardians from the across the foundation, recapping his journey to the very top in the sport.

He told how he had really fond memories of his time at Bolton School and recalled how, with the help of Dr Yates, Mr Jones and Mr Pledger, he found his sporting passion there.

A spokesperson for the school said: “Ed emphasised how he had worked hard and had often taken himself out of his comfort zone, playing with a higher age group to develop his talents.

“He recalled winning his first of three different age group national tournaments with the school’s U14 team and then, shortly afterwards, picking up his first England cap.

“Ed spoke about joining up with the GB U19s’ team for the European Championships and how he was supported through this by his teachers.

“He recounted how in Year 12 the ‘stars seemed to align’ as he was chosen for the England men’s seniors, ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia where the team just missed out on a bronze medal.”

Dr Mullins from the Boys’ Division and Mrs Winder from the Girls’ Division also spoke on the evening, outlining how the school is the centre of a child’s life and how it attempts to balance sporting endeavour with academic success. 

The spokesperson added: “They told how the School aims to develop a positive mindset in pupils, to offer guidance on nutrition and strength and conditioning and to provide bespoke curriculum adjustments.

“There was consideration of certain ‘pinch-points’ as children move up from primary to senior school and as they move into their GCSE and A level years.

“Both also spoke about the ‘supporting team’ around an elite athlete – their coaches, their parents and their teachers and the importance of mentors within school – be that heads of year or others already taking part in that particular sport as well as peer to peer mentoring and, sometimes, from former pupils.”