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Navy Cookery Workshop

A mixture of 96 Year 7 and 8 students were involved in a cookery workshop. Chief chef Steve Milne and chef Dan Relph from the Royal Navy demonstrated chicken curry and meatballs. The students then prepared, cooked and tasted their own creations. Both chefs discussed and illustrated a variety of ration packs containing various dishes which were also sampled.  At lunchtime they offered helpful and useful advise regarding career opportunities within the Royal Navy.  For further information regarding careers within The Navy visit royalmarines.mod.uk or phone: 08456 07 55 55.
 
Thank you to Recruitment Officer, Norman Prior for his support, thanks also to Steve Milne and Dan Relph for delivering their demonstrations with fantastic enthusiasm and drive.

posted: 13.06.2011

Junior Young Musician of the Year

During the week beginning 23 May, our young musicians in year 7, 8 and 9 have been competing in the first ever 'Junior Young Musician of The Year' competition. Run by Mr Pavey and Mrs Black from the Music Department, each pupil played an unaccompanied piece in front of a panel of judges. There were over 30 entries in the two categories: Beginners and Intermediate. Some of the beginners had been playing an instrument for less than two months. One nervous competitor said “My legs were shaking! I haven’t been playing the Cornet long at all, but I knew it would be really good for me to start performing in front of people at this stage.”

The winner of the Intermediate competition was Sofia Wood from Lowry House, who played Violin. The winner of the Beginners’ competition was Demi-Lee Davies from Walton House, who has been playing the Cornet for just a few weeks.

Each winner has won the opportunity to perform in the Smithills’ Got Talent Evening on Friday 24th June, where winners from the other competitions such as the Smithills X Factor and Smithills Dance Factor, as well as some additionally invited entrants, will perform in the same format as the popular talent show on television.

Stomp! Drumming Workshop Day At Smithills

Throughout the whole of Friday 13 May, two members of the internationally acclaimed professional percussion organisation Stomp! (Dave and Naz) worked with 30 young Bolton drummers drawn from a number of local schools including Canon Slade, Turton, Thornleigh, Westhoughton, Sharples, St Joseph’s and Smithills.

The event was organised by Mr Rick Hughes of Bolton Music Service, Mr Gary Talbot of Sharples School and our own Mr Wormald.The day was hosted by our Head of Music Mr Pavey and concluded with a short performance in the hall at 3.00pm of everything which had been worked on throughout the day.

Every pupil who attended the workshop day was given a free Stomp! DVD. Dave and Naz said that the day spent at Smithills was arguably the best they had ever led, with outstanding behaviour and application throughout. They said there were some highly talented drummers and many of the pupils clearly possessing the ability to learn and memorise complex routines and patterns so quickly that they should seriously consider auditioning to join the Stomp! organisation in a few years’ time.

More Pictures

Senior Brass Band Completes New CD Recording

Over the weekend of January 29th and 30th, our Senior Brass Band and its conductor Mr Wormald successfully completed the first of three Smithills CD recordings booked with Doyen Recordings Limited between now and May 2011.

Many of the tracks recorded by the Senior Brass Band were new arrangements made especially for the recording by Mr Wormald and included Birdland, Cry Me A River, Mr. Blue Sky, Have I Told You Lately, ‘Til I Hear You Sing, Rule The World, Africa, The Way We Were, Billie Jean, Haven’t Met You Yet, Kissing A Fool, Desperado and Afterglow.

The recordings were completed with over 4 hours to spare from the sessions booked and Doyen Recording engineer and producer Richard Scott commented;

“The Smithills Senior Band played superbly all weekend and would easily have put a number of First Section bands to shame. They were outstanding. The whole band was very professional, superbly prepared and defied the ages of its players. The finished CD will be tremendous.”

more photos

posted: 31.01.11

Smithills School Senior Citizens’ Party 2010

On Thursday afternoon, December 9th, the school held its annual Senior Citizens’ Party from 1pm through to 4pm. Organised once again by Mr Hamilton, this year the event was held in the school hall for the first time as it has finally grown too big to be staged in the Sports Centre Pavillion as in previous years.

Opening with Christmas music provided by members of the Senior Brass Band with Mr Wormald, food was prepared and served at 1.30pm by pupils under the watchful guidance of Mr Whittle and Mrs Colter. Opening with hot soup, there was then a cold buffet featuring an array of meats, sea foods, salads and potatos and finally a number of chocolate based desserts, mince pies, tea and coffee. Cold drinks were also provided throughout the meal.

The brass band musicians continued to play carols throughout the meal and then afterwards, the entertainment was introduced and led by Mr Wormald which included a number of solo items from pupils including Luke Gregory, Nikitta Minihane, Elizabeth Tonge, Dominic Patel and Laura Martindale and a full scale dance routine from “Hairspray” choreographed by Mrs Stevens and Mr Milthorpe. There was carol singing and finally a free raffle held and the highly successful afternoon concluded with a short address made by Headteacher Mr Roberts.

posted: 14.12.10

School Closure in Severe Weather

As winter approaches, I need to plan for the possibility of severe weather
conditions. In extreme conditions I may need to close the school. The school is well stocked
with grit and I am confident that we can quickly make footpaths and steps safe
should the weather turn to snow.

If it is necessary for me to close the school I will contact two local radio stations
and also update the school’s website of this decision.
You can find out if the school is closed by:

Visiting the School Website – www.smithillsschool.net
A school closure notice will be clearly displayed if the school is closed.

Ringing the school 01204 842382, there will be a recorded message if the school is closed.

Tune your radio to 105.4 Real Radio or 100.4 Smooth Radio where the
presenters will announce school closures.

Visit the websites www.realradionorthwest.co.uk or www.smoothradionorthwest.co.uk, where an up to date list of school closures will be displayed.

Mr C.Roberts
Headteacher

posted: 30.11.10

Annual Awards Evening 2010

Principal Guest Speaker, Councillor Norman Critchley, Deputy Mayor of Bolton

On Thursday evening 4th November, the school staged its annual awards presentation evening at the Victoria Hall in Bolton, this for the seventh consecutive year in Bolton’s largest hall. Previous guest speakers have included former Smithills pupils Amir Khan, the World Champion boxer, Ronnie Irani, the former England cricketer, and Mrs Margaret Asquith, Director of Children’s Services for Bolton. This year, Councillor Norman Critchley, last year’s Mayor of Bolton and the current Deputy Mayor, graciously accepted the invitation to be our principal guest speaker.

The school’s World Champion Senior Brass Band began the evening by performing an excellent concert under the direction of Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald whilst parents, relatives and friends of the prize winners took to their seats. Mr Wormald then welcomed all Year 7 pupils into the hall and all of the award winners, both groups being applauded in by the audience as they took to their seats. As last year, magician Matt Grindley was then introduced onto the stage. Mr Grindley generated great interest amongst everyone in the audience, but especially amongst the young award winners and pupils of Year 7. Members of Smithills teaching staff were brought up onto the stage to participate in some of the tricks and then at 7.30pm it was time for the main, more formal events of the evening, the speeches and presentations of awards. Headteacher Mr Roberts opened the second part of the night with a short welcome in which he expressed delight at the success of this year’s GCSE results, which had been the best ever in the school’s history. Councillor Critchley then gave an excellent address to the audience, outlining how many times during his year in office as Mayor, from May 2009 to 2010, he had encountered the wonderful pupils of Smithills school, visited the school in person with his wife Delyse and been entertained by the school’s World Champion brass band in a wide variety of venues. He highlighted a personal favourite as being the recent joint concert at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, at which he was delighted to be present, when Smithills and Black Dyke Band shared the stage and he also praised Smithills very much for the excellent education and opportunities the school continues to provide for all of its pupils.

Following the two speeches, the awards evening was compered for the second year in a row by Mr Wormald, who introduced all of the awards and award winners to the audience with the exception of newly created 2010 House Awards which were introduced by Mr Fagan, Mr Nash, Mr Doughty and Miss Dewse respectively, the four Heads of House. With the aid of a large video screen, each category of awards was accompanied by a specially created computer graphic, designed as last year by Performing Arts Technician Mr Gallimore.

Once again this year the awards evening was divided into sections and in between each of these was a short presentation made by the Performing Arts department. Having begun the evening with music performed by the Senior Brass Band, there was an outstanding vocal duet sung by Year 10 twins Millie and Hope Katana of the song ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’ from the school’s forthcoming production of ‘Hairspray’ which takes place later in November. Later in the programme there was an excellent drama presentation by the Smithills cast of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare and, to close the evening, another superbly sung ‘Hairspray’ song ‘It Takes Two’ performed by Year 11 pupil Luke Gregory and an equally excellent dance presentation from the school’s forthcoming production.

As every year, awards were presented for examination and individual subject success, excellent attendance, effort and special categories. This year, for the second time, each prize winner was presented with an engraved, glass trophy on which the Smithills rose took pride of place above each winner’s name.

The evening concluded at just after 8.35pm with a presentation to Councillor and Mrs Critchley, made by pupils Luke Dawson and Sasha Quigg, of a large photographic collage made by Mrs Webster which features the Senior Brass Band with Mr and Mrs Critchley, after which Councillor Critchley privately presented Mr Roberts and Mr Wormald with a cheque for £500, specifically for band funds.

More Pictures

posted: 08.11.10

Smithills School Students Fill Aid Boxes For Pakistan Flood Appeal

Students from Smithills School have once again displayed their charitable side by bringing in food items and filling no less than eighty two boxes with essential food supplies for the Pakistan flood victims. 

The Flood Box Appeal was launched in the community in early September by members of Bolton’s Muslim community.  Led by the charity Isaar Trust and co-ordinated in Pakistan by the Muslim Hands and Red Crescent charities, boxes were sent via cargo and distributed using army helicopters.  Students from the school decided to contribute to the project when they heard of the mass devastation caused by the floods during the school Summer holidays.  Each form filled a box containing items such as sugar, oil, salt, rice, cereals, tinned food, biscuits, snacks and juices and also enclosed a message of support from the students written in both English and Urdu. 

One student, Anthony Edge, saved £15 from his own pocket money and filled a box full of food items by himself.  Mr Hussain, who co-ordinated the school side of the project, was delighted with the efforts of staff and students and commented: “The fact that our students dug deep into their pockets and, in some instances, gave bags full of food items individually shows the level of care and concern that they have for humans from different parts of the world.  They really did show what good citizens they are and I’m sure the flood victims will be grateful to receive the boxes in this time of need.”

posted: 18.10.10

Senior Brass Band Welcomes Kagemusha Taiko Drummers To Smithills

On Wednesday afternoon, 6th October, our Senior Brass Band and its conductor Mr Wormald welcomed members of Kagemusha Taiko from Exeter, together with their director Mr Jonathan Kirby, for a joint rehearsal from 3.30pm to 5pm. The two ensembles are to play a spectacular joint item to open the Royal Albert Hall Schools Prom in London on Wednesday 10th November and, later in the concert, both ensembles will then play items on their own as part of the final night of this year’s School Prom concerts.

The Kagemusha Taiko drummers will be performing in their fourth Royal Albert Hall Schools Prom this year and for Smithills it will be the eighth time that Mr Wormald has conducted our musicians in the World’s most famous concert hall. It was extremely kind of Mr Kirby and his drummers to drive up from Exeter to Bolton (a five hour journey) and then, having rehearsed at Smithills for two hours, drive back down straight away in order to be home by approximately 10pm.

Our Smithills musicians and the Kagemusha Taiko drummers are really looking forward to performing in the Royal Albert Hall next month. The joint item which will open the concert at 7pm has been especially composed jointly by Mr Wormald and Oliver Kirby. Oliver is now studying at Bristol University and is the son of Kagemusha Director Mr Jonathan Kirby.

posted: 11.10.10

Horrible Histories Winner

Congratulations to Emma Nolan, who is the lucky winner of a Horrible Histories DVD. Emma entered our Open Evening competition on Thursday 30th September. She correctly answered the question, 'Which famous North West artist painted 'Going to the Match?' The answer was L.S. Lowry.

Emma, a pupil at Markland Hill Primary School, was presented with her prize during a surprise visit from Smithills School Assistant Headteacher, Mrs Cropper. Well done Emma!

Posted: 07.10.10

Jake's On the Winning Team!

Congratulations to Jake Corrigan in Year 11 whose team - Bolton Cricket Team, beatTameside Cricket Team in the Lancashire County Cricket tournament on 18 September. Jake is congratulated by Headteacher, Mr C.Roberts.

posted: 01.10.10

Royal Albert Hall Schools Prom For Our Senior Brass Band

Winners of the 2008 Outstanding Performance Award, 2009 Peters Edition Award and 2010 Allianz Award at the National Festival of Music For Youth to complete another hat-trick of victories this July, our eleven-time winning Senior Brass Band and its conductor Mr Wormald are delighted to have been invited to perform once again at the Royal Albert Hall Schools Proms in London this November.

This will be the band’s sixth Royal Albert Hall Schools Prom performance to add to the two already given by Mr Wormald and our Senior Concert Band, the most recent of which was in November 2008. This latest London invitation caps another fantastic year of success for our Senior Brass Band and Mr Wormald. They have recorded with Sir Terry Wogan, performed the 2010 NABBC Conference Concert, won yet more titles and prizes at the Whit Friday march contests, given a stunning joint concert with the Black Dyke Band at the Royal Northern College of Music in June and have now received another Schools Prom invitation for London as a result of their latest Symphony Hall victory in July.

Our Senior Brass Band, conducted as always by Mr Wormald, will perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Wednesday 10th November from 7.00 p.m.

posted: 07.09.10

Smithills’ Family of Primary Schools Summer Concert

On Tuesday evening, July 20th, the final concert of this academic year took place in the school hall; the annual, Family of Primary Schools’ Summer Concert.

Introduced by Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald, and with new Smithills Head of Music Mr Pavey in the audience, the concert was a showcase of Year 5 and 6 pupils from our family of feeder primary schools playing Caribbean Steel Pans, Samba drums, Guitars, singing and, by way of a contrast, two guest solos by current Smithills pupils also featured. 14 Year old Elizabeth Tonge (Year 9) stunned the packed audience with her playing of the solo “Carnival of Venice” which she performed on the Cornet, Flute and Alto Saxophone and 14 year old Nikitta Minihane (Year 9) was equally superb in singing the solo verses of the Abba song “Thank You For The Music” which brought the concert to a close with a massed choir comprising every primary school pupil present.

Organised by Mrs Gill McLaughlin of Bolton Music Service and our own Mr Wormald, the concert involved a number of Bolton Music Service instrumental teachers including Mrs McLaughlin herself, Mr Packwood, Mr Thornton, Mr Fuschi and Miss Jenkins.

Having begun at 6.30pm, the concert ended at 7.50pm with a presentation of a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Margaret Gregory, the retiring Headteacher of Devonshire Road Primary School who leaves her post after many years this Summer.

More Pictures

posted: 21.07.10

School Win Enterprise Award

The fifth annual Bolton and Bury Business Awards took place on Thursday 10th June at the De Vere Whites Hotel, Bolton, with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr John Byrne and Mrs Lynda Byrne, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Cllr John Byrne and Mrs Brenda Byrne, as guests of honour.

This glittering black-tie event was packed as the winners of 11 separate categories of awards, along with a surprise Special Achievement award, were announced by BBC North West Tonight weather presenter Dianne Oxberry. Smithills School was a finalist in two categories :

The Community Award, sponsored by O2, and The Schools Enterprise Award, sponsored by Balfour Beatty Education.

There were four schools who were finalists in the Schools Enterprise Award : Essa Academy (Bolton); Smithills School (Bolton); Phillips High School (Bury) and Powerwave (Rivington and Blackrod, Bolton). As each school was highlighted with pictures and comments by Dianne Oxberry, the tension and expectation mounted. We felt we wouldn’t win again so soon after 2008, but then….‘ And the winners are  SMITHILLS SCHOOL!’

Ms Haworth, Work Related Learning and Enterprise Manager at Smithills said she was stunned when Smithills were announced the winners. She said " It's an award for all the hard work and dedication of all the students and staff as everybody has contributed to the school's success." The award was a fantastic leaving present for Ms Haworth who is due to retire this summer .

posted:18.06.10

Family of Primary Schools Spring Concert

Guest Soloists; Akil Thompson (Year 11) & Luke Gregory (Year 10)

On Thursday evening 27th May, a full and enthusiastic St Thomas’s Church hosted the latest musical extravaganza involving nearly one hundred primary school instrumentalists from the Smithills family of primary schools; Church Road, Devonshire Road, Oxford Grove, St Matthew’s and St Thomas’s.

The announcer for the evening was Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald and with two guest soloist spots from Akil Thompson (Year 11) and Luke Gregory (Year 10), the concert featured a wide variety of styles and genres including Caribbean Steel Drums/Pans, World Percussion, large groups of Guitarists and a final massed song which was sung by everyone who had taken part in the highly successful evening.

The concert was organised by Mrs Gill McLaughlin and Mr Sam Packwood of Bolton Music Service and also featured Mr Paul Thornton (Guitar) and Mr Rick Hughes (Percussion).

more pictures

posted: 07.06.10

Smithills  School Celebrates  Outstanding  Ofsted

A two day Ofsted inspection of Citizenship has judged Smithills School to be Outstanding.  Lead Inspector Judith Straw remarked that she “could not recall inspecting a better secondary school for Citizenship."

The Ofsted report highlights outstanding achievements at GCSE; “81% of pupils achieved an A* to C grade at GCSE compared with 57% nationally. The proportion of pupils who achieve the top grades of A* and A is double the national average.”

The report identifies excellent teaching in the classroom and excellent participation in active citizenship.

Citizenship gives pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding to play an effective role in society at local, national and international levels.  It helps pupils to become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens. It promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, making them more self-confident and responsible both in, and beyond, the classroom. 

Pupils are encouraged to play a helpful part in the life of their school, neighbourhood, community and wider world.  Pupils learn about our economy and democratic institutions and values. They are also encouraged to respect different national, religious and ethnic identities.

It is the report's comments on the rich contribution Smithills pupils make to their local community, to the town of Bolton and internationally which are, however, the most impressive.

Headteacher Chris Roberts is clearly delighted with the report.  “This success reflects on the whole school.  The report recognises not only the excellent quality of teaching and learning in the classroom but also the unique contribution Smithills School makes to the town and to the wider community, nationally and internationally.  It is an achievement we can all be justly proud of.”

Posted: 10.05.10

Smithills School Students Scoop Prestigious ‘Innovation in Action’ Accolade   

Aaliyah Adam, Ruqaiyah Yousaf, Francis Rawlinson and Sara Dakri (all in Year 9) have won Northgate Managed Services’ ‘Innovation in Action’ 2010 competition, demonstrating ways that new technology can help transform their school. Created to reward innovation and collaboration using ICT, pupils from the six schools involved in the first phase of Bolton’s BSF project were invited to attend a London technology exhibition, to investigate new software and equipment they would like in their new schools.

Smithills students visited BETT 2010, the largest education resource event in the world to discover new learning technologies and resources. Supported by Mr Hussain and teachers at ‘study@bwfc’, they were challenged to design an interactive presentation to show how particular technologies could benefit their peers and school.

Commended by judges for their “excellent understanding and knowledge of technologies in a learning environment”, winning Smithills students created a cinema-style virtual classroom and streamlined processes such as electronic registration and school meals (e-dinner system).

Demonstrating their commercial awareness, the students also highlighted that their ‘cinema experience’ could be rented to the local community to help generate the funding.

The competition entries were judged by experts from Northgate Managed Services and members of Bolton Council who looked at how the students addressed issues such as the application of the technology in their school and the overall benefits to the school and students.

David Kilgallon, Bolton’s Transformational Lead, comments: “In Bolton we actively encourage students to get involved and have a say in what resources are implemented in their school and are delighted that the efforts of Smithills students have been recognised by Northgate Managed Services. The students’ research and recommendations have helped provide us and the school with an even deeper understanding of the ways they want to learn.”

David Hyland, Managing Director of Education at Northgate Managed Services comments: “Both schools involved showed a confident approach to planning their presentation and evaluating their choices. Smithills School was chosen as the overall winning school because they demonstrated clearly the reasons for their choice, the applications and value to their education. Their recommendations for a cinema-style virtual classroom won it for them as they gave specific examples on how they would use the resources to aid learning and even a method to help fund this investment.”

Smithills School received a Mac Netbook as a prize with the eight students involved from both schools receiving an iPod nano each. Northgate Managed Services will also be reviewing all the ICT that each school demonstrated in their presentation to see if it can be offered as part of their solution.

Watch the competition video

posted: 22.04.10

Annual Awards Evening 2009

Principal Guest Speaker Mrs Margaret Asquith, Director of

Children’s Services For Bolton

On Thursday evening November 12th, the school staged its annual awards presentation evening to a packed Victoria Hall in Bolton, this for the sixth year in Bolton’s largest hall. Previous guest speakers have included former Smithills pupils Amir Khan, the World Champion boxer, and Ronnie Irani, the former England cricketer turned Sky television broadcaster. This year we were delighted that Mrs Margaret Asquith, Director of Children’s Services for Bolton, accepted the invitation to be our principal guest.

The school’s World Champion Senior Brass Band began the evening by performing an excellent concert under the direction of Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald whilst parents, relatives and friends of the prize winners took to their seats. A fanfare then greeted the award winners into the hall and Headteacher Mr Roberts opened the evening with a short welcome in which he expressed extreme delight and pride at the World Champion success of both our Senior Brass Band and Senior Concert Band in Holland this Summer and also that this year’s GCSE results had been the best ever in the school’s history. He then introduced the magician Mr Matt Grindley. Mr Grindley generated great interest amongst everyone in the audience, but especially amongst the young award winners and pupils of Year 7 who were present. Mrs Asquith then gave an excellent and informative address to the packed audience and she also praised Smithills very much for the excellent education the school continued to provide.

For the first time, the awards evening this year was compered by Mr Wormald, who introduced all of the awards and award winners to the audience. With the aid of a huge video screen, each category of awards was introduced by a specially created computer graphic, superbly designed and made by Performing Arts Technician Mr Gallimore.

This year the awards ceremony was divided into three sections and in between each of these was a short presentation made by the Performing Arts department. Having begun the evening with music performed by the Senior Brass Band, there was also a dance presentation choreographed by Mrs Stevens part way through the presentation of awards and later on a drama presentation, in which a short section of ‘Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’ directed by Miss Ballinger was equally well received. At the conclusion of the evening, Miss Flemming conducted the Chamber Choir in an excellent performance of
‘O Happy Day.’

As every year, awards were presented for examination and individual subject success, excellent attendance, effort and special categories. This year, for the very first time, each prize winner was presented with an engraved, glass trophy in which the Smithills rose took pride of place above each winner’s name. Each member of the school’s Senior Brass Band and Senior Concert Band was also presented with a World Music Contest Gold Medal.

The highly successful evening concluded at just after 8.30pm.

More photos

posted: 17.11.09

Civic Reception For Our World Champion Musicians

On Tuesday afternoon September 22nd, the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Councillor and Mrs Norman Critchley, held a civic reception in honour of our World Champion musicians and their conductor Mr Wormald in the Lancaster Suite of Bolton Town Hall at 3pm. Attended by a number of high profile dignitaries including Mrs Margaret Asquith, Director of Children's Services in Bolton, town councillors, our Headteacher Mr Roberts and staff members Mr Gibbs, Miss Flemming and Mr Gallimore, our musicians were treated to a reception which began with short speeches by the Mayor, Mr Wormald and Mr Roberts, continued with the presentation of a glass trophy to Mr Wormald on behalf of both our WMC Gold Medal winning bands, involved a number of photographs being organised and taken by the Bolton News and concluded with refreshments and cakes for everyone present, during which the Mayor talked with band members about their incredible achievements.

The photograph shows Director of Children's Services Mrs Margaret Asquith, the Mayor, Mr Roberts, Mr Wormald and the Mayoress of Bolton together with Smithills band members as the engraved glass trophy is presented to Mr Wormald on behalf of the Senior Brass Band, Senior Concert Band and the school as a whole.

Posted: 22.09.09

Smithills Officially Receives 2009 Artsmark Gold Award

On Monday evening, 21 September, Arts Council England held its North West Regional Artsmark Reception at the Brindley Arts Centre in Runcorn from 5pm through to 8pm.

Attended by our Director of Arts and Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald, Smithills received its Gold Award certification at the event, an award the school now keeps for three years until it has to apply once again in 2012.

It is the first time ever that Smithills has achieved Artsmark Gold and demonstrates the school’s on-going and ever-expanding commitment to the arts. In both previous applications to Arts Council England, Smithills has been delighted to achieve the Artsmark Silver Award but now, in 2009, we have gone to the highest level possible and the Gold standard Artsmark has been bestowed upon Smithills.

posted: 22.09.09

Senior Brass Band And Senior Concert Band Both Strike Gold

At 2009 World Music Contest In Kerkrade, Holland

Just two weeks apart from each other our Senior Brass Band and Senior Concert Band have both achieved coveted WMC Gold Medals at the 2009 World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland!

Competing in the Parkstad Limburg Theatre on Saturday July 11th and Saturday July 25th respectively, our two National Festival of Music For Youth Champion bands from last year conducted as always by Assistant Headteacher Mr Wormald gave outstanding performances of four extremely difficult, extended, prescribed test pieces to international panels of judges which resulted in both bands being awarded 2009 WMC Gold Medals, this being the fourth consecutive time for our Senior Brass Band (1997, 2001, 2005 & 2009) and the first time for our Senior Concert Band.

The Senior Brass Band performed its most challenging work ever under the most extreme pressure, the set test piece Lake of The Moon by Kevin Houben, and immediately followed this by performing another test piece with equal success, Music From Kantara by Kenneth Downie, which the band performed so superbly in April 2008 at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to win the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain for the seventh time.

Exactly two weeks after the Senior Brass Band became the only school brass band in the World to be awarded a Gold Medal, the Senior Concert Band travelled out to Kerkrade in the Summer holiday and followed suit, becoming the only school wind band in the World to be awarded a 2009 WMC Gold Medal by performing the most difficult and challenging test piece any of our Smithills bands has ever had to perform, the set test piece Invocation And Toccata by James Barnes. The Senior Concert Band immediately following this by performing another test piece to an equally superb standard; Prelude, Siciliano And Rondo by Malcolm Arnold. It was only the second time our Senior Concert Band has ever applied to be accepted into the WMC World Music Contest in Kerkrade - back in 2001 the band achieved a Silver Medal on its first ever appearance outside the UK but this July it managed to emulate our Senior Brass Band with an equally stunning performance to an international panel of judges.

July 2009 has seen both our Senior Brass Band and Senior Concert Band become the only school bands in the World to achieve WMC Gold Medal standard. We congratulate each and everyone involved over many, many months of lunchtime, evening, weekend and holiday rehearasal and preparation for such a spectacular success!

posted: 16.09.09

North West Asian Arts Evening of Music And Dance 2009

On Saturday evening July 18th, the day after school broke up for the Summer holiday, North West Asian Arts staged its latest evening of Music And Dance in our school hall, commencing at 7.30pm.

Attracting its largest audience to date, with the hall filled almost to capacity, North West Asian Arts delighted its patrons with an evening of colour, energy, passion, sensitivity, eclectic variety and outstanding choreography, all delivered by its members aged from the very young to adult.

The evening was once again a great success and at the conclusion of the many performances, the NWAA annual awards and certificates were presented by Mr Dinesh Chevli, Head of NWAA, and our own Assistant Headteacher, Mr Wormald.  

posted: 11.09.09

Smithills Family of Primary Schools Summer Concert
Tuesday 14th July 2009

Yet another packed Smithills School hall witnessed a superb end of year concert by six of our Family of Primary Schools which featured over one hundred guitarists, drummers, singers and steel pan players performing to over two hundred parents and friends. Children from Oxford Grove, St Thomas’s, St Matthew’s, Devonshire Road, Church Road and The Valley performed a variety of music ranging from reggae and samba to African drumming and pop. Guest soloist for the evening was 16 year old Smithills guitarist Carl Murphy from Year 11 who played two stunning solos by Joe Satriani to the amazement of the audience. His technical virtuosity once again had everyone in the audience completely spellbound.

The Family of Primary Schools concert was introduced by Assistant Headteacher and Director of Arts College Mr Chris Wormald and attended by Headteacher Mr Chris Roberts, Head of Music Mr Kevin Gibbs, Choir Director Miss Hannah Flemming, Arts Technician Mr Chris Gallimore and the Head of Bolton Music Service Mrs Carolyn Baxendale. Music Centre staff who led the ensembles were Mrs Gill McGlaughlin, Mr Sam Packwood, Mr Paul Thornton and Mr Gary Watton. As always, the concert was free to all parents and friends of the performers and the evening proved to be yet another huge success for the Smithills Schools Specialist Community Arts Programme.

posted: 15.07.09

School Closures & Snowline

To find out if Smithills School is closed due to adverse weather either tune your radio to 105.4 Century Radio where presenters will announce school closures. School closures are also listed on their website www.centuryradionorthwest.co.uk. There will also be a message on the school answering machine from approx 7.30am.

posted: 02.02.09

Senior Brass Band Thanks The People of Bolton

As another year comes to an end, happily one in which our World Champion Senior Brass Band and Mr Wormald once again emerged victorious in the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, National Festival of Music and, at their very first attempt, French Open Brass Band Championships too, may all of us involved with music at Smithills School thank the generous people of Bolton for their support throughout the December outdoor fundraising programme.

This year 2008 saw our Senior Brass Band raise over £20,000 for charity including £8,000 for Bolton Hospice and even more for the Bolton RNLI, but each December it is the time when we try to help fund new music and new instruments for our own young people. Our Saturday and Sunday mornings in December raised approximately £4,000 which is remarkable given the economic situation and is a true testament to the affection Bolton people hold for our flagship band.

2008 has seen Smithills musicians perform everywhere from London’s Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall to Bolton’s Victoria Hall but none more high profile than outside Marks & Spencer’s where literally thousands of Bolton people heard the band on Saturdays and Sundays prior to Christmas.

On behalf of everyone involved in making music at Smithills, thank you to all those who have contributed to our many musical successes throughout 2008, from our sponsors Wallace Printers, G N Systems, Chamberlain Doors, Mr & Mrs Geoff Hamer and Mr & Mrs Colin Perks to the general public.

posted: 05.01.09

Smithills Students on Bolton News TV

Some of our students recently visited The Olive Press in Bolton to make a Christmas Dinner Pizza. Please click here to see the video on The Bolton News website.

posted: 19.12.08

Senior Concert Band Amazes The Royal Albert Hall

On Monday evening, November 10th, our Senior Concert Band and its conductor Mr Wormald performed to a packed Royal Albert Hall down in London on the first night of the World famous 2008 Schools Prom concerts.

Opening the concert with the well-known and ever-popular Fanfare For The Common Man by Aaron Copland which featured a faultless performance by 15 year old Trumpet soloist Thomas Hurst from Year 11, our Senior Concert Band took to the stage in the second half of the concert and stunned the huge and enthusiastic audience of some 7,000 people with a superb performance of A James Bond Overture arranged by Mr Wormald. With the latest James Bond film A Quantum of Solace now breaking box office records in the UK and yet still not open in American cinemas, the Bond music could not be more appropriate or topical. With brilliant lighting created by the Royal Albert Hall technical team, our 63 instrumentalists were given a huge and rousing ovation at the end of their spectacular performance.

Travelling down to London on the day of the concert, Smithills took three full coaches of players, teachers, parents, relatives and supporters to the Royal Albert Hall and also in the audience was Headteacher Mr Roberts who travelled down by train on the afternoon of the performance. The Senior Concert Band, together with Mr Wormald, Mr Gibbs and Miss Flemming, met in school at 4am, loaded up all the instruments and equipment needed and departed for London at 5am, returning home immediately after the concert had finished, arriving back at school just after 3am the following morning – making the Royal Albert Hall experience a very long day indeed for everyone involved!

Everybody connected with our Senior Concert Band was once again supremely proud and delighted with the outstanding performance and immaculate presentation of our young musicians as they performed on the most famous concert stage in the World.

more pictures

posted: 12.11.08

EXAMINATION RESULTS 2008

Congratulations to all Year 11 pupils on their success this summer.  Our G.C.S.E results this year are the best ever and again show a significant improvement on previous years.

Like many schools, following the controversy over Key Stage 3 SATs marking this summer we are contesting the Key Stage 3 results.  For the previous two years our SATs results in English have placed us in the top 5% in the country.

It is an absolute pleasure to congratulate the pupils, their parents and all colleagues at school who have worked so hard to achieve this success.

posted 12.09.08

Maths Success for Smithills

Our pupils are celebrating their best ever results in the National Maths Challenge. This year we are delighted to have been informed that no less than twenty of our pupils from Years 7 and 8 are winners in the 2008 United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Junior Challenge. This UKMT event is aimed all pupils across the country who have been identified as being gifted and talented in mathematics.

Whilst narrowly missing out on gold awards, our pupils collected a superb haul of eight silver and twelve bronze awards which puts them in the top 2% of similarly gifted pupils across the country.

Maths co-ordinator Mr Stewart Butler said he was “extremely proud” of the students and is delighted that so many succeeded.

Smithills School is committed to developing its able, gifted and talented programme and looks forward to further noteworthy challenges across a wide range of subject areas.

posted: 06.06.08

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