SMITHILLS SCHOOL
SUCCESS FOR ALL
CONCERTO DE MÚSICA DE VERÃO
There are stories of children let down by the system. This is the story of a lad whose life has been put back together over time.
A mum has publicly thanked Smithills School after she says staff transformed her son's confidence following years of home education and caring responsibilities.
Harry, 14, joined the school in Year 10 after what his mum Nikki Barlow described as a difficult journey through education.
Mrs Barlow said: "It's just unbelievable. It's such a gift, and he's a different child.
"He's gone from a child that worried about everything to a child that's confident and positive about his future."
Harry's education was disrupted after the Covid pandemic, when he struggled to return to school because of panic attacks.
At the same time, his father John was diagnosed with Parkinson's dementia, and Harry became a young carer while helping support the family.
Mrs Barlow later chose to home-educate him before he attended another secondary school, while continuing his caring responsibilities.
Towards the end of Year Nine, she decided he needed a fresh start before beginning his GCSE studies and started looking at schools across the area.
She said Smithills School immediately stood out.
Mrs Barlow said: "As soon as we walked in, they knew who we were just by name, and they addressed us by our first names straight away.
"It really instantly made us feel like we belonged there.
"It was very different to any other school that we went to see."
Although the journey from Bromley Cross means a daily drive that can take up to 50 minutes in traffic, she said it has been worth it. She said staff have consistently encouraged Harry, celebrated his achievements, and helped him rebuild his confidence.
Harry, who turns 15 in August, is now considering a career as a paramedic after visiting an open day at Bolton College.
Mrs Barlow said: "Harry was quite low on himself and didn't see a future for himself because he didn't think he'd get a job when he started in September.
"Now he's doing so well. They've really given him the confidence to do that.
"They've given him good results.
"I know it's his hard work, but they're just bigging him up all the time."
She also recalled occasions when staff had shown kindness outside the classroom, including personally congratulating her daughter after her graduation and later asking how the day had gone weeks afterwards.
Mrs Barlow said: "They've hundreds of pupils, but yet they know us by name. That must be incredibly difficult to remember that sort of detail.
"They've just blown me away every day.
"There's something new every day that they're supporting Harry with."
She said she wanted to share her family's experience because schools are often only recognised when something goes wrong.
Full story sourced from The Bolton News - CLICK HERE