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Year 10 Students Graduate from The Sixth Form Bolton’s Future Honours Programme at Lancaster University

Year 10 students from Atherton High School, Sharples School, Smithills School, St James’s CE School, St Joseph's RC Sports College and Westhoughton High School enjoyed a fantastic day at Lancaster University as they celebrated their graduation from The Sixth Form Bolton’s Future Honours Programme.

The Future Honours Programme is an innovative after-school initiative designed to introduce high-achieving Year 10 pupils to the fundamental elements of critical thinking required for success at GCSE and beyond. Pupils apply in Year 9, and successful applicants are invited to attend The Sixth Form Bolton, where they take part in a series of engaging masterclasses throughout Year 10 and into Year 11.

Over the course of the year-long programme, students participated in a wide range of activities, seminars and visits that broadened their horizons, developed new skills and enabled them to build friendships with peers from other schools.

As part of the programme, the students attended five sessions at The Sixth Form Bolton, working in mixed groups to enhance collaboration and communication skills. In addition to a lively Debate Night and an Employability session, students also selected a specialist strand aligned with their interests. The strands included Catching a Criminal, Expressive Arts, Future Content Creators, Future Engineers, Future World Leaders, Marvellous Medics, and Music and Performing Arts. Students attended two dedicated sessions within their chosen strands, where they engaged in hands-on, subject-specific activities.

The programme culminated in a visit to Lancaster University. During the morning, students enjoyed a guided campus tour, gaining valuable insight into university life and the opportunities that come with higher education. In the afternoon, they took part in a study skills session led by university student ambassadors, before finishing the day with a celebratory graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, students received their certificates from a member of Lancaster University staff, recognising their achievements and commitment.

Mark Goodwin, Assistant Principal - Student Experience, praised the programme’s impact:

“Congratulations to all the students who completed the programme and became our esteemed Future Honours Graduates 2025 – 26. Every student has been a credit to their school, as they have adopted a professional attitude throughout the programme and proved a joy to work with. We look forward to meeting again during the college application process and welcoming you to our Honours cohort.”

The Future Honours Programme will continue next academic year.

Learn more here