YEARS SALESIANS IN BOLTON
MISSION STATEMENT THORNLEIGH SALESIAN COLLEGE IS A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN FAITH IN JESUS, WHERE ALL ARE VALUED, LOVED AND CHERISHED SO THEY CAN ASPIRE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS WHICH SEEKS TO REACH OUT IN SERVICE AND GRATITUDE. “
HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D A WELCOME TO THORNLEIGH SALESIAN COLLEGE It is with great pride that I welcome you to Thornleigh Salesian College, a Roman Catholic school deeply rooted in the enduring values of the Salesian ethos, inspired by the teachings of Saint John Bosco. Our identity as a Catholic Salesian institution shapes our mission, creating an environment where every pupil can find a HOME - a place of belonging; a SCHOOL - a hub of learning; a CHURCH - a sacred space for moral and spiritual growth; and a PLAYGROUND - a vibrant setting for building relationships, enjoying life, and exploring new cultural experiences. At Thornleigh, we are committed to academic excellence and personal development, ensuring that our pupils not only achieve their academic potential but also grow as individuals grounded in the Catholic Salesian tradition. Our dedicated Care, Guidance, and Support Team is devoted to providing exceptional pastoral care, addressing the unique needs of each pupil from diverse backgrounds. The strength of our school community is paramount, fostered through our assemblies, prayer sessions and our comprehensive PSHE programme. Our chapel serves as a spiritual sanctuary, where pupils can grow together, deeply rooted in faith. Thornleigh Salesian College has a rich history, having been founded in 1925. Over the years, we have celebrated significant milestones, including our evolution into a mixed comprehensive school and the expansion of our facilities to accommodate our growing community of 1,600 pupils. Our commitment to community engagement is evident in our partnerships with local primary schools, which we continually strive to strengthen. We take pride in our academic achievements, consistently achieving impressive exam results and offering a diverse curriculum that caters to the interests and abilities of all our pupils. Our special programmes, including the new Lexonik reading initiative supported by phonics-trained HLTAs, exemplify our dedication to fostering literacy and supporting developing readers. Personal development and character building are at the heart of our educational philosophy. We offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, allowing pupils to explore their passions and interests outside the classroom. Our vibrant student council has grown in its influence, providing a platform for pupils to voice their opinions and contribute to the strategic direction of the school. Additionally, our parent group has played a vital role in shaping our strategic initiatives, ensuring that our community’s voice is heard. As we celebrate our centenary, we reflect with pride on our rich traditions and the achievements of students, both past and present. We are excited to welcome new generations of pupils into our school community and look forward to the bright future ahead. I encourage you to visit our school, attend our open days, or contact us for more information. We are eager to share our journey with you and help you discover the unique opportunities that Thornleigh Salesian College has to offer. Kind regards, Mr. Fitzsimons Headteacher Please click for School Information
STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO ENGAGING IN EVENTS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS CONNECTED TO CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING. CATHOLIC SCHOOL INSPECTION 2024 “
C H U R C H HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D Thornleigh Salesian College is a Roman Catholic school, faith underpins all that we do. We aim to provide an environment which is secure, stable and orderly, based on Gospel values of love, peace, justice and personal responsibility. Mission Statement values: compassion, service, forgiveness and gratitude. St. John Bosco, or Don Bosco, was a Catholic priest from northern Italy. He dedicated his life in the service of young people, especially those who were poor. He wanted every young person to know that they were loved; he did this by enabling them to have the best start in life - doing the ordinary thing, extraordinarily well. He told his students that a life with a good home, strong schooling, excellent friends and the love of God is the ultimate aim. This later became known as his oratory model - home, school, church and playground. Don Bosco’s inspiration touched the hearts of many so much so he set up a family of people to continue his work. We are Salesian educators who are dedicated and strive to promote the holistic development of all of our students. The Salesian ethos - ‘the Preventive System’ is one of presence, we are present with our students as we put Don Bosco’s word ‘they must know that they are loved’ in to action each and every day. At Thornleigh Salesian College, we strive to create a sense of belonging by creating a family atmosphere - where everyone is valued, ‘loved and cherished.’ We root our relationships and policies on the Salesian principles of respect, understanding, affection and humour. All students are taught to take personal responsibility for the environment and to care for our common home. We challenge students to address a wide range of moral issues and to respond to these within the context of the teaching of the Catholic Church. PRAYER AND LITURGY All of our students are encouraged to put their faith into actions through personal reflection, prayer and through the way they respond to needs in their community and the wider world. Throughout the liturgical year students are involved in preparing and participating in liturgies, Mass, assemblies and prayer services. Every year the theme for our Mission Week encourages the whole school community to engage in a variety of activities and workshops which aim to extend their knowledge, understanding and experience of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural needs of the local and wider community. Our Chaplaincy base and chapel provide focal points for the spiritual life of our school. A CATHOLIC, SALESIAN COMMUNITY Please click for Catholic Salesian Life
PUPILS EAGERLY TAKE UP POSITIONS SUCH AS GLOBAL LEADERS, YEAR CAPTAINS AND LITERARY AND DEBATE LEADERS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES HELP PUPILS TO DEVELOP THEIR CONFIDENCE AND BECOME ACTIVE CITIZENS. OFSTED 2024 “
A LEARNING COMMUNITY Every child deserves the very best opportunities to learn and develop. At Thornleigh Salesian College we provide all students with a curriculum that will be enjoyable, challenging and offer a range of different experiences. The curriculum is broad and has been designed to be accessible for all learners. We are confident that our curriculum offers the best springboard to future success especially when taught alongside our core values of respect, understanding. affection and humour. We want our students to be lifelong learners who have the building blocks of knowledge needed to progress in any future pathway they choose. In order to do this all staff are given the time to be reflective practitioners, developing and refining their teaching so that they can inspire our students to be the very best that they can be. More detailed information on our curriculum at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 can be found on our school website. ATTITUDE TO LEARNING At Thornleigh Salesian College, student’s attitude to learning is defined by four Salesian principles: • Respect - Students are guided to value themselves, others, the environment and learning resources • Understanding - Students are educated to have an awareness and tolerance of others and forgive mistakes • Affection - Students are encouraged to care for, appreciate and be kind towards others • Humour - Students are shown the value of smiling, being cheerful and celebrating their own and others achievements We expect those four principles to be demonstrated in student’s attitude to learning within classroom settings, through their character and in and around the school community. S C H OO L HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D Please click for Learning
We work closely with our partner primary schools, including our network of seven Catholic partner schools. Therefore, when students enter our community in Year 7, they are well positioned to build on their knowledge and skills from primary school, they are ‘secondary ready’ and they continue to make personal and academic progress from their individual starting points. Our transition programme is active for the duration of each school year and it typically involves our Open Evening, cross phase development meetings between primary and secondary colleagues, sport and performing arts experiences, English, Maths and Science curriculum projects, Welcome Evening, Induction Days and individual parent and student meetings. We believe that Year 6 students feel a sense of belonging to a home, school, church and playground as they receive a very warm welcome to our extraordinary school. KEY STAGE 2 TO KEY STAGE 3 TRANSITION H OM E HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D STUDENTS’ FORTHRIGHT EXPRESSIONS OF FEELING LOVED AND CARED FOR GOES TO THE HEART OF DON BOSCO’S TEACHINGS. CATHOLIC SCHOOL INSPECTION 2024 “ Please click for Admissions
Thornleigh Salesian College places great emphasis on students developing the skills, qualities and attributes that allow them to take a full and active role in their communities and also to be successful in their adult lives. We also know that students who engage fully in activities beyond the classroom are happier and more successful in school. Throughout their school lives students have countless opportunities to take part in a wide range of sporting, musical, dramatic, leadership and social skills. Students are supported through a PSHE programme that seeks to ensure all students are fully equipped for life in the world beyond school. Our Careers, Education, Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) Programme meets all the Gatsby Benchmarks and students are provided with impartial careers advice along with other opportunities to ensure they can make informed and ambitious decisions about their futures. CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, TRIPS AND EDUCATIONAL VISITS We have a proud tradition of offering a wide range of international opportunities to our students throughout their educational journey. There are trips to Germany, Spain, France, New York, ski holidays and many more. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT P L A Y G R O U N D HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D THE EMBEDDED DEDICATION TO MISSION IMPACTS STRONGLY ON EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY INFLUENCING THE REAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY. CATHOLIC SCHOOL INSPECTION 2024 “ Please click for Personal Development
“ I LOVE BEING ON STAGE. I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM QUITE A SHY PERSON IN LIFE, BUT WHEN I AM GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PERFORM OR EXPRESS MY TALENTS, I BECOME A NEW PERSON. PERFORMING ARTS IS WHERE I AM MEANT TO BE. YEAR 10 STUDENT
For students to be successful they need to be safe, happy and well supported. We promote positive mental health and wellbeing throughout the support mechanisms of the Care Guidance and Support Teams and our Chaplaincy Provision. Each year group is divided into ten form groups and the form tutor is the first point of contact for all students. These form groups are led by a team of year leaders who co-ordinate their work. Our school chaplain guides students through their spiritual journey in school, celebrating and educating them about our Catholic Salesian ethos. Our Safeguarding Team ensure that all students feel safe and supported whilst promoting their resilience. Students with SEND are supported through our Learning Support and Inclusion Team. We have a team of Higher-Level Teaching Assistants who support the learning of students by ensuring they can have a full and equitable access to the curriculum. STUDENT SUPPORT HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D PASTORAL CARE IS AT THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL MISSION. CATHOLIC SCHOOL INSPECTION 2024 “
THERE IS SO MUCH SPORT TO GET INVOLVED WITH… YOU CAN DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY! YEAR 7 STUDENT “
HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D
PUPILS, AND STUDENTS IN THE SIXTH FORM, BENEFIT FROM HIGH-QUALITY PASTORAL CARE. OFSTED 2024 “
THORNLEIGH SIXTH FORM We are proud to offer the only Catholic provision for post-16 learning in Bolton and we encourage all of our students to remain in our Sixth Form for their further education. Continuing with high standards of both academic and vocational learning in a bespoke centre allows students to settle quickly and to pursue aspirational goals for their future. Although we do have entry requirements for Thornleigh Sixth Form, our curriculum offer is flexible enough to offer students routes to top universities, higher apprenticeships and employment opportunities. We understand that students may have alternative ambitions but we provide every student at Thornleigh Salesian College the opportunity to aspire to join our Sixth Form community where we continue to offer an inclusive level of personalised teaching and learning, an ethos of encouragement and challenge, a supercurricular offer that will allow students to be ready for the next phase of their education or employment and a community that strives to keep the individual needs of all students at the heart of our mission. Our students typically progress to a university of their choice and they keep in touch with us at every opportunity. An increasing number of students have found apprenticeship opportunities where the world of industry is mixed with an opportunity to receive a funded degree level training package. We set ambitious targets for all students and support them on their journey to continued excellence. We look forward to working with your child for the next seven years. HOM E S C HOO L C H U R C H P L A Y G R OU N D Please click for Sixth Form
Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ t: 01204 301 351 e: contact@thornleigh.bolton.sch.uk w: www.thornleigh.bolton.sch.uk
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