Key Points
· Bolton School appoints Mrs Amanda Potts as the inaugural Head of Futures, a newly created role within the Foundation.
· The Futures department will provide enhanced career guidance and education to students in both Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions.
· Mrs Potts holds a BA in History from Cambridge and an MA in Career Education and Guidance from Warwick University.
· She has extensive experience working in career development and higher education careers services, including roles at SOAS, University of Reading, and Lancaster University.
· Mrs Potts expressed enthusiasm for helping students prepare for work and higher education beyond school life.
· Philip Britton, Head of Foundation, praised her appointment and highlighted the importance of this new department for supporting students.
· The Futures department aims to work closely with pupils, parents, and staff to offer wide-ranging career support tailored to individual student needs.
What Is the New Role of Head of Futures at Bolton School?
As reported by Bolton School’s official news on September 3, 2025, Mrs Amanda Potts has joined Bolton School as the inaugural Head of Futures, a brand-new role devised to strengthen and expand the school’s career education and guidance provision across the Foundation. This new department is tasked with equipping students with the tools and support necessary to transition successfully from school life into higher education or the workforce.
Who Is Amanda Potts and What Experience Does She Bring?
According to the Bolton School news release authored on September 3, 2025, Mrs Potts graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts in History, followed by a Master’s degree in Career Education and Guidance in Higher Education from the University of Warwick. Her early career path involved working for national charities where she managed national student volunteering initiatives and developed employability activities. Subsequently, she spent 15 years specialising in career services at universities such as SOAS (University of London), University of Reading, and most recently Lancaster University, focusing particularly on career education for medical students.
Mrs Potts is also an Associate Fellow of Advance HE and recently tutored the Careers Studies Unit at Warwick University. Her extensive background positions her as a highly qualified leader for the Futures department at Bolton School.
What Are Mrs Potts' Views on Her New Appointment?
In a direct statement given to Bolton School on
her appointment, Mrs Potts said:
“I am delighted to have joined Bolton School as Head of Futures, and I am
looking forward to continuing to build and develop this area of work across the
Foundation. I strongly believe in the value of careers education and support
for young people, and the role it plays in helping individuals unlock their
potential, make informed choices, and prepare for the rapidly evolving world of
work and the Higher Education landscape. The Futures department will be working
in partnership with pupils, parents and staff across the Foundation to ensure
that pupils feel confident to explore a wide range of options around their
career journeys and future plans — I can’t wait to get started on developing
this crucial area of support and provision.”
How Does the School View the Establishment of the Futures Department?
Philip Britton, Head of Foundation at Bolton School, welcomed Mrs Potts
and highlighted the significance of the new role and department in supporting
students’ career journeys. As stated in the Bolton School news
on September 3, 2025, Mr Britton said:
“We are so pleased to welcome Mrs Potts to Bolton School. Her wealth of
experience in the field of career education and guidance will be hugely
valuable to the young people in our Sixth Form, and lower down the school, as
they look towards their futures.”
What Are the Objectives of the Futures Department?
The Futures department aims to enrich and continue Bolton School’s tradition of providing robust careers advice and guidance. It will support students in both the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions to achieve their personal goals beyond A Level qualifications, offering tailored support based on individual aspirations whether that involves higher education, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce.
By fostering collaboration with pupils, parents, and staff, the department intends to make students feel confident in exploring diverse career paths and opportunities in an increasingly complex educational and employment landscape.
How Is Bolton School Positioned in the Broader Educational Landscape?
Alongside this appointment, it is notable that Philip Britton, Head of Foundation at Bolton School, recently became Chair of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) as of September 2025, according to a Bolton School news article dated September 4, 2025. The HMC is a prestigious organisation representing headteachers of leading independent schools across the UK and internationally. Mr Britton’s dual role strengthens Bolton School’s influence in national education discussions and its commitment to serving its local community.