One of Bolton’s most highly respected and well-loved headteachers is retiring this week after more than three decades of service. Ann Webster first joined Sharples School in 1990 and has spent the last seven years as headteacher. Her time at the helm of the Hill Cot Road-based school has seen it go from strength to strength, achieving GCSE results in the top three per cent of schools nationality in 2023.
Ms Webster started her time with Sharples School as head of religious studies before quickly being promoted to the senior team. Ms Webster can look back on many successful years with Sharples School (Image: Sharples School) One of the highlights of her time as headteacher came when Sharples School won the Pearson Gold National Teaching Award for Secondary School of the Year in 2023. Widely known as the Oscars of the teaching world, the award recognises outstanding achievements by educators from all over the UK.
Sharples was chosen towards the end of last year amongst thousands of nominees who were put forward based on several factors. These include inspirational teaching, contributions to their pupils and impact throughout their community, as assessed by judges. During Ms Webster’s time in charge, Sharples brought in all kinds of programmes for students.
These have been programmes aimed at supporting the school’s 1,200 students in all kinds of ways from week-long free summer schools to live online revision sessions. There have also been Sunday evening exam preparation s.
