Flags were flying high at Bolton School as staff and pupils remembered the school's founders.

The boys' division traces its origins to 1516 when it was set up as Bolton Grammar School.

The girls' division was set up in 1877 when it was one of the earliest public day schools for young women in the country.

The event to remember the founders normally takes place every years to mark the anniversary of the death Lord Leverhulme, a major benefactor, who died on May 7 in 1925.

Lynne Kyle, head of the girls’ givision at Bolton School, was joined on stage by members of the new head girl team to deliver an assembly focussing on 1915, the year in which Bolton’s Girls’ High School and the Grammar School for boys joined together to become the Bolton School Foundation.

They sang Jerusalem as they reflected on the buildings, history, culture and community.

There was also a tribute to Mary Haslam who inspired the 1877 setting up of Bolton Girls' Day School.

In the boys' division Philip Britton, head of the foundation, reflected on continuity and change and the links between past, present and future.

The assembly looked back to the beginnings of the school in 1516 at a time when Henry VIII was in his first of six marriages and looked at how Bolton would have appeared that year.

Mr Britton then reflected on the fact that for those in year 13 and some in year 11 it would be the last time they took part in this event.

He passed on the words of former chair of govenors and captain of the school Mike Griffiths, who advised leavers to go out into the world to try and make a difference for good and to strive to make each place that they visit a little better than it was when they arrived.