One of the country's leading schools is to expand to meet demand.

Bolton School is adding an extra classroom to Year Six to its junior girls' school.

The school says that over the last few years, there has been an interest from parents for more spaces for their daughters in the final year of junior school, which is known as Hesketh House.

It comes as the junior boys' division expanded in recent times.

The new places will be available for the 2024-25 academic year, beginning in September and are already virtually full.

Head of Primary Division, Sue Faulkner, said: "It is our intention that each of the three Year Six classes will accommodate a maximum of 22 girls rather than the current 25, making the maximum number of Year Six children 66.

"Having undertaken the same expansion at our junior boys' school a number of years ago, we know that the benefits we are able to offer across the three classes are most beneficial to the Year Six children in particular as well as the wider school.

"The benefits include an additional staff member providing more activities and support for the girls, smaller class sizes allowing for more individual attention at this key year and the ability to group pupils within some aspects of the timetable to ensure that they all achieve their very best and are well prepared for senior school life.’"

Anyone interested in the last few places and assessment arrangements should contact Mrs Katharine Gore on 01204 434754.

Hesketh House was opened in 2010 and named in tribute to the former soap company magnate,William Hesketh Lever.

The Hon Jane Heber-Percy, a descendant of Lord Leverhulme, attended the foundation stone laying ceremony at the site of the new £5 million junior girls’ school.

Bolton School is the borough's top performing school based on A-level and GCSE exams and one of the country's best.

It was named in The Sunday Times list for the best independent schools.

Both the boys’ and girls’ division feature on the prestigious list The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide list.

The guide is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools.

Bolton School's boys' division ranked in ninth place, while the girls' division was put in 10th position.