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 SchoolMs 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 sessions.

During this time the school has also taken students abroad for free, some of them having never travelled overseas before.

ALSO READ: Nothing is too much for pupils at one of Bolton top performing schools

ALSO READ: Secondary School Head of the Year

ALSO READ: Bolton's top performing secondary schools named in 2023 school league tables

The judges deemed that Sharples, under Ms Webster’s leadership, was truly dedicated to the school’s students and their futures.

This has helped students all through the years believe in a brighter future, regardless of their backgrounds.

Ms Webster has maintained her dedication right up to her retirement and even as headteacher continued to teach GSCE classes.

The governors, staff and pupils past and present have come together to wish her a happy retirement, while Ms Webster herself eagerly awaits her  classes GCSE results in August.

She said: "Working at Sharples for over 30 years has been an absolute privilege, the memories I have of the school will stay with me for many years to come.

"Together, as a community, we have achieved many great things. Our students have gained incredible examination results year after year and we have won a prestigious national award for ‘Secondary School of the Year’.

"More importantly we have built an amazing school community that prepares students exceptionally well for the exciting opportunities they will experience when they leave Sharples. 

"I know that from September under the leadership of Miss Molyneux Sharples will continue to flourish and live by its motto, ‘Learn. Dream. Achieve.’

"When I do leave school for the last time at the end of this academic year, I know that I will also always keep an eye open for news about Sharples and will celebrate every future success  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, students and governors for their support throughout my time at Sharples."

Head boy Sherjeel Imran said "We all love Ms Webster, she is firm but fair and we will all miss her very much".