From King’s Bolton to Winstanley College and Oxford
At King’s Leadership Academy Bolton, our ASPIRE values are designed to encourage pupils to aim high, take opportunities and believe in what they can achieve.
Former King’s pupil Shaun Simmons is a fantastic example of our value of Aspiration in action.
After leaving King’s, Shaun continued his studies at Winstanley College and developed a strong interest in History, politics and current affairs. He was among the group of Winstanley students featured by the Manchester Evening News in June 2026, as young people prepared to question candidates during the Makerfield parliamentary by-election. The event gave students the opportunity to engage directly with politics and debate issues affecting their community.
Shaun has continued to set himself ambitious goals. He has since announced that he will be studying History at Oriel College, University of Oxford, beginning in October 2026. In sharing the news, Shaun described the achievement as the result of years of dedication and the choices he has made throughout his education.
Shaun's journey reflects exactly what we mean by Aspiration at King’s Bolton: having high expectations of yourself, working hard towards your goals and taking opportunities that help you grow.
His journey shows our current pupils the importance of:
We are incredibly proud to see a former King’s pupil continuing to pursue his ambitions and preparing for the next stage of his journey at Oxford.
Shaun's story is a powerful reminder to our pupils that the decisions and effort they make now can open doors to opportunities they may once have thought were out of reach.
Aspire high. Work hard. Take every opportunity.
Read the Manchester Evening News feature