Well known old scholars include the 19th century parliamentary leader John Bright, mathematician Lewis Fry Richardson and the Nobel Peace Prize winner of 1959 Philip John Noel-Baker . The school is particularly well known for its strength in the natural and physical sciences. Although many pupils achieve successful exam results, in keeping with its Quaker ethos, the school is also well known for maintaining a very friendly and informal environment. According to UK League Tables, Bootham is among the top 10 independent and grammar schools in England ranked for A-level results, and the top public school.
Former pupils of Bootham School are known as Old Scholars.
- John Bright (1811–1889), Rochdale mill owner, Anti-Corn Law League leader, President Of The Board Of Trade , 1868–1870, and Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Lancaster , 1873–1874, 1880–1882
- John Crosfield (1832–1901), chemical manufacturer
- Frederic Seebohm (1833–1912), banker and historian
- Joseph Rowntree (1836–1925), Chocolate manufacturer
- John Wigham Richardson (1837–1908), shipbuilder
- Joshua Rowntree (1844–1915), politician and social reformer
- William Dent Priestman (1847–1936), Mechanical Engineer
- Silvanus Thompson (1851–1916), Professor of Physics , University College, Bristol , 1878–1885, and Principal and Professor of Electrical Engineering , Finsbury Technical College , 1885–1916
- John Theodore Cash (1854–1936), physician, Pharmacologist , Regius Professor Of Materia Medica And Therapeutics , University Of Aberdeen , 1886–1919
- Edward Grubb (1854–1939), pacifist and social reformer
- Francis Oliver (1864–1951), Palaeobotanist , Quain Professor Of Botany , University College, London , 1890–1929, and Professor of Botany , University Of Cairo , 1929–1935
- John Wilhelm Rowntree (1868–1905), Chocolate manufacturer and Quaker activist
- Sir George Newman (1870–1948), Chief Medical Officer to the Board Of Education , 1907–1919, and Chief Medical Officer to the Ministry Of Health , 1919–1935
- Sir Alan Pim (1871–1958), administrator in India and adviser to the Colonial Office
- Seebohm Rowntree (1871–1954), Chocolate manufacturer and Sociologist
- Charles Hesterman Merz (1874–1940), Electrical Engineer
- Egbert Morland (1874–1955), physician, medical writer, and Tuberculosis specialist
- Hilary Pepler (1878–1951), printer, Puppet eer and social reformer
- Lewis Fry Richardson (1881–1953), Mathematician , Physicist , Psychologist , and pacifist
- Sir George Pepler (1882–1959), Town Planner
- Alfred Joseph Clark (1885–1941), physician, and Professor of Pharmacology , University Of Cape Town , 1918–1920, Professor of Pharmacology, University College, London , 1920–1926, and Professor of Materia Medica, University Of Edinburgh , 1926–1941
- Horace Alexander (1889–1989), Quaker envoy and mediator
- Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker (1889–1982), Secretary Of State For Commonwealth Affairs , 1947–1950, Minister Of Fuel And Power , 1950–1951, and Nobel Peace Laureate
- Eric Holttum (1895–1990), Director, Singapore Botanic Gardens , 1925–1949, and Professor of Botany , University Of Singapore , 1949–1954
- Richard Bevan Braithwaite (1900–1990), Knightbridge Professor Of Moral Philosophy , University Of Cambridge , 1953–1967
- Sir Joseph Burtt Hutchinson (1902–1988), Geneticist , Empire Cotton Growing Corporation , 1937–1957, and Draper's Professor Of Agriculture , University Of Cambridge , 1957–1969
- Thomas Maxwell Harris (1903–1983), Palaeobotanist , and Professor of Botany, University Of Reading , 1934–1968
- Sir Ashley Miles (1904–1988), Professor of Bacteriology , University College Hospital , London , 1937–1952, Deputy Director, National Institute For Medical Research , 1946–1952, Director, Lister Institute Of Preventive Medicine , 1952–1971, and Professor of Experimental Pathology , University Of London , 1952–1988
- A. J. P. Taylor (1906–1990), historian and left-wing campaigner
- Geoffrey Barraclough (1908–1984), Professor of Medieval History, University Of Liverpool , 1945–1956, Stevenson Research Professor , University Of London , 1956–1962, Chichele Professor Of Modern History , University Of Oxford , 1970–1972, and Professor of History, Brandeis University , 1968–1970, 1972–1981
- Sir Alec Clegg (1909–1986), Chief Education Officer of the West Riding Of Yorkshire , 1945–1974
- Christopher Dow (1916–1998), Economist , Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Economist, OECD , 1963–1973, and Executive Director (Economics), Bank Of England , 1973–1981
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