Clifton High School is centrally located in Clifton Village, a picturesque suburb set in the heart of Bristol. In a city renowned for its culture, architecture and beautiful green spaces, the School immerses itself in the local community, and while we embrace tradition, we are unafraid of change and are progressively forward-thinking.
Clifton High School is a thriving, co-educational independent day school for over 800 pupils, ranging from 3 to 18 years old. Emerging from a traditional girls’ School, founded in 1877 and steeped in history, we continue to offer a solid education focused on holistic care, with an emphasis on an exceptionally nurturing approach to learning.
As an all-through School, Clifton High School children are driven by our core values of Curiosity, Empathy, Love and Direction throughout their educational journey. Transitioning from The Hive Pre-School through to the Sixth Form is a path many pupils take; however, entry can be at varying stages of a child’s journey. Small class sizes, a safe community, met alongside the triangular collaborative investment and communication links between teachers, parents and pupils, unite us in ‘Realising Individual Brilliance’. We provide children with the privilege of personal success, creating a culture strengthened by a united community that openly recognises and applauds our differences, whether they be in gender, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion or culture.
Our academic results speak for themselves, and we are proud of the achievements of all our pupils, yet it is our School’s aims, ethos and values that reinforce the supremacy of wellbeing. Realising the ‘Individual Brilliance’ of every pupil is the most authentic way to achieve our aims by offering a well-rounded, value-added and bespoke education, delivered by staff who grow to recognise each child’s gifts, offering them unique opportunities to shine. The ethos of the School is one of belief in the worth of a holistic education, encouraging all pupils to become passionate in their interests while learning to manage both success and defeat. They are encouraged to reach milestones as well as set personal standards with confidence, as they work towards and embark upon successful and self-fulfilled futures.
Curiosity. We educate our young people to be informed, inquisitive individuals with the ability and knowledge to use the art of questioning to explore the development of new, independent ideas. This, in turn, instils in them confidence and a lifelong love of learning.
Empathy. The consideration of alternative perspectives is something we encourage in our pupils. It enables them to go out in the world with a desire to make positive change, through kindness, respect and understanding.
Love. Relationships are enhanced when the value of love, for oneself and others, is achieved. This is something we encourage in all pupils, alongside a love of the planet we live on, the natural world around us and a passion for preserving it.
Direction. We constantly support pupils to strive for ambition through a commitment and dedication to achieve personal goals that provide individual and personal direction, give purpose and drive motivation.
Facilities. Clifton High School pupils have access to a wealth of on-site and external facilities and resources that benefit their education. The School is in a beautiful location, on one single site, and has the advantage of green spaces and open lawns for communal interaction. School buildings include a modern Sixth Form Centre, built to meet the evolving needs of its students, a Science Department hosting seven laboratories, a STEM Room and Design Suite, a heated 25-metre indoor swimming pool with a spectator’s gallery, on-site tennis courts with coaching from a dedicated professional tennis coach, a gymnasium featuring a climbing wall, cardio, health and fitness suites and floodlit, multi-games courts. Our valued sporting partnerships with the University of Bristol, Henleaze Performance Swimming Club and Bristol Sport provide our pupils with access to world-class professional coaching at off-site, state-of-the-art facilities including 3G artificial pitches (sand dressed and floodlit), grass pitches for football, lacrosse and rugby, cricket squares and nets, and netball courts.
Class sizes. Throughout Clifton High School, class sizes remain small. We base our intake on accommodating no more than 16 pupils in the Infant and Junior School, 20 in the Senior School and 12 in each Sixth Form class.
Classrooms. Clifton High School’s large, bright and airy teaching spaces are intentionally designed and organised to be creative in their approach to learning, engaging all pupils in practical and interactive opportunities and constantly encouraging a growth mindset and a love of learning.
Curriculum. The Hive Pre-School and Infant School follow the latest Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which places a strong emphasis on exploration, investigation, discovery and problem-solving in a caring setting. Our young learners’ education is complemented by a proactive Enrichment Programme that encompasses Adventure, Sport and Co-Curricular Clubs. The Hive Pre-School teachers primarily observe how children play, considering their interaction with hands-on activities to adopt pedagogy while also developing and challenging an enquiring mind. As children seamlessly transition from The Hive, or enter from another nursery environment, into Reception, they instinctively thrive and develop independence. Our bespoke curriculum encourages a responsive approach to learning with the offering of a range of subjects and opportunities that are designed with individualism in mind.
The Junior School’s approach offers excellent pastoral care and academic teaching with a qualified teaching body that encapsulates development on all levels. A broad, pupil-centred, bespoke curriculum creates an optimal learning environment which, together with annual curriculum audits, ensures lessons cater for each child’s evolving needs. Junior School children benefit from lessons taught by specialist subject teachers including Mathematics, Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Drama and Physical Education.
The Senior School is built upon a community that truly understands their role in the wider world, with confidence instilled through our esteemed secondary education and service to pupils’ wellbeing. Our excellent academic results demonstrate clear evidence of the successful Diamond Edge Model in our pre-GCSE teaching methods. This allows pupils to be taught in single sex groups for Mathematics, English and Sciences only. As an academically selective School, pupils are recommended to choose nine GCSE subjects. They understand how to work both collaboratively and independently to achieve excellent results, which consistently meet and exceed baseline grade predictions in every subject.
The Sixth Form is distinctive in its approach to a selective, co-educational programme for 16–18-year-olds in purpose-built facilities that support outstanding teaching. Our broad A level curriculum is exemplary in its offering of 27 subjects alongside a range of additional ancillary courses and the bespoke ‘Above and Beyond’ Programme. Students are expected to choose three A levels and up to two additional ancillaries, ensuring their academic experience is tailored to their future pathway. They are guided through our inspiring Careers Education Programme, with every student receiving 1:1 support on their UCAS application or alternative vocation. We very much value our students for who they are and firmly believe that from happiness and self-confidence, success will follow. Their excellent academic results and the value we add to their academic outcomes consistently set us above other parallel schools.
International. Clifton High School has a proven track record in successfully educating international students and is a sponsor for UK Visas and Immigration. Despite neither being an International School nor a Boarding School, we embrace the cultural and social diversity that international students contribute to our community. We welcome those families seeking a first-class English education for their child, which offers them true integration into British culture.
Sport. Sport is not only a social and positive aspect of life at Clifton High School but also serves as a dynamic force that brings joy and a sense of belonging to every member of our community. Our ethos of ‘Sport for All with A Pursuit of Excellence’ means we pride ourselves on promoting inclusivity, welcoming every pupil, regardless of their experience or skill level, to participate in our Sports Programme. Our School site hosts multiple physical education environments, including a gymnasium, outdoor multi-use games area, lawn and studio space. We offer an in-house Tennis Programme from our specialist Head of Tennis, who develops and strengthens talent in the sport. We also enjoy partnerships with the University of Bristol, Bristol Sport and Henleaze Performance Swimming Club, benefiting from their elite coaching programmes and facilities. These sport offerings open pathways to international standards, forging links with other local schools and often resulting in county, regional and national honours in relevant leagues and tournaments.
Music and Drama. With over 150 music lessons being offered in any one School week, all pupils can perform in orchestras, wind bands, drama groups and choirs as well as participate in a variety of concerts and productions throughout the year, which are both internal and external, community-driven opportunities. Many pupils work towards Associated Board and LAMDA examinations, consistently achieving outstanding results and being awarded places in top music and drama establishments with careers extending into the Performing and Creative Arts.
Charitable programmes. Clifton High School actively supports local and national charities through numerous fundraising events held within and beyond the parameters of the School site. These endeavours contribute on many levels to our outreach endeavours, charitable initiatives, as well as contributing to our community ethos, drawing upon a supportive network of generous members.
Enrichment Programme. We pride ourselves on our enviable reputation for the breadth of enrichment learning we offer through our co-curricular clubs, Adventure Programme and external national and international educational trips. An extensive array of over 150 options, thoughtfully curated into the three spheres of Skills Development, Academic Progress and Individual Brilliance, embraces a holistic approach to individual growth and professional development, equipping pupils with the tools to take on new challenges and navigate relationships. As a School, we believe it is vitally important to complement classroom skills with the development of these diverse skills and interests to ignite our pupils’ passions as they develop into engaged and empathetic responders to the world around them. Our offering is a wealth of activities that include Construction, Coding, Choir, Chess, Tennis, Swimming, Gymnastics and Taekwondo, ensuring that all innovative opportunities are carefully interwoven into the School’s Enrichment Programme, truly realising ‘Individual Brilliance’. As pupils progress into the more independent learning environment of the Sixth Form, the wealth of enrichment and outreach opportunities and learning leadership skills afforded to them intentionally instils our core values of curiosity, empathy, love and direction. Students are assigned roles as Head Prefects, House Captains, Sports Captains, ambassadors for charitable initiatives and leaders in Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental Change and Sustainability, all with the motivation to act as mentors for the younger pupils and represent Clifton High School as socially aware individuals.
Clifton High School participates in many initiatives and enterprises that act as a stage for like-minded individuals to unite and engage. These include the Excelsior Forum, Duke of Edinburgh Award, The Young Enterprise Club and, as an accredited Green Flag Eco School, pupils work on environment-focused projects with a real-world context.
Admissions. Clifton High School’s dedicated Admissions Team are experienced in guiding families in the process of starting their child’s educational journey with us. Entry into The Hive Pre-School is after a child’s third birthday, with Reception class being the first point of entry into the Infant School after a child turns four years of age. Infant School places (up to Year 3) are offered after an in-class assessment facilitated during a Taster Day. For Junior School places (Years 4–6), children are invited to sit entrance examinations in English and Mathematics before attending a Taster Day in their current year group. For entry into Senior School, prospective Year 7 pupils are invited to attend a Taster Day before sitting entrance examinations in English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. On occasion, places may arise for entry into Years 8 to 10, which will also require entrance examinations to be sat in English and Mathematics and, if successful, pupils will attend a Taster Day. Prospective Sixth Form pupils are invited to attend a Sixth Form Experience Day before applying to join the School, consisting of the completion of a registration form, predicted and/or mock grades and a written statement by the child. On consideration of the application, children will be invited to interview with the Head of Sixth Form before an offer of a place is made.
Scholarships. These are typically awarded upon entry into Year 7; however, scholarships can be awarded in other Senior School year groups at the discretion of the Head. All pupils applying for Year 7 entry are automatically considered for an Academic Scholarship based on the result of their entrance examinations. The School also extends scholarships in Sport, Music and an Individual Brilliance Award. Sixth Form Scholarships can be applied for in any one of a child’s chosen A level subjects, Music or Sport. Once shortlisted, children will be invited to attend a Scholarship Interview Evening. Further information on all Scholarships may be obtained from our Admissions Team.
Fees per term (2026-2027). Sixth Form: £7,818; Senior School: £7,818; Junior School: £5,352; Infant School: £4,292- £5,352 (Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) – 15 hours per week for children under 5 years old accepted); The Hive Pre-School: £89.00 per day (FEEE – 15 hours per week for children under 5 years old accepted).
Charitable status. Clifton High School is a Registered Charity, Number 311736. It exists to provide a first-class education for pupils aged 3 to 18 years.
Governors & Staff:
Governors & Staff:
Patron: Dr Richard Gliddon
Chair: Dr Peter Bodkin
Head: Mr Will Phelan
Head of Infant and Junior School: Mrs Alice Taylor
Head of Sixth Form: Mr Thomas Appleby
Group Estates Director: Mrs Louise Brennan
Group Finance Director: Mr Michael Stewart
Deputy Head Staff: Mr Manolis Psarros
Senior Deputy Head, Pastoral: Mr Luke Goodman
Deputy Head, Academic: Ms Louise Brackenbury
Assistant Head, Director of Studies: Mr Andrew Hillman
Assistant Head, Co-Curricular & Operations: Miss Katherine Rich
Child Protection and Safeguarding
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mr Luke Goodman
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) Senior School: Ms Alison Taylor
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) Senior School: Miss Natasha Widdison
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) Infant & Junior School: Mrs Alice Taylor
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) EYFS: Miss Claudia Mulholland
Admissions, Development, Communications and Marketing
Director of External Relations: Mrs Rebecca Brown
Digital Marketing Executive: Ms Rhiannon Davis
Communications Officer & Copywriter: Ms Eileen Unwin
Admissions Manager: Mrs Rebekah Gray
Admissions Officer: Ms Lara Crofts
Admissions Officer: Mrs Ingrid Lye
Events & Marketing Coordinator: Miss Lucy Berni