Clifton High School is centrally located in Clifton Village, a picturesque area 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.
Clifton High School is a thriving, co-educational independent day school for over 775 pupils ranging from 3 to 18 years old. Previously a traditional girls’ School, founded in 1877 and steeped in history, we continue to offer a solid education focused on holistic values 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 with each step of their educational journey, from The Hive Pre-School through to the Sixth Form, perceived as an integral transition in their growth of freedom. As children learn within small class sizes and are nurtured by a well-administered community safety net that sits alongside the triangular collaborative investment and communication links between teachers, parents and pupils, their individual brilliance is more clearly transparent. We provide them with the privilege of personal success, create a culture strengthened by a united community that openly recognises and applauds our differences whether it be in gender, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion or culture.
While our academic results speak for themselves and we are proud of the achievements of all our pupils, it is our School aims, ethos and values that reinforce the supremacy of wellbeing. Realising the individual brilliance of each and every pupil is the most authentic way to achieve our aims by offering a well-rounded, bespoke education, delivered by staff who grow to recognise each child’s gifts so to offer 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 deal with 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 – The bedrock of any school is when curiosity is embedded into the learning structure. At Clifton High School, our pupils are educated to be informed individuals. They develop the ability and knowledge to apply the art of questioning and debating that builds confidence in themselves to explore the development of new and independent ideas.
Empathy – Consideration of alternative perspectives directly relates to the formation of relationships with one another. As a School, we aim to foster empathy in our pupils, allowing them to appreciate a world based upon human interaction and nature. Our embedded pastoral system equips them with the ability and desire to change the world in positive ways, maintaining a foundation of kindness throughout their life.
Love – Relationships are enhanced when the value of love, for oneself and others, is achieved. We encourage pupils to believe that love for others directly equates to an inclination of prioritising personal wellbeing. Effectiveness is heightened when individuals develop the confidence and resilience of self-love. Loving the natural world, feeling passionate about the outdoors and nurturing a desire to preserve our planet for future generations are lessons constantly celebrated within the School.
Direction – Collectively, Clifton High School’s values direct pupils to aspire and achieve in the education that they receive, beyond the parameters of a standard curriculum. We actively encourage pupils to strive for ambition through a commitment and dedication to accomplishing their personal goals, all of which provide direction, 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. These include a newly designed Sixth Form Centre, built to meet the evolving needs of young people, a Science Department hosting seven laboratories, a STEM Room and Design Workshop, Food and Nutrition room, heated 25-metre indoor swimming pool with spectator’s gallery, a gymnasium featuring a climbing wall, cardio, strength and conditioning suites and floodlit multi-games courts. Our valued and esteemed sporting partnerships with the University of Bristol, Henleaze Performance Swimming Club and Bristol Sport afford our pupils access to world-class professional coaching at off-site and state-of-the-art facilities including indoor and outdoor floodlit tennis courts, 3G artificial pitches (sand dressed and floodlit), grass pitches for football 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 eighteen pupils in the Infant School, twenty in the Junior and Senior School and twelve 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, constantly encouraging a growth mindset and a love of learning.
Curriculum. The Hive Pre-School and Infant School follows the latest Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which places a strong emphasis on exploration, investigation, discovery and problem-solving. Our young learner’s education is complemented by proactive Adventure, Sport and Co-Curricular Programmes. Teachers in the Hive primarily observe how children play, considering their interaction with hands-on activities to adopt pedagogy while developing and challenging an enquiring mind. As children seamlessly transition from the Pre-School environment into the Infant School, they instinctively thrive from an increase in 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 is offering excellent pastoral care and academic teaching with a qualified teaching body that encapsulates development on all levels. A broad, pupil-centric, bespoke curriculum allows an optimal learning environment to be created which together with annual curriculum audits, ensure 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 a confidence instilled through our esteemed secondary education and service to pupils’ wellbeing. Our excellent academic results are clear evidence of the incorporation of the successful Diamond Edge Model into our teaching methods. This allows pupils to be supported in their individual dynamic needs, teaching boys and girls separately in the core subjects of Mathematics, English and the Sciences during Years 7, 8 and 9. Evidence of success is clearly demonstrated in our excellent academic results. As an academically selective School, pupils are recommended to choose nine GCSE subjects with each individual understanding how to work collaboratively and independently to achieve excellent results, which as a School, consistently meets and exceeds baseline grade predictions in every subject.
- The Sixth Form is distinctive in its approach to a selective, co-education for 16–18-year-olds in purpose-built facilities that support outstanding teaching. Our broad A level curriculum is exemplary in its offering of twenty-seven 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 Guidance Programme, with every student receiving 1:1 support on their UCAS application or alternative vocation. While we very much value our students for who they are, we 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 not being an International 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 a true integration into British culture. We also deliver the Centre National d’Education à Distance (CNED) Programme to native level French speakers enrolled at the School, who are enabled to study the relevant French curriculum for their age alongside the British curriculum. Clifton High School was the first to do so in the Bristol area. This is a popular offering, particularly with French expatriates who may be living in Bristol for a number of years before returning to France. It allows their children to seamlessly transition and enrol back into the French education system.
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. We pride ourselves on promoting inclusivity, welcoming every pupil, regardless of their experience or skill level, to participate in our Sports Programme. While our School site hosts multiple physical education environments including a gymnasium, outdoor multi-use games area, 25m indoor swimming pool, lawn and studio space, we also enjoy partnerships with the University of Bristol, Bristol Sport (Bristol Bears Rugby and Bristol Flyers Basketball) and Henleaze Performance Swimming Club, benefitting from their elite coaching programmes and facilities. These sport offerings enable pathways to international standard, forging links with other local schools and often resulting in county 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 have the opportunity to perform in orchestras, wind bands, drama groups and choirs as well as participate in a variety of concerts and productions throughout the year. 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 campus. These endeavours contribute on many levels to charitable initiatives while also contributing to our community ethos, drawing upon a supportive network of generous members.
Co-curricular programmes. 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 one hundred and fifty options, thoughtfully curated into the three spheres of Skills Development, Academic Progress and Individual Brilliance aims to embrace a holistic approach to individual growth and professional development, equipping pupils with the tools to embrace new challenges and navigate relationships. As a School, we believe it is both 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. A partnership with The Mendip Activity Centre, together with our offering of a wealth of activities that include Construction, Coding, Choir, Chess, Tennis, Swimming, Gymnastics and Taekwondo, ensure that all innovative opportunities are carefully interwoven into the School co-curricular programme, truly realising ‘Individual Brilliance’. As pupils progress into the Sixth Form, the wealth of co-curricular opportunities afforded to them provide a genuinely holistic learning environment, learning skills in leadership and instilling our core values of Curiosity, Empathy, Love and Direction. They are assigned roles as Head Prefects, House Captains, Sports Captains, ambassadors for charitable initiatives and lead on Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental Change and Sustainability all with the motivation to act as mentors for the younger years and represent Clifton High School as socially aware individuals.
Clifton High School participates in many initiatives that act as platforms for like-minded individuals to unite and engage. These include the Excelsior Forum, Duke Of Edinburgh Award, The Young Enterprise Club and as a Green Flag awarded 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 your 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. Infant School places (up to Year 3) are offered after an in-class assessment during a Taster Day. For Junior School places (Year 4-Year 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 and on occasions places that arise entry into Year 8 to 10 will 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 submitting an application to express an interest in joining the School, consisting of a registration form, predicted and/or mock grades and a written statement by the pupil. On consideration of the application, pupils will be invited to interview with the Head of Sixth Form, before an offer of a place being made.
Scholarships. Scholarships 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 of School. All pupils applying for Year 7 entry are automatically considered for an academic scholarship from the result of the entrance examinations. The School also extends scholarships in Sport, Music as well as an Individual Brilliance Award. Sixth Form scholarships can be applied for in any one of a pupil’s chosen A level subjects, Music or Sport. Once shortlisted, pupils will be invited to attend a Scholarship Interview Evening. Further information on all Scholarships may be obtained from our Admissions Team.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Sixth Form: £5,840; Senior School: £5,840; Junior School: £4,035; Infant School: £3,295–£3,560 (Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) – 15 hours per week for children under 5 years old accepted); Hive Pre-School: £68.00 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:
Patron: Dr Richard Gliddon, PhD, BSc, FI Biol
Chair: Mr J Caddy, BSc
Head of School: Mr Luke Goodman, BA Hons Birmingham, PGCE
Head of Infant and Junior School: Mrs Alice Taylor, BSc, PGCE Cardiff [maternity leave]
Head of Sixth Form: Miss Katherine Rich, BA Birmingham, PGCE
Estates and Operations Director: Mrs Louise Brennan
Director of Finance: Mr Mike Stewart, BEng Southampton
Deputy Head – Staff: Mr Manolis Psarros, BA Hons UCW Lampeter, MA Bristol, MEd Bristol
Senior Deputy Head: Dr Mark Caddy, BSc Hons, PhD Warwick
Deputy Head Academic: Ms Louise Brackenbury, BSc Hons UWIC, PGCE
Deputy Head Pastoral: Mr Christopher Collins, MA Oxon, PGCE
Assistant Head – Pupil Voice and Staff Development: Mrs Louise Brackenbury, BSc Hons UWIC, PGCE
Miss Rebecca Brown: Director of Admissions, Communications, Events and Marketing, BA Birmingham [maternity leave]
Child Protection and Safeguarding:
Mr Christopher Collins, MA Oxon, PGCE (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Ms Alison Taylor, BSc Hons Reading, MEd Bristol, PGCE (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Mrs Alice Taylor, BSc, PGCE Cardiff (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Miss Claudia Mulholland, BSc Hons Swindon, PGCE (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
Admissions, Development, Communications and Marketing:
*Miss Rebecca Brown (Admissions, Communications and Marketing Manager) [maternity cover]
Miss Esme Gottesman (Digital Marketing Executive / Marketing and Communications Manager)
Ms Eileen Unwin (Communications Officer and Copywriter)
Miss Rebekah Malvern (Admissions Manager)
Mrs Sarah Maidment (Admissions Officer)
Mrs Lye (Admissions Officer)