Development Update
Awarmwelcome
Dearparentsandalumni,
Itisapleasuretosharethisupdatewith youontheCollege’sdevelopment progressandthevibrantlifeofour community.ThroughouttheMichaelmas term,wehaveenjoyedawonderfulseries ofsuccessfuleventsdesignedtowelcome newfamiliesandstrengthenthevital connectionsacrossourlocaland internationalnetworks.
Weprideourselvesonrespectingour legacywhilealwayslookingforward.You willseethisbalancereflectedinthenews oftheRedgraveTheatre’s60th anniversary, celebratingarichhistorythathasnurtured
actingtalentlikeSirMichaelRedgraveand SirSimonRussellBeale,alongsideexciting planslikeournewYouthTheatre.
Equally,you’llreadabouttheimpressive firstyearofoperationattheawardwinningChellaramSportsComplex,which isnowahubforbothCollegesportandthe widercommunity.
Whatliesaheadistrulyexciting.Thankyou foryourcontinuedsupportandforbeing anintegralpartoftheCliftonCollegestory.
TimGreene, HeadofCollege
TheRedgrave50th Celebration
DevelopmentNews
OnbehalfoftheCollege,Iextendour profoundgratitudetoourdonors.Your commitmentdirectlyshapesthe exceptionaleducationandopportunities availabletoourpupils.
Thankyou yourgenerositymakesan immediateandlastingdifference.
Lookingahead,wearefocusedon strengtheningourtransformational bursaryprogramme,enablingtalented pupilstothrivehere,regardlessof financialmeans.
Atthesametime,thereareother,vital waysyoursupportcanenrichtheCollege including:
● Bursariesandexcellence–opening doorsforthemostgiftedpupils.
● Enrichingthefabricoftheschool–updatingandimprovingfacilitiesto sustainfirst‑classresources.
● Beyondtheclassroom–supporting excellenceinsport,performingarts, andextra‑curricularopportunities thatbuildconfidenceandteamwork.
● ProtectingtheCollege’sfuture–creatingalastinglegacythrough endowmentgiftsorbequests.
Iwouldwelcometheopportunityto discusshowyourgenerositycancreate life‑changingexperiencesandensure CliftonCollegeremainsvibrantfor generationstocome.
LauraGammage, DirectorofDevelopment
TransformingLives:Music
AttheCollege,scholarshipsaredesigned toallowpupilswithexceptionaltalentand broadintereststointegratetheirpassions seamlesslyintotheiracademiccurriculum anddailylife.
Amusicscholarshipdoesn'tjustrecognise musicalability;itrepresentsthe opportunitytopursuehigh-levelmusical trainingalongsidedemandingAlevels, sports,andotherco-curricularinterests. Forexample,itensuresthatstudentsdon't havetochoosebetweenplayingfirst-team sportandperformingintheorchestra.
STEMandSound
Cliftoniscommittedtomakingthis accessequitable.Scholarshipscanbe complementedbybursaries,ensuringthat anytalentedstudent,regardlessoftheir family'spersonalcircumstances,hasthe financialsupportnecessarytopursuetheir musicaldreamsandwidereducationatthe College.
Thiscommitmentguaranteesthattalent,not background,determineswhobenefitsfrom theseopportunities.
JudeisaremarkableyoungOC.DuringhistimeatClifton,hesuccessfullybalanceda demandingacademiclifewithspecialistmusicalcommitments.InadditiontobeingaMusic Scholar,healsoheldanAcademicScholarship.HechoserigorousALevelsincludingmaths, physicsandancientGreek,buthispassionwasformusic,particularlytheorganandpiano.
Jude’smusicscholarshipgrantedhimaccesstoClifton’suniquefacilitiesand,crucially,a customisedtimetable,ensuringhisdedicatedpracticetimedidn’tconflictwithacademic pursuitsandpersonalprojectssuchasrocketryorDofE.
Duringhistimehere,heplayedintheconcertbandandorchestra,aswellasbeingpartof chambergroupsandthechoir.SinceleavingtheCollege,hehassecuredanorganscholarship atStPeter’sCollege,Oxford.
Jude’sachievementsshowhowourscholarshipscantransformthelivesofpupilsatClifton.If youwouldbeinterestedinsupportingourscholarshiporbursarialprovision,wewouldwelcome anyopportunitytodiscussit.Pleasecontactushere.
Polack’sHouseEducationalTrust
Londonreception
InSeptember,thePolack’sHouse EducationalTrust(PHET)andClifton CollegehostedareceptioninLondon, bringingtogetherOldPolackiansforan eveningtoreconnectwiththeirpeersand theirschool.
Thereceptionservedasaplatformto highlightPHET’sgenerousand longstandingsupportforJewisheducation andidentityatCliftonthroughthe bursarialsupportitprovides.
RepresentativesfromPHETspokewarmly ofthelife-longvaluesPolack’sHousegave them;thesetraditionscontinueto positivelyshapetheexperiencesofpupils today.Theeveningstrengthenedthedeep bondbetweentheCollegeandouralumni.
Wewouldliketothankeveryonewho attendedforjoiningus,welookforwardto seeingyouataCollegeeventsoon.
ItiswiththankstoPHET’songoingsupportthatourJewishLifeprogrammewillremain avitalpartofourvibrantschoolcommunityformanyyearstocome.
ChellaramSportsComplex
One-yearanniversary
Thispastyear,wecelebratedtheopeningandfirstfullyearof themagnificentChellaramSportsComplex.It’sbeen wonderfultoseehowmanypupils,clubsandcommunity groupshavebenefitedfromthefacility.
Wewerethrilledtowinthe‘DeliveringValue’awardatthe ConstructionExcellenceSouthWestAwardsandevenmoreso whenitbecameanationalfinalist.Additionally,theComplex wasafinalistfortheGreenProjectoftheYearbytheEducation PropertyAwards,recognising itssustainableconstructionand ourcommitmenttobiodiversitynet-gain.
RedgraveTheatre60thAnniversary
2026markstheincredible60thanniversaryoftheRedgraveTheatre. Overthattimeithas becomethecreativeheartnotjustoftheCollegebutofthewiderCliftoncommunity.The theatreisproudlynamedaftertheacclaimedactorandOldCliftonian,SirMichaelRedgrave, wholeadsastar-studdedhalloffameofOCswhohaveforgedcareersintheperformingarts.
Tocelebratethissignificantmilestone,weareplanningaseriesofcelebratoryevents throughouttheyear.WearelaunchinganewYouthTheatre,aimedatencouraging participationandnurturingthenextgenerationoftalent fromthelocalcommunity.The RedgraveYouthTheatreoffersajuniorcourse(ages7to10)andseniorcourse(ages11to14). FormoreinformationontheYouthTheatre,clickhere.
Cappingoffthe60thyearwillbeourfirsteverin-houseChristmaspantomime,setfor December2026.ThedebutproductionwillbetheclassictaleofDickWhittington.Weare excitedtobebringingtogetherthecreativemindsleadingthetheatrewithlocalactorsand performerstoprovideschoolsandfamilieswithatop-classshow.
Tohelpusmakethisambitiousproductionaspectacularsuccess,sponsorshipopportunities areavailable,andwewelcomeconversationswithanyoneinterestedinsupporting the60th celebrations.Contactdevelopment@cliftoncollege.comtofindoutmore.
Parentcommunityengagement
Wekickedofftheacademicyearwith eventsdesignedtohelpparentsand alumnifeelconnected,strengthen communitybonds,andwarmlywelcome newfamiliesintotheCollegecommunity.
Theyearbeganwithtwospecialeventsto celebrateourdiversecommunity.Our InternationalParentsWelcome Receptionenabledparentsfromoverseas tomeetbeforeheadingbacktotheirhome countries;thiseventincludedatalkonthe HistoryoftheCollegeandatourtohelp themfeelfamiliarwithwheretheir childrenwillbelearning.Wealsohosteda NewParentsWelcomeBreakfastforall newfamilies,fromPreschoolthroughto SixthForm.Thiswasaninformalwayto makeconnectionsandenjoyatalkonthe HistoryofCliftonCollege,whichisalways agreatwaytofeelpartofourtradition.
OurpopularBusinessBreakfastsareback ontheschedule,offeringcurrentand
recent-formerparentsanopportunityfor professionalnetworkingandconversation. Forourfirstbreakfastoftheterm,wewere delightedtowelcomeMartinWilliams,a formermemberofCollegestaffandnow HeadofNatureConnectionattheBelmont Estate.Martinspokewithgreatpassion abouttheirworktoboostbiodiversityand returntosustainablefarmingpractices.It wasaninsightfulmorningthatalsooffered parentsachancetoengagewithvital topicsaroundsustainability.
Theseinitiativesalsoleveragethe expertisewithintheparentbody, providingapositivestarttotheCollege's communityrelationsactivitiesforthe academicterm.
Welookforwardtocontinuingtoengage andbuildconnectionswithourparent communityin2026.
SirJohnRoyceregaling'TalesfromtheMurderCourts'atDecember'sbreakfast
CliftonCollegeinAsia
TheAlumniandDevelopmentTeam,ledby DrGreene,HeadofCollege,recently concludedahighlysuccessfulengagement triptoSingaporeandHongKong.These visitsareinvaluableforstrengtheningthe internationalCollegecommunityand connectingwithfamiliesacrosstheworld.
Weweredelightedtohostareceptionfor theCliftoncommunityinSingaporeata wonderfulvenue,theSingaporeCricket Club.ThetripcontinuedtoHongKong, whereweheldareceptionthatbrought togethercurrentparents,OldCliftonians, andprospectivefamiliesinterestedin admissions.Akeyhighlightoftheevent wasaninsightfultalkgivenbyDrGreene ontherapidlyevolvingroleofAIin
education,whichsparkedfascinating discussionsaboutthefutureoflearning. Wealsohostedareceptionforparentsand alumniattheiconicChinaClub,where membersoftheglobalCliftoncommunity hadthechancetoreconnectandshare memories.
Wewereparticularlydelightedto reconnectwithMrLalChellaramduring thetrip.Thiswasawonderfulopportunity toshareourdeepgratitudeandcelebrate theincrediblesuccessoftheChellaram SportsComplex,whichrecently celebrateditsfirstanniversaryand continuestobeahugeassettoourschool andwidercommunity.
LalChellaram(OH1961)and CandyZhuang(OH2025)
Upcomingevents
Here’sasnapshotofourcurrent2026developmentandalumnievents. We’dlovetowelcomeyoutoone(ormore!).
Breakfastclubs
15thJanuary
12thFebruary
12thMarch
Reunion
Forthosewholeft Cliftonpriorto1974
Saturday20thJune
Parentsgolfday Thursday7thMay OCgolfday Thursday4thJune
BerkshireOC golfday Wednesday2nd September
Moredates comingsoon!
SupporttheFutureofClifton
BysupportingClifton,youarehelpingtoprovidetransformationalopportunitiestoyoung people,tonurturetalentandpotential,andtohelptheschoolcontinuetothrive.
Yourgenerosityalsoenablesustoinvestinthespaces,facilities,andequipmentthatbring learningandcreativitytolife,fromupgradestothetheatretobringingresourcesthatsupport Clifton’sexceptionalexperienceandensureeverysinglepupilcanflourish.
Everygift,nomatterthesize,makesarealdifferencetoa pupil’slifeand education.
Whetheryouchoosetocontributetoourbursaryfund,supportspecificpriorities orprojects, orleavealegacygift,yoursupportensuresthatthevaluesandpowerofaCliftoneducation cancontinuetoflourishforthenextgeneration.
Ifyouwouldliketoexplorewaystogive,clickhere,orcontactLauraGammage,Directorof Developmentonlgammage@cliftoncollege.com todiscussmakingyourgift.
Otherwaystogetinvolved
• Volunteer:Beamentor,speakatanevent,hostagathering
• Joinin:Jointhe1862Club,comealongtoaBreakfastCluborareunion
Contactus
• Email: development@cliftoncollege.com
• Tel: 01173157665
• Post: 8TheAvenue,Clifton,Bristol,BS83HE
