cliftoncollege.com
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Pre-Preparatory School for Boys and Girls aged 4 to 8
Together, we are Clifton Pre-Preparatory School
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Clifton College
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Clifton College
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Contents
Clifton Clifton College College 6⸺
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The wonder of learning Pg. 10 ⸺⸺⸺
A sense of belonging
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First-class education Pg. 18 ⸺⸺⸺
Sport Pg. 20 ⸺⸺⸺
Music
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Drama
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Inspirational environment Pg. 30 ⸺⸺⸺
Unforgettable experiences Pg. 32 ⸺⸺⸺
Friends and equals Pg. 34 ⸺⸺⸺
Happy, safe and healthy
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Pre-Preparatory Pre-Preparatory School School
A sense of community Pg. 38 ⸺⸺⸺
Admission information
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Clifton College Clifton College
The wonde of learning Starting school is an exciting milestone for you and your child.
variety of opportunities and experiences for our pupils which help to develop skills such as compassion, empathy and the ability to build lasting relationships.
Our innovative and nurturing school environment ensures your child has the best possible start to school life.
It’s very important to us to play our part in developing well-rounded, happy and confident pupils who will go out into the world ready to make a difference and eager to continue their educational journey.
We offer a varied curriculum of challenging and enjoyable activities led by talented and supportive teachers to develop each child’s love of, and abilities in, a range of subjects. We also put great emphasis on developing our pupils’ ‘soft skills’. We provide a wide
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Jim Walton Headmaster
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A sense of belonging Clifton College Clifton College
― We provide a supportive and attentive environment for each child. We take a great deal of care to ensure your child’s individual pastoral needs are met and offer a caring, secure environment that instils confidence and self-esteem. Our pupils also benefit from being part of the Clifton
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College family and the wraparound care provision offered across all age groups. We offer the option of early drop-offs and after-school activities. This provides added flexibility to busy working families and a chance for the children to enjoy time together in their own space.
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― We provide the highest possible standard of education through the quality of our teaching staff, their enthusiasm and commitment.
Clifton College Clifton College
We help pupils to develop their ability in literacy and numeracy and skills in observation, informationseeking and problemsolving. Children learn to apply knowledge and skills to unfamiliar situations, co-operating and working productively with others as well as independently.
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We don’t have a ‘standard’ way to teach a skill, as each child’s needs are different. Instead, staff work closely together to ensure that all aspects of a pupil’s school life are discussed and effective teaching programmes developed. We believe that a broad all-round education is key to learning. Alongside the core subjects such as Mathematics and English, a strong focus is given to technology lessons, Art, Music, Drama and Sport, as well as regular visits to our Forest School.
First-class education
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Clifton College
A love of reading Pre-Preparatory School Preparatory School
― Clifton College has a deep commitment to encouraging a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure. This begins with the very youngest pupils in our care. The Pre-Preparatory School has its own age-specific library, run by a School Librarian who specialises in finding the very best books and resources to encourage a passion for reading. We organise age-appropriate author and illustrator visits and hold an annual Book Week, a celebration of reading, sharing stories and talking about the books we love.
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Learning through play Clifton College
― Our school is full of engaged children who are creatively immersed in their learning. As well as developing our pupils’ enquiring, investigative minds through our approach to teaching, our children are encouraged to nurture their creative abilities through play. We believe that children who benefit from a dynamic and exciting play environment will achieve more both in and outside the classroom. Our Pre-Preparatory School benefits from a dedicated
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play area where a wide range of stimulating indoor and outdoor activities are set up daily. We also encourage our pupils to explore topics through play during lessons. From becoming a knight with a bow and arrow in the Forest School to building a spaceship and becoming an astronaut for the afternoon, we help pupils develop their creativity. Creative play helps children establish close bonds with their classmates, build social confidence and discover the world around them.
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Sport ― Pupils’ enjoyment in sport complements our all-round education ethos.
Clifton College Clifton College
In the Pre-Preparatory School, children participate in three sport lessons per week. We place equal importance on the benefits of fresh air and exercise. Pupils take part in a range of activities, including gymnastics, dance and athletics, which help develop balance, agility and coordination. The children also participate in team games, developing simple
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tactics for attacking and defending, preparing pupils for sport fixtures in Year 3. In Year 3, pupils are given the opportunity to represent Clifton in fixtures. Outdoor Games lessons include hockey, netball, tag-rugby, cricket and tennis. All Pre-Preparatory School pupils have a weekly swimming lesson in our on-site sports centre. The swimming sessions start with building water confidence and safety before progressing to swimming technique.
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Music Clifton Clifton College College
― We place great importance on Music in the PrePreparatory School and its benefits to a child’s learning and their emotional and social development.
Our pupils enjoy a wide range of musical activities each week. Our own specialist PrePreparatory Music teacher, along with support from Upper School Music students and visiting Music teachers, help our children develop a range of skills, including singing, movement and listening skills. Every child has regular sessions in our well-equipped Music room. In Year 2, our children learn to play either the violin or cello during a weekly class lesson with our
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strings specialist. In Year 3, children learn to play the recorder and read notation. Singing plays a big part of school life. Our children sing every day in assemblies, in their classrooms and in the playground as well as each Friday morning when we invite families to our Fun Friday Sing. There are many opportunities for children to perform during the school year, such as the Spring Service in the Chapel, the Summer Concert, Celebration Day and the annual Year 2 and 3 musical play in the Redgrave Theatre.
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Drama
― Clifton College’s strong tradition in drama begins in the Pre-Preparatory School.
Clifton College Clifton College Clifton College
Drama helps children to build self-confidence, improve communication skills and express their emotions in a supportive environment. It encourages our pupils to creatively explore meaningful, imaginative situations that parallel with the real world. Each year, Year 2 and 3 have the exciting opportunity to take part in the school play held at the Redgrave Theatre. The pupils love performing in their first production with full
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costumes, lighting and sound. In Year 2 pupils take part in the dance routines and in the chorus and in Year 3 they have lead roles within the play. As pupils progress through the College, there are many opportunities to continue their involvement with drama both in and outside the classroom, from the annual productions in the Prep and Upper Schools to co-curricular LAMDA sessions and the Upper School House Play Festival. Pupils are encouraged to enjoy and explore performing to whatever level they choose.
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In en
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Clifton Clifton College College
We are lucky to have an award-winning Forest School. It comprises a large forest and meadow area where the children learn to appreciate the natural world, enjoy the fresh air and freedom, and are inspired by a wide range of new experiences. Pupils enjoy a whole host of activities in the forest, including playing games together, learning to use tools, building animal habitats,
learning archery skills and hunting for fossils. Each session ends with a drink and biscuit gathered around the campfire. Children love going to Forest School and visit regularly in the Pre-Preparatory School. Their visits to the forest have many benefits, such as helping to build confidence, resourcefulness, teamwork and problem solving, and helping to lay the foundations for a life-long passion for the world around us.
Pre-Preparatory School
― Not all classrooms have four walls.
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Clifton College
Pre-Preparatory School
Unique spaces ― The PrePreparatory School captures the imagination of pupils with its exciting and stimulating learning environment.
Our Pre-Preparatory playground provides a relaxed and creative environment, and the Bretten Memorial Hall provides a modern and flexible space for sport, dance and drama. We also have a cookery room and music room and our own ageappropriate library.
Situated in two of the many Victorian houses that make up the Clifton College campus, the Pre-Preparatory School has bright and cheerful classrooms, fully resourced with up-to-date technology and equipment.
Children get a taste of Clifton College’s House system in Year 3 when they have their own common room with a computer suite, sitting area to relax and socialise, and games area.
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The wider College Clifton College
― We share many of the College’s facilities, such as the Redgrave Theatre, the dance studio and the swimming pool. We also share the impressive College Chapel which provides a place to mark our milestones and celebrate our successes. Like the rest of the College, the Pre-Preparatory School is of an Anglican foundation, although we warmly welcome children of all faiths. Other facilities on our doorstep include the College’s Joseph Cooper Music School, the Preparatory School Library and the beautiful Grade II Percival Library.
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― The school calendar includes a number of visits and trips each year. We consider these key to a child’s learning and development.
Clifton College Clifton College
Educational visits offer a broad range of benefits, including personal and social development, higher engagement with topics, stronger relationships with peers and increased confidence.
These activities capture the imagination of our pupils, from visiting Gothic Revival house Tyntesfield, and dressing up in authentic Victorian costumes, to visiting Bristol Zoo, where pupils can discover a wide array of fascinating creatures. In Year 3, pupils experience their first residential school trip to Kilve Court. They spend two days staying in an education centre, visiting local attractions and taking part in a range of group activities.
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Friends and equals
Clifton College Clifton College
Pre-Preparatory Pre-Preparatory School School
― Friendships provide children with more than just playmates. At Clifton College, children work together to create a happy environment where everyone is valued. We encourage our pupils to see things from other people’s perspectives, developing their ability to be considerate, compassionate and patient.
Children support each other and build a positive environment that promotes wellbeing, with Year 3 children holding special responsibilities both in and outside the classroom to support younger children. We focus on developing key social skills that encourage confidence, communication, sharing and cooperation, and believe that friendships are vital to a child’s healthy development. ⸺ 33
Clifton College Clifton College
Happy, safe and healthy
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We put a firm emphasis on health and self-care throughout the school and provide pupils with a strong understanding of the importance of physical exercise, healthy diet and personal care. We also have a Matron who is present during the school
day and is responsible for the welfare of our children, and all staff members undertake regular First Aid training. Lunch is provided and pupils dine in Clifton College’s Bretten Memorial Hall. The cafeteria system encourages self-serving, and there are a variety of healthy options available for our children to choose from and a range of dietary options, including vegetarian, vegan and kosher meals.
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― The health and safety of our children is of paramount importance.
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Clifton Clifton College College
A sense of community
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We encourage parents, grandparents and other family members to come to our regular events such as class assemblies, sports fixtures and festivals, coffee mornings, music concerts, swimming galas and school plays, so that they get a real feel of school life at Clifton.
Pre-Preparatory School
―We pride ourselves on our strong engagement with our parents and the wider community.
announcements and an annual school magazine, parents also receive a PrePreparatory e-newsletter each week. The school also enjoy strong links with the local community and has robust connections with a diverse range of Bristol businesses. We are also proud to have a historical link with our neighbour, Bristol Zoo. These links bring further knowledge, expertise, resource and opportunity into learning.
Alongside a daily message book, regular school
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Clifton College
Admission information
Families can discover more about Clifton by attending one of our termly Open Days or by paying a personal visit.
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This incorporates a whole school tour and an opportunity to meet with key staff such as the Headmaster and a member of the Admissions Team. For Open Day dates or for more information, visit cliftoncollege.com
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A guide to the process It is a great place for young Clifton College people toInternational study. Admissions process pupils combines the traditions one ofvisit, the At CliftonAs College we assess After aof personal first an English boarding school, each pupil primarily on his step of the admissions process Clifton College places a high the country’s leading or her academic but to join the Pre-Preparatory value onmerits the religious and publicSchool schools with Thiswe also look at other aspects is registration. cultural diversity brought to of his or her done by completing and superbis modern the educational College by its international background andand profile, returning the Registration pupils we ensure they are facilities.. including conduct and
Clifton College
Form and paying the £150 fully integrated into the life of attitude. the College. non-refundable registration We are afee. co-educational school with pupils aged from The current We school’s are happy to receive 2 to 18. We flexi andeachrecommendation an international Weoffer also day, like to meet enquiriesisfrom full boarding well as important part of this process. childplaces. before As a place is offered. families, either directly or many boarders from the UK, through one of the many we also welcome new pupils Admission to the College will we work. agencies with whom Offers into our boarding community depend on our ability to feel The agencies can provide from around the world. confidenthelp thatwith we will be able entry translation, Once an offer is accepted, to educate and develop theadmissions assessments and we require (i) confirmation All our pupils enjoy the finest prospective pupil to the procedures. best in writing from the parents, all-round education based of his or her potential so that (ii) completion and return on high academic standards there is every chance that he of the Acceptance Form and allied to excellence in sport, or she will benefit from all (iii) payment of the deposit. music and drama. Each year that Clifton has to offer. A deposit of £750 is required our leavers attend the best UK for pupils where both parents and international universities. are UK / EU citizens and Dr Tim Greene Clifton sits in what has been resident within the EU. For described as ‘the handsomest Head of College all other pupils, a deposit of suburb in Europe’ and one term’s fees is required. and Head Master benefits from being part of a The repayment of deposits vibrant city, ranked last year is linked to the settlementof ofThe Upper School as the most inspiring city in final fee invoices upon the the UK. departure of the pupil from Clifton College.
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A guide to fees What’s included The fees cover all the teaching that takes place in the ordinary course of education. However, there are additional charges associated with cocurricular and other activities, specifically, the cost of providing Learning Support or English as an Additional Language, if this is applicable to your child.
children whilst they all simultaneously attend the school. This discount remains the subject of annual review.
HM Forces The Preparatory School offers a 20% Forces Bursary for the sons and daughters of serving members of HM Forces. The HM Forces Bursary is applicable from Year 4 onwards.
Pre-Preparatory School
For details of fees, please visit our website at cliftoncollege.com
Reduction for siblings A reduction of the net school fee (but not extras) is currently provided to parents who have two children or more at Clifton College, excluding the Nursery. The reductions, which are applied to the younger children, are 5% for the second child, 20% for the third child and 50% for the fourth and subsequent
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Clifton College
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Clifton College
Together, we are Clifton Clifton College 32 College Road Clifton, Bristol BS8 3JH T. +44 (0)117 315 7000 E. prepadmissions@cliftoncollege.com cliftoncollege.com 44 ⸺