The energy held within Clifton High School is apparent as soon as you step into the School grounds and with that, we trust parents and children will sense the buzz and love of learning. Our home from home approach in these years is the key to us offering excellent pastoral care and academic teaching with a qualified teaching body that encapsulates development on all levels.
safety net approach to learning, pupils are able to understand that there is no cap on their enthusiasm and growth. Their love of nature and adventure is actively encouraged and is as much a part of their School day as their engagement in the traditional classroom setting. I find that it is often their success in outdoor pursuits, sporting, musical and creative endeavours that help them to become mindful academics, willing to take risks and step out of comfort zones.
Pupils in the Junior School are encouraged to share ideas as they work effectively in pairs, small groups and in whole class discussions. They embrace challenges and want to do well. Their engagement with each other is measured and mature.
As Head of The Hive, Infant and Junior School, the pride I personally feel on entering a younger learner’s classroom, is exhilarating; I watch the children grow in their capabilities, take ownership over their exploration skills from such a young age whilst collaborating so productively with each other. Our broad curriculum choices excel at enhancing enquiry and collaboration skills, constantly servicing and adapting to individual needs and abilities whilst gently directing children in their progress. It is this merging of insightful and expert teaching of each child, together with the wealth of opportunities available to them as pupils at Clifton High School that builds upon solid communication, confidence and progress.
Clifton High School is an inclusive and culturally diverse environment that thrives on change and challenge. Our belief is that by offering a nurturing and supportive
Our pupils are the true ambassadors of Clifton High School. They are the joy and life of the community and what makes our School such a special and wonderful place to belong. Their individual brilliance is the gateway to our teaching as the children excel on all levels, creating a School that speaks volumes in the wider world.
I invite you to visit us, to see our Infant and Junior School as well as to talk to our current children about their School experience. We are confident that you will discover happy and engaged individuals that express a real zest for life.
OUR HOLISTIC EDUCATION
Our Aim
Clifton High School aims to Realise the Individual Brilliance of each and every child. We believe that the best and most authentic way to achieve this is by offering a well rounded, bespoke education, delivered by staff who grow to recognise each child’s gifts to offer them unique opportunities to shine.
Our Values
CURIOSITY
The bedrock of any school is when curiosity is embedded into the learning structure. At Clifton High, our young children 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 being outdoors and nurturing a desire to preserve our planet for future generations are lessons constantly celebrated within the School curriculum.
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.
School Life
As an all-through school, it is important that all our pupils, from the youngest to our oldest, and their families, are engaged in our wider community and School life. Annual events including Christmas celebrations, performances, assemblies, prizegivings and concerts provide a vibrant social scene that our parents and children alike, look forward to being involved in.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Junior School Curriculum
Children in the Junior School experience a bespoke curriculum, which is broad, pupil centred and delivered by their dedicated Class Teacher. The small class sizes (20 children maximum) allow the teachers to create an optimal learning environment for individual development. Annual curriculum audits ensure that lessons cater for each child’s evolving needs, whilst keeping them engaged and challenged.
In addition to the more traditional subjects, our curriculum includes an ongoing Theme to bring subjects to life as well as a range of unique opportunities, which foster divergent skills in the children.
Specialist Teaching
As a School for 3-18 year olds, Junior children benefit from lessons taught by specialist subject teachers from across the School in subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Drama, PE, Games, Swimming, Singing and Music. These lessons increase as the children progress through the Junior School. In addition to the academic benefits this opportunity provides, the children begin to experience the culture and environment of Senior School life
and build relationships with those subject teachers before commencing their journey in Year 7.
Technology Carousel
Coding, Woodwork, Resistant Materials, Product Design and Food Technology are often topics that children do not experience until Senior School. However, at Clifton High Junior School, children are given the opportunity to try all of these during their School day in the timetabled Technology Carousel.
Leadership Programme
As Junior School children are growing in maturity, qualities rooted in growth and responsibility need to be explored, harnessing a confidence in themselves, their beliefs and others. Through the Leadership Programme, taught in vertical classes, children undertake tasks and projects that replicate scenarios of the world around them. These are age appropriate with the developing skills transferable to many areas of their life now and in their future. This programme builds an awareness and understanding of management, teamwork, project work and topical matters.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Adventure Programme
Learning environments are vitally important, and we believe that the outdoors, especially in rural settings, can complement classroom skills as well as offer new and unique opportunities. Our partnership with The Mendip Activity Centre allows our Junior School children to engage in fortnightly Adventure Sessions with team-building activities such as canoeing, climbing, den building, and caving, harnessing the mental and physical benefits of the natural world. Adventure encourages children’s academic growth, self-discovery and broadens their outlook on life. It also provides an opportunity to develop new skills and interests, equipping the children with tools to embrace challenges, navigate relationships, and approach their education positively. Junior School is a pivotal time for growth, and Adventure provides the foundations that will prepare them for their next Clifton High School chapter: Senior School.
Co-Curricular
Our varied and stimulating cocurricular programme enhances pupils’ experiences and allows them to explore new avenues, enriching their lives. These activities take place before School, at lunchtime and after School, providing a wealth of opportunities for pupils to build upon their skill development, academic progress and individual brilliance. The Junior School club offering is varied and includes Construction, Coding, Junior Choir, Classics Club, Chess, and Book Worms. Sporting clubs include; Tennis, Swimming, Gymnastics, Dance, Taekwando, Rugby and many more.
Trips & Visits
Regular and inspiring educational trips and visits occur throughout the academic year. These benefit children in gaining context to their classroom learning. Class Teachers plan termly experiential events or visits based on the theme being taught in class. Previous experiences, much loved by the children, include visiting the Concord Museum, exploring Berkeley Castle and going back in time to St Fagins Historical Village.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Facilities
Our School is located on one single site, a component integral in maintaining a sense of community as an all-through School. All children benefit from use of all of our facilities that offer appropriate adaptations dependent on their age and needs.
State-of-the-art learning equipment, spacious and light buildings surrounded by greenery create spaces that nurture creativity and critical thinking. Outside the classroom, children benefit from regular use of our Music Rooms, Art Rooms, Libraries, Theatre, Science Laboratories, STEM room, IT Suites, Design and Technology Rooms, historic Main Hall, modern Dining Room, Multi Use Games Area, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Climbing Wall and the ever popular outdoor climbing frames.
Clifton High School also shares Coombe Dingle, an off-site sports complex with the University of Bristol. The professional standard pitches, courts and tracks provide our pupils with world class sporting facilities. Junior School games lessons, the annual Sports Day, School fixtures and other special School events are all hosted here.
Sport
Sport is a social and positive part of Clifton High School life. It serves as a dynamic force that brings joy and a sense of belonging to every member of our community.
With its myriad of physical and mental health benefits, we believe that participating in sport enhances overall wellbeing to instil a sense of accomplishment in our children.
Our partnerships with the University of Bristol Tennis Coaches, Henleaze Swimming Club and Bristol Sport exposes our children to elite training programmes.
We pride ourselves on promoting inclusivity, ensuring that sports are accessible and enjoyable for all, regardless of abilities, experience or interests.
Engaging in sport allows our Junior children to forge friendships, develop holistically and build in confidence. This is through three timetabled sports lessons a week; Physical Education, Games and Swimming, and additional sporting co-curricular opportunities.
OUR COMMUNITY JOINING CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL
Safeguarding is paramount to our education and a key element within this is pastoral care. Our School is renowned for its outstanding and well-established pastoral structures. Both staff and parents recognise that this has significant impact on a child’s wellbeing, personal and academic development. Small class sizes allow teaching staff to genuinely know the children, understand them and form strong relationships with them and, in turn, their parents. Realising Individual Brilliance is at the forefront of our focus on a child’s unique qualities and interests to provide the optimum support for them to feel safe when taking considered risks to develop personally.
All Junior School year groups are buddied with one another and monthly buddy meet ups provide excellent peer support. Junior children can be elected to the Pupil Council to share thoughts and opinions on their School.
Weekly PSHE lessons and assemblies see a breadth of subject matters taught and discussed throughout the academic year. We identify and openly discuss emotions, beliefs and viewpoints even at this young age.
Teachers are supported by our team of dedicated School Nurses, Mental Health Lead and Wellbeing Counsellor, all of whom children have direct and open access to. Our specialist teachers in The Enhanced Learning Department are also available for those children who may require additional adhoc or long-term support.
Our collective understanding, that working together to form partnerships between parents and teachers in an atmosphere of mutual respect, provides an environment that best supports the child. Written reports and parentteacher meetings provide opportunities to report on academic progress and social development. This open line of communication benefits the family and the child’s overall experience at Clifton High School.
Next Steps
We trust, by reading this prospectus and exploring our website, you have the essential information and an initial insight of who we are as a School. However, there is no better way to discover more about Clifton High than experiencing the true feel of our provision. We warmly encourage and invite you to visit us.
Admissions
Our Admissions Team will guide families through the entry process on an individual basis, following our admissions process detailed below.
The main entry points into the Junior School are Year 3 and 5, although we do accept applications into Year 4 and 6 if places are available.
For entry into Year 3, children will attend a taster day in a Year 2 class and be informally assessed by the Class Teacher during their visit. For entry into Years 4 to 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 all year groups, parents will be required to provide a copy of their child’s most recent school report, and the Admissions Team will request a confidential reference from your child’s current school.
