CO-CURRICULAR
Senior School & Sixth Form
2025-2026
OUR CO-CURRICULAR APPROACH
At Clifton High School, the broad-based education we offer our Senior School pupils and Sixth Form students is complemented by a multi-disciplinary approach to co-curricular. Our programme is thoughtfully curated to incorporate a wide spectrum of opportunities that expands pupils’ interpersonal and communication skills, emotional intelligence and confidence whilst opening new lifelong gateways.
The Co-Curricular Programme is divided into six categories; each providing options to suit the individual and open their world to a breadth of opportunities:
• Clubs & Societies • Performing Arts • Sports
• Duke of Edinburgh • Adventure • Outreach
Senior School clubs run throughout the week as either a morning club starting at 7.45am, a lunchtime club or after School. They are selected by pupils via a userfriendly online platform called SOCS and, whilst most are included in the School fees, some specialist clubs incur a small charge.
If you have further questions about our Co-Curricular Programme, please contact Heads of Co-Curricular and Outreach, Mr Tom Morison and Mrs Donia Pieters (cocurricular@cliftonhigh.co.uk).
Alternatively, if you are new to Clifton High School, our Admissions Team will support you in the process of selecting clubs and may be contacted via email: admissions@cliftonhigh.co.uk or telephone 0117 933 9087.
OUR CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME
Clubs and Societies
The variety of Clubs and Societies that are available to Senior School pupils and Sixth Form students are wide-ranging and support intellectual development in ways that supplement Clifton High School’s already comprehensive academic curriculum. They appeal to inquisitive minds and aim to challenge individuals to explore new perspectives, develop new skills and stretch their learning beyond the classroom.
Example clubs include:
British Young Pilots Employer Talks BEP Oracy Pioneers
Christian Union French Film Club Entrepreneur Hub
Classics Society Jewellery Making Young Enterprise
Debating Club Pride Club
Dungeons & Dragons Senior Model United Nations (MUN)
Performing Arts
The offerings within the Performing Arts Programme cultivate the foundations of self-confidence by igniting imaginations as well as expanding upon the fundamental skills developed within daily School performing arts lessons. Clubs are taught by specialist teachers to progress individual development in a fun and engaging manner with pupils encouraged to enhance their potential and passion in the arts, whether that be through creative learning or the opportunity to perform on stage at prestigious venues such as Bristol Cathedral, The Redgrave Theatre and St George’s Bristol.
In Years 7 and 8 all pupils participate in both a choir and a carousel of activities that promote creative thinking and confidence in front of an audience. These activities include Dance and Oracy.. The choirs perform at prestigious School events throughout the year.
Examples of Performing Arts Clubs include:
Cello Group School Production
Chamber Choir String Group
Music Technology, Theory & Composition Swing Band
Senior School & Sixth Form
Form Only
Senior School & Sixth Form
Cantata Orchestra
Sporting
Our Sports Provision incorporates our whole School ‘Sport for All’ ethos to offer Senior School pupils and Sixth Form students access to a wide range of mixed ability sporting pursuits, each benefiting mental health and emotional wellbeing. Taught by specialist professionals, skills are intrinsically developed alongside encouraging a growth mindset for pupils to enjoy sport whether that be as part of a team or individually, competitively or non-competitively. This inclusivity ensures that all pupils and students are given the chance to access any number of physical activities, regardless of their individual abilities, experience or interest.
Sports Clubs (above and beyond the PE curriculum) are hosted both on-site and at Coombe Dingle and may include:
Senior School & Sixth Form
The Swimming Programme
We are fortunate to have an on-site 25m heated indoor swimming pool for all Senior School pupils and Sixth Form students to enjoy. Led by qualified swimming instructors and overseen by our Director of Swimming, Mr Jez Birds, pupils can choose to swim for fun or reach for competitive success.
Partnered with Bristol Sport and Bristol Henleaze Performance Swimming Club (BHSC), pupils and students may be invited to embark on a competitive journey with all training and individualised development taking place during the School day (7.30am to 6.00pm).
• Year 7-9 pupils have the opportunity to access after-School slots in our Development Programme, as well as optional top-up training sessions within the BHSC Programme (to fit in around other sport and activity commitments).
• From Year 10, pupils may be selected to join the Elite pathway, with heightened pool access and strength/conditioning opportunities as part of the Senior Programme.
• Years 12 and 13 Elite pathway swimmers may access further training opportunities during the School day, with bespoke periods of training programmed for small group and one-to-one sessions.
Senior School and Sixth Form curriculum sports are divided between the three School terms with co-curricular termly clubs aligned to these sport offerings. For additional training opportunities and specialist coaching, pupils and students may be invited by the Sports Department or sign up independently to the following sports clubs:
• Rosslyn Park Rugby 7s
• Schools Triathlon
• English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) Cup
• County Hockey
Many pupils and students who enjoy and show aptitude in a particular sport discipline are selected to join Clifton High School’s Athletic Development Programme (ADP) to further enhance their sporting performance levels. This sits alongside the School’s PE curriculum and Swimming Programme.
The above swimming journey at Clifton High School is tailored to meet the needs of the long-term athlete, progressing annually and nurtured alongside our PE curriculum to develop all the skills and traits to succeed, underpinned by athletes’ academic studies, ensuring optimum results in both areas.
We also fully support the rounded development of aquatic disciplines and provide elite adaptations for artistic swimmers and water polo players too.
In addition to competitive pathways, we run social/fitness swimming sessions as part of the wider co-curricular offering, encouraging pupils with an interest in teaching to join our Volunteer Support pathway, where they can gain experience assisting children in the Infant and Junior School Swimming Programme.
Our partnership with BHSC, invites many Year 7 to 9 pupils to join the School’s ‘Progressive Talent Development’ club which targets the fitness swimming foundations of land and in-pool training required for progression. As pupils progress to Year 10 and 11 they may wish to enter the ‘Elite Adaptations’ club which advances their swimming performance levels.
Friday Clubs
To encourage participation in clubs beyond their comfort zone, pupils in Years 9-13 are expected to attend a Friday lunchtime club of their choosing. All club offerings aim to unite pupils and students of different year groups whilst working together in sparking collective interest and growing individual skills.
Example clubs include:
Senior School & Sixth Form
Chess The Rambling Rose (School Newspaper)
Bristol Walking Tours Coding & Robotics Club
Board Games Science & Nature Club
Male Voice Choir Theatre Screening Club
Adventure Programme
Our Adventure Programme broadens an appreciation of the natural world for pupils and students to embrace challenges that develop environmental awareness, survival skills, selfconfidence, resilience and teamwork. To offer a bespoke experience, we affiliate with Mendip Activity Centre, Belmont Estate and Mothership Climbing Centre so pupils participate in adventure pursuits with safety at the core of learning.
Adventure Clubs take place weekly after School and may include:
Senior
School
& Sixth Form
Axe Throwing Caving
Climbing Paddleboarding
Paddle Sports –
Canoeing & Kayaking
Skiing
Snowboarding Tobogganing
Wet Assault Course
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is one that facilitates an open-minded and adventurous approach to gaining essential life skills beyond the School environment. Resilience, problem-solving, team building and communication are keys that unlock potential and help pupils challenge themselves with a motivation that supports future direction.
Currently, Clifton High School offers the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze to pupils in Year 9, Silver to those in Year 10 and Gold to students in Year 12. Lunchtime training sessions are held throughout the School year and thoroughly support the award requirements of volunteering, physical and skills sections and residential section specific to the Gold level.
Senior Homework Room
Clifton High School’s core day runs from 8.30am until 4.00pm. However, Senior School pupils and Sixth Form students can arrive at School from 8.00am and after the School day they may access the Senior Homework Room, supervised by staff members, from 4.15 to 5.55pm.
