One School. One Education. One Community.
Welcome to Clifton High School, an independent, co-educational school for children aged 3 to 18 in the heart of Clifton Village, Bristol.
Established in 1877, Clifton High has been educating children for almost 150 years. While much has changed since our beginnings as a girls’ school, our commitment to providing an ambitious, inclusive and forward-thinking education has remained constant.
At Clifton High, our approach is centred on ‘realising individual brilliance’. We believe every child can achieve when they are known, valued and encouraged to discover their individual strengths, allowing them to feel confident in their learning capabilities.
VALUES
Our four core values of...
Curiosity, Empathy, Love and Direction
...shape every aspect of School life. We consider them not merely words, but opportunities.
A PLACE TO BELONG
Clifton High’s warm, inclusive community encourages children to be themselves, and we see our pupils’ confidence grow daily.
Our small class sizes mean teachers know their pupils well and can respond to their individual needs, interests and aspirations. Combined with our bespoke curriculum and foundation of strong pastoral care, an unpressured environment is created; one that is based on both success and happiness. Pupils’ ambitions are not defined solely by academic results, but by discovering their passions and developing talents to find their own measure of achievement.
Beyond the classroom, pupils can explore new interests, develop talents and discover experiences that may shape their future through our Enrichment Programme. An extensive range of sports, performing arts, adventure pursuits, including our own Pembroke Award and co-curricular clubs to societies, outreach initiatives and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, are available to pupils. Each opportunity helps develop confidence, leadership, teamwork and life skills to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
From the outset, Clifton High was founded on the belief and vision that our pupils leave us not only with excellent academic outcomes, but with the character and confidence that shape their own future and the world around them.
OUR HISTORY
Through every chapter of our School’s history,
we embrace change while staying true to our founders.
Founded in 1877 by John Percival and a group of fellow educators who shared a powerful vision: for education to be accessible to children, regardless of social or economic background, and for Clifton High School to be non-denominational. These principles were progressive for their time yet remain central to who we are today and will continue to be in the future. Originally established as a school for girls aged 7-17, Clifton High admitted boys into a preparatory class in 1887, the Junior School from 1994, and by 2008/09 we became fully co-educational.
Our doors opened in 1878 at 65 Pembroke Road, before moving to a larger house on College Road as pupil numbers grew. School House, as it was known, remains at the heart of Clifton High School today, alongside the iconic Beech tree. Over the decades, the site has continued to evolve with our Main Hall, new School wing and gymnasium completed in the mid-1930s. By 1951, further expansion had created much of the School site we know today, and we continue to invest in a future-ready School with current plans including a Science block.
Today, as we look towards our 150th anniversary in 2027, we celebrate a School shaped by generations of pupils, staff and families, giving us a strong sense of identity to carry forward.
