Clifton College

Overview

Clifton College was founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable (compared with most public schools of the time) for emphazising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated boarding house for Jewish boys. There are 11 houses currently in Clifton College in a mixture of day or boarding and girls or boys. Boys and girls fulfil their potential at Clifton: up to ten go to Oxford or Cambridge Universities each year, and we obtain excellent GCSE, AS and A-level results. Our League Table positions reflect these fine achievements, and indeed Clifton came top in the UK’s first League Table of ‘Value-Added’ performance, which measures the progress pupils make in a school between the various National Curriculum Key Stages.

Unique Points

Clifton is famous for the highest cricket score ever recorded being made by one of their boys on one of its own pitches (628 not out), and for it being the headquarters for the US army in Britain for part of the second world war.  Clifton College owns a theatre, originally known as the Clifton College Theatre but renamed in honour of old-boy actor Michael Redgrave. The theatre was built in the 1960s and has a seating capacity of 323. As well as school productions, the venue hosts visiting small scale productions including many by the nearby Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Entry Requirements

Pupils wishing to join at age 13 (Year 9) from other schools will sit Common Entrance in the Summer Term preceding entry or the Common Scholarship examination in early May preceding entry. The minimum average mark required for entry is 50%.
Entry to the Sixth Form (Year 12) for pupils both from within the school and from other schools is usually conditional upon achieving 6 B grades at GCSE (or its equivalent). From 2014 entry will be conditional upon achieving 3 A grades and 3 B grades at GCSE. Pupils wishing to join The Upper School in other years will be assessed by means of the School’s own testing procedures.