Clifton High School (Bristol)

Clifton High School is an independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded as Clifton High School for Girls in 1877 (after some opposition from nearby Bristol Grammar School)^[1] by visionaries including John Percival, the first Headmaster of Clifton College.^[2] The sixth form became coeducational in September 2008 and the remainder of the school (from Year 7) likewise from September 2009.

In the 1950s and 1960s the houses were named after the school's founders and early benefactors: Budgett, Percival, Pope, Pears, Winkworth and Wollaston, to whose memory prayers were dedicated on Rose Day (e.g. "Remembering especially Sarah Constance Wollaston"). Later they were named after famous women: Austen (pink), Curie (yellow) and Odette (green). The house names were then changed in academic year 2009-2010 to Holmes, Radcliffe and Redgrave; as this was the first year allowing boys throughout the entire school, the school didn't want entirely female houses. The house names were changed back in academic year 2010-2011, following a competition, to the names of the school founders, Wollaston (yellow), Winkworth (red), Pears (blue) and Percival (green). The school focuses on opportunities in music, art and drama, offering concerts, art exhibitions and productions and has a number of special events each year, including:

• the school play;
• the school carol service, held in either Christ Church, Clifton Down or Bristol Cathedral, near the end of the Christmas term;
• "Rose Day", the most noteworthy event, is held in Bristol Cathedral. Hundreds of people attend and the school hymn is sung. Prizes are awarded during the service.

School facilities include a sports centre, swimming pool, multimedia language centre and several information technology rooms. The school is in partnership with the Coombe Dingle Sports Centre which has many facilities.

Clifton High School is a member of the Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools.

Notable former pupils

• Jo Durie (1960— ), tennis player
• Elizabeth Filkin (1940— ), civil servant
• Margaret Irwin (1889—1969), author
• Mary Lobel (1900–1993), historian

References