.gif)
Clifton High School (Bristol)
Encyclopedia
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
) by visionaries including John Percival
, the first Headmaster of Clifton College
. 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:
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
.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Clifton, Bristol
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
, England, founded as Clifton High School for Girls in 1877 (after some opposition from nearby Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
) by visionaries including John Percival
John Percival
John Percival known as Mad Jack Percival was a legendary officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812, the campaign against West Indies pirates, and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:Born in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Percival left home at thirteen to...
, the first Headmaster of Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising 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...
. 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
Catherine Winkworth
Catherine Winkworth was an English translator. She is best known for bringing the German chorale tradition to English speakers with her numerous translations of hymns.-Biography:...
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
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
(pink), Curie
Marie Curie
Marie Skłodowska-Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes—in physics and chemistry...
(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 DownChrist Church, Clifton DownChrist Church is a popular church in Clifton, Bristol, England.It was built in 1841 by Charles Dyer. The steeple, which reaches 65 m , was built 1859 by J Norton, and the aisles in 1885 by William Basset Smith....
or Bristol CathedralBristol CathedralThe Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as 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
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
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
Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools
The Society of Headmasters & Headmistresses of Independent Schools is an association of Headmasters and Headmistresses of various types of independent schools in the United Kingdom, and was formed in 1961...
.
Notable former pupils
- Jo DurieJo DurieJo Durie is a former world number 5 professional tennis player from the United Kingdom. During her career, she won two Grand Slam titles, both in the mixed doubles.-Singles career:...
(1960— ), tennis player - Elizabeth FilkinElizabeth FilkinElizabeth Filkin is a British civil servant. She was the United Kingdom's Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards between February 1999 and 2002...
(1940— ), civil servant - Margaret IrwinMargaret IrwinMargaret Emma Faith Irwin was an English author of several important historical novels, as well as a factual biography of Sir Walter Raleigh.- Biography :...
(1889—1969), author - Mary LobelMary LobelProfessor Mary Doreen Lobel, OBE was an historian who edited several volumes of the Victoria County History and a three-volume British Atlas of Historic Towns.-Life:...
(1900–1993), historian