Clifton College brings local communities together with green space

We are very proud to be a part of the local Clifton, and wider Bristol community. Our school is located right in the heart of Bristol and we take pride in sharing our facilities with local schools and groups.

We recently hosted a number of local primary schools’ external sports days on our New Field space after the success of holding the Knight Frank Schools Triathlon for the second time running earlier in the year. This annual event brings 950 children together from local schools to raise support for chosen charities through sport. It is a truly community-centred day, with local businesses and over 2,000 attendees coming together for a feel-good event, and all for a great cause.

This year, we have been able to buy five new rowing boats, thanks to the generous donation of OCs. The new crafts will benefit our pupils as well as young people from across Bristol, who will be able to try their hand at rowing, with an effort to make the sport more accessible. We are pleased to be working with Active Row to achieve this, who have launched a schools partnership programme. 

Access to the outdoors and green spaces is just one factor of our efforts to ensure the College is fit for purpose in a rapidly changing modern world. Sustainability and protection of those spaces is also a key focus. Our new Chellaram Sports Complex (opening September 2024), is BREEAM accredited, which means it meets the high standards of sustainability. The Chellaram Sports Complex will also house a number of EV charging stations, which we are delighted to share with the wider community who use our sports and leisure facilities. 

Instilling the importance of environmentalism and awareness of the natural world begins with our youngest year group. Preschool pupils benefit from an on-site Forest School, which we hope will promote a love of the outdoors, and respect for the world around them as they move up through the school and beyond. We also have a dedicated Forest School and Forest School Leader at our Beggar’s Bush site, where our Pre-Prep children extend their learning in an outdoor classroom and are free to explore their imaginations, creating magical experiences and an appreciation for nature.

In the Prep School, we have installed multiple veg planters, giving pupils the opportunity to sow, grow and harvest their own vegetables in a low carbon, environmentally friendly way. The produce is then used to make a range of tasty dishes in their cookery lessons, with the aim to promote the use of natural ingredients and healthy eating habits.

Our jam-packed Holiday Club and Activity Courses run during school holidays and offer a diverse programme of pursuits, both take place in and around the school grounds and up at our Beggar’s Bush site. These programmes are open to young people from across Bristol, and through these we offer a range of fun experiences that promote appreciation of the outdoors, build children’s confidence and enable them to meet new friends from around the city. The opportunities on offer are extensive; ranging from mountain biking, rock climbing, photography, street dance, bushcraft, cookery and much more!

We intend to continue to build on existing partnerships and events over the coming years, to further benefit our community and look forward to welcoming new groups and organisations to Clifton College.