Activities

Last chance to apply for our 11+ Scholarships!

Clifton College offers pupils a unique opportunity to achieve academic distinction and personal excellence. Each year, we offer a number of Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries to pupils with that spark of potential.

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Clifton College offers a wide variety of clubs and activities for pupils, and all children are encouraged to find something they enjoy. The range of opportunities is such that every pupil can find his or her niche and develop interests and talents beyond the purely academic.

Our clubs and activity groups are able to take advantage of our first class facilities, and enjoy excellent tuition and supervision. We hope to do all we can to encourage the development of the whole child, and help them become well-rounded individuals.

All pupils are strongly encouraged to participate fully in the wide-range of available activities. Whether in the CCF or Clifton in the Community; playing water polo or rowing in an VIII; attending society meetings; or acting, singing or performing in a music ensemble.

CCF

The broad function of the CCF within Clifton College is to provide a disciplined youth organisation, so that pupils may develop powers of leadership. Their training promotes the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance, perseverance and tolerance for each other.

Girls and boys may join any of the three sections: Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Army concentrates on the self-discipline of field tactics; the Navy provides the opportunity to engage in a wide range of maritime activities and uses our own boats located in the nearby docks; whilst the RAF takes full advantage of the availability of local air experience flights.

There is a certain amount of military training, including shooting, which is designed to give young people a chance to exercise responsibility and leadership, to provide them with some knowledge of our defence forces, and to encourage those who might be interested in becoming members of the Armed Services.

Trips and Expeditions

We offer regular camping trips to the Brecon Beacons, and participation in the Ten Tors event. The Ten Tors Challenge is organised by the Army. The teams, depending on age, face hikes of 35, 45 or 55 miles, visiting ten nominated tors over two days. The teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all they need to complete their route safely despite the terrain and the weather.

Although there are many challenge walks in Britain today, Ten Tors is still alone in catering solely for young people. Usually taking place in the second weekend of May, many pupils who participate will remember the event with pride for the remainder of their lives, and for some it may even be a life-changing experience.

Societies and Clubs

We provide a varied programme of events for day pupils and boarders, ensuring each child is given the opportunity to develop and nurture lifelong interests.

More than just add-on ‘extras’, our societies and clubs form a central part of the well-rounded education that is the ‘Clifton College Experience’.

Mid-week, we have activities taking place in the Art, Technology and Music departments. These are complemented by physical activities such as dance, basketball, real tennis, fencing, volleyball, swimming, horse riding and fitness.

At the weekend, pupils can take part in organised voluntary activities, theatre or cinema trips, cycle rides, horse riding or dry-slope skiing.

Outdoor Activities

Set in a leafy suburb on the edge of Bristol, Clifton College is in an ideal position to offer outdoor activities. Aside from our excellent sporting facilities, we are also fortunate to have the stunning Avon Gorge and Clifton Downs on our doorstep. We also have the nearby Mendip Hills, the Brecon Beacons, the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, which offer a range of rivers, cliffs and mountains.

The Clifton College Outdoor Activity Centre is set in the prestigious and stunning surroundings of Bristol’s biggest outdoor sports complex, Clifton College Sports Ground in Abbots Leigh, just a few minutes’ walk from the Clifton Suspension Bridge

It has long been recognised that the outdoor environment provides many opportunities for learning, and many of the activities offered within Outdoor Education at Clifton College facilitate and develop teamwork, leadership, confidence and self-esteem.

Last chance to apply for our 11+ Scholarships!

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Outdoor Activities