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Clifton High School Highlights Issue 1 September 2012

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Issue 1, September 2012

Another year begins... We are in the first weeks of the new school year at Clifton High and we are delighted to welcome everyone back

after the summer break. Our new Year 7 pupils and sixth form students joined us a day early for a day of induction

activities before term started properly and it was great to see so many excited faces and friends greeting each other

on Wednesday morning as the normal hustle and bustle of school life was fully restored.

Although the atmosphere is very different at School in the summer, the site has been anything but quiet. Staff have

been in and out busily preparing for the new year, students and staff came in for the GCSE and A level results and

the maintenance and IT teams have been working extremely hard to make a number of exciting changes around

the School. Read more about everything that has been happening over the summer inside this first issue of Clifton

Highlights which forms part of our refreshed newsletter package for the new year. You can expect an information

newsletter every couple of weeks with important announcements, reminders and a note of the latest web news

plus an issue of Clifton Highlights at least twice a term to keep you fully updated on all our news!

Inside this issue:

Namibia Sports Examination Induction School Chinese Expedition Coaches Results Day Improvements Visitors

Clifton Highlights

“We hoped she would prove to

be academically successful,

would make lasting friendships

and be confident and well

rounded. All this has come to

pass and we are very

appreciative. The 2012 leavers

were an impressive group, well

prepared for the challenges that

they will face in the future and a

credit to CHS and its

aspirations and values.”

(Letter to Dr Neill, received this week

from a parent of one of our most

recent leavers)


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World Challenge expedition to Namibia Seventeen members of the sixth form

completed a World Challenge

expedition to Namibia over the

summer which provided huge

challenges in this beautiful country

which can be found just above South

Africa on the coast of the Atlantic or, as

it is known locally, the Skeleton Coast!

Highlights included rugged, beautiful

scenery, communal campsite cooking

with a blazing fire and bright stars, a

visit to the UNESCO world heritage site

at Twyfontein, an evening safari to see

the famous desert elephants and

singing and dancing with local villagers.

The team then stayed and worked at

Katora Primary School and Hostel for

11 days. From money raised in the UK,

they were able to buy the school much

needed photocopy paper for their

exams and the materials to re-glaze

111 window panes. As well as doing

this, they also repainted the hostel

windows and repaired two swings.

Every day they played games and

helped the children with revision.

More travels followed with highlights

including thrilling animals, stunning

landscapes, rock and plain trekking,

dolphin watching and even a spot of

dune boarding!

The group have tales of amazing

experiences and sights and are proud

and excited to share all they have

done for the children of Katora and all

the incredible things they saw. We

look forward to hearing more about

the conditions they experienced, the

work they undertook and the things

they did while they were in Namibia.

Helen and Livvi from Year 13 will give a

whole school assembly on 21st

September about their fantastic trip

and this beautiful country and look out

for a full report from the expedition

team coming soon to the school

website.


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Excellent Examinations You will have read over the summer about our success in the GCSE and A level examinations. We had 100% pass rate for another year at AS and A level with a third of grades at A or A* and over 96% of entries reaching C grade or above. Five subjects saw 100% of A*-B grades and individual students gained full marks in modules across eleven of the twenty-two subjects and 80-98% in all the rest, demonstrating the excellent and diverse talents that are developed across the curriculum at Clifton High.

There were excellent GCSE results too. 57% of entries achieved grade A* or A, over 78% A*, A or B and more than 92% C or above. A was the most common grade overall, achieved by over a third of the 431 entries and over half of subjects saw full sets of A*-C grades.

Congratulations to both year groups and to those who secured and confirmed their university places. We wish all those starting their study, careers or gap years in the coming weeks all the very best.

As Dr Neill said at Rose Day, of course examination results matter and we are very pleased and proud of our senior students’ successes, but they do not define all that young people are or all that they will become. It is the doing, the experiencing and the hard lessons - living each moment for what it is that makes life so fulfilling, whatever our age.

Read the full report on our website about what the Year 13 students are going on to do, which subjects did particularly well this year, how three Year 8 and 9 pupils received top GCSE results and how the new Higher Level Project Qualification celebrated fantastic success too.


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Extensive and exciting improvements

Above: new computer hardware including 50 PCs, monitors

and new interactive whiteboards has been installed to go

with a new fast broadband throughout School.

Right (from top): In the main building, two small under-used

rooms have been combined into one big useful classroom;

the Y11 Common Room has had a make-over; the relocated

School Office is a beautifully refurbished light and airy room

with preserved features behind the Waiting Room; new high

-quality changing facilities off the Beech Room.

You will probably already have spotted some of the excellent updates and improvements the school site has

enjoyed over the summer. Others you will not be able to see so easily. Here are some work-in-progress pictures

that we took just before the start of term and notes about some of the exciting changes:

Left: Our brand new floodlit Multi User Games Facility (MUGA) has

been installed ready for netball, five-a-side football, tennis, hockey,

basketball and street cricket (also available for

hire!). The special rebound fence that allows safe

viewing has been tested out by former CHS

students Adam and Will with Mr Collins!

Left: The Performing Arts centre in

New Hall is almost complete with

flexible seating, commercial grade

cinema, sound, lighting and curtain

equipment, a dance mirror and

barre and a dedicated technical

‘box’ as well as excellent changing

and toilet facilities for performers

and audiences alike.


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New sports coaches join

the CHS team We were delighted this summer to announce the

appointment of two new professional sports coaches for

September. Rugby and hockey professionals Matt Salter

(Bristol Rugby captain 2004-08 and Bristol Academy

coach) and Mike Leatt (England Hockey coach and former

Welsh Hockey Union CEO) join the school staff this

autumn to support the Games Department and coach the

school rugby and hockey teams. Mr Salter will also help

coordinate a rugby club and a Summer Sevens entry for

junior children making this a very exciting sports

development for the whole school.

Mr Salter is a highly proficient and well-respected

professional rugby player with well over a decade of

exceptional experience including captaining Bristol Rugby.

Known for setting a magnificent example as a player, Mr

Salter is also a dedicated and inspirational teacher;

currently a Bristol Academy coach, he is committed to

bringing on the next generation of players and looks

forward to playing his part in the team at Clifton High.

Mr Leatt is a well qualified level 3 hockey coach and tutor

with an extensive background of playing and 16 years of

coaching experience. Mr Leatt currently plays for region

and county and is extremely well placed to further build

on developing the hockey expertise at Clifton High School.

Mr Leatt understands how to bring school players into the

adult game and is committed to helping young players

progress. Everybody enjoyed his first session immensely.

Above (from top): large,

bright new Y5

classrooms in the main

building; small rooms in the Junior

School have been combined and

others rearranged to create four

lovely large classrooms for Years 4 and 3; Mr Richards’ new

office (previously a changing room!) has been refurbished.

Above: lots of hard work is evident around the

grounds, especially at the pond, the wildflower and

vegetable gardens, a new safety screen, tree beds and

turning circle. New bicycle racks have been installed

with the help of a grant from Lifecycle UK. Mr Salter joins the team. Look our for a picture of Mr Leatt along with our report

on the Autumn Alumni matches in the first regular newsletter of term.


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County Netball Congratulations to the girls who were successful in July in being selected to attend the Avon netball academy squads for this season.

Bethan Evans-Brain and Briony Wills (Y9) and Louisa Bell (Y8) were selected for the U14 satellite group.

Charlotte Jagger, Charlotte Morris (Y7) and Isabelle Harvey (Y6) will join the U13 satellite group.

Well done, netballers!

Staffing changes There have been various staffing changes over the summer. We are delighted to have a number of new staff taking on new roles and others joining us who bring with them a wealth of teaching and academic talent and a whole host of individual skills and experience with which to enrich the opportunities on offer for our pupils.

Taking on new roles:

Mr Chris Collins – Head of School Games (Boys)

Mr Sam Goldsmith – Head of Design Technology - Food

Mr Charles Gunter – Chemistry and Physics Teacher, Examinations Officer

Mrs Gill Malpass— Head of Drama, NQT Co-ordinator, PGCE Associate Tutor, Staff Induction Co-ordinator, Extra-curricular Programme Co-ordinator

Mrs Emily Freire Baños—Database Administrator, Examinations Support

New staff:

Miss Feona Horrex—School Office Administrator and Events Co-ordinator (p/t)

Mr Andrew Blayney – Head of History and Government and Politics, Head of Year 9

Mrs Tara Harris – Head of German

Miss Helen McKenna – Head of French

Miss Sarah Shuttleworth – Head of School Games (Girls)

Miss Alice England – Science Teacher for Junior and Senior Schools

Mrs Jane Doubleday – Teaching Assistant (Nursery) (p/t)

Mrs Caroline Pope – Reception Class Teacher (p/t)

Mr Michael Leatt—Hockey Coach (p/t)

Mr Matt Salter—Junior Boys’ Games and Rugby Coach (p/t) (p/t) = part time

Cricket Heroes Thomas Harvey and Alex Minter-

Swannell had an opportunity to visit

Gloucestershire Cricket Club at the

end of last term, where they were

put through their paces by Captain

Alex Gidman and Sri Lankan Muttiah

Muralitharan. Muttiah is the leading

test match wicket taker and is famous

for his spin bowling. The boys

eventually managed to work out

which way the ball was going to spin

and enjoyed the challenge. Here is a

picture that they managed to snap

while they were there to prove it!

New faces: (L-R) Miss Horrex, Mr Blayney, Mrs Harris, Miss McKenna, Miss Shuttleworth, Miss England, Mrs Doubleday and Mrs Pope


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Induction Day The gates opened early for the new

school year on Tuesday to welcome

new Year 7 pupils and Sixth Form

students for a special day of

Induction activities before term

began in earnest. Year 7 were

greeted in the morning by Dr Neill

and Mr Collins along with tutors.

The day was full of useful

information and activities to help

the new pupils and students get to

know one another and their new

environments including time with

tutors, a House team building

activity, a Peer Mentor support

session, a treasure hunt for Year 7

and Futures and Skills sessions for

the sixth form.

Well done, Helen! Dr Neill was delighted to receive a glowing report over the summer

about our Head Girl, Helen Milne. Helen attended a Senior Prefects’

Conference in West Yorkshire run by the Society of Heads. There were 64

prefects in attendance, representing 35 schools from across the country.

All the delegates reaped the rewards of a packed and stimulating

programme over three days. As well as an opportunity to network, the

conference included theoretical and practical training sessions to help

them in their roles as student leaders.

Helen shone at the conference and did Clifton High School proud. The

report points out that she is an excellent ambassador for her school and

that her dedication and commitment throughout the course made it

clear why she was chosen to be Head Girl.

“Helen made a fabulous impression. From the beginning of the course she has been enthusiastic and engaged. She

received a prize for her public speaking which was very motivational and well executed. Helen was also chosen to

give grace at dinner. Overall she has been an excellent candidate and is a credit to Clifton High School!”

Congratulations and thank you, Helen!


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Don’t forget 10th September

Y7-11 Meet the Tutor Evening

12th September

Y1-6 Welcome Evening

13th-14th September

Y7 Bonding Trip

18th September

Nursery Welcome Evening

Thursday 20th September

Open Evening for prospective families

26th September

Y10-13 Examinations Evening

28th September

Macmillan Coffee Morning

4th October

Clifton’s Cracking Ideas

(Y6 Taster Day)

6th October

PA Boden Coffee Morning

13th October

Open Morning for prospective families

Remember to check the

school calendars and

website regularly for more

details plus all the latest

news, events, fixtures and

important dates!

Copies of all letters home are

also stored on the website.

The School Office can give

you log in details to access

the parents’ area.

Contact us:

Tel: 0117 973 0201

Email: [email protected]

To report an absence: [email protected]

www.cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk

Visitors from Guangzhou

During the holidays we were visited by some children from one of our sister schools, DongFeng Dong Lu School in Guangzhou. Harriet and Simon very kindly came in to escort our guests on a tour and to give and receive gifts reflecting life in the two junior schools. The rapport between the children from different cultures was quite remarkable and we are greatly indebted to Simon and Harriet for making the visit such a success. The visit was filmed by the Guangzhou Broadcasting Company and will be shown on television in China.

We can now offer pupils the opportunity to follow the Centre National d’Enseigement à Distance (CNED) curriculum at Clifton High.

The CNED curriculum was devised for French students living overseas, to provide them with recognised qualifications and allow their reintegration into the French educational system. CNED lessons are taught in French and all materials are created by the French Education Ministry.

The CNED curriculum is available for a very reasonable extra cost and will be delivered by teachers employed by Fast Languages, a CNED endorsed and highly respected provider of tuition at home and in schools.

If you are interested in the CNED provision and would like to know more about the details, please let us know.

French curriculum learning

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Documents

issue of clifton highlights

new school year

new year

bustle of school life

katora primary school

world challenge expedition

summer break

day of induction activities