JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT
Sport is a valuable part of Clifton High School life that is both positive and engaging. It brings a sense of belonging to all our Junior School pupils as they become an integral part of our sports teams.
Mr Shane Cloete - Director of Sport
The Junior School sports programme develops pupils’ physical literacy, confidence and enjoyment through a progressive programme of Physical Education (PE), Games, Swimming and Tennis.
Specialist teachers build upon fundamental movement skills in weekly curriculum-based PE lessons, helping children develop coordination, agility, resilience and a growing understanding of how their bodies move and perform.
Our ‘Sport for All’ ethos ensures every pupil is encouraged to progress at their own level, while our development and performance pathways provide more opportunities for Junior School pupils who wish to pursue sport competitively. The introduction of fixtures against other Clifton High pupils and local schools encourages healthy competition and helps build confidence, friendships and a strong sense of community.
We are currently building on sporting opportunities with local partnerships including Bristol Sport and The University of Bristol, as well as pursuing our own Tennis Programme. Our plans for sport within the Pembroke Education group are ambitious and will enable us to offer enhanced sporting opportunities, with increased participation, enjoyment and excellence in sport. By linking facilities, expertise, and staffing where they add value, pupils can benefit from wider opportunities to explore new sports, develop teamwork through joint training sessions, attend festivals and fixtures, and pursue personal goals. This collaboration currently has plans to develop additional sports facilities for our pupils to benefit from.
Physical Education (PE)
Curriculum-based PE lessons are delivered by specialist teachers with structured progression to develop pupils’ fundamental movement skills and broader physical literacy.
Through PE, pupils build confidence, resilience and enjoyment, creating strong foundations for their continued sporting development and future GCSE and A level pathways.
Our on-site facilities include the gymnasium, climbing wall, outdoor MUGA, studio spaces and the Astroturf School Lawn.
I love going to Coombe Dingle... getting to play proper sport on real pitches and even playing against other schools is really fun.
Year 6 Pupil
Games Lessons
Games lessons in the Junior School are timetabled as double lessons, giving pupils sufficient time to develop their skills and experience the termly team sports played throughout Clifton High School.
Pupils are placed into development and performance groups, allowing those who wish to pursue a competitive sporting pathway to progress while offering options for all levels and maintaining an inclusive experience for everyone.
Pupils travel to Coombe Dingle, our off-site sporting facility, to use professional pitches and athletics tracks. It is through a combination of these lessons, regular practice and competition that they begin to develop physical attributes, tactical awareness, teamwork and communication.
The termly sports rotations are:
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Throughout the academic terms and sports associated with them, from Year 3 upwards, pupils compete in fixtures against one another and local schools, which introduces them to healthy competition while helping them build relationships and connections beyond School..
Swimming Lessons
In the Junior School, our Year 3 to 5 children continue with the ‘Learn to Swim’ programme, where they develop fundamental technical skills required for swim safety and enjoyment, encompassing all strokes in preparation for progression into Year 6 and the Senior School. The programme ensures that all children will be learning ahead of the governmental guidelines, putting them at an advantage for their swimming development.
At this stage, all Junior School children will start to learn a variety of race skills, as well as consolidating fundamentals and progressing the technical requirements of the sport, to put them in good stead for lifelong participation or whet their competitive appetite.
In Year 6, the next stage of the programme, Progressive Talent ID, is accessible to children. Athletes can start to build on the fitness foundations required for competitive swimming, as well as those required for using swimming as a healthy lifestyle choice. Still technically based, the programme will provide further opportunities at club and competitive level for those who have chosen swimming as a main sport and will develop selected athletes for the performance element of the pathway. Sessions are delivered within the School curriculum and through after-School clubs, with optional access to additional sessions with our partner, Bristol Henleaze Swimming Club.
Junior School swimming galas are a highlight of the Clifton High sporting calendar and capture the ‘Sport for All’ ethos. Bringing pupils together to develop their confidence, teamwork and competitive spirit, these experiences encourage pupils to develop their race skills, compete for personal bests or proudly represent their House
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Tennis Lessons
Tennis at Clifton High School offers a progressive pathway from the earliest years through to Senior School, enabling Junior School pupils to develop their skills, confidence and enjoyment of the sport at every stage.
From Year 3 onwards, pupils can access additional co-curricular Tennis sessions as part of our Enrichment Programme, and individual or small-group coaching, allowing them to develop their technique and progress at their own pace.
