Sport is not only a social and positive part of life at Clifton High; it serves as a dynamic force that brings joy and a sense of belonging to every member of our community.
With its myriad of physical and mental health benefits, participating in sport enhances overall well-being, and instills a sense of accomplishment in our children. Most importantly, we pride ourselves on promoting inclusivity, ensuring that sports are accessible and enjoyable for all, regardless of abilities, experience, or interests.
For our Junior School children, engaging in sport contributes to forging friendships, their holistic development and building confidence. They partake in three timetabled sports lessons a week; Physical Education, Games and Swimming. Their Games lesson takes place at our off-site sporting facility; Coombe Dingle, a multi-sports complex the School shares in partnership with University of Bristol.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & GAMES
With an onsite Gymnasium, Outdoor Multi-use Games Area, Climbing Wall, School Lawn, theater/studio space and many outdoor spaces, there are multiple environments where our Junior children have their PE lessons. They are taught by our talented sports teachers and coaches, and develop essential physical skills and try lots of different sports. These include; Athletics, Gymnastics, Trampolining, Cricket, Tennis, Pilates, Taekwondo, Fencing and much more.
Children also train for our annual Sport Day in the Summer Term during PE lessons. Sports Day is a highlight for the children, parents and staff alike.
GAMES & FIXTURES
Games lessons at Coombe Dingle take place on professional pitches and tracks. In the Autumn Term they participate in Rugby and Hockey, in the Spring Term, Football and Netball and in the Summer Term, cricket. They acquire tactical skills for these games through teamwork, good communication and practice. Junior children also begin to compete in fixtures in these sports against each other and local Schools, building relationships with peers they are likely to meet time and again in the years to come and exposing them to healthy competition.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons in the Junior School continue our comprehensive Swimming Programme; . Year 3-5 continue with the ‘Learn to Swim’ chapter where they develop fundamental technical skills required for safety and enjoyment, encompassing all swim strokes in preparation for progression into Year 6 and the Senior School. The Programme ensures that all children will be learning 1 step ahead of the governmental guidelines, putting them at an advantage for the course of their swimming development.
At this stage all children will start to learn a variety of race skills, as well as consolidating fundamentals and progressing the technical requirements of the sport; to stand them in good stead for lifelong participation or whet their competitive appetite.
In Year 6, the next stage of the programme is accessible to children; Progressive Talent ID. During these years, 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 very 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. The majority of provision for chosen swimmers will be after school clubs and partner club opportunities.Sessions are delivered within the school curriculum and after school clubs, with optional access to additional sessions with our partner Club.
PARTNERSHIPS
| University of Bristol |
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As well as sharing nearby Coombe Dingle Sports Complex with the University of Bristol, Clifton High has also established a number of sporting partnerships with the University, that run throughout the School. A comprehensive tennis partnership provides pupils with pathways into elite tennis coaching. There are ten tennis clubs a week, 3 county development squads, curricular tennis delivered by the specialist coaches toThe Hive to Year 2 children. A hockey partnership is also in place, allowing our players access to university coaches and offering pathways into the University's adult sports clubs. |
| BRISTOL SPORT: ELITE SWIMMER SCHOLARSHIP, BRISTOL FLYERS, BRISTOL BEARS |
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Bristol Sport is a dynamic, reputable beacon of sporting success and professionalism bringing together multiple sports under one unified umbrella. At Clifton High we work in partnership with Bristol Sport to provide opportunities to sporting stars of the future. The Elite Swimmer Scholarship is the first of its kind in Bristol awarded to young athletes, giving them the opportunity to marry elite, national-level coaching and first-class schooling. Since the programme began two years ago, recipients of this Scholarship have gone on to achieve national and international accolades. Other connections extend to Bristol Sport include an affiliation with Bristol Bears rugby team, who currently have a number of Clifton High boys aged 14-18 training and playing as part of their academy teams and Bristol Flyers basketball coaches, who started training at School this year and has subsequently seen our Under 13's team crowned Junior NBA South West Champions. |
| henleaze performance swimming club |
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Clifton High also has a unique partnership with Henleaze Performance Swimming Club that allows pupils access to the Club's outstanding coaches every day of the week. Swimming classes are aimed at pupils in Year 4 and above and Clifton High School is quickly developing a reputation as one of the best swimming schools in the region. Under the instruction of Henleaze coaches, pupils can choose to learn at participation level via the School's co-curricular club provision, and significantly as part of our elite squad which trains every evening with Henleaze Swimming Club coaches, by invitation. |
