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 builds upon the grounding in movement and skills learning that pupils have received in the Infant School. It continues to be structured progression across Physical Education (PE), Games and Swimming while maintaining our 'Sport for All' ethos that welcomes every child to participate at their own individual level.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE)
Physical Education (PE) lessons are weekly, curriculum-based, with specialist teachers who build upon children's fundamental movement skills and look at their broad physical literacy. These building blocks realise confidence with enjoyment to later support children in their GCSE and A level pathways.
Children take advantage of our on-site facilities, which include a 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
Children continue structured Games Lessons in the Junior School that are timetabled as double lessons to provide pupils with experiences of the termly team sports played at Clifton High School. Split into development and performance groups, children are supported should they wish to progress into a competitive sport pathway.
Children travel off-site to Coombe Dingle to use professional pitches and tracks.
The termly sports rotations are:
- Autumn Term - Rugby and Hockey
- Spring Term - Football and Netball
- Summer Term - Cricket
Pupils acquire tactical skills for these sports through teamwork, good communication and practice. They also begin to compete in fixtures against each other and local Schools, exposing them to healthy competition and building relationships and connections.
SWIMMING PROGRAMME
Our Year 3 to Year 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 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, 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, Henleaze Performance Swimming Club.
You can find an overview of our Sports offering in our Infant & Junior School Co-Curricular publication below.
You can zoom in and view it more clearly by using the full‑screen option and the zoom in/out buttons beneath the publication.
PARTNERSHIPS AND LINKS
| henleaze performance swimming club |
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Clifton High School's unique partnership with Henleaze Performance Swimming Club gives pupils in Year 4 and above access to their outstanding swimming coaches. We have a reputation as a leader of swimming in the region, which is a direct result of our swimming programme, combined with the additional instruction offerings from Henleaze coaches. Together, these provide pupils with opportunities at every level to progress competitively. |
| University of Bristol sports facilities - coombe dingle |
| Clifton High School's links with the University of Bristol allow us to use their facilities at Coombe Dingle. The professional pitches and courts enable our pupils to play sports in an environment that helps develop their match skills through a safe training platform. |
| BRISTOL SPORT |
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Clifton High School's links with Bristol Sport provide our young athletes with an association with a dynamic, reputable beacon of sporting success and professionalism. These include Bristol Bears Rugby and Bristol Flyers Basketball. |
